Chris

Keep things fluid, says World Shipping Council

The World Shipping Council says that one of the single most important things that national and local governments can do right now is to ensure that the flow of cargo through the world’s ports remains fluid.  In many parts of the world, back-ups at warehouses, shortages of truck drivers, and scheduled deliveries of goods that importers cannot sell are causing cargo owners to leave cargo at the ports, leading to ... [+]

BIFA welcomes export support

The British International Freight Association (BIFA) has welcomed additional support tfrom the Department for International Trade (DIT) to 160,000 exporters and international investors. BIFA Director General, Robert Keen says: “We understand that UK businesses are now eligible to secure export insurance cover to major international markets, in addition to export finance, ... [+]

FTA calls for COVID-19 funding

The Freight Transport Association has called for a Supply Chain Continuation Fund to be set up, to give help and support to specific areas and sectors hardest hit by the economic slow-down.  FTA said that while the extension of the Corona Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) announced businesses need to be able ... [+]

Virgin flies vital supplies from Shanghai

Virgin Atlantic teamed up with Virgin Group’s not-for-profit foundation, Virgin Unite, to fly a special charter with essential medical supplies and equipment for the NHS from Shanghai to London. The Boeing 787-9 aircraft departed Shanghai at 11:40 local time on 3 April landing at 16:50 the same day at London Heathrow. Manned ... [+]

Virus shakes up global supply chain

The coronavirus has shone a light on the fragility of global supply chains, and businesses around the world will probably diversify their operations after the crisis, says Dr Kerstin Braun, president of London and New York international trade finance provider, Stenn Group. Dr Braun, commented: "2020 is a tough year for not ... [+]

MSC has a plan to keep global trade moving

MSC group president and chief executive Diego Aponte says that the line has introduced a Suspension of Transit programme that uses major transhipment hubs including Bremerhaven, Turkey’s Tekirdag Asyaport, Busan, Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah Port, Lome in Togo and Panama as advance storage posts to help shippers begin moving goods ... [+]

China to Dartford in 17 days

Freight forwarder Davies Turner says that its direct weekly intermodal container rail freight service from China to the UK, which re-started in mid-March has broken its existing record transit time, arriving at its regional distribution centre in Dartford a week ahead of schedule. Tony Cole, head of supply chain services said: ... [+]

Tilbury says it with boxes

The port of Tilbury made its own unique contribution to the Clap for Carers event on 2 April, shuffling 137 suitably-coloured containers to create a tribute to NHS workers and other key workers. Asset and site director Paul Dale, said: “We wanted to recognise the important role that the NHS and ... [+]

Vital medical supplies get the VIP treatment

Global logistics provider, GEFCO, has transported a large shipment of medical supplies on special charter flights from Shanghai to Bratislava to help tackle COVID-19 in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The deliveries took place on 31 March to 1 April 01using two Boeing 787 planes temporarily converted to carry cargo. The ... [+]

Channel Tunnel puts part-time working in place

Channel Tunnel operator Getlink is to put part-time working in place for 2,339 of its French employees from 1 April and is working on an equivalent scheme for British employees. The decision reflects the noticeable drop in passengers compared to the relatively resilient performance of van and truck traffic. As ... [+]