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Logistics News

12 Mar 2024

SAAM Closes 2023 with Historic Earnings

Source: SAAM

SAAM reported net income of US$501 million in 2023, representing its best-ever results thanks to the sale of its port and logistics assets to Hapag-Lloyd, which generated a net gain of US$422 million.Sales for the year totaled US$540 million and EBITDA was US$160 million, surpassing the prior year by 17% and 9%, respectively."The sale of our port terminal and inland logistics operations leaves us in a solid position to move forward on the path we have set for ourselves: to lead the consolidation process in the towage industry and grow in air cargo logistics services.

29 Feb 2024

CMA CGM Caps Logistics Push with $5 Billion Bollore Deal

© K I Photography / Adobe Stock

France's CMA CGM has completed a $5 billion takeover of Bollore Logistics, its biggest-ever acquisition, and said it had funds for more deals as it seeks to counter volatility in container shipping.The acquisition of the logistics division of French conglomerate Bollore, announced last year, closed on Thursday at a final price of 4.85 billion euros ($5.25 billion) after debt and cash adjustments.The deal will extend the reach of CMA CGM's CEVA Logistics unit into areas such as freight management for pharmaceutical, cosmetics and luxury firms.CMA CGM, based in Marseille and privately controlled

23 Feb 2024

EU Clears CMA CGM's Acquisition of Bollore Logistics, Subject to Conditions

© JHVEPhoto / Adobe Stock

The EU Commission on Friday said it had cleared the acquisition of the logistics operations of conglomerate Bollore by shipping group CMA CGM, subject to a number of conditions proposed by the companies.The commission, which oversees competition policy in the 27-nation European Union, said that the acquisition had been approved after its investigation found a number of concerns.To address them, the parties agreed to divest all of Bolloré Logistics' activities in Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Martin and French Guiana, as well as a number of assets in metropolitan France linked to these activiti

15 Feb 2024

Let’s Set Some Standards for Micro Cargo

It almost boggles the mind that the success of the ISO container is effectively based on only one standard: 8 feet wide. The 8 foot standard (basically railroad car and truck widths, which are mythically reported to be related to the width of two horse’s asses)
Copyright Jim Mills/AdobeStock

As zero carbon cargo efforts are progressing, it is becoming more apparent that the lowest hanging fruit is in the last few miles. This is where a large amount of carbon is expended in delivering small parcels to stores and consumers’ doors.This is particularly apparent in dense pack cities like New York City, where delivery vans clog streets and water crossings. The NYC Economic Development Commission recently issued a Request For Expression of Interest in waterborne micro cargo delivery.

06 Dec 2023

Great Lakes Iron Ore Trade Up in November

Image courtesy Lake Carriers Association

Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes totaled 4.5 million tons in November, an increase of 1.5 percent from 2022. Shipments were below the month’s 5-year average by 1.7 percent.Year-to-date the iron ore trade stands at 46.3 million tons, an increase of 20.8 percent compared to the same point in 2022.Through November iron ore loadings are 5 percent above their 5-year average for that timeframe.

21 Nov 2023

Meet the CIO: Erika Graziuso, Crowley

Photo credit Rick Wilson/Courtesy Crowley

Erika Graziuso, Chief Information Officer, Crowley, brings a breadth and depth of non-maritime experience to bear in her quest to drive Crowley’s digital transformation in the name of decarbonization, holistic transportation efficiency and crew attraction and retention.Emulating best practices from industries outside of maritime has been a mantra in boardrooms and conferences for decades, as traditional maritime mindset has, at times, been seen as an impediment to achieving next-level efficiency.Enter Erika Graziuso…

12 Oct 2023

Schottel Building New Logistics Center in Dörth, Germany

Maritime propulsion specialist Schottel said Tuesday it is expanding its thruster factory in Dörth, Germany, to include a logistics center with a capacity of around 4,000 square meters.A contract for the expansion has now been signed with general contractor Goldbeck from Koblenz.The new building will be annexed to the existing facility and will provide 2,634 square meters of industrial floor space and 1,326 square meters of offices. The groundbreaking ceremony for the 7.5-million-euro structure is to take place at the end of this year…

09 Aug 2023

DB Schenker Decarbonising Logistics Chain with Biofuels

Source: Hapag-Lloyd

Hapag-Lloyd has entered into a partnership with logistics provider DB Schenker to decarbonise supply chains through the use of biofuels.The two companies have signed an agreement for emission-reduced container transports with a waste- and residue-based biofuel. By end of 2023, DB Schenker plans to claim approximately 3,000 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions avoidance. This is based on at least 1,000 tonnes of pure biofuel.Hapag-Lloyd launched the Ship Green product to offer its customers emission-reduced ocean transports.

