AIR Canada has reached a last-minute agreement with the pilots' union, avoiding a strike that would have disrupted over 1,000 daily flights globally, reports Bloomberg News.

Air Canada has reached a last-minute agreement with the pilots' union, avoiding a strike that would have disrupted over 1,000 daily flights globally.

The airline and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), representing 5,000 Air Canada pilots, secured a tentative four-year contract after more than a year of negotiations.

ALPA had been pushing to close the pay gap with US pilots, particularly for entry-level positions.

According to a source familiar with the deal, the airline has agreed to increase pilot wages four per cent annually over three years, with an upfront 26 per cent pay raise and additional benefits.

"After several consecutive weeks of intense round-the-clock negotiations, progress was made on several key issues, including compensation, retirement, and work rules," said ALPA executive council chairwoman Charlene Hudy.

INDIA's air cargo software firm Kale Logistics Solutions has appointed Tribhuwan Negi as chief technology officer as the company looks to develop new artificial intelligence (AI) tools.

Mr Negi has nearly 25 years of experience in building "large-scale software as a service platforms and leading global research and development organisations", Mr Kale said in a press release.

One of his first key initiatives will be overseeing the development of intelligent AI-driven applications that further enhance Kale's solutions in the logistics and supply chain sectors, reports London's Air Cargo News.

Mr Kale added that his appointment is part of a broader leadership expansion, which has seen the addition of a new global chief financial officer, chief innovation officer, and chief of human resources over the summer.

"The journey so far has been exhilarating, with new challenges, experiences, and incredible achievements; I have found the company culture, leadership, vision and direction motivational, and I look forward to our future successes," said Mr Negi.

Rajesh Panicker, co-founder and chief operating officer, added: "With Tribhuwan's deep expertise, we are confident that he will accelerate our growth and further enhance our ability to deliver innovative technological solutions that revolutionize the global supply chain."

UK-BASED freighter carrier One Air has added a third Boeing 747-400 freighter to its fleet as it looks to cater for rising demand between Asia and Europe.

The new freighter has joined on a five-year lease from AeroTransCargo and completed its first flight between Hong Kong and East Midlands Airport in the UK, reports London's Air Cargo News.

One Air said that the freighter offers nose-loading capabilities and can carry up to 124 tonnes as it is an extended range (ER) model.

In support of its third aircraft, One Air has recruited a further 27 flight crew and support staff, taking the total workforce at its UK headquarters to over 125 aviation and cargo professionals.

Said Paul Bennett, One Air's chairman and CEO: "Our business case was always based on the high demand we saw for a British cargo airline, and this is being borne out by the volume of flights we are operating.

"The arrival of our third 747-400 and its increased capacity and capability will enable us to provide more availability to our growing client base. We are also pressing ahead with our future fleet plans and expect to add at least one more freighter in the first half of 2025 based on our current growth plan."

The airline has been growing its fleet steadily since it commenced flights with its first 747-400F in July 2023.

The carrier added a second 747 aircraft in November to meet rising demand from China and Hong Kong to Europe.

Meanwhile, it has also moved its UK operating base from Heathrow Airport to East Midlands to benefit from greater slot availability and fewer restrictions around night-time flying.

DHL Express is investing over EUR100 million (US$111 million) in transport and handling capacity in the fourth quarter to support customers' growth, according to Mumbai's The STAT Trade Times.

As part of the ongoing modernization of its air freight fleet, DHL Express will be initiating the deployment of eight new Boeing 777 freighters, says an official release.

"With an expected growth of 8.8 per cent in 2024, worldwide e-commerce remains a driving force for volume growth while B2B shipment volume is gradually recovering. Despite ongoing uncertainties in the overall global economy, the company is adding aviation capacity and expanding its international parcel sorting and delivery network to ensure a successful peak for customers."

Said DHL Express CEO John Pearson said: "With ongoing volatility in global freight markets and a continued strong flow of e-commerce volumes, we are expecting a healthy surge in demand for express services in the fourth quarter. We are making the necessary investments to maximise the resilience of our global network and make our customers successful during a demanding 2024 peak."

