Shipping

   Baltic Reefer Group Ltd. and the Seatrade group of companies, operators of breakbulk refrigerated vessels, said they had established a new joint venture that will operate under the name of […]

   A survey of ship managers finds that low freight rates and a challenging market are their top concerns as they enter 2013.    The survey from the International Ship […]

   Hapag-Lloyd said it will offer a new weekly service to Cap Haitien, Haiti, under a connecting carrier agreement with Frontier Line.    The service will offer a weekly connection […]

   Eric Martin-Neuville has been named the new chief operating officer of Geodis Wilson.    He takes over from Fernando Gea, who’s retiring.    Martin-Neuville joined the Geodis Group in […]

   A team of five salvage experts boarded the grounded drilling unit Kulluk earlier Wednesday to conduct a structural assessment to be used to finalize salvage plans.    The rig […]

   Crowley Maritime Corp. has appointed Matt Yacavone to vice president of sales and chartering for its petroleum services, effective Jan. 7.    Based in Jacksonville, Fla., he will report […]

   Port Freeport in Texas has appointed Jeff Strader to chief financial officer.    Strader comes from the North Carolina State Ports Authority where he was deputy executive director for […]

The union and employers agreed last week to continue contract negotiations through Feb. 6, averting a strike that would have begun on Dec. 30, but there are still difficult issues […]

Kulluk    A large mobile drill rig ran aground off the coast of Alaska on Monday evening.    Reports from the U.S. Coast Guard on Tuesday said a flyover of the […]

   The U.S. Export-Import Bank will finance a $1.8 billion direct loan to BG Energy Holdings Ltd. to support U.S. exports for a natural gas liquefaction (LNG) project in Queensland, […]

   The U.S. International Trade Commission has begun to update its report on the effects of significant U.S. import restraints.    The report will also examine the contribution of services to […]

The Panama Canal Authority said Monday that the expansion of the waterway, begun five years ago, is now about half completed, and the official date for the completion of the […]

The International Longshoremen’s Association and the employers of their members, represented by the U.S. Maritime Alliance, have agreed to extend their contract 30 days until midnight Jan. 28.

   The ocean carrier Maersk Line has added two extra vessels to its weekly Safari 1 service between Asia and South Africa, increasing roundtrip voyage time on the loop from 56 […]

The Sandy Doctors Recovery Project aims to restore medical services by providing much needed materials including examination tables, blood pressure units and physical therapy equipment to damaged medical practices.

The three companies – United Grain, Columbia Grain and Louis Dreyfus – said they will not lock out the union and “ILWU members are welcome to come to work under […]

An analysis of cargo and container “incidents,” such as leakages, explosions, fires, and stuctural failures of flexitanks or valves, finds more than two-thirds involved dangerous goods.

   After nearly two months on a six-week rotation, ocean carrier Maersk Line has increased the speed of its weekly Asia-to-East Indian CHX service, decreasing roundtrip voyage time from 42 […]

Three companies operating grain export terminals in the Pacific Northwest – United Grain, Columbia Grain and Louis Dreyfus – said members of the ILWU rejected their last, best and final […]

   The United States and Russia have agreed to an Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Action Plan to improve IPR protection and enforcement.    The IPR Action Plan addresses priority areas […]

The U.S. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service director said the International Longshoremen’s Association and the group trying to negotiate a new contract with them, the U.S. Maritime Alliance, have agreed […]

   Quality Distribution has appointed former U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration head Annette M. Sandberg to board director.    Sandberg has more than 20 years of public safety and law […]

   It’s not much of a Christmas present, at least yet, but late Monday afternoon, the director of the U.S. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) said the International Longshoremen’s Association […]

TSA Executive Administrator Brian M. Conrad said the 15 liner shipping companies that are part of the discussion agreement “cannot afford another year in which expiring contracts and seasonally weak […]

APL said it will move its vessel operations in the Port of Oakland from a terminal operated by its affiliate Eagle Marine Services to the adjacent Oakland International Container Terminal, […]

A coalition of more than 100 trade associations has asked President Obama to help prevent a strike by the union, which posted a document on its Website briefing members on […]

The global third party logistics services provider has appointed Francesc Casamitjana as regional chief executive officer of its Global Integrated Logistics (GIL) business in the Americas, effective Jan. 1.

