SAFMARINE MPV EXTENDS ITS USA-TO-WEST AFRICA MULTI-PURPOSE SHIPPING SERVICE SOUTHBOUND
Safmarine MPV, a multi-purpose shipping line offering break bulk, project cargo and container service to West Africa (WAF), announced it will expand its U.S.-West Africa trade line with a southbound extension to include Congo and Angola.

Safmarine MPV, which enjoys a strong reputation as the West African specialist with a loyal customer base, will now offer service to include regular ports of call in Houston, Tin Can/Lagos, Onne, Pointe-Noire and Luanda/Sonils, with the option for ad-hoc inducement calls to handle special project cargoes in other West African ports.

“Our expansion into the southern range of western Africa is in response to the growing needs of our customer base who require faster transit times and direct sailings to the key ports in the region,” says Randy Jameson, SafmarineMPV commercial director for the USA-WAF service.

MOL EXPANDS LARGE-SCALE CONTAINERSHIP FLEET
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd (MOL) signed separate deals for the construction of four 20,000-TEU containerships as well as the chartering of two other similarly sized containerships that will further increase the shipping giant’s reach.

Samsung Heavy Industries will build four 20,000-TEU ships for MOL, while it entered into a chartering agreement with Shoei Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. for two other 20,000-TEU vessels. The six ships are scheduled to be launched and delivered in 2017 and will serve the company’s Asia-Europe service lines.

MOL, with one of the largest network of ports in the world, has about 120 containerships with capacities ranging from 700 to 14,000 TEUs. The new vessels will feature advanced energy-saving technologies to reduce fuel consumption and cost.

YUSEN LOGISTICS EXPANDS GLOBAL PROJECT CARGO NETWORK TO BRAZIL
Citing a growing demand for additional cargo services in South America, Yusen Logistics Do Brasil Ltda. has established a dedicated project cargo team based in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The team will not only support the company’s overall project network but develop services in a region that has been experiencing solid economic growth fueled by a strong demand for commodities.

“The focus on the Brazil market comes at exactly the right time to match the increase in demand for these services,” says Marcos Pultrini, project team leader, Brazil. “While we have provided project support in the past, the formation of this team as part of our global project network is a real advantage to our customers in this market.”

The team will provide global project consultation, planning and implementation across all modes of transport with its service portfolio ready to support break bulk, over-dimensional heavy machinery, equipment and ocean services.

LIVINGSTON INTERNATIONAL TO OPEN U.S. HEADQUARTERS IN CHICAGO
Livingston International, a global logistics company and recognized leader in customs brokerage and trade compliance, announced it will establish its new U.S. headquarters in Chicago by the end of 2015.

Livingston becomes the 32nd company since 2011 to locate its U.S. headquarters in Chicago. The company, which employs more than 3,200 staff throughout North America, Europe and Asia and maintains its global headquarters in Toronto, expects to add 75 employees to its new office.

“We’ve tripled our revenue and doubled our employees in the U.S. over the last four years,” says Steve Preston, Livingston CEO. “We selected Chicago because it is an international trade hub and it offers a large talent pool in areas strategic to our future.”

SANA INTERNATIONAL AND J. CANAVATI & CO. FORM JOINT VENTURE PARTNERSHIP
Two San Antonio, Texas, firms have joined together in a joint venture partnership focused on the development of new international markets for U.S. exports.

Sana International, Inc., an export management company with more than 20 years experience, will oversee related exported operations while J. Canavati & Co. LLC., a company that specializes in the development of international logistics and trade, will head new-market development.

The partnership, with field offices in Mexico City, Veracruz and Bogotá, Colombia, will be represented by ILP Hong Kong in Asia markets.