November 2014

Airfreight peak on the way?

Just over half of respondents questioned for the November Stifel Logistics Confidence Index – published by consultants Transport Intelligence - said they expected an airfreight peak for fourth quarter of this year. Some 36% indicated no peak for airfreight and 12% were unsure. Of those that expecting a peak season for airfreight, 51% expect it to last 3-4 weeks and 25% expect it last longer than four weeks. Overall, the freight index ... [+]

Dunkerque to ‘reconquer’ its markets

Dunkerque wants to reconquer its natural hinterland in the container sector, the northern French port said in its strategic plan published on 26 November. At the same time, it will develop secure and temperature-controlled logistics, optimise consolidated transport and put in place the tools for successful development of container traffic. ... [+]

Spirits lift Grangemouth to record

Grangemouth, Scotland's biggest box port, handled a record breaking 4,200 containers in late November, surpassing its previous record by over 200. The busy pre-Christmas period was boosted by a strong potato seed season and an increase in the market for whisky and white spirit. [+]

SECA control area claims another short-sea victim

Transfennica is to close its ro-ro service between Bilbao, Portsmouth and Zeebrugge by the end of December as part of a rethink of its Iberian strategy in the light of the new SECA control area. The Spliethoff subsidiary started the route started in September 2007 and while it had enjoyed ... [+]

World Trade Organisation signs ‘ground-breaking’ deal on simpler trade

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) signed what its director-general Roberto Azevedo described a ground-breaking deal on trade facilitation in Geneva on 27 November. The 160 WTO members agree to introduce new standards for customs checks and other border procedures, adding over $1 trillion to the value of world trade, according ... [+]

Russia extends TIR agreement

The Russians Customs Service officially notified the Russian TIR guaranteeing association, ASMAP, of the extension of its agreement until 28 February 2015. It follows an order by the Russian Government on 17 November to the Federal Customs Service and the Ministry of Transport to reinstate the TIR system as soon ... [+]

Ships study

Transport Minister John Hayes launched a study into how to boost the UK’s maritime industry on 26 November. It will look at all aspects of the sector to identify where and how improvements can be made to generate growth and will report in summer 2015. It is expected to make ... [+]

High flyer

Air Charter Service has appointed Richard Thompson as president of its North America operations. He will be responsible for the company’s operations in New York, California, Texas and Canada and steps into the position previously held by Andy Christie, who was promoted to Group Director of ACS’s Private Jet charter ... [+]

Forwarder wins warehouse cert.

Freight forwarder Röhlig has obtained UK Warehousing Association (UKWA) membership for one of its operations in Solihull, West Midlands. It follows an operational audit programme by the trade organisation. [+]

New Kerry men

Kerry Logistics has appointed Rob Brown as head of supply chain solutions, based at its UK headquarters in Manchester , whilst Nigel Moolenaar has joined as head of supply chain solution implementation, based at the company’s Dartford office. Rob Brown has worked with DAMCO and most recently GEFCO. Nigel Moolenaar ... [+]