The company is investing in eight new Boeing 777 freight aircraft on trans-Pacific and intercontinental routes between Asia and Europe, boosting capacity on these key lanes and continuing DHL's transition to lower-emission transportation with newer, more fuel-efficient aircraft, the release added.

"The company has also invested in additional handling and sorting capacity in its ground network, including in its aviation facilities in Copenhagen, Cologne, Paris, Atlanta, Brussels and East Midlands (UK) to allow for more flexible flying schedules and the ability to reroute cargo in the event of heavy demand or supply chain disruption."

THE Port of Los Angeles reported handling 960,597 TEU in August, marking a remarkable 16 per cent increase compared to the same month last year.

This figure represents the busiest month for the port since before the pandemic, the port said.

With eight months of 2024 complete, the Port of Los Angeles is already 17 per cent ahead of its total container volume from 2023, having processed nearly 1 million additional containers year to date.

"The American consumer continues to spend and that's helping to power our economy," Port of Los Angeles executive director Gene Seroka said at a media briefing.

"Some of the cargo arriving now is replenishing inventories even beyond the year-end holiday season. Combined with a steady flow of manufacturing parts and components, we should continue to see elevated volume in the near term.

"It's been a very busy summer on our docks and I'm thankful to all of our dedicated waterfront workers and terminal operators for their commitment for handling this level of volume safely and efficiently through America's Port," Mr Seroka added.

In August 2024, loaded imports accounted for 509,363 TEU, an 18 per cent rise compared to last year. Conversely, loaded exports saw a slight decline, totalling 121,744 TEU - a 3 per cent drop from 2023. The port also processed 329,491 empty containers, reflecting a significant 22 per cent increase from the previous year.

Overall, the Port of Los Angeles has moved a total of 6,631,688 TEU in the first eight months of 2024, showcasing a substantial 17 per cent growth over the same period in 2023, reports New York's MarineLink.

DISRUPTION in global supply chains through the knock-on effects of the Red Sea diversions is diminishing as supply and demand becomes more balanced and the initial bunching of services, which caused port congestion, has eased significantly, according to Drewry Shipping Consultants.

An early peak season in both the Asia to US and European trades saw shippers prepare for what was feared would be a repeat of the Covid congestion era disruptions.

�owever, massive newbuilding deliveries have eased the pressure, with a significant orderbook still in process, writes Greece's Container News.

"It is difficult to read whether the peak season has ended," said Drewry analyst Simon Heaney, "But the congestion issue is fading and the disruption is easing as up to 300,000 TEU of newbuilding entrants enter the market each month."

Mr Heaney acknowledged that not all the new capacity had entered the critical Asia/Europe trades, but he added that demand is softening and with the "combined contribution" of newbuilds there would be little hope of carriers stemming the slide on rates in key trades.

"The market is so volatile and unpredictable at the moment, but the underlying fundamentals would see rates continue to slide."

It is expected, however, that further disruption will take place, in what Mr Heaney said is an increasingly volatile market, which makes it harder to predict further unexpected or foreseeable events remains high.

One such event is likely to be the US East Coast strikes with talks between employers and unions having broken down, and the unions ready to strike on October 1 if no contract is agreed.

Mr Heaney pointed out: "Alternative terminals can be found in Canada and the USWC, but they will not be able to absorb all of the EC cargo, and there is a possibility that unions at these terminals will handle diverted cargo."

Should a prolonged dispute begin on the USEC it could lead to a shortage of empty containers in key regions, with congestion again spreading into other key trades.

RECORDS are being smashed along the Northern Sea Route this year once again, writes Singapore's Splash 247.

At 4,890 TEU, the Flying Fish 1 has become the largest containership to enter Arctic waters, making its way from Europe to China.

The ice-class ship is one of many Chinese ships to have gained a licence to cross this frozen patch of planet earth this year.

More remarkably are the number of vessels which are not ice-class that have managed to win transit licenses from Russia.

Recent weeks have seen non-ice class aframaxes and boxships enter Arctic waters for the first time, while there has been extensive interest in gas ships being sent last month to Novatek's Arctic LNG 2 project.

