Positive Growth for Air Freight Volumes in June 2013

IATA’s figures for June 2013 show a 1.2% year-on-year expansion in global air freight demand.

Although weak, this is an improvement when compared to the 0.9% year-on-year demand growth recorded in May and the 0.1% growth realized over the first half of the year.

While previously the global economic trend has been defined by robust emerging economies and stagnant growth in developed markets, the strongest improvements in business confidence are now occurring in some developed economies. Nevertheless, overall business confidence, which is a key indicator for air freight, continues to be weak.

From May to June, global freight volumes increased by 0.8%. A quarter of that improvement was captured by European airlines which saw a 0.9% improvement in demand compared to May, and 2.6% up compared to June 2012. In contrast, Asia Pacific carriers (the biggest players in global air freight) and North American airlines recorded year-on-year declines of 1.8% and 1.2% respectively.

"It’s too early to tell if June was a positive turning point after 18 months of stagnation. Air freight volumes are at their highest since mid-2011, but that good news needs to be tempered with a dose of reality. The global economic environment remains weak, and the basis for the acceleration of air cargo growth in June appears to be fragile," said Tony Tyler, IATA’s Director General and CEO.

Earlier this month IATA released the July edition of its Airline Business Confidence Index which showed nearly 58% of respondents expecting freight volumes to increase over the next year. Despite this, a much greater percentage of respondents (72.2%) expect no change in weak cargo yields despite their expected increase in demand over the same period. The macro-economic trend remains challenging. Recent declines in global export orders do not bode well for trade growth.

Source: http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/317-AirFreight.shtml

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DHL launches shipment tracking app

DHL Global Forwarding, the air and ocean freight specialist within Deutsche Post DHL,  has launched a

mobile app for customers to track their shipments.

The ‘DGF Cargo Mobile Tracking’ shows users their shipping history and the status of their current shipments. The app also provides global access and is available free of charge in the respective app stores for iPhone and iPad, android and Blackberry smartphones.  

“The “DGF Cargo Mobile Tracking” application provides increased visibility to customers, as to the current status of their cargo movements, in real time, no matter where they are,” said Michael Young, global head of Marketing and Sales.

“Supply chain managers are often away from their desks and benefit from mobile solutions, which enable them to track time sensitive shipments and adapt their planning, where necessary,” Young added.

The app offers four functions to the user: seeking shipments, saving search queries, a detailed shipping history of the past six months, and a “location finder” that shows the nearest DHL Global Forwarding office and its contact details.  

The search function also allows customers to track further details of the shipment process, such as the shipment’s starting time, current location and estimated time of arrival. The “Save Search” function saves pre-defined search queries, such as multi-digit consignment numbers that can be called up again.

Source: http://www.tradearabia.com/news/IND_240309.html

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Georgia ports set multiple freight records

Georgia’s ports set records during the last fiscal year for tonnage, bulk cargo, auto and machinery units, and freight moved by intermodal rail, the Georgia Ports Authority(GPA) announced Monday.

In the year ending June 30, the ports moved 27.23 million tons of cargo, a 2.4 percent increase over fiscal 2012.

“Our overall tonnage increase has been fueled by the strength of U.S. exports and the GPA’s varied cargo spectrum,” authority Executive Director Curtis Foltzsaid.

For the second year in a row, the GPA achieved a record for auto and machinery units with an 11.7 percent increase over fiscal 2012. The Port of Brunswick is the third busiest port in the U.S. for total roll-on/roll-off cargo and the second busiest for imports of such cargo.

Bulk cargo movement soared by 61.8 percent, while the authority moved a record 314,623 containers by rail, up 4,600 containers over fiscal 2012.

Source: http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2013/07/29/georgia-ports-set-multiple-freight.html

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Air Freight Figures Rise Slightly Overall as Cargo Totals Released

Shipping through Europe's Third Largest Airport Continues to Increase

NETHERLANDS – As the third largest cargo airport in Europe the air freight figures for Amsterdam’s Schiphol hub are always interesting as they tend to reflect underlying shipping trends. The first half of this year has shown modest growth with a total of 736,608 tonnes handled showing an overall growth of 1.02% against the figure for 2012. Total exports for the first half year rose to 362,124 tonnes, which was a 49.16% share of the total whilst the proportion of imports fell slightly to 50.84%, with a total of 374,484 tonnes.

Regionally, Schiphol’s largest market remained Asia and the total of 281,410 tonnes (up 3%) was 38.2% of all cargo handled. Exports to Asia rose 6% to 140,388 tonnes with imports from Asia also rising fractionally. North America remained Schiphol’s second largest market, with imports up 3% at 65,282 tonnes and exports down 11% at 60,079 tonnes, resulting in an overall share of 17.02% of freight handled (down from 17.94% in the same period last year).

The Middle East and Africa swapped places in terms of importance at Schiphol with the Middle Eastern market taking third place in terms of tonnage shipped, 38,088 tonnes of imports (up 16%) and 55,294 tonnes of exports (up 4.8%), producing overall growth of 9%. However, the increase in imports was largely due to the entry of various Middle East carriers into the Africa-Amsterdam flower trade, resulting in transhipments via the Middle East and re-classification of some Africa-originating traffic. Africa accordingly slipped to 4th place, with 55,641 tonnes of imports (down 3.8%) and 29,827 tonnes of exports (down 4.4%).

Latin America retained 5th position, with 40,492 tonnes of imports (down 4.8%) and 44,555 tonnes of exports (up 3.9%). The apparent reduction in imports chiefly resulted from re-routing of some South America originating flights via Miami, resulting in their re-classification as US traffic whilst Europe saw a small overall gain of 1.28% in the first half year, with a 9.3% fall in imports counteracted by a 12% growth in exports. Schiphol Cargo Senior VP Enno Osinga, commented:

“2013 is showing a similar pattern to 2012 so far, with an early peak around March. There has been a small decline in freighter flights of around 1%, which reflects the tightening of freighter capacity by some carriers in the face of rising costs and soft rates.”

Source: http://www.handyshippingguide.com/shipping-news/air-freight-figures-rise-slightly-overall-as-cargo-totals-released_4794

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Airlines Braced for New EU Cargo Regulations

Russian carriers could be banned from transporting cargo from Russia to Europe if they fail to comply with new EU regulations that come into effect on July 1, 2014, Kommersant reported Monday.

Airlines who want to avoid the ban will need a third country to authorize their carrier status, but to achieve this they have to carry out audits on airport infrastructure.

The International Air Traffic Association said that the airlines themselves will have to pay for the audits — which could cost 18-60 million euros for each airport — and has offered to provide practical seminars to assist companies affected by the regulations.

Last Thursday Yevgeny Chibirev, head of the Association of Air Traffic Users, asked Transportation Minister Maxim Sokolov to provide recommendations to airlines on how to meet the requirements.

Chibirev said that Russian carriers will have to coordinate their flight safety programs with EU authorities and provide them with detailed information on the infrastructure of the airport from which the flight departed.

