Shipping

   Minneapolis-based XRS Corp. has appointed Brendan Reidy to president and chief operating officer.    Reidy is the former chairman and chief executive officer of Clarus Systems in Redwood City, […]

   DCT Gdansk Container Terminal said Maersk’s 18,000-TEU “Triple E” ship will call its terminal on the Baltic Sea in August.    DCT said a Triple E ship “will call for […]

   Zim will add a second outbound call in New York to its Zim Container Service Atlantic (ZCA) string that connects the U.S. and Mediterranean ports.    Starting this month, […]

   Drewry, the London-based maritime research and consulting company, said nearly 150 sailings by container carriers were cancelled on the transpacific and Asia-Europe routes between October 2012 and this February, […]

   The Jacksonville Port Authority’s 2013 Logistics & Intermodal Conference, March 18-19, will highlight how major global terminal operators are expanding in emerging markets, including those in South America, Central […]

   DB Schenker Logistics has opened a new cross-docking terminal in Pruszcz Gdański in the greater Gdansk area.    Schenker said the new facility is close to roads linking Gdańsk, […]

“It is something that on the face of it sounds so logical, but, quite frankly, behind all this is a property rights question,” said Matthew Rose, the Class I railroad’s chairman and […]

   COSCO said Friday that CKYH – the Green Alliance, which includes COSCO, “K” Line, Yang Ming and Hanjin Shipping, is reorganizing its service network for Asia-North Europe and Asia-Mediterranean […]

Jim McNamara, an ILA spokesman, said the agreement with employers represented by the New York Shipping Association (NYSA) is “subject to some tweaking,” but will be presented to local union […]

   The Los Angeles Harbor Commission on Thursday certified the final Environmental Impact Report for the proposed Southern California International Gateway (SCIG) intermodal railyard, which it said would increase the […]

   U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach on Tuesday stopped a shipment containing 445 counterfeit “Beats by Dr. Dre” headphones and […]

   The Martin Bencher Group, a Denmark-based freight forwarder, has opened a new office in Sydney, Australia.    Josefin Ahlgren will manage the office. She has been with the company for over seven […]

   Gerry Wang, chairman and chief executive officer of the containership chartering firm Seaspan, said his firm has “never been as excited as we are today about the opportunities, dealing […]

   The United States and Iraq on Wednesday announced that the bilateral Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) between the two countries, first negotiated in 2005, is likely to enter […]

A post on the ILA’s Facebook page Wednesday said the union and New York Shipping Association (NYSA), the group that represents employers in the Port of New York and New […]

   AirBridgeCargo Airlines (ABC), Russia’s largest cargo airline and part of Volga-Dnepr Group, has increased its flights from Moscow to Milan, Italy, to three times a week.    The new […]

   This Sunday emergency response agencies around the port of Los Angeles and Long Beach port complex will conduct a full-scale exercise that will provide a “vivid depiction of a unified command […]

   Yang Ming is increasing its participation in a service between the United States, Caribbean, and east coast of South America.    The Taiwanese carrier will deploy one ship on […]

   The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) has elected Tom Kretsinger Jr., president of Liberty, Mo.-based American Central Transport, as its 2013-2014 chairman.    He follows past association chairmen Gary Salisbury […]

The union said United Grain “took the extreme measure of locking out its entire bargaining unit even though by its own statements it had identified and terminated the employee allegedly responsible […]

   The 2013 Great Lakes shipping season began on March 2 with the sailing of the tug/barge unit Prentiss Brown/St. Marys Conquest.    The vessel, operated by Port City Marine […]

   Houck Anderson, a Miami-based maritime and admiralty law firm, has merged with The Chartwell Law Offices, one of the fastest growing law firms on the East Coast.    Houck […]

   The U.S. Export-Import Bank has approved a final commitment of $1.1 billion to finance the export of Boeing 737-900ER planes to Lion Air, the largest privately owned airline in […]

