MOL Introduces World’s First Methanol-Fueled Diesel Engine
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) has ordered methanol carriers with the world’s first methanol-burning, dual-fueled, low-speed diesel main engine. These engines have already been built and tested by its manufacturer, Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., and they have met performance requirements. The vessels are being built by Minaminippon Shipping Co., Ltd., and will be delivered in 2016.
Burning methanol in the main engine will reduce emissions of CO2 and nitrogen oxides and eliminate sulfur-oxide emissions, thereby placing fewer burdens on the environment. The new vessels will also be some of the first to include ballast water treatment systems and energy-saving devices fitted in front and behind the propellers to help improve fuel efficiency.

Port of Los Angeles, Long Beach Cooperate on Supply Chain
The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have established a series of joint working groups designed to optimize facilities and operations and smooth the flow of cargo through the San Pedro Bay port complex during peak season.
The seven working groups are Peak Season 2015, Container Terminal Optimization, Chassis, Off-dock Solutions, Key Performance Indicators/Data Solutions, Intermodal Rail, and Drayage. Members of the working groups have been drawn from across the spectrum of port stakeholders, including shippers, shipping lines, railroads, trucking, equipment owners and labor. The Peak Season 2015 working group will be the first to meet and plans a series of intensive sessions that will study this year’s peak-demand needs at the port complex.

Kuehne + Nagel to Acquire ReTrans Inc.
The Kuehne + Nagel Group has entered into an agreement to acquire ReTrans Inc., a U.S. transportation broker. The acquisition builds on the logistics giant’s strategy to strengthen its position as an end-to-end logistics provider in North America.
“By acquiring ReTrans we obtain expertise in intermodal transportation,” says Stefan Paul, executive vice president, “with direct access to the most important North American railroad companies, an innovative LTL brokerage business and a platform to provide managed transportation services.”

Atlas Air is Expanding Its Fleet
Atlas Air Worldwide is acquiring a new 747-8 freighter from Boeing with delivery scheduled for November. The company intends to deploy the aircraft in charter operations before placing it in longer-term aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance service. Atlas is also returning a parked Boeing 747-400 converted freighter to active service and entering into a short-term operating lease for a second 747-400 converted freighter.
By the end of this year, Atlas Worldwide expects its cargo operations to include 10 747-8Fs and 23 747-400 freighters. It also expects to have two 747-400s and three 767-300s providing passenger services to the U.S. military and other charter customers.

Tampa Bay and Panama Foreign Trade Zones Sign Agreement
Tampa Bay’s Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) No. 79 and the Free Zones Association of Panama recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to work collaboratively to promote international trade by using their respective FTZ programs as catalysts. The MOU commits the Tampa Bay and Panamanian parties to promoting information and commercial exchanges, new business opportunities, domestic and foreign investment in FTZs, international trade competitiveness and the transfer of new technology to improve manufacturing for global markets.

“Tampa Bay continues to build a strong platform to help the import/export business community succeed in the arena of international trade and logistics,” says Wade Elliott, chairman and president of FTZ No. 79. “The signing of this MOU enhances the Tampa Bay FTZ program and strengthens the ability of the Tampa Bay import and export community to be competitive in the international marketplace.”