Cargo carriers argue, however, that airports are not obliged to provide them with the necessary information about customs points and security systems.

In 2010, the EU authorities decided to make cargo checks more rigorous after explosives were found in packages being shipped from Yemen to the United States.

A representative of Volga-Dniepr, the largest Russian cargo carrier, said he does not consider additional audits necessary because "all airlines and airports regularly have their safety standards checked."

The head of Novosibirsk's Tolmachevo airport called the initiative "an attempt to infringe on the rights of Russian airlines and create barriers in Russia on the cargo transportation market." He said the issue should be resolved on the government level.

Source: http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/airlines-braced-for-new-eu-cargo-regulations/483796.html

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Nippon Express launches consolidated service to Guanajuato International Airport in central Mexico

Nippon Express Co., Ltd. (Kenji Watanabe, President), began to offer a consolidated air cargo transport service for urgent small-quantity shipments to Guanajuato International Airport on July 16.

The cities around Guanajuato Airport to be served as new destinations (Leon, Irapuato, Salamanca, Celeya, etc.) have seen remarkable inroads by the automobile industry in recent years and are expected to enjoy further development.

Our delivery network of Guanajuato Logistics Center opened on April 1 of this year by Nippon Express de Mexico S.A. de C.V., a subsidiary of Nippon Express Co.,Ltd, made it possible for us to carry out prompt and flexible deliveries.. This new service will allow customers to shorten total lead time by 12 to 24 hours compared with consolidated air cargo transport routes via Mexico City and Guadalajara.

To meet the various and sophisticated demands of customers in this developing region , Nippon Express will continue to enhance its service lineup.

Source: http://www.nipponexpress.com/news/global/2013/16-Jul-13.html

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Freighters and belly cargo conference 2013

This year's Freighters and belly cargo Conference will be held at the Park Hyatt Hotel on Sadiyaat Island, Abu Dhabi from 29 September to 1 October 2013.

This is the 13th consecutive year we have held the Freighters World Conference – and this year we have included topics on belly cargo.

This two-day conference presents fantastic opportunities to network and socialise. Attended by delegates and speakers who can make things happen, make a difference and make change, you will not be disappointed.

Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel in the United Arab Emirates is an exclusive sanctuary for the discerning business and leisure traveller, located on a nine-kilometre stretch of environmentally protected beach on Saadiyat Island. The resort is adjacent to the famous Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, minutes from the city’s prime business district, the Abu Dhabi Corniche, and 25 minutes from Abu Dhabi International Airport. The island is only a 40 minute taxi journey from the business district of Dubai.

Source: http://www.aircargonews.net/events/book-event-form.html

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Cargo Airline of the Year 2014

The 31st anniversary of Air Cargo News awards evening, Cargo Airline of the Year, will take place at the Lancaster London Hotel on Saturday, 26th April 2014. If you need any further information about this Air Cargo News event, known throughout the airfreight world as the ‘Oscars’ of the air cargo industry, then please contact Patricia Cooper, General Manager of the Events Division on p.cooper(at)aircargonews.net or telephone +44 (0) 1784 255000

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Saudi Airlines Cargo reports 6% revenue growth for H1

Saudi Airlines Cargo has reported revenue growth of 6% for the first six months of 2013.

In the first half of the year, Saudia Cargo moved a total of 270,000 tonnes, breaking last year's record of 250,000 and achieving a 6% increase in revenue and a 4% increase in tonnage.

Cargo moved on the bellies of passenger aircraft grew by 29%, with the main contributors being the USA (+50%) and the UK (+40%), while cargo boardings on the freighter network grew by 3%.

Cargo moved on the bellies grew by 29%, with the main contributors being the USA (+50%) and the UK (+40%), while cargo boardings on the freighter network grew by 3%.

The airline’s growth is the result of a number of factors, the airline said through a statement. During the first half of the year, the carrier increased its freighter capacity from Dhaka and commenced B747 freighter flights in Mumbai and Kano, Nigeria. It also started operations with its first B747-8F in June, which is currently scheduled on Riyadh-Hong Kong-Riyadh-Frankfurt-Saudi Arabia flight rotations.

In terms of charter activity, revenues were lower than anticipated in the first six months due to a shortage of aircraft availability. As of July 2013, however, the airline increased its fleet to fifteen aircraft (4 MD11s and 11 747s), three of which are dedicated to offering sufficient capacity in the growing ad hoc charter market.

“Although the current market is a bit soft, we still expect to achieve a 10% growth during the second half of the year,”said Nabil Khojah, CEO of Saudia Cargo. “This is principally due to the boost in our charter activity, optimization of our freighter network, adjustments to freighter schedules and increases in the number of freighters to some of our key destinations.”

Saudi Airlines Cargo operates a fleet of 15 freighters and sells the belly-capacity on 145 passenger aircraft for Saudi Arabia’s flag carrier Saudia, spanning a rapidly expanding global network of 225 destinations. In addition to its scheduled freighter services, the cargo airline also provides cost-effective and practical worldwide charter flight solutions from a growing fleet of dedicated charter aircraft.

Source: http://www.arabiansupplychain.com/article-8965-saudi-airlines-cargo-reports-6-revenue-growth-for-h1/#.UfY1LuRHL_I

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Stricter cargo security in U.S. to cost airlines NIS 10m a year

The new measures, which include more scanning, might usher an increase of the maximum prices for flying shipments or the introduction of a security fee on exporters.

The price for sending air freight overseas could soon rise due to stricter U.S. security demands that could halt flights to the United States if not carried out. The companies affected would be El Al Israel Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and US Airways.

source: http://www.haaretz.com/business/.premium-1.538436

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Three new container freight stations mooted

VISAKHAPATNAM: Three new Container Freight Stations (CFS) are expected to be set up in the Port City around the end of the year. Currently, the Container Corporation of India (Concor), Sravan Shipping Services Private Limited, Gateway East India Private Limited and CWC-SICAL have one CFS each in Visakhapatnam.

According to sources, Concor and Sravan Shipping Services plan to set up one more CFS each in the near future. The central government too plans to set up one CFS in Vizag to cater to the increasing demand for container services. "The Balmer Laurie CFS is being undertaken as a joint venture between the central government and Visakhapatnam Port Trust (VPT). "We are finalising the joint venture," said the senior port official. The proposal was made three years ago but could not be implemented because of land related issues. "The handling capacity details will be released once the formalities are completed," said the official.

Phase 1 and 2 of the Concor CFS is expected to come up across 80 acres and is likely to handle around half-a-million TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units), according to a senior port official."The new (phase 1) Concor facility will be built with a terminal built across 55 acres adjacent the Aiyappa temple. We have transferred the land and it will be operational by October," said the official.

Sravan Shipping chief executive G Sambasiva Rao said the firm aims to handle 10,000 TEUs per month with a CFC built across 30 acres from December. "Container cargo is the future. More than 70% of the commodities in the developed world are switching to container cargo. In some places, even iron ore and coal are being transported through containers. Though container cargo in vizag is just 5% of total cargo handled, it is expected to increase provided there is improved infrastructure in place," he said.

