Freight Service
U.S. DOJ: Guilty Plea in Price Fixing Case
Florida-Based Sea Star Line LLC Agrees to Plead Guilty and Its Former President Is Indicted for Price Fixing on Coastal Freight Services Between the Continental United States and Puerto Rico Sea Star Line Also Agrees to Pay $14.2 Million Criminal Fine. Sea Star Line LLC has agreed today to plead guilty and to pay a $14.2 million criminal fine for its role in a conspiracy to fix prices in the coastal water freight transportation industry, the Department of Justice announced. Additionally, a federal grand jury in San Juan, Puerto Rico, returned an indictment against Frank Peake, the former president of Sea Star Line, for his role in the same conspiracy. According to a one-count felony charge filed today in U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, Sea Star Line, whose principal place of business is in Jacksonville, Fla., engaged in a conspiracy to fix rates and surcharges for water transportation of freight between the continental United States and Puerto Rico from as early as May 2002, until at least April 2008. According to a one-count indictment filed today in the same district, Peake participated in the conspiracy from at least as early as late 2005, until at least April 2008. Sea Star Line transports a variety of cargo shipments, such as heavy equipment, perishable food items, medicines and consumer goods, on scheduled ocean voyages between the continental United States and Puerto Rico.
P&O Stena Lines Resumes Operations
P&O Stena Line has resumed full passenger and freight services from the British port of Dover after French fishermen began to lift their blockade of French ports. P&O spokeswoman Gail Isted said that the company's vessel 'Dover' had left Calais in France for Dover in mid-afternoon. "P&O Stena Line ferries will now leave Dover and Calais every 45 minutes and will revert to their usual sailing patterns overnight," the company said in a statement.
Seatruck Invests to Double Capacity
IRISH Sea freight ferry operator Seatruck Ferries has ordered two new ro-ro freight ferries from Spain's Astilleros de Huelva. When they enter service in 2007 they will be able to move 130,000 freight trailers per annum on Seatruck's Warrenpoint - Heysham route, more than doubling present capacity. Seatruck's general manager Alistair Eagles says, "This is fantastic news for all of our freight customers. We have been running at full capacity for some
Former Shipping Exec Sentenced
A former high-level shipping executive was sentenced today to serve 48 months in jail and to pay a $20,000 criminal fine for his role in an antitrust conspiracy involving the transportation of goods to and from the continental United States and Puerto Rico by ocean vessel, the Department of Justice announced on Jan. 30. This is the longest jail sentence ever imposed for a single antitrust charge. Peter Baci of Jacksonville, Fla., pleaded guilty on Oct. 20, 2008, in the U.S
SEAaT Welcomes New Associates
SEAaT (Shipping Emissions Abatement and Trading) announced today that international legal practice Norton Rose LLP and the freight services division of global mining group Rio Tinto have become its newest associate members. Norton Rose LLP has had shipping at its core throughout its 200-year history, and is home to one of the world’s leading transport legal practices. Norton Rose LLP has over 100 specialist shipping lawyers across the globe
Björk.Eklund Group changes to Greencarrier AB
The Björk.Eklund Group is changing its name to Greencarrier AB with effect from February 1, 2012. Previously the Greencarrier name had only been used by companies that formed part of Greencarrier Freight Services, the division of the Björk.Eklund Group offering customised logistics and transport solutions worldwide. Now the majority of Group companies not currently branded Greencarrier will also change their names to reflect their membership of the Greencarrier Group
Jumbo Cat Ferry Features Six Waterjets
The 68m catamaran Maria Dolores will shortly go into service with Malta-based Virtu Ferries on the company’s established Malta – Italy route, propelled by no fewer than six Kamewa waterjets, three in each hull. A speed of about 36 knots with the engines running at 90 per cent of full load will link Valetta with Catania in three hours, with Pozallo in 90 minutes and provide a service to the Italian mainland at Reggio Calabria in four hours.
AAPA: Study Proves Need For Improvement
The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) welcomed the recent release of the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) "Report to Congress on National Highway System (NHS) Intermodal Freight Connectors." The report, requested by Congress under the provisions of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), reviews connectors to seaports, airports, and major intermodal terminals to determine: their condition; improvements or investments made or planned; and
Crowley Restructures Senior Management
Crowley Maritime Corporation announced a restructuring involving three members of its senior leadership team. John Douglass and Rob Grune will move to new positions, with Douglass taking over as senior vice president and general manager of Crowley's Puerto Rico/Caribbean liner services, and Grune taking over as senior vice president and general manager of Crowley's petroleum transportation group. Both executives will remain domiciled in Jacksonville and continue to report to Tom Crowley
AAPA Lauds Focus of Senate Transportation Proposal
Senate EPW’s 2-year reauthorization proposal includes much of AAPA’s platform. The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) supports a number of the provisions included in legislation marked up today by the U.S. Senate’s Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee. S.1813—Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century or MAP-21— would fund highway programs at $85.3 billion over two years, contains no project earmarks
Geodis Wilson Honors Innovators
Geodis Wilson honored its employees who have shown particular creative prowess as the company announces the winners of its annual Innovation Masters Award recognizing outstanding internal innovative initiatives throughout the logistic service provider’s global network.