Traffic analysis of the route carried out by Norway's Centre for High North Logistics indicates 2024 is on course to beat last year's record cargo volumes carried along the Northern Sea Route.

THE International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) Publications has released the second edition of "Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions: A Guide to International Regulatory Compliance", an updated resource designed to help ship owners, operators, and managers navigate the increasingly complex regulations surrounding maritime decarbonization.

Chris Waddington, technical director at ICS and contributor to the guide, said: "This updated edition comes at a critical juncture for the shipping industry. The new chapter on EU ETS addresses one of the most pressing and challenging topics in maritime regulation today, providing clarity on its current status and implications for global shipping."

This guide covers the full scope of maritime emissions issues, from current regulations to future trends. It simplifies complex topics, making it an invaluable tool for those in the maritime sector, reports Greece's Container News.

"We're particularly excited about the new section linking GHG and URN reduction measures. This innovative approach demonstrates how efforts to reduce emissions can have multiple benefits, including addressing the growing concern of underwater noise pollution," added Mr Waddington.

Key updates in the second edition include: A new chapter addressing the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), clarifies the confusion around its application to ships trading within and outside the EU; examination of the link between reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and underwater radiated noise (URN), emphasizing how efforts to minimize one often benefit the other; a detailed appendix listing around 100 methods for reducing both GHG emissions and URN; and an extensive review and update of all content to ensure it reflects the latest developments in the regulatory landscape.

UNCERTAIN trade levels and, consequently, freight volumes have led to an interim report from Australia's Freight Reform Panel to advise the cutting of government support for a new container facility at Port Kembla.

The Freight Reform Panel, which consists of Dr Kerry Schott AO, Lucio Di Bartolomeo, and Dr Hermione Parsons, published Freight Policy Reform: Interim Directions, last week, and advised Canberra to take a wait-and-see approach to port upgrades, according to Greece's Container News.

Activities at both Newcastle and Port Kembla are expected to evolve over the coming years with Kembla developing as a gas receival facility and as a hydrogen hub, while renewable energy imports are expected to feature at Newcastle, where coal volumes have not declined as rapidly as expected and the port has been earmarked as a clean energy export facility.

"Government expenditure to improve port efficiency in relation to containers ought to focus on Port Botany for the foreseeable future," said the report.

The authors added: "Current government policy is that Port Botany will be the key container port for NSW until it reaches capacity. It is not anticipated that Port Botany will reach capacity for 20 years."

Federal government is urged not to impose restrictions on port activities, beyond the usual planning and development approval processes, until the direction of development of key industries and their impact on all three facilities is understood better.

"Until that time, it is premature to impose policies to restrict port activities. While these matters develop, the Panel is of the view that Government should not provide additional infrastructure to assist the development of container terminals at the ports at Newcastle and Port Kembla," concluded the Panel.

New South Wales' Freight Policy reform programme, which will be developed between the regional and federal governments as well as stakeholders, will "ultimately deliver a comprehensive strategic reform agenda and action plan" that optimize freight transport in the state.

"The movement of freight requires an integrated and holistic approach with seamless connections between the different aspects of the supply chain," said an NSW policy document.

INTERNATIONAL Container Terminal Services, Inc (ICTSI) is advancing environmental sustainability with its new terminal project in Bauan, Batangas, Philippines.

Scheduled for completion by 2028, the Luzon International Container Terminal (LICT) will be the largest privately funded marine terminal investment in the country and the second largest container facility in the Philippines, after the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT).

In addition to boosting capacity, LICT is poised to support the Philippines' renewable energy objectives, especially in Southern Luzon. As the country transitions to cleaner energy, the new terminal will address the growing demand for efficient and environmentally friendly marine handling solutions in the region.

In addition, ICTSI is dedicated to building the Luzon International Container Terminal (LICT) with a strong focus on sustainability.

The design and construction of the terminal will adhere to stringent environmental guidelines to minimize its impact on the local ecosystem. Design and engineering studies are in progress, with construction scheduled to commence in early 2025.