"People are looking at better viability. Earlier, lorries used to be used to transport marble slabs from Rajasthan which was expensive. However, now with domestic and exim (export import) facility available at the ports, businesses are looking at container traffic," said a source.

VPT handled 45.54 lakh tonnes of container traffic in terms of tonnage and 2.48 lakh tonnes in terms of TEUs in 2012-13 as compared to 42.14 lakh tonnes and 2.34 lakh tonnes respectively in 2011-12.

source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/visakhapatnam/Three-new-container-freight-stations-mooted/articleshow/21436552.cms

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Indore domestic freight charges- July 26

July 26 (Reuters) - Freight rates from Indore, the key wholesale soybeans
market in central India, to other destinations in India :

    --Charges for WET CARGO, in rupees per 10,000-litre tanker--


 
                      Friday's            Previous
    Indore to
    Abohar       ---               33,000-33,500       33,000-33,500
    Alwar        ---               24,500-25,000       24,500-25,000
    Ambala       ---               31,500-32,000       31,500-32,000
    Amritsar     ---               34,000-34,500       34,000-34,500
    Banglore     ---               32,000-32,500       32,000-32,500
    Bulandshahar ---               23,500-24,000       23,500-24,000
    Chennai      ---               36,000-36,500       36,000-36,500
    Chandigarh   ---               33,500-34,000       33,500-34,000
    Delhi        ---               25,000-25,500       25,000-25,500
    Faridabad    ---               24,500-25,000       24,500-25,000
    Gaziabad     ---               22,500-23,000       22,500-23,000
    Hedarabad    ---               21,500-22,000       21,500-22,000
    Hisar        ---               27,000-27,500       27,000-27,500
    Jaipur       ---               20,500-21,000       20,500-21,000
    Jalandhar    ---               34,000-34,500       34,000-34,500
    Jammu        ---               40,500-41,000       40,500-41,000
    Kanpur       ---               22,500-23,000       22,500-23,000
    Karnal       ---               30,000-30,500       30,000-30,500
    Ludhiana     ---               34,500-35,000       34,500-35,000
    Mumbai       ---               14,000-14,500       14,000-14,500
    Modinagar    ---               23,000-23,500       23,000-23,500
    Pathankot    ---               38,500-39,000       38,500-39,000
    Rajpura      ---               33,000-33,500       33,000-33,500
    Sangrur      ---               33,500-34,000       33,500-34,000
    Sarhanpur    ---               29,500-30,000       29,500-30,000
    Sikandarabad ---               23,000-23,500       23,000-23,500

    --Charges for DRY CARGO, in rupees per 10-tonne truck load--


    Indore to:
    Ahmednagar   ---               12,500-13,000       12,500-13,000
    Ahmedabad    ---                9,500-10,000        9,500-10,000
    Amritsar     ---               30,000-30,500       30,000-30,500
    Aurangabad   ---               12,000-12,500       12,000-12,500
    Baroda       ---                8,500-9,000         8,500-9,000
    Bedi Bunder  ---               10,000-10,500       10,000-10,500
    Bhavnagar    ---                9,500-10,000        9,500-10,000
    Bangalore    ---               25,000-25,500       25,000-25,500
    Chandigarh   ---               25,500-26,000       25,500-26,000
    Delhi        ---               20,000-20,500       20,000-20,500
    Dhulia       ---                8,500-9,000         8,500-9,000
    Faridabad    ---               20,500-21,000       20,500-21,000
    Jaipur       ---               18,500-19,000       18,500-19,000
    Jalandhar    ---               29,000-29,500       29,000-29,500
    Jammu*       ---               36,500-37,000       36,500-37,000
    Kandla       ---               11,500-12,000       11,500-12,000
    Karar        ---               16,000-16,500       16,000-16,500
    Karnal       ---               23,000-23,500       23,000-23,500
    Kolhapur     ---               17,000-17,500       17,000-17,500
    Ludhiana     ---               26,000-26,500       26,000-26,500
    Malegaon     ---               10,000-10,500       10,000-10,500
    Mumbai port  ---               14,500-15,000       14,500-15,000
    Mundra       ---               12,000-12,500       12,000-12,500
    Nashik       ---               10,000-10,500       10,000-10,500
    Nanded       ---               13,000-13,500       13,000-13,500
    Navlakhi     ---               12,000-12,500       12,000-12,500
    New Bombay   ---               13,500-14,000       13,500-14,000
    Okha         ---               12,000-12,300       12,000-12,300
    Porbandar    ---               11,000-11,500       11,000-11,500
    Pipawa       ---               11,500-12,000       11,500-12,000
    Pune         ---               14,500-15,000       14,500-15,000
    Satara       ---               15,500-16,000       15,500-16,000
    Sangli       ---               16,000-16,500       16,000-16,500
    Solapur      ---               15,000-15,500       15,000-15,500

    * 9 tonnes

source: http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/07/26/indore-freights-idINL4N0FW2RK20130726

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Giant Logistics Group Falls Foul of Freight Forwarding Ownership Law

FedEx Proposes to Continue Operations Despite Being Ruled Out of Public Utility Contract 


PHILIPPINES – When the judiciary comes up against state in virtually any country, casual observers can often sit back and enjoy the ensuing row. After effectively being kicked out of the country this week when a Court ruled that its government-issued freight forwarding licence was invalid, FedEx has apparently vowed to continue operations whilst awaiting the final decision of the Supreme Court after two native logistics firms won a wrongful practice suit.

The government, under the auspices of the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), issued FedEx with the 5 year licence in May 2011 following a Department of Justice authorisation some years earlier that exempted freight forwarders from the national requirement to only grant public utility contracts to companies owned and operated by Filipinos.

The appellate Court begged to differ however saying, having made the original decision to disqualify FedEx (and any other forwarder affected by similar licence arrangements) that the Justice Department had no authorisation to overturn its ruling. Three justices all agreed on this after a case was brought by two Philippine companies, Merit Freight International Inc. and Ace Logistics Inc., aiming to prove that FedEx is a foreign corporation.

There was precedent for the prosecution in that one company, Royal Cargo, apparently previously 70% owned by Filipinos and with a foreign president but married to a native, exchanged their president for a German national which caused the CAB to rescind their licence to operate unless a further change of presidential status was effected within one month.

It is difficult to see how FedEx can win this particular argument and certainly there may be some residue of distaste after the events of February 2009 when the logistics giant pulled out of its contract to operate a 300,000 square foot cargo terminal in the Subic Bay International Airport. The closure, despite an agreement stretching into 2010, was due to FedEx’s desire to reposition its main Asia Pacific hub to China’s Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, the first time the US company had ever closed a main cargo hub. The move cost over seven hundred Filipino jobs and followed a move the previous year when FedEx pulled the plug on the operations of Corporate Air which also had a presence at Subic.