20 Jul 2023

Carbon Sink, Rose Cay Partner for Methanol Fuel Supply

(File photo: Rose Cay Maritime)

Green methanol manufacturer Carbon Sink is partnering with Jones Act-compliant shipping company Rose Cay Maritime (RCM) to build out an end-to-end low-carbon marine fuel supply chain.The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) outlining a plan for increasing green fuel production, transportation, bunkering and storage specifically tailored for the shipping sector. RCM and its fleet of U.S.-owned, -built and -crewed vessels will help Carbon Sink link to customers as it develops large-scale green methanol production facilities across the U.S.Carbon Sink CEO Steve Meyer said…

27 Jun 2023

COSCO Shipping Launches Smart Sailing Platform

© nmann77 / Adobe Stock

COSCO Shipping Ship Services has launched a Smart Sailing platform which includes a CII digital toolbox, an intelligent anti-collision solution, and a crew behavior recognition solution.The Smart Sailing platform aims to improve ship service levels and capabilities. Initial focus has been on low-carbon operations, navigation safety and smart supply chains. The platform uses artificial intelligence, big data, Internet of Things and other new-generation information technologies.In the future…

13 Apr 2023

Markets: The Challenges of Developing Floating Wind at Scale

Hywind Scotland, the world.s first floating wind farm, operated by Equinor. (Credit: Signal Film / ©Equinor)

Tens of gigawatts of floating wind projects are slated for development in this and the next decade, but many obstacles remain.There has been much focus on the emerging floating wind market of late.The U.K. is forging ahead with commercial scale floating wind developments through the Scotwind and INTOG awards of at least 24 gigawatts (GW) of floating wind capacity representing close to 1,500 floating turbines that will come on stream through 2030. And this will be soon followed by the award of at least 4 GW of capacity through the Celtic Sea floating wind auctions. The U.S.

22 Feb 2023

A Toll of War: Ukraine’s Dry Bulk Exports Plunge 77.8%

Source: BIMCO

“On Friday February 24, 2023, one year has passed since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. During that year, dry bulk exports from Ukraine have dropped 77.8% compared to the same period a year earlier, causing a decline in global dry bulk volumes. Seaborne exports have been restricted to agricultural goods and even those have been limited,” says Filipe Gouveia, Shipping Analyst at BIMCO.Ukraine’s sea ports were under a blockade from the start of the war until the end of July 2022 when the Black Sea Grain deal was signed.

30 Jan 2023

Venezuela's PDVSA Tightens Oil Prepayment Rules

Copyright Alexander Sánchez/AdobeStock

Venezuela's state oil firm PDVSA is toughening terms for buyers after a month-long halt to most exports of crude and fuel, demanding prepayment ahead of loadings in either cash, goods or services, company documents showed.PDVSA's new Chief Executive Pedro Tellechea put the move in place this month. It reinforces measures implemented last year after several buyers skipped out on payments for oil, which provides most of the South American country's income.After taking the helm, Tellechea launched an extensive audit of supply contracts…

24 Jan 2023

Jørgen Wisborg Named Blue Water Chairman

Kurt Skov and Jørgen Wisborg (Photo: Blue Water)

Jørgen Wisborg has been named chairman at Danish-headquartered transport and logistics group Blue Water, taking over from the company's founder and longtime head Kurt Skov.In September last year, Skov announced plans to find his successor, making it possible for him to slow down his work activities.Wisborg joins Blue Water after 17 years as managing director for the Danish energy company OK, where he stepped down last year to focus entirely on board positions. He holds several seats on boards in different companies…

18 Jan 2023

VIDEO: Liebherr Debuts Lift Height Extension of STS in Australia

The leg extensions are put into place. Image courtesy Liebherr

Liebherr Container Cranes completed its first ship to shore lift height increase with their new patented jacking system as part of Liebherr Transform. The operation was conducted under the supervision of Liebherr engineers at Patrick Terminals – Brisbane Autostrad.Patrick Terminals – Brisbane Autostrad located on the eastern coast of Australia is one of the world’s most advanced container terminals. Liebherr have two ship to shore container cranes at the terminal, a new STS currently being commissioned and an STS supplied in 2015.