   Miami-based non-vessel-operating common carrier Econocaribe Consolidators has appointed John Kamada to manager for the U.S. West Coast region.    Based in Los Angeles, Kamada will be responsible for sales and […]

Xun Wang, a former managing director of PPG Paints Trading (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., was sentenced Thursday to a year in prison for conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers […]

   The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Thursday released its final rule establishing general regulations to improve the traceability of livestock moving interstate.    “With the final rule announced today, the […]

   Third party logistics services provider SDV has set up a subsidiary in Norway extending its network to Scandinavia.    “SDV Norway AS is fully integrated into SDV’s global network […]

   For the first time in its history, China is expected to produce more corn than rough rice, demonstrating a growing affluence by the Chinese middle class and their demand […]

   Carriers want a single transpacific discussion agreement. The major container shipping companies in the transpacific want to create a single organization in which they can discuss both U.S. exports and […]

   American shippers may be preoccupied about how the expanded Panama Canal, increasing fuel costs and finding properly trained labor will impact their supply chains in the near future, but […]

   TOTE, Inc., parent company of Sea Star Line and Totem Ocean Trailer Express, said last month it will build two 3,100-TEU containerships for the Puerto Rico trade that will […]

Pfizer uses sophisticated IT, fewer 3PLs to deliver products efficiently worldwide. By Chris Dupin    Pfizer makes some of the most important and advanced life-saving drugs in the world and is redesigning its […]

   In an effort to put a travel expenses scandal behind it, the Port of Oakland has taken steps to be more transparent.    The scandal led to the departures […]

   Langh develops specialized container for the steel industry. The success of containerization and intermodalism is based on the fact that there are millions of identical shipping containers which can be easily […]

Weak economy, oversupply of ships, other challenges make 2013 a bumpy year for shippers.    By Chris Dupin       Aweak global economy and continuous deliveries of large new containerships seem […]

   How much notice should be given to a shipowner when asked to carry hazardous cargo? That issue is discussed in a recent summary order that is part of the […]

Trade negotiators addressed U.S. concerns related to intellectual property, eliminating significant regulatory obstacles to U.S. exports, and dealing with issues concerning China’s Government Procurement Agreement accession.

“Our customers will benefit from an increased service offering and global competence base as well as one of the densest networks,” said DNV’s Group CEO Henrik O. Madsen, who will […]

“European shippers insist that a mandatory deadline for the delivery of the final shipping instructions by the shipper to the carrier’s office will largely solve the issue of ‘misdeclared container […]

   The Halifax Port Authority board has renewed Karen Oldfield’s contract to continue as president and chief executive officer.    Her new five-year contract takes effect Jan. 1.    “Ms. […]

   Crowley Maritime Corp.’s liner services division has appointed Tony Otero to vice president of Caribbean services.    Otero replaces Matt Jackson, who will take on a new position in Crowley’s […]

   The U.S. Transportation Department this week announced six actions to eliminate “out-of-date or duplicative paperwork, saving taxpayer dollars and reducing the workload for businesses across the country.”    DOT’s […]

   The Commerce Department on Tuesday announced that it determined utility-scale wind turbine towers from China and Vietnam were both dumped on the U.S. market and received government subsidies during their […]

   The Commerce Department on Wednesday determined that large residential washers from South Korea and Mexico are dumped on the U.S. market.    Dumping occurs when a foreign company sells […]

“I think it would be a great move, a great message for shippers and all the vendors,” said Rudy Mack, whose tenure as president of Hapag-Lloyd America from 1999 to […]

“This is truly a ‘container cliff’ in the making. The retail industry, once again, calls on President Obama to engage directly in the negotiations,” said Jonathan Gold of the National […]

The Italy-based parent company of Atlantic Container Line has plans to start a new direct service between the Mediterranean and North America, as soon as the second half of next year or […]

“This is a make or break period for transpacific carriers,” said TSA executive administrator Brian M. Conrad. The carriers “cannot afford another year in which expiring contracts and seasonally weak demand erode […]

   Kohl’s Department Stores on Tuesday switched on its largest solar-power project at its million-square-foot e-commerce distribution center in Edgewater, Md.    The facility opened in 2011 and recently earned its […]