It is presumed that the FedEx appeal will centre on the money the US corporation says it is has earmarked to invest in the expansion of its facilities in the country, which was to include new offices and freight terminals supposedly at a cost exceeding $11.5 million. In a statement a spokesman for FedEx (Philippines and Indonesia) said:

“FedEx is operating under the international freight forwarder licence issued by the CAB as an independent entity in the Philippines. The licence was issued on May 2, 2011 and is valid until May 1, 2016. Pending the final decision of the Supreme Court, the CAB has confirmed that FedEx (together with all of the 30 plus other foreign-owned air freight forwarders) can continue to operate under the licence.”

source: http://www.handyshippingguide.com/shipping-news/giant-logistics-group-falls-foul-of-freight-forwarding-ownership-law-_4791

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VAT on China freight charges

New rules have been issued by the Ministry of Finance and State Administration of Tax in their Cai Shui no.37 (Circular 37) regarding application of VAT to ocean transport services. The majority of carriers have confirmed that they will start to debit 6 % VAT on all charges payable in China.

---

There is a great deal of uncertainty about the application of the new rules and some carriers are seeking clarification with Ministry of Finance and State Administration of Tax. We understand that until those carriers receive clarification of the rules and their application to ocean shipping, existing invoicing arrangements will remain unchanged.

As is often the case with changes to regulations in China there will be some contradictory statements and we cannot make definitive statements regarding implementation at present.

We have compiled the below information from carrier notices:

The following carriers have indicated that they will apply the 6% VAT charge on all invoices payable in the PRC from 1st August 2013based on the issuance date of the VAT invoice.
 
OOCL, Hamburg Sud, MSC, MOL, NYK Lines, CSAV, China Shipping Container Lines

The following carriers have stated that existing invoicing arrangements will remain unchanged until they have obtained clarification with the Chinese Authorities

Evergreen, Maersk, MCC

Source: http://www.bifa.org/content/popmessage.aspx?sec=2&id=3642

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DHL improves carbon efficiency for fourth consecutive year

DHL Express has improved its carbon efficiency for the fourth consecutive year at 7.4 percent despite a significant rise in volume.

Top country performers include Thailand, Australia, Japan, Singapore, and Bangladesh.

Deutsche Post DHL, parent company of DHL, has now achieved a 16 percent improvement in its carbon efficiency since the launch of the GoGreen programme in 2008 and is over halfway to meeting its target of a 30 percent CO2-efficiency improvement by 2020.

Jerry Hsu, CEO, DHL Express Asia Pacific, said: "Demand for DHL Express services has increased in Asia Pacific. Last year, we saw a double-digit growth in volume, yet overall we managed to achieve a 7.4 percent year-on-year improvement in carbon efficiency. Despite opening new and bigger facilities to serve growing customer demand – such as the North Asia Hub in Shanghai – our increasingly efficient ground operations, energy efficient buildings have enabled us to lower overall carbon emissions for the fourth year in a row, showing our absolute dedication to growing a sustainable business."

Fleet modernisation, such as the introduction of new and more fuel efficient vehicles in ground transportation, was a major contributor to improved CO2 efficiency in the region. Over 500 vehicles in Asia Pacific were replaced with new units that feature innovative systems like GPS and telematics to help monitor, measure, analyse and improve the carbon efficient behaviour of drivers, in addition to continued effort on route optimisation and asset utilisation.

Most of the vehicles are Euro IV and V emission standards, which are defined by the European Commission as the acceptable limits for exhaust emissions for new light duty vehicles sold in European Union member states.

Thailand achieved an outstanding performance with a 36.2 percent year-on-year improvement in CO2 efficiency, followed by Australia at 22.7 percent. In Thailand, diesel vehicles were fitted with gasoline engines running on 100 percent CNG (Compressed Natural Gas). Australia's older fleet was also upgraded with new and more fuel-efficient vehicles meeting Euro V standards. Changes to ground facilities with improved energy utilisation also played a big role in achieving CO2 improvements.

In Australia, all of DHL's facilities are currently certified as ISO 14001 (Environmental Management System), and staff is fully engaged with the environmental programme. initiating different activities around energy savings, paper reduction and waste recycling.

Among other top performers of CO2 efficiency improvement are Japan (18.6 percent), Singapore (17.9 percent), and Bangladesh (12.4 percent). DHL's Central Asia Hub was the top hub with an 11.4 percent improvement in CO2 efficiency.

DHL Express Asia Pacific started the assessment of its carbon footprint from energy consumption in real estate and ground transport to measure and improve carbon efficiency through abatement programmes. This program was first introduced by DHL Express in 2008 and now covers over 1,000 facilities in 27 markets across Asia-Pacific. 

Source: http://www.cargonewsasia.com/secured/article.aspx?id=7&article=31403

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Norfolk airport cargo traffic off 28 percent in June

Norfolk International Airport saw cargo traffic fall 28 percent in June compared with the same period last year, according to the airport's latest figures.
The cargo carriers that serve the airport, including Federal Express, Mountain Air Cargo and UPS, moved about 4.5 million pounds in and out of Norfolk, compared with 6.2 million pounds in June 2012. It's unclear what caused the drop, said Wayne Shank, airport authority executive director. "We're scratching our heads on that one," he said.
Passenger traffic fell 5.7 percent versus June 2012 to 303,295 in the latest month. The figure reflects service by American, Delta, Southwest, United, US Airways and their regional partners.

Source: http://hamptonroads.com/2013/07/norfolk-airport-cargo-traffic-28-percent-june

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Why cars and rough seas don't mix

It is not uncommon for cars to spend weeks on cargo ships en route to their destination - but sometimes the cars simply don’t make it.
That scenario played out on a ship that experienced rough seas on a chaotic ocean crossing from Japan to Russia by the Cambodian vessel, Astongate.
According to the description of the dramatic vision uploaded to YouTube, the ship was carrying 64 used cars to Vladivostok, but following a storm and enormous swells, only 12 made it to the end. Further investigation suggests the incident may have actually occurred in February 2012, according to The Maritime Bulletin.
The vessel is described as being a Roll-on, Roll-off (RO-RO) ship, which are commonly used for shipping cars. In most cases, however, the vehicles are secured in the hull of the ship, meaning they won't be exposed to the elements. In this instance, however, the cars were on the top-deck.

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The video shows several cars falling over the edges of the ship, and it appears there are broken tie-down straps littered over the deck.
The person who paid for the cars to be carried on the top deck of the ship reportedly signed a document acknowledging the risks involved.
There have been two well-documented incidents involving RO-RO ships, including the sinking of the MS Herald of Free Enterprise in 1987, and the capsize of the TEV Wahine in New Zealand in 1968.
And even cargo ships with the cars secured in the hull can experience significant problems at sea. For example, the Norwegian carrier MV Tricolor sank in the English Channel in 2002, taking 2800 cars with it. And in 2006, a ship with nearly 5000 Mazdas on board tipped onto its side in rough seas.