Hamburg Süd 2012: Better, but Not yet Good Enough
Hamburg Süd’s performance in brief Following the powerful recovery of the world economy in 2010 and a weaker 2011, global growth continued in the past financial year, albeit at a slower pace. Against this backdrop, container shipments increased once again
Global Freight Rates Plunge, Report Finds
Average global freight rates have fallen to a 15-month low, according to Drewry’s new online Container Freight Rate Insight. Drewry’s Global Freight Rate Index fell 12% in April to reach its lowest level since February 2012, when container shipping was still recovering from the last
Second Consecutive Decline for Stifel Logistics Confidence Index
The Stifel Logistics Confidence Index continued its downward trend in May as it fell for the second consecutive month. Compiled by Transport Intelligence, the overall index, which combines the current situation with future expectations, was down 0.8 points from April to 50.7 in May and was 1
Forwarders’ Volumes Continue to Fall
Following five consecutive monthly increases, the overall Stifel Logistics Confidence Index fell 1 index point to 51.5 in April. Despite the decline, the index remained above the significant 50 mark, denoting expansion, for the third consecutive month.
Catamaran Ferry Delivered to Coastal Fast Ferries
Incat Crowther launched Kilimanjaro IV, a 45-meter passenger ferry for the African Operator Coastal Fast Ferries. The vessel capitalizes on the rapid growth in the operator’s passenger numbers, bringing the Coastal Fast Ferries’ fleet to seven Incat Crowther-designed vessels.
CII to Host Important Panama Canal Houston Event
The Containerization & Intermodal Institute (CII) organized seminar focuses on the Panama Canal, the update on U. S. export initiatives and breakbulk shipping. Michael Masserman, Executive Director for Export Policy, Promotion & Strategy, International Trade Administration
TransEuropa Ferries Goes Into Administration
Belgian firm TransEuropa has suspended all sailings between Ramsgate (UK) and Ostend (Belgium) amid fears over its future. TransEuropa had run passenger and freight ferry services between Ramsgate and Ostend for the last 15 years, and was the only passenger service out of the Port of Ramsgate
Big Ship Orders Keep Focus on Carrier Supply Pressures
Attempts by carriers to tackle the capacity overhang are being undone as new orders for Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCVs) continue to make the headlines, according to Drewry’s monthly report Sea & Air Shipper Insight. The news that China Shipping Container Lines will join Maersk
Hong Kong Dock Strike Ends
Hong Kong dockworkers accept Hutchison Port Holdings 9.8% pay offer, end 40-day strike at the container terminal. The workers settled their dispute late Monday by agreeing to the pay offer from four middleman contractors that provide staff to a container terminal operator controlled by Hong Kong
Ports Workshop to Explore Maritime Economic Drivers
The American Association of Port Authorities’ (AAPA) 2013 Maritime Economic Development Workshop in Chicago, June 27-28, will explore the factors driving today’s investments in seaport and related infrastructure. The program's speakers will analyze the risks and rewards for undertaking
Pep Boys Selects NRS for Transload Operation in Savannah
National Retail Systems, Inc. (NRS), a provider of logistics services to U.S. retailers, pharmaceutical companies and consumer goods manufacturers, announced it has been selected by Pep Boys, an automotive aftermarket service and retail chain
APL Recognized as Best Intra-Asia Shipping Line
APL won the Intra-Asia Best Shipping Line accolade at the 27th Asian Freight and Supply Chain Awards (AFSCAs). Based on the highest number of votes received from readers of Cargonews Asia, the award lauds APL’s outstanding performance in schedule integrity, customer service support
POLB Named Best in N. America
The Port of Long Beach earned “Best Seaport in North America” honors at the 2013 Asian Freight and Supply Chain Awards in Beijing. The 2013 Asian Freight and Supply Chain Awards recently hosted in Beijing by the Cargonews Asia shipping trade publication
Globe Express Strengthens Local Market Presence
Market strategy focuses on delivering innovative supply chain solutions that complement Kuwait’s growing reputation as a major logistics hub. Globe Express Services announced that it has intensified its regional growth plans by providing a full array of innovative supply chain solutions