   Non-vessel-operating common carrier Shipco Transport will open a new International Cargo Terminals (ICT) export warehouse in Long Beach, Calif., on Jan. 7.    ICT, with warehouses in Elizabeth, N.J. […]

   NVC Logistics Group, a Rockleigh, N.J.-based third party logistics services provider, has named Robert Kovacs president, effective Jan. 1.    He replaces Paul Henrici, who will retire from the […]

   The U.S. Export-Import Bank approved loans for more than $150 million worth of American-made energy equipment that will head to Uruguay and Mexico.    In specific, Ex-Im Bank approved a […]

The East and Gulf coast dockworkers’ union says it’s still willing to keep talking with management to secure a contract, but warned “unless we hear back from them we will […]

Several grain terminals in the Pacific Northwest trying to negotiate a new contract with workers said Monday evening that they were rejecting the most recent offer from the International Longshore […]

   U.S. steel exports increased in October compared to September by 12.1 percent, according to the American Institute for International Steel and government data.    “Exports to both NAFTA and […]

   The leading German container shipping companies Hapag-Lloyd and Hamburg Süd said this morning that they are discussing a possible merger.    If accomplished, the combined companies would be the […]

USMX has said it wants to cap royalty payments “and use the excess, not as savings for employers but to help pay for other benefits for ILA workers,” while ILA […]

The ocean carriers have once again slowed their joint weekly service between Asia and the east and west coasts of North America. Roundtrip voyage time on the loop has increased […]

   Non-vessel-operating common carrier Vanguard Logistics Services has started servicing Yangon, Myanmar.    Vanguard Myanmar, opened with partner Global Consolidators Ltd., has a dedicated Vanguard staff to oversee all aspects of […]

   President Obama on Friday signed legislation that grants Russia permanent normal trade relations (PNTR).    The 2012 Russia and Moldova Jackson-Vanik Repeal and Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law and […]

   A New Jersey man on Friday was arrested for illegally trafficking in narwhal tusks and associated money laundering crimes, the Justice Department said.    On Nov. 14, a federal […]

Ian Mulcahy, business agent for ILA Local 1657, expected that talks between his local and the Maritime Employers Association would begin next year after a deal is reached by CUPE and […]

BlueWater Reporting has announced today the launch of a new Website, www.BlueWaterReporting.com. The new service combines business intelligence tools for liner shipping analytics on a global basis with news content […]

   The Georgia Ports Authority on Friday deployed its first four electrified rubber-tired gantry cranes (ERTG), making it the first North American port operation to introduce this cleaner and more efficient equipment. […]

   NYK on Friday said it will merge its subsidiary companies NYK-Hinode Line Ltd. and NYK Global Bulk Corp.    Hinode has been in business for more than a century […]

   C.H. Robinson’s senior vice president Jim Butts will retire, effective Dec. 31.    Butts started working at the Eden Prairie, Minn.-based logistics company in 1978. He has been senior […]

“If a new labor agreement is not reached and a port shutdown occurs, we respectfully ask you to be prepared to immediately put into place measures,” the organization told the […]

   The U.S. Export-Import Bank approved a $1.03 billion loan to GLOBALFOUNDRIES to finance the export of American-made semiconductor manufacturing equipment to Germany.    The transaction, which is Ex-Im Bank’s […]

   The Port of New Orleans has elected Joe Toomy to serve as chairman.    He succeeds Commissioner Valerie Cahill, whose term as chairman expired. Cahill will continue to serve […]

   The Duluth Seaway Port Authority has appointed Jeff Borling to director of industrial/economic development, effective Jan. 1.    Borling has spent most of his career in economic development. He […]

   A former U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer, his girlfriend and two of their associates pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court for their participation in multi-year bribery and human […]

   Saddle Creek Logistics Services, a Lakeland, Fla.-based third party logistics firm, has appointed Amy Barnes to director of business development.    In this role, she will oversee the development […]

A federal mediator said after contract talks on Tuesday and Wednesday the Pacific Northwest Grain Handlers and ILWU Locals 4, 8, 19 and 23 “have agreed they require additional time to review […]

Three days of negotiations between the International Longshoremen’s Association and their employers ended on Wednesday without a labor agreement to replace the one that expires on Dec. 29.