Source: http://news.drive.com.au/drive/motor-news/why-cars-and-rough-seas-dont-mix-20130726-2qp1r.html

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Activities at Karachi and Qasim ports

The Karachi Port handled 93,458 tonnes of cargo comprising 71,179 tonnes of import cargo and 22,279 tonnes of export cargo including 5,038 loaded and empty containers during the last 24 hours ended at 0700 hours on Thursday. The total import cargo of 71,179 tonnes comprised 41,134 tonnes of containerised cargo; 7,985 tonnes of bulk cargo: 1,500 tonnes of coal; 774 tonnes of shredded scrap; 5,711 tonnes of rock phosphate and 22,060 tonnes of oil/liquid cargo.

The total export cargo of 22,279 tonnes comprised 21,865 tonnes of containerised cargo; 30 tonnes of general cargo and 384 tonnes of cement. As many as 5,038 containers comprising 3,064 containers import and 1,974 containers export were handled during the last 24 hours on Thursday.

The brakeup of imported containers shows 985 of 20's and 1,012 of 40's loaded while 55 of 20's and nil of 40's empty containers, whereas that of exported containers shows 457 of 20's and 433 of 40's loaded containers while 125 of 20's and 263 of 40's empty containers were handled during the business hours.

There are six ships namely Naxihe, UAFL Zanzibar, UASC Shuwaikh, DL Ace, Ellie and Banglar Mamata with three container ships, one oil tanker, one bulk cargo ship and one jute carrier respectively sailed out to sea during the reported period. There are four vessels viz Tasanee, Posen, UASC Shuwaikh and Vinalines Mighty with three container ships and one bulk cargo ship respectively are currently at the berths.

There are five ships namely OOCL Jakarta, Hyundai Bangkok, Posen, MT Karachi and Orient Singapore with three container ships, one oil tanker and one scrap carrier respectively sailed out to sea on Thursday, while another ship namely Stavanger Bliss with one oil tanker expected to sail on Friday. There are four vessels viz Rio Blanco, Kota Gembira, Ozay-5 and Sapphire-T with three container ships and one chemical carrier respectively due to arrive on Thursday, while five vessels viz APL Oman, Hansa Nordburg, Northern Prelude, Liberty Promise and SFL Yukon with three container ships, one vehicles carrier and one steel ship respectively due to arrive on Friday.

PORT QASIM A cargo volume of 99,181 tonnes comprising 76,856 tonnes of import cargo and 22,325 tonnes of export cargo inclusive 2,280 loaded and empty containers (TEUs) was handled at Port Qasim during the last 24 hours on Thursday. The total import cargo of 76,856 tonnes includes 46,667 tonnes of diesel oil; 9,194 tonnes of phosphoric acid and 20,995 tonnes of containerised cargo. The total export cargo includes 22,325 tonnes of containerised cargo.

As many as 2,280 containers comprising 1,105 containers import and 1,175 containers export were handled during the last 24 hours on Thursday. There are two ship namely CV CMA CGM Mozart and MV Better Sea Park with containers and chemicals sailed out to sea on Thursday morning, while another ship namely MT Al-Salam-II with diesel oil is expected to sail on the same day afternoon.

A total number of four vessels viz CV CMA CGM Mozart, MV Better Sea Park, MV Beacon SW and MT Al-Salam-II are currently occupying berths to load/offload containers, chemicals, wheat and diesel oil respectively during the last 24 hours. As many as three ships namely Bux Contact, Brightoil Legend and Flora with containers, crude oil and cement currently at the outer anchorage of Port Qasim. There were two vessels viz CV Bux Contact and CV Dubai Express with containers expected to take berths at Qasim International Container Terminal on Thursday. There is one ship namely CV MSC Reunion with containers due to arrive on Thursday.

Source: http://www.brecorder.com/business-a-economy/189/1215122/

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Project Freight Forwarding Logistics Simpler with Modern Technology

CAD and Predictive Software Makes Designs for Tricky Cargo Movements Easier


WORLDWIDE – According to Per Thornblom, the planning of difficult freight movements using modern technology is allowing logistics providers to set new standards of value and efficiency. Thornblom, Group Project Logistics Manager for the GAC Group, will be addressing the PowerLogistics Asia 2013 conference this October where he will explain why he is embracing the new tools available to shippers with such enthusiasm.

Thornblom recounts how Computer Aided Drawing (CAD) is emerging as a vital element in planning how to load and store complex shipments. Lashing calculations identify the best way to secure cargo on a vessel whilst on-board stability and weather routing software help plan a safe and efficient voyage. In his speech the GAC man will outline the key advantage that dedicated software brings to the planning of heavy lift projects, and how the smart application of technology facilitates the engineering of detailed solutions to ensure timely, safe and on-budget execution. He explains how the availability of these new instruments, plus the wise utilisation of a trained workforce can ensure success, saying:

"Project logistics is a diverse and demanding field, in which having the right skills, knowledge and experience is essential. Project skills are built on practical experience and a solid background in shipping and logistics – and we now have new tools to enhance that expertise.

“Within GAC, wherever we can, we aim to bring existing employees into the heart of project logistics operations - as and when required - and train them in the specific skills they need. Our staff can also enhance their knowledge through a range of theoretical and practical courses offered by the GAC Corporate Academy. Staff with a practical background, who have served at sea or who have been involved in heavy lift logistics operations, are always a good fit.”

Many of the world's leading project forwarding professionals and their clients from the EPC (Engineering, Procurement & Construction), oil & gas, energy and mining sectors will gather at the Singapore's Marina Bay Sands Hotel for PowerLogistics Asia 2013. Participants from throughout the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, Asia and Australia will include industry giants such as Chevron, Technip, Jacobs Engineering, Mammoet, Jumbo Shipping, SAL Heavy Lift, Panalpina, JAS Forwarding and many more.

Source: http://www.handyshippingguide.com/shipping-news/project-freight-forwarding-logistics-simpler-with-modern-technology_4788

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UPS Takes Proactive Steps On Fire Protection

UPS has placed an order for 1,821 fire resistant shipping containers capable of containing a fire with temperatures as high as 1,200F for more than 4 hr. to use on its aircraft. Deliveries start in September and will be complete by early 2014, the airline says.

The unit load devices (ULDs) are built with MACROLite, a fiber-reinforced plastic composite similar to the material used in ballistic body armor, says UPS. The airline performed burn testing of the materials with the FAA and witnessed by the NTSB.

“That timeframe would give a flight crew ample time to land safely in the event of an in-flight fire,” the airline says.

The announcement comes as the United Arab Emirates’ air accident investigation department is set to publish a final report on July 24 into the Sept. 3, 2010 crash of UPS Flight 6, a Boeing 747-400 freighter that crashed after a cargo fire erupted 22 min. after departure from Dubai on a trip to Cologne.