   A U.S. Export-Import Bank direct loan in the amount of $28.6 million will allow Gamesa Wind US, based in Trevose, Pa., to assemble 12 wind turbines for export to […]

   The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative this week has decided to liberalize the designation of the existing Qualifying Industrial Zones (QIZs) in Egypt to make all production facilities, […]

   The U.S. Commerce Department and Mexican tomato growers and exporters have finalized a new agreement that suspends the antidumping duty investigation of fresh tomatoes from Mexico.    “This agreement […]

   Three Philippine nationals were convicted Monday in Los Angeles of illegally importing military grade weapons into the United States after being caught in a sting operation that was conducted […]

   Soren Skou, chief executive officer of Maersk Line, outlined plans to improve service to customers on Monday during a keynote speech at the Journal of Commerce‘s 13th annual TPM […]

   Supply Chain Solutions, a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based logistics services firm, will lease 38,500 square feet at a warehouse in Lafayette, Ind., near Interstate 65, as part of its ongoing […]

   Auto dealers and wholesalers who buy used vehicles via Ally Financial’s SmartAuction online now have the option to transport them via ShipCarsNow.    ShipCarsNow, a Union Pacific subsidiary, provides […]

The trade association, which represents many of the world’s shipowners, has picked Angus R. Frew to succeed retiring Torben C. Skaanild as secretary general and chief executive officer later this year.

   A congressional watchdog agency found that agriculture inspection fees collected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service continue to come up short. […]

   Classification society ABS said its chairman Robert D. Somerville will retire, effective April 30.    Current President and Chief Executive Officer Christopher J. Wiernicki will become chairman of ABS […]

   The Commerce Department has determined the Chinese government subsidizes hardwood and decorative plywood production which is then exported to the United States.    Specifically, the department determined on Feb. 27 that […]

   The National Industrial Transportation League said Friday it estimates shippers could save more than $900 million if the U.S. Surface Transportation Board would increase competition by giving shippers greater […]

UGC continued to unload a barge and load a ship with non-union employees on Thursday, despite its ILWU lockout. The facility normally employs between eight and 22 ILWU workers on […]

   The rating agency Standard and Poor’s said CMA CGM’s liquidity has improved since it closed on a financial restructuring and equity deal.    S&P on Thursday raised its corporate credt rating […]

“We expect freight rate volatility to continue as carriers grapple with increasing overcapacity and resort to their preferred short-term measures of sailing suspensions and frequent GRIs,” the London-based firm said.

   The American Institute for International Steel (AIIS) said steel imports increased 4.6 percent in January 2013 compared to December 2012, according to preliminary government data.    “Import levels improved […]

   The Japanese Shipowners’ Association (JSA) has added its voice to those asking the Suez Canal Authority(SCA) to rescind plans to raise tolls on May 1.    In a letter […]

   Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., on Thursday introduced new legislation to address current problems facing locks and dams on inland waterways.    Casey said the Reinvesting In Vital Economic Rivers […]

    The ACM/GFI Group cited steep declines in the index for the four large components of the Shanghai Container Freight Index (SCFI) “as the industry is still grappling with the hangover […]

   Third party logistics provider Sunland Distribution has acquired a 722,000-square-foot warehouse located off Interstates 85 and 385 in Simpsonville, S.C.    The 32-acre property along with the building was […]

The extended deadline will coincide with the wage scale meetings planned by the union for the week of March 11 where union delegates will consider a tentative six-year master contract […]

The carrier said it “remains committed to serving the trade. We will replace the ‘PSW’ service with use of our existing reliable Pacific network, connecting with Oceania through our transshipment hubs […]

   The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said Wednesday contractors had completed “Phase 1” rock removal on the Mississippi River at Grand Tower (river mile 79-80.2) and Thebes (river mile 41-46), […]

   The U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) and International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) said they have agreed to extend the March 1 deadline for completion of local negotiations to March 8.     They […]

   American Maritime Partnership (AMP), a lobbying organization for the domestic shipping industry, said it’s being unfairly blamed for the rising price of gasoline.    In a letter sent Tuesday to […]

   Maersk said it will impose a general rate increase on cargo moving between Northern Europe and the United States on April 1.    Eastbound, from the United States to Northern Europe, the […]

Total merchandise exports from all 50 states helped contribute to the record-setting value of goods and services exports in 2012, which reached $2.2 trillion.