Drawing on its 36 years of experience managing the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT), ICTSI's sustainability practices will be central to the Bauan terminal project.

Over the years, ICTSI has adopted various initiatives such as advanced waste and water management systems, circular economy practices, biodiversity conservation efforts, and decarbonization strategies to reduce its environmental footprint.

Furthermore, a notable feature of the Bauan terminal is its capacity to handle mega-ships, which are increasingly popular in global shipping for their efficiency and reduced environmental impact. These large vessels, capable of carrying over 20,000 containers, offer several environmental advantages.

By consolidating cargo into fewer trips, mega ships lower fuel consumption, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ease congestion on shipping routes. Their larger size allows for reduced carbon emissions per container compared to smaller vessels, reports Greece's Container News.

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is clamping down on the use of vague descriptions of shipments submitted through the Air Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS).

CBP said that from October 7, carriers and other parties electing to file ACAS data to CBP are required to provide a precise description of the cargo, according to London's Air Cargo News.

Until then, a warning period has been put in place. Daily warning messages will be sent to the main ACAS contact each day with a summary of each vague description from the previous day.

As an example, this means that descriptions such as "gift", "daily necessities", "accessories", "parts" and "consolidated" will no longer be accepted.

"ACAS filers are expected to process these warning and rejection notifications and work to correct the issue with the shipper and bill of lading issuer for compliance on that shipment," CBP said.

"ACAS filers, whether air carriers or parties electing to file, are expected to screen data for compliance with cargo declaration regulations.

"Corrective action is expected immediately. If CBP identifies any enforcement concerns, CBP may take additional actions."

Qantas Freight said that from October 7 any non-compliant, vague descriptors will be rejected, and freight will not be loaded at origin until the cargo descriptions have been amended to be compliant.

The last few months have seen the US become increasingly strict on imports into the country.

In July, the US began a clamp down on e-commerce shipments when it suspended "multiple customs brokers" from its Entry Type 86 Test programme that covers the duty-free import of shipments worth less than US$800 into the US.

The US said that over the last 10 years the number of shipments entering the US claiming the de minimis $800 exemption has increased significantly, from approximately 140 million a year to more than 1 billion a year.

THE UK government has delayed the introduction of border checks on produce brought into the country from the European Union (EU) for a third time, reports London's Air Cargo News.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said it had extended the easement of import checks on medium-risk fruit and vegetables imported from the EU from January 2025 to July 1, 2025.

Defra said the easement is a temporary measure to ensure that new ministers have a full and thorough opportunity to review the planned implementation of further border controls, and an opportunity to listen to businesses across import supply chains.

The checks are being introduced as part of the UK's withdrawal from the EU. Three main risk categories were drawn up for imports of animals, animal products, plants and plant products into Great Britain: high risk, medium risk and low risk.

The first phase of this regulation came into force at the end of January this year, which required health certificates on EU goods ranging from cut flowers, to fresh produce including meat, fruit and vegetables.

This was followed by a second phase launched on April 30, which began physical checks for products such as chilled and frozen meat, fish, cheese, eggs, dairy products and certain cut flowers and seeds.

A third phase, which would introduce physical checks on fruit and vegetables, has been delayed several times and has now been pushed back to July 2025.

Nichola Mallen, head of trade at Logistics UK, welcomed the news: "The news that government is delaying the reclassification of fresh produce and the need for additional costs and checks on these imports from the EU will be welcome news for those responsible for moving these goods into the country.

"It is vital that the movement of fresh food is undertaken as swiftly and seamlessly as possible to ensure goods in our shops are of the best possible quality, and this is something that the logistics industry has been pressing for some time. It is good to hear that the government is listening to the concerns of our sector and taking action."

ISRAEL Aerospace Industries (IAI) has begun work on the first Airbus A330-300 passenger to freighter conversion, following the successful completion of the final design review (FDR).

The freighter conversion company said it moved the aircraft into a construction hangar earlier this month, reports London's Air Cargo News.

