SEKO LOGISTICS GAINS IMPORTANT CERTIFICATION IN IRELAND

Ireland is the latest country in SEKO Logistics’ European network to achieve full certification as an Authorized Economic Operator (AEO). With AEO approval already in the Netherlands and Denmark, SEKO will target France and Germany as the next countries in which to gain certification as part of the company’s goal of gaining AEO status in all E.U. countries where it operates.
SEKO was one of the first two freight companies to participate in the Transportation Security Administration’s Air Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS) program in the U.S. and it continues to be at the forefront of improvements for air cargo security in the U.S. and globally.

MOL SIGNS SHIP BUILDING CONTRACTS WITH DSME FOR ICE CLASS CARRIERS

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. has announced that joint venture companies MOL and China Shipping (Group) Co. have signed shipbuilding contracts with Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., Ltd. in Korea to build three ice-class LNG carriers. These ice-class carriers are intended for the Yamal LNG project, which is currently Russia’s most strategic project in energy.
The carriers will have independent ice-breaking capabilities that enable them to sail in icy seas with maximum 2.1-meter ice thickness. The vessels are capable of transporting LNG from Yamal LNG plant in Sabetta in the Yamal Peninsula, Russia, to main LNG markets throughout the world. During summer months, the carriers will also be able to independently sail on the Northern Sea Route to transport LNG to East Asia.

CHAPMAN FREEBORN AND SWISS WORLDCARGO PARTNERSHIP

As of July 1, global on-board courier specialist Chapman Freeborn OBC GmbH is supporting Swiss WorldCargo with all hand-carry requirements through its worldwide office network. The agreement will allow Swiss WorldCargo to expand its specialized product portfolio and offer solutions for clients with a premium on urgent shipments and the ability to monitor the progress of their cargo at any time by using an online tracking system. Chapman Freeborn OBC works closely with one of the market’s leading airlines, which has a network of some 120 destinations in more than 80 countries.
“Our two companies can forge a true partnership as we have distinct areas of expertise and experience while sharing a common dedication to and passion for quality, customer service and just getting the job done according to our promises,” says Carsten Volk, managing director of Chapman Freeborn OBC.

U.S. SECRETARY OF COMMERCE ANNOUNCES EXPANSION AND ENHANCEMENT OF COMMERCE DATA PROGRAMS

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker has announced a series of steps to enhance and expand the data programs at the department.
“Data is a key pillar of the department’s ‘Open for Business Agenda,’ and for the first time, we have made it a department-wide strategic priority,” says Pritzker. “No other department can rival the reach, depth and breadth of the Department of Commerce’s data programs.”
The announcement includes the hiring of the department’s first-ever chief data officer, who will lead and be responsible for developing and implementing a vision for the future of the diverse data resources at Commerce.
Additionally, the International Trade Administration has launched its “Trade Developer Portal” to combine trade and investment data in a single place. To support these new programs, the Commerce Department is creating a data advisory council, comprised of 15 private sector leaders to advise the department on best use of government data.

TRENDING UP: 3PL MARKET PREDICTIONS FOR 2014 AND 2013 RESULTS

With the U.S. 3PL market gross revenue growth of 3.2 percent from 2012-2013, Armstrong & Associates, Inc. (A&A) estimates that growth will be 5.2 percent for 2014 as the U.S. economy continues to expand.
Net revenues are expected to increase by 4.3 percent from $64.6 billion in 2013 to $67.4 billion in 2014. Domestic Transportation Management (DTM) should increase 7.5 percent while growth in DTM continues to be fed by the expansion of the base of customers using 3PLs. It is common now for customers with as little as $3 million in transportation spend to use at least one 3PL. Similarly, third-party logistics services are more systems-driven rather than just load-by-load transactions. Systems-based “Enterprise Accounts” constitute a significant part of the business for all major domestic transportation managers.

FEC’S NEW RAIL FACILITY AT PORT EVERGLADES

Florida East Coast Railway, LLC (FEC) has unveiled its state-of-the art Intermodal Container Transfer Facility (ICTF) at Port Everglades. This 43-acre facility increases FEC’s available intermodal capacity from 100,000 to 450,000 lifts per year and the unique, near-dock intermodal facility improves the transfer of both domestic and international containers between ships and rail.
FEC’s ICTF allows it to build 9,000-foot unit trains within the facility without blocking any city streets and allows cargo to move through Port Everglades to and from Atlanta and Charlotte in two days, and Nashville and Memphis in three days. The short-line railroad’s connections to Class 1 railroads CSX and Norfolk Southern allow for rail service to 70 percent of the U.S. population within four days.
The new ICTF facilitates faster delivery times and creates less congested roadways by eliminating a high volume of trucks from state highways.

BAHRI OBTAINS EGM APPROVAL

The National Shipping Co. of Saudi Arabia (Bahri) obtained the approval of Extra Ordinary General Assembly (EGM) on June 19 this year to merge the fleet and operations of Vela International Marine Limited (a wholly owned subsidiary of Saudi Aramco) with Bahri. This is considered the largest merger in the history of the Saudi market. The EGM was attended by 59.78 percent of the shareholders, out of which 99.99 percent voted to support this agreement. The company also signed an agreement on June 22 to obtain Murabaha financing with three banks—JP Morgan, SAMBA and SABB—for SAR (Saudi Arabian riyal) 3,182,812,500.

YUSEN LOGISTICS LAUNCHES DOUBLE-DECK OCEAN CONTAINER

Yusen Logistics has announced the launch of an innovative ocean transportation service which enables double stacking of product inside ocean containers, through the installation of specialized decks.
With security of the decks confirmed and an increasing demand for transportation of electrical products, chemicals, food products and motorcycles, Yusen has launched this service on all transport lanes operated by its network.
The new system will generate a number of benefits, including improved loading efficiency, reduced transportation costs and reduced CO2 emissions.

AIRBRIDGECARGO TO ADD NEW ROUTES AND FREQUENCIES

AirBridgeCargo (ABC), Russia’s largest scheduled cargo airline and part of Volga-Dnepr Group, has started its 10th anniversary year with a record performance in the first six months of 2014, as it transported 188,354 tons of cargo across its international network, up 16 percent on the previous year.
During the first six months of 2014, ABC continued to extend its international network and strengthen its position on existing markets. In the United States, it added a second new route to Dallas/Fort Worth and increased frequencies to Chicago. In Europe, ABC launched flights to Leipzig, Munich and Malmo, and opened a direct service from Frankfurt to Chicago.
By adding new destinations and improving connectivity with its Moscow hub, AirBridgeCargo now offers an extensive choice of routes for its international customers as well as 384 connections with the delivery time below 48 hours on almost all of its origin-destination pairs.