   Liner carrier Evergreen has announced that on April 2 it will impose a general rate increase on all commodities from U.S. ports to Europe and the Mediterranean of $150 […]

FMC reviews 26 OTI license applications

The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission has received 26 ocean transportation intermediary license applications and changes for review.

The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission has received 26 ocean transportation intermediary license applications and changes for review.

   The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission has received 26 license applications and changes for review.    The FMC received non-vessel-operating common carrier license applications from Ri-Time Group, City of Industry, Calif. […]

Applicants hail from 10 states and Puerto Rico.

Those knowing a reason why an applicant should not receive a license or amendment should contact the Office of Transportation Intermediaries.

Individuals knowing of any reason why an applicant should not receive an OTI license or amendment are urged to contact the FMC’s Office of Transportation Intermediaries.

   Two wind turbines were installed this week at the Nestlé Waters North America (NWNA) bottling plant in Cabazon, Calif., which will provide 30 percent of the facility’s electricity.    […]

   The South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) said CMA CGM is adding the Port of Charleston to its Pacific Express 3 (PEX 3) weekly service, providing an additional connection for […]

   APM Terminals said a push to improve efficiency at its marine terminals was successful last year with crane lifts per hour – a key indicator – improving “no less than […]

The Pacific Northwest grain terminal operator said its decision was based on evidence that shows two significant attempts to sabotage export equipment were carried out by a member of ILWU […]

   What this past year has taught the shipping industry is just how powerful unionized dock labor on both coasts has become in the United States and how much of […]

Suez routings to U.S. East Coast increase with bigger, more efficient ships. By Chris Dupin    As work continues on the expansion of the Panama Canal, fuel has gotten extremely expensive […]

   The Port of Savannah soared into prominence in the container shipping business back in 1984, when Malcom McLean, then head of United States Lines, made the Georgia seaport, along […]

   In a 7-2 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court sided with a homeowner who said his floating home was not a vessel and therefore not subject to arrest under maritime […]

   In a summary order, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a 2011 decision by the District Court for the Southern District of New York confirming an arbitration award […]

   Forget the Great Wall of China and mighty Amazon River, NASA has posted an image on its Global Climate Change Website that shows global shipping routes can be seen […]

   Speed is “an underestimated factor in the current supply-demand balances in shipping,” said Petter Haugen, an industry analyst at DNB Bank in Oslo.    Speaking late last year at […]

   Despite Maersk Line’s decision to start rerouting its TP7 service through the Suez instead of the Panama Canal, 13 of the 32 liner services that used the waterway as […]

   Liner carrier Maersk has announced a general rate increase that will go into effect April 1 on cargo moving in dry containers between the Mediterranean and the United States […]

A proposed law, H.B. 1719, that would force the ports of Seattle and Tacoma to employ drayage truck operators to move containerized cargo, was approved 5-4. The bill may be […]

   The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will start inspecting cantaloupe packinghouses, specifically targeting Listeria, during the 2013 growing season to assess current industry practices and identify unsanitary conditions that […]

The European Shippers Council has proposed that problems related to misdeclared container weights can be dealt with through better exchange of information between shippers and container liner companies.