As part of the preparation and pre-production process, IAI said it has established two supply chains to ensure stability and consistency of production for the widebody A330-300P2F.

Shmuel Kuzi, vice president and general manager of IAI's Aviation Group, said: "The entry of the first Airbus A330-300 into the passenger-to-freight conversion process is a significant milestone in the expansion of our portfolio for customers who choose to benefit from IAI's extensive knowledge, uncompromising quality, and attractive pricing in the field of aircraft cargo conversion."

Between 2025 and 2028, IAI said it will convert 30 Airbus A330-300 aircraft from passenger-to-freighter configurations.

Aircraft leasing firm Avolon became the launch customer for IAI's A330-300 programme after signing a deal for 30 of the conversions in 2021.

The A330-300 milestone comes as IAI's first-ever Boeing B777-300ER (Big Twin) conversion is expected to be certified by global aviation authorities in the coming months.

GERMANY'S Messe Munchen has acquired the Air Cargo Americas Conference & Exhibition from the World Trade Centre Miami to expand its logistics portfolio.

Although Messe Munchen is taking over the trade fair, the World Trade Centre Miami will remain on board as a strategic partner for a future three editions and will also support the Munich team in operational matters, reports London's Air Cargo News.

Messe Munchen chief executives Reinhard Pfeiffer and Stefan Rummel jointly said: "We are delighted that Air Cargo Americas is joining our portfolio of trade fairs. For Messe Munchen, this is an important step towards further expanding our activities in North and Latin America and tapping into one of the most attractive markets in the logistics industry.

"Air Cargo Americas is the ideal complement to transport logistic Americas, which we organized for the first time in Miami in 2022 and which was a great success thanks to the overwhelming response."

The first co-located event will take place at the Miami Beach Convention Centre from November 11-13, 2025, and the conference element of the event will be free to attend.

The event, which has been located in Miami since 1991, will have a multimodal focus, spanning air, sea, road, and rail and both organisations see this as an important aspect of the event.

Over 6,000 participants and 350 exhibitors are expected for the 2025 trade fair.

THE US Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against the owner and operator of the container ship that rammed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in March, according to CBS News.

Justice Department officials say they are seeking US$100 million in damages for the structure's collapse, which killed six construction workers and led to massive economic losses.

The officials said the Singapore-based companies, Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Private Limited, were "well-aware" of issues on the ship, the Dali, that could cause power outages before the accident.

The massive vessel struck one of the bridge's columns in the early morning hours of March 26 after it lost power, causing a section of the structure to collapse into the water.

"The civil claims filed today alleges that the collision was caused by a series of catastrophic failures on board the Dali in the minutes before impact, all as a consequence of the alleged negligence," US Attorney Erek Barron for the District of Maryland.

Justice Department officials said the US government spent more than $100 million to respond to the disaster and reopen the Port of Baltimore. The state of Maryland, the officials said, may seek damages for rebuilding the bridge.

Darrell Wilson, a spokesperson for the Singapore-based companies, said the Justice Department's legal action was "anticipated" as there is a September 24 court deadline for those with claims against the owner and operator of the Dali.

"The owner and manager will have no further comment on the merits of any claim at this time, but we do look forward to our day in court to set the record straight," Mr Wilson said.

The families of three of the construction workers who died on March 26 announced they would seek to hold the Singapore-based company legally liable, a request that, if granted, could allow them to receive monetary compensation.

A POTENTIAL strike at US seaports on the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico could back up cargo there for weeks or even months, shipping experts said, reports Reuters.

Retailers like Walmart and other importers have been rushing goods in ahead of the September 30 expiration of the union contract covering some 45,000 dockworkers at three dozen seaports from Texas to Maine.

Analysts at Sea-Intelligence estimated that it could take anywhere from four to six days to clear the backlog from a one-day strike.

"This means that a (one)-week strike in the beginning of October would not be cleared until mid-November," Sea-Intelligence CEO Alan Murphy said in a statement.

A two-week strike could mean that ports would not return to normal operations until 2025, Mr Murphy said.