Although the aircraft returned to Dubai, the pilots, with smoke in the cockpit and multiple failures including the captain’s oxygen system, were not able to land and both were killed. The aircraft crashed approximately 28 min. after the first fire bell warning went off in the cockpit.

The cargo suspected of causing an uncontained fire on the main cargo deck included “lithium and lithium derivative batteries,” according to an interim report. “The wider systemic risks associated with cargo fires and the carriage of hazardous air cargo will be addressed in the accident final report’s safety recommendations,” the report states.

The fire resistant ULDs are part of a broader safety overhaul of the cargo carrier’s fleet based on recommendations from the UPS Independent Pilots Association (IPA) safety task force, organized after the accident.

Other improvements include purchasing 575 fire-containment cargo pallet covers that can withstand 1,200F temperatures for 4 hr.; installing quick-donning, full-face oxygen masks across the entire fleet by the end of 2014, and completing the installation of emergency vision assurance systems (EVAS) in the 747-400 fleet. With EVAS, pilots press their oxygen masks into an inflatable pouch on the panel, allowing them to see the flight instruments and a portion of the forward windscreen despite having smoke in the cockpit.

According to Aviation Week’s Fleet database, UPS has a fleet of 235 aircraft, including leased-in aircraft, with 13 747-400s.

Source: http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/awx_07_23_2013_p0-599998.xml

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Export of Japanese food by air becomes big business for ANA

HONG KONG - ANA, Japan's largest airline, is targeting Hong Kong's appetite for next-day delivery of US$100 mangoes and other food to boost its cargo as shipments of Panasonic and Sony televisions slump.

Hong Kong, the biggest destination for food and live animals exported by air from Japan, is buying more Japanese beef, cherries and other premium items as the number of rich in the city increases. Expanding demand is prompting the airline to add more cargo flights in the region.

ANA is speeding up the transport of farm goods by avoiding Tokyo and using its cargo hub in Okinawa, in southern Japan. Rising exports of food and other perishables is helping the carrier withstand a slump in the shipment of electronics as Sony and other Japanese companies pare domestic manufacturing.

"Japanese seasonal fruits have a reputation for high quality in Asian countries," said Akira Okada, ANA's head of cargo. "In the future we want to be able to provide next-day delivery to the Chinese mainland as well. There are a lot of rich people in China."

The nation's exports of food and live animals by planes almost doubled in value in the past decade to 36 billion yen (HK$2.8 billion) last year, from 19 billion yen in 2002, according to figures from Japan customs. Hong Kong is the biggest importer, with 20 billion yen in purchases last year.

In comparison, television shipments by air have slumped, with about 661,000 units sent overseas last year from 2.5 million in 2002, according to Japan customs. Japanese companies have reduced or stopped television production in the country as they strive to cut costs and stem losses amid increasing competition.

In 2009, Sony closed a factory that made monitors and projectors in Ichinomiya while Panasonic cut its investment in two flat-panel factories at home. Hitachi ended its television manufacturing last year and Toshiba has also stopped domestic television production.

Yamato Holdings, Japan's largest express delivery company, in May said it would offer next-day deliveries direct to customers in Hong Kong and Taiwan from the Okinawa hub.

Oranges from Ehime prefecture, western Japan, sell for HK$338 for 1.2kg on Yahoo Hong Kong's website, while up to 700 grams of grapes from Kagawa prefecture, western Japan, are priced at HK$458. Customers are also paying up to 10,000 yen each for mangoes from Kyushu, southern Japan, Okada said.

Source: scmp.com

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China Southern begins Guangzhou-Frankfurt freighter service

China Southern Airlines launched its third scheduled freighter service from Guangzhou to Europe.

The new service to Frankfurt operates three times a week using a Boeing 777-200F. Flights depart every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

The Guangzhou-Frankfurt-Guangzhou service will provide 270 tonnes capacity per week. The import and export cargo between China and Germany is mostly high value-added cargo such as machinery and precision instruments.

Frankfurt is the most important origin and destination city in Germany for international cargo.

In 2009, China Southern’s Frankfurt Office was established when the airline launched its Shanghai-Frankfurt-Shanghai freighter service. With the cooperation of local trucking companies, cargo can be transported all over Europe.

China Southern will receive two more B777 freighters in the second half of 2013.

Source: http://www.aircargoworld.com/Air-Cargo-News/2013/07/china-southern-begins-guangzhou-frankfurt-freighter-service/2514640#sthash.tHh8waBJ.dpuf

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Emirates, Air France, KLM to boost cargo traffic

THE introduction of daily flights by Emirates SkyCargo and Air France-KLM over the next 12 months would be expected to contribute to the continuing growth at Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International.  

  Emirates SkyCargo has confirmed that all dedicated freight flights would be operated from its new base at DWC when it opens in May 2014, while Air France-KLM would relocate its regional hub to the airport from August this year.

  “The introduction of daily scheduled cargo flights by Emirates SkyCargo as well as Air France-KLM will provide a significant fillip to growth. As the airport matures, we will not be able to sustain the triple-digit increases experienced in the first few years of operations, but we expect volume growth to resume, albeit at a more moderate pace,” said Dubai Airports Chief Executive Officer, Paul Griffiths.

  During the first six months of 2013, air movements rose 37 per cent to 10,237, up from 7,474 movements in the first half of 2012. 

  For the second quarter of 2013 air movements rose 35.4 per cent to 6,133, up from 3,961 in the three months to June 2012. The jump in air movements was driven by a surge in general aviation and training flights since the start of the year.

  Recent fluctuations in charter traffic have seen freight volumes at Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International dip in the first six months of 2013.

  Freight volumes fell 3.2 per cent to 102, 929 tonnes in the first six months of the year, down from 106, 333 tonnes in the same period in 2012. For the second quarter volumes fell 13 per cent to 48,955, down from 56, 271 in the second quarter of 2012. The fall comes as freight volumes stabilise after the rapid growth in the first few years of cargo operations at the airport. DWC opened for freight operations in June 2010.

Source: http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php/business-travel/128073-emirates-air-france-klm-to-boost-cargo-traffic-

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'Slowdown' in air cargo hits trade badly

Cargo movement at the Chennai Airport has been sluggish for almost a year now, but things have become particularly bad over the last week, prompting trade bodies like South Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry to write to the Revenue Department.

According to agents who belong to the Chennai Customs House Agents Association, things have gone from “bad to worse” after air customs officers were called for an investigation on July 18, after which they have been “reluctant and non-compliant” to clear the export and import cargo lying there. Cargo movement in May was down by 9% (international cargo) and 11% (domestic), signifying a bad trend for the industry.

Airport sources have revealed that the customs personnel are resentful of the fact that their officials were allegedly called for an inquiry by the CBI for clearing a consignment of chemicals sans proper documentation. This has reportedly been done on a direction from the High Court, though customs officials were reluctant to confirm the same. “There is a lot of cargo that needs to be cleared and we are working with the limited resources we have,” said an official.