   Toyota said Tuesday it will begin exporting U.S.-assembled Venza autos to Russia and the Ukraine via the Port of Brunswick, Ga.    Colonel’s Island Terminal at the Port of […]

Transit times eastbound from the Mediterranean to South Korea and China have improved by about seven days, as vessels will no longer slow steam one week on the return leg […]

The British Columbia port said increasing the number of trucks with GPS transponder units “will provide an even more accurate, real-time base of data enabling greater insight to routing, operational […]

   Lars Jensen, chief executive officer of the Danish maritime research firm SeaIntel, said his firm expects 48 super-post-Panamax vessels to enter Asia-Europe trade in 2013, and for some existing […]

The Singapore-based carrier said it had a net loss of $98 million in the fourth quarter of 2012, compared to a loss of $320 million in the fourth quarter of […]

   Assisted by improved results from its container shipping subsidiary Maersk Line, the A.P. Moller-Maersk Group reported improved profit in the fourth quarter and for the whole year 2012 when compared to […]

   The Port of Charleston handled 121,286 TEUs in January, 7.7 percent more than the same month in 2012.    It was another good month for the port, which handled 892,387 TEUs […]

   APM Terminals said it has entered a final agreement with Petkim to create and operate for 28 years the Aegean Gateway Terminal (AGT), close to Izmir.    APMT said […]

CMA CGM announces rate hikes

   French ocean carrier CMA CGM has announced the following general rate increases:    On March 15, the rate on dry and refrigerated cargoes from India and Pakistan to the […]

   International Shipholding Corp. said Thursday it had closed on the sale of $25 million of cumulative redeemable perpetual preferred stock at $100 per share.    Dividends will be payable […]

Late Wednesday the OCU bargaining units voted and agreed to ratify the terms of tentative agreements reached with the Harbor Employers Association member companies on Dec. 4, 2012.

“Any move to eliminate these important U.S. commodity donation programs would be shortsighted, ineffective, and could ultimately jeopardize national security and merchant mariner jobs,” warned the USA Maritime chairman.

   The Danish newspaper Børsen has reported the European short-sea operator Unifeeder has been put up for sale by its owner, the private equity firm Montagu and Maersk Line has […]

   Matson Logistics, a provider of multimodal transportation, warehousing, and distribution services, has obtained distribution center space in Savannah, Ga.    “Our new operation expands on our ability to move […]

   The Scientific Commission for the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) recommended Wednesday that the United States’ risk classification for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or “mad cow” disease, be […]

   The U.S. Commerce Department on Wednesday determined that Chinese-made stainless steel sinks are dumped on the U.S. market, as well as benefit from export subsidies from the Chinese government. […]

   The U.S. International Trade Commission has initiated the second of two investigations into the role of digital trade in the United States and global economies.    The investigation, Digital Trade […]

   The U.S. Export-Import Bank has partnered with World Business Chicago to launch the so-called Chicago Trade Accelerator, a program that will provide new resources for small area businesses that are […]

Andreas Dombret, board member at Deutsche Bundesbank, said in a speech in Hamburg Monday that “the financing of shipping undoubtedly represents a substantial regional and sectoral risk in the banking […]

   Maersk said it’s increasing rates from East Asia to the United States on April 1.    To the U.S. East Coast, the increases will be $480 per 20-foot container, $600 […]

Rep. Roger Freeman, the prime sponsor of the bill, H.B. 1719, said “there are injustices in the Port of Seattle and trucking business” and was introducing the bill to help […]

The union, which represents 4,500 to 5,000 licensed deck officers and retirees on board U.S.-flag ships, said the members of its offshore group have voted overwhelmingly to ratify a series […]

“These proposed changes are necessary to relieve certain restrictions, update existing provisions, and to make the regulations easier to understand and implement,” said Rebecca Bech, a deputy administrator at APHIS.

   Container handling volumes are growing at their slowest rates since 2009, based on throughput data at the 25 largest ports, collected by the information service Alphaliner.    In its most […]

   In a notice posted on the Website of the Oslo Stock Exchange, Philadelphia Shipyard ASA said its subsidiary Aker Philadelphia Shipyard and an undisclosed potential buyer have signed a […]