Inland Transportation Network News

After more than thirty three years of continuous presence in Iraq, the CMA CGM Group will open a new bonded Dry Port near Baghdad in the Abu Ghreib area, in Iraq, in June 2013. Exclusively managed and operated by CMA CGM, the Dry Port will be the only one in Iraq, giving customers the opportunity to custom clear their cargo near Baghdad instead of Umm Qasr, according their convenience time. The Dry Port will connect to CMA CGM’s inland transportation network, with a possible railway connection three kilometers away from the site and fast in bond transit from Umm Qasr. The storage facilities for full containers, LCL and refrigerated cargo will benefit from 24 hours surveillance and security services, keeping the cargo safe at all times.

FastShip has come to an agreement for international transportation and logistics provider Schneider International to provide three major services to support the FastShip transportation network. The company is formulating a high-speed, transatlantic service linking the middle of Europe to the mid-U.S. The agreement calls for Schneider National, operating through logistics subsidiaries, to act as the North American third party logistics provider, managing alliance partners and engineering a supply chain that will provide a logistics solution for shippers. Schneider will oversee complete control and cargo accountability over the operation of the North American inland transportation network, which includes intermodal transportation.

CP Ships has signed an agreement with FastShip to assume commercial and marketing management for FastShip's TransAtlantic services. London-based CP Ships is the TransAtlantic's largest container service operator with twelve separate loops, and the seventh largest world-wide. FastShip, headquartered in Philadelphia, is creating a high-speed Transatlantic transport network. allow for pooling opportunities between FastShip and CP Ships. CP Ships is also taking a small equity position in FastShip. "We see FastShip as a complement to our existing range of TransAtlantic services. By including FastShip as another strong brand among our service offerings we will be able to provide a competitive advantage to customers who require high-speed transport that is less costly than air freight…