Agents have listed frequent strikes, malfunctions with the Indian Customs Electronic Data Interchange System and general apathy of officials as other reasons for the cargo pile-up.

A SICCI communique lambasted the attitude of officials as “non-cooperative” and said that they were dragging their feet to clear even routine paperwork.

Source: http://newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/Slowdown-in-air-cargo-hits-trade-badly/2013/07/26/article1702540.ece

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The mother of all ports...

A Superport is in the prcess of creation  in the North West. Liza Helps investigates.

Work has started on Peel Ports’ £300 million in-river deep sea container port Liverpool 2 – an integral part of the puzzle that makes up the ambitious multi billion pound Liverpool Superport in the North West, but can port centric development really work in the region?

It doesn’t seem possible driving along the ramshackle pot hole-laden road to Peel Ports’ Port of Liverpool headquarters on an unseasonably wintry day close to Easter. But Global Institute of Logistics chief executive officer Kieran Ring is of a more optimistic frame of mind. Talking at the CILT Conference on Logistics Clustering he says the plans have potential: “As fuel costs rise the need to move goods, domestically and internationally, far more efficiently becomes much more important than ever, both from an economic and an environmental viewpoint.”

Mark Basnett, executive director of Liverpool City Region LEP, a key partner in the development of the Superport agrees: “The trends of increased imports of consumer goods from low cost economies and export back to those economies, increased road transport costs and increased focus on more sustainable logistics for retailers and manufacturers, will drive business towards port centric and multi-modal logistics solutions close to large centres of population.”

Ring adds that when companies locate in the same place and share opportunities, synergies are created that can provide more efficient supply chain solutions than if the same companies were to work alone.

He points out that with globalisation the need for clustering at ports becomes paramount as more and more goods are imported around the globe. “The nearer you are to the port the better chance you have of keeping costs low.”

It is just that point that Stephen Carr, head of business development at Peel Ports Mersey (which operates Port of Liverpool and the Manchester Ship Canal) is keen to reiterate: “Currently 90 per cent of deep sea cargo enters the UK from the south, yet over 50 per cent of the UK container market is based in Birmingham northwards. Indeed 70 per cent of all goods that come within a 150 mile radius of the Port of Liverpool enter the UK via southern ports – with the on-going journey to the North of England by road and rail adding extra strain on the country's overburdened transport networks and the environmental impact of unnecessary CO2 emissions.”

Richard Butcher chief executive officer of Stobart Estates agrees and notes: “The majority of containers spend most of their lives empty but someone, somewhere is paying for that – there are about a million empty containers a year being moved out of the North West to the Southern Ports at a cost of £400 per container: that’s £400 million of waste. Any cuts to that cost must be welcomed.”

Carr goes on: "Liverpool is the most centrally positioned deep-sea port in the UK, meaning it is ideally situated to serve all cargo bound for Northern Britain by optimising the supply chain.
"By looking at the integrated ‘Ship-to-Door’ logistics, we not only optimise the transport leg from port to store, but also offer an efficient onward transport journey as Liverpool is closest to the consumer.”

According to the Liverpool LEP 17 million people live within two hours’ drive of Liverpool making it the largest population centre outside London.

Razi Khan, a buyer and supply chain manager at Typhoo, imports tea to the UK from around the globe. He says that by using the Port of Liverpool, as opposed to the southern UK ports, Typhoo has been able to make substantial cost savings and meet its targets for reducing carbon emissions.

Khan says: “We save around £500/40ft by bringing our cargo into the UK through Liverpool, including customs and storage. In 2010 we imported just 20 per cent of our tea through Liverpool. We currently have around 60 per cent coming through the port, and our target is to have 100 per cent entering the UK market through the Port of Liverpool within the next five years.”

Historically, Typhoo Tea routed 95 per cent of its cargo through southern UK ports and then road hauled to the North West. By importing through the Port of Liverpool they have significantly reduced road miles and therefore their carbon emissions as well as saved money. Peel Ports’ Liverpool 2 scheme is part of a wider £2 billion investment in the region which will see a transformation of the way logistics is carried out in the country or so its proponents boast.

Carr says: “There has already been an incremental growth in market share in 2009 to 2012 Liverpool had a one per cent market share – equivalent of 40-50,000 containers or 70,000 TEUs. Although the terminal at Liverpool 2 will open in 2015, it won't be up to full run rate capacity until 2020/21 but in that seven years it is expected to ramp up and broadly double the throughput of the port.

“But, it is not just the increase in market share. Peel Ports estimates show that by 2030 container traffic through the Port of Liverpool could experience a modal shift away from road haulage with five per cent of freight being taken by rail, ten per cent via the Manchester Ship Canal and 15 per cent by coastal shipping.”

In 2012 the figures were less than one per cent by rail, five per cent by Manchester Ship Canal and just 2.5 per cent by coastal shipping.

Construction work on Peel Ports’ Liverpool 2 project will create a 16.5 metre berthing pocket allowing two vessels of up to 13,500 TEU at a time to call directly at the port when it becomes operational in 2015.

The scheme will see the construction of an 854-metre quay wall and the creation of 44 acres of land for the container terminal which will be served by ship to shore quay cranes and modern cantilever rail mounted gantry cranes (CRMGs). It will be one of the UK’s most modern container terminals.

Douglas Coleman, programme director for the Liverpool 2 project, explains: “CRMGs are a highly-efficient use of space. We have given this great thought, and the adoption of CRMG technology also means that ships are going to be serviced very quickly. They are more modern than our current straddle carrier operation, and are a high-technology solution. This will be one of the UK’s most modern container terminals, and that includes the crane technology.”

The sheer scale of the Liverpool 2 project can be shown by the quantities of materials which are needed in the construction phase – with the quay wall requiring 30,000 cubic metres of concrete, 15,000 metres of steel piles and 6100 metres of new crane rails. Dredging of the berthing pocket will remove around one million cubic metres of material from the Mersey; and almost three million cubic metres of infill material will be required to create the new container area.

Associated infrastructure will require the construction of 3,500 metres of new road, 230,000 sq metres of surfacing and 2500 metres of fencing.

Liverpool 2 is the key project in the Mersey Ports Masterplan, the 20-year vision for growth and future developments at the Port of Liverpool and on the Manchester Ship Canal – launched by Peel Ports in 2010.

Liverpool 2 will connect directly to a number of port centric logistics hubs along the Manchester Ship Canal via barge – resulting in the development of the UK's first "green logistics hub" which will reduce costs, congestion and carbon footprint for businesses located in the North West of England, serving the North of the UK.

However, the £2 billion Superport project is not just about Liverpool 2 and the Manchester Ship Canal. Overall the project brings together 3MG (Mersey Multi-Modal Gateway), Port of Liverpool and Liverpool John Lennon Airport as well as Liverpool 2 and the Manchester Ship Canal.

Analysts Amion Consulting have forecast the potential for more than 21,000 new jobs and an additional £6.1 billion GVA (gross value added – a measure of economic output) by 2020, then nearly 30,000 jobs and another £18.3 billion of GVA by 2030.