11 Jan 2023

Chinese Inbound Coal Shipments Plummet 12.2%, Says BIMCO

Weak economic activity, a 10.5% increase in domestic coal mining, and a recovery in coal imports from Mongolia via rail alleviated coal shipments to China in 2022. However, the end of China’s zero Covid policy and an anticipated recovery of the Chinese economy have strengthened expectations for the country’s coal imports in 2023. A return of import tariffs, the end of China’s unofficial ban on Australian coal, and the energy transition in China could shape the coal shipment outlook.Coal shipments fell 12.2% in 2022…

04 Jan 2023

Chinese Export Container Rates Plunge 27%

Source: BIMCO

The bad news for liner operators appears to have no end. In a normal year, the weeks leading up to Chinese New Year (CNY) bring an increase in volumes and freight rates. So far, however, the lead-up to CNY in 2023 has been the worst in 13 years. Spot rates for containers loading in Shanghai will normally be 12% higher just before CNY than 10 weeks earlier. Similarly, average rates for all containers loading in China will normally end 4% higher. This year, both spot and average rates, however, continue to fall.

28 Nov 2022

GAC Group Names New Group President

GAC Group’s Bengt Ekstrand (L) with Pontus Fredriksson (R) ©GAC

Shipping, logistics, and marine services provider GAC Group has appointed Pontus Fredriksson as its new group president, effective January 2023.Bengt Ekstrand, who has held the position for the past 10 years, will take on the role of Executive Co-Chairman alongside GAC’s long-standing Executive Chairman Björn Engblom."Ekstrand’s tenure began at a time of economic turmoil in the Eurozone and  expanding armed conflicts in the Middle East. Sluggish oil prices would soon plunge to less than USD45.00 a barrel.During that uncertain period…

10 Nov 2022

UK's Liverpool Port Workers Agree Pay Deal and End Strike

© Peter / Adobe Stock

Around 600 workers at Liverpool port, one of Britain's busiest ports, will end strike action after agreeing a pay deal with employer Peel Ports, the Unite union said on Thursday.Unite said workers had voted "overwhelmingly in favor" of pay rises worth 14.3%-18.5% negotiated earlier this week, ending a wave of strike action that began on Sept. 19.The port in Liverpool, northwest England, handles more than 70 million tonnes of cargo from across the globe, according to Peel Ports.(Reuters - Reporting by Sachin Ravikumar; Editing by Sandra Maler)

09 Nov 2022

Analysis: Meltdown in the Container Shipping Sector Gains Speed

Copyright ink drop/AdobeStock

Facing global economic headwinds, the volume of containerized cargo movement continues to plummet, Peter Sand, Chief Analyst, Xeneta, summarizes: “It is clear that the carriers are no longer in charge, the shippers are.”Peter, it seems like the news in the container shipping sector started as a flow and has turned into a torrent. There was some data released yesterday that showed a 9.1% drop in September year on year for dry containers, and a 2.3 decline in the reefer sector.

31 Oct 2022

Video: Container Carrier Capacity Adjustment - Too Little, Too Late?

Copyright Idanupong/AdobeStock

While drama in the container shipping sector has calmed a bit, container carriers still wrestle with unexpected drops in demand. Peter Sand, Xeneta, discusses vessel capacity moves and their likely impact on rates, as well as the first containership sent to the ship scrap yard in more than 18 months.Q: Peter, the last time that we spoke, you were succinct in saying that this market is a mess, with spot rates plunging in what traditionally is the busiest shipping season in the US. Has that picture changed in the last few weeks?Peter Sand, XenetaHas it changed from being a mess? Not really.

25 Oct 2022

New Study to Look at Irish Ports and Offshore Wind

Copyright Tjeerd/AdobeStock

Gavin & Doherty Geosolutions (GDG), a specialist engineering consultant, is undertaking an EU-wide study to determine potential funding models to improve Irish port infrastructure to the scale required to achieve the Government target of 7 GW of offshore wind in Irish waters by 2030. It follows GDG’s recent National Ports Study, conducted on behalf of Wind Energy Ireland, which found that only one out of 13 major ports on the island of Ireland is ready to be used for constructing offshore wind farms.

13 Oct 2022

Supply Chain Snarls Loosen, But Problems Remain

© Debbie Ann Powell / Adobe Stock

John Ehresmann loves that the cost of shipping an ocean container from Asia to a U.S. port or buying a load of lumber has fallen back to earth.If only that were true for everything he buys — but it’s not.Some parts of his supply chain have clearly improved, said the vice president of global supply for Graco Inc, the Minneapolis-based maker of fluid handling equipment such as paint sprayers. But the complex nature of global supply chains means that companies like Graco are still struggling…