Those findings echo an advisory from AP Moller-Maersk, which said a one-week shutdown could require up to six weeks of recovery time, "with significant backlogs and delays compounding with each passing day."

The early shipping strategy has come with a hefty cost to shippers. The off-contract spot market price to send a 40-foot container to the US East Coast from the Far East topped US$10,000 in early July, up from around $2,100 in early April 2023, said Peter Sand, chief analyst at pricing platform Xeneta.

"The risk of port strikes was something that had to be dealt with - by taking early action," Sand said.

That window is closing as the deadline for a new deal nears. That's because shipping diversions due to attacks by Yemen's Houthis in the Red Sea means it can take 45 days or longer to transport goods to East and Gulf Coast ports from factories in Asia.

"Shipping cargoes next week ... is really too late - as it may just be sitting on the water" if the ports are hit by widespread strikes, Mr Sand said.

HUTCHISON Ports BEST has put into operation at its terminal in the Port of Barcelona the first electric reach stacker in Southern Europe.

This new acquisition is part of a plan to reduce the carbon footprint of the terminal, making it the most sustainable and efficient terminal in southern Europe, reports Greece's Container News.

With this move, the Spanish terminal begins to replace equipment that operates with a combustion engine and diesel fuel with all-electric machinery that uses lithium batteries.

The installation of the electric reach stacker, manufactured by Sany, is a significant step towards the decarbonization of the terminal's operations, contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Guillermo Belcastro, CEO of Hutchison Ports BEST, commented: "Society in general and consumers in particular are increasingly demanding the sustainable treatment of products from the point of production to their distribution, including the entire supply chain, and here BEST is already a differentiating factor. Currently, each container that passes through the BEST terminal reduces emissions by almost 70 per cent compared to a conventional terminal."

The implementation of this machine will avoid emissions equivalent to 260 tonnes of CO2e per year thanks to its efficiency and use electricity from 100 per cent renewable sources. This significant reduction in the carbon footprint will benefit air quality in the Port of Barcelona.

The next step will be the connection of the first container ship to 100 per cent green electricity this September through the On Shore Power Supply (OPS) system, also being the first terminal in Southern Europe to offer this service to its customers.

SINGAPOREAN shipping company Pacific International Lines (PIL) has launched a direct service from China to Chittagong port.

The first vessel, under the new service named China Chittagong Express (CCE), arrived at its destination in Bangladsh on September 16, only eight days after it left the Chinese port of Shekou in Shenzhen.

The vessel came with 935 TEU, mainly carrying raw materials for Bangladesh's export-oriented garment industry. Importers are very happy to get raw materials within a short period of time compared to the regular service spanning 20 days which touches regional hub ports in Singapore and Malaysia before reaching Bangladesh.

The new service will deploy a consortium of vessels operated by three companies, PIL, Interasia Lines and SL Shipping & Logistics Pte.

Starting with three vessels to run weekly service in the China-Chittagong route, the consortium plans to add one more vessel in the route when demand rises further, according to Greece's Container News.

The ships under the service begin journey from Chinese port of Ningbo then goes to Shanghai to collect more cargoes and finally reaches Shekou port in South China before sailing towards Chittagong port.

From Chittagong port they will directly go to Ningbo port again avoiding the transshipment ports.

The other Chinese shipping services running in this route usually touches the transshipment ports like Singapore and ports in Malaysia before the reach their base stations.

According to shipping sector officials, a total of six major shipping lines operate ten vessels every week in the China-Chittagong route and are competing each other to capture business.

PIL first introduced a China-Chittagong service back in 2011 but later suspended the service due to various reasons. Now the operator has again started the shipping service amid the rise of demand.

PSA Mumbai has reached a historic milestone by handling more than 200,000 TEU in throughput for the first time in August, making it the first terminal in Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) to achieve this record.

Executive director of PSA Mumbai, Andy Lane, commented: "This milestone is a testament to the incredible teamwork and dedication of everyone at PSA Mumbai, reports Greece's Container News.

"I foresee even more milestones and celebrations in our future, and I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all departments for their collaboration and contribution in making this achievement possible."