But why has this all come about now? Much of it is about the economy and the government’s attempts to get it moving. This includes the mass injection of cash to pump prime infrastructure works throughout the country and the revision of the planning process.

 Butcher says: “The regeneration of brownfield sites has been helped by the revision of the planning process. When you look at the North West, land is cheaper than Midlands and the South - land costs, ownership and rents. Then, as you extrapolate, rates are lower. In addition labour rates are lower too.

Total package
“You have got to look at the total logistics package it is not just about the rental cost of the buildings – they are not the be all and end all of the deal. You have to put everything in the mix. The Golden Triangle may look good but you have got to look at how to service your market. The companies that win will be able to combine their business (online and traditional) with the lowest possible distribution cost.”

As well as the basic economics another reason why things are moving in the North West today has to be that for the first time in their history the Manchester Ship Canal and the Port of Liverpool are owned by the one company – Peel Ports.

“Up until recently,” says Stephen Carr, head of business development at Peel Ports, “the two entities were in competition with each other. Originally the Manchester Ship Canal was built by the traders of Manchester to bypass Liverpool and when one built something the other would try to outmatch it – it was a war so to speak.”

"We can now synergise them. That enables us now to hopefully punch our weight."

The canal is proving extremely popular with customers and Peel has had to invest in a larger ship just to keep up with demand. The new ship, MV Coastal Deniz, can carry 260 containers – 60 per cent more than its previous vessel Monica.

Stephen Carr says: “Deniz will move 20,000 containers in 2013. In 2009 we handled 3,000 containers, in 2011 this rose to 10,000 containers and in 2012 it carried 15,000 containers.
“Seven million tonnes of dry bulk cargo and petrol chemicals are also shipped annually.”


Rail links- Rail is key to multi-modal gateway
The rail terminal is key to Stobart Estates’ 1.4 million sq ft Stobart Park at 3MG in Widnes says Stobart Estates’ chief executive Richard Butcher.

“Many developers say they have rail connectivity, either possibly or in the future, but at Stobart Park it is alive and kicking with at present seven freight trains a day and a capacity to more than double that.”

Indeed it is a very slick operation directly linked to the West Coast Main Line handling up to 1,100 vehicles a day with a turnaround time of just 12 minutes.

It has the capacity to securely store 6,000 containers which are shifted around using four rail mounted cranes with automated container positional and recovery system and an advanced GPS and tracking system.

It looks mightily impressive and indeed it impressed Tesco so much so that they increased their presence on the park from an initial 628,000 sq ft to more than 770,000 sq ft.  Stobart Estates secured detailed planning for a 1 million sq ft warehouse with 40m eaves on the second phase of the development which is available on a build-to-suit basis through letting agents Jones Lang LaSalle and Cushman & Wakefield.

As an added incentive to prospective tenants on the site Stobart is also pushing ahead with a 20Mw biomass plant run on recycled wood.

“To get an idea of the power that it can produce,” says Butcher, “Tesco’s current electric needs at the park for its chilled store requires just 2.5Mw a year so there is more than enough power to supply potential occupier enquiries.”

Stobart calculates the potential savings at 35p per sq ft per year by having this green energy supply based on a one million sq ft ambient building that equates to £350,000 a year or £7 million saving in running costs on a 20 year lease.

The park is part of a larger development in conjunction with Halton Council known as the Mersey Multi Modal Gateway (3MG) that could see the development of up to 3.5 million sq ft of warehousing, 5,000 new jobs and the reclamation of 200 acres of contaminated land.

Earlier this year, Mersey Gateway was identified as one of the UK government’s Top 40 priority projects in the National Infrastructure Plan and it has been recognised by KPMG as one of the Top 100 infrastructure projects around the globe. 

Its centrepiece is a new six-lane toll bridge over the River Mersey linking Widnes to Runcorn.

Waterways- Cereal link via the canal
Kellogg’s has increased the volume of breakfast cereals it transports using Peel Ports' “Green highway network” – on the Manchester Ship Canal container shuttle service.

The Ship Canal shuttle service is considered one of the most environmentally-friendly bulk logistics solution on offer in the UK, and already serves other major retail names such as Princes Foods, Kingsland Wine, Tesco, Typhoo, and Regatta.

Approximately 2,500 TEU of Kellogg’s cereal product will be transported via the ship canal between the company's Manchester, Ireland and Iberia distribution hubs in 2013. The containerised product is transhipped at the Port of Liverpool on to a coastal feeder service to serve the Irish and Spanish markets.

In what is an added value logistics solution for the company, Kellogg’s has also taken advantage of the Port of Liverpool's flexible 'on demand' warehousing offering. The port-centric warehousing capacity further increases efficiency of the company's supply chain, with storage for up to 7,000 pallets of cereal product available at the Port of Liverpool when required.

Paul Blears, UK and Republic of Ireland export freight operations manager of Kellogg’s in Manchester, explains: “In general, many of our customers don’t hold stocks of cornflakes, so next day delivery is important, making the Manchester Ship Canal of little interest to us. But this has changed. Already, we have one customer in Dublin (Tesco) which requires between four and five 45ft HC’s a week, which wants us to use the environmentally friendly waterway.

“We were hesitant at first, but since trying the waterway, we have been very impressed with its reliability. There have been no nasty surprises. Truck deliveries to/from Irlam are very quick, and transit times are respected.”

Kellogg's use of the shuttle service will equate to an 85 per cent reduction in road miles for the supply chain: a reduction of 40,000 road miles and 61 tonnes of CO2 in the coming year.

Paul McCoy, business development manager for Containers and Barge at Peel Ports said: "We have developed a strong relationship with Kellogg’s and have a comprehensive understanding of their logistics needs and aspirations.

“Peel Ports is developing a series of mini ports and multi-modal logistics hubs at various locations along the Manchester Ship Canal, which means we can bring containerised products inland to exactly where the customer wants it.”

Source: http://www.logisticsmanager.com/Articles/20441/The+mother+of+all+ports.html

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Guardfreight joins MAN to launch new container lock

Birmingham-based Guardfreight International has signed a deal with the Midlands Assembly Network (MAN) to bring a new locking mechanism to market, which hopes to prevent $80 billion (£52.5 bn) of cargo going missing every year.

The E-Containerlock will be fitted to shipping containers to provide location updates as well as immediate alerts if entry is forced, thanks to an in-built GRPS tracking system.

Guardfreight says it is ideal for preventing theft of goods and for insurance purposes, as you can prove the exact location of a tampering or break-in.

Designed by industry expert Andrew Harrison, a working prototype of the product has already been developed, a small batch of which is now to be trialled by worldwide freight monitoring agencies.

Harrison said: “It’s early days, but we’re confident that this solution will change the way cargo is transported, with our business plan showing a £16m turnover by 2018 and the possibility of creating up to 50 jobs directly and in the supply chain.”

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