The 200,000 TEU milestone reflects PSA Mumbai's important role in the Indian and global logistics network, the company said.

FRENCH shipping giant, Marseille-based container line CMA CGM, has announced an upgrade to its service network from Europe to West Africa, reports Greece's Container News.

With the changes, Casablanca will now be exclusively served through the company's Wazzan service, offering a direct weekly connection to Dakar, Senegal.

Sierra Leone's port of Freetown will transition to the Medwax service, while Dakar will move to the Wazzan service, with both benefiting from extensive coverage via the Gibraltar hub.

The new Bijagos service will focus on the Gambia and Guinea-Bissau markets, providing competitive transit times.

The Wazzan service will operate on a 28-day rotation, with the following ports of call: Casablanca (Morocco), Algeciras (Spain), Tanger (Morocco), Nouakchott (Mauritania), Dakar (Senegal), Nouadhibou (Mauritania), Las Palmas (Spain) and Canary Islands).

The first departure from Casablanca is expected on October10.

The Bijagos service will run on a 35-day rotation with the following rotation: Algeciras (Spain), Tanger (Morocco), Dakar (Senegal), Banjul (The Gambia) and Bissau (Guinea-Bissau).

The first departure is expected on October 14 from the port of Algeciras.

The Medwax service will operate on a 28-day rotation as follows: Algeciras (Spain), Tanger (Morocco), Freetown (Sierra Leone), Conakry (Guinea), Monrovia (Liberia) and San Pedro (Cote d'Ivoire).

The first departure from Algeciras is expected on October 2.

The EURAF 4 service will run on a 42-day rotation with the following rotation: Valencia (Spain), Algeciras (Spain), Tanger (Morocco), Lome (Togo), Bata (Equatorial Guinea), Malabo (Equatorial Guinea), Kribi (Cameroon) and Libreville (Gabon).

The first departure from Valencia is expected on October 6.

HONG Kong's Cathay Pacific carried 124,236 tonnes of cargo in August 2024, an increase of 6.3 per cent compared with the same month last year.

The month's cargo revenue tonne kilometres (RFTKs) decreased 0.9 per cent year on year. The cargo load factor decreased by 1.7 percentage points to 57.1, while available cargo tonne kilometres (AFTKs) increased by 2.1 per cent year on year.

In the first eight months of 2024, the tonnage increased by 9.8 per cent to a total of 970,498 tonnes, against an 8.8 per cent increase in AFTKs and a 3.2 per cent increase in RFTKs, as compared with the same period for 2023.

Commenting on the month's cargo business, Cathay Pacific's chief customer and commercial officer Lavinia Lau said: "Cargo demand remained stable in August, continuing the trend of the past months, with tonnage 6 per cent above August last year.

"We observed an uptick in demand towards the end of the month, in line with expectations as we look ahead to the traditional year-end peak.

"In terms of our special solutions, Cathay Live Animal benefitted from exports from Southeast Asia and North America, while Cathay Pharma saw increased exports from the United States. From the Greater Bay Area, e-commerce shipments continued to be the key driver of export tonnage."

Looking ahead, Ms Lau said: "We we expect demand will be robust as we move into the traditional peak season from the second half of September. Five additional flights per week to North America will be operated.

"While e-commerce tonnage will continue to rise, we also foresee an increase in tonnage of high-tech and electronic goods from the Chinese Mainland, Southeast Asia and India."

In August, the airline carried a total of 2,068,979 passengers, an increase of 15.9 per cent compared with August 2023.

HONG Kong's Cathay Cargo wants Indian airlines to use its Hong Kong-based cargo terminal for various freight movements and is already in active discussion with one carrier.

According to Mark Watts, COO of Cathay Cargo Terminal, the facility, with an annual shipment handling capacity of 2.7 million tonnes, is open for all airlines that fly into Hong Kong.

"We don't currently have any Indian air carriers, but I would definitely like to have more Indian air carriers using the Cathay Cargo terminal, and we are in active discussions with one at the moment," Mr Watts told the Press Trust India (PTI) in an interview.

He refused to reveal the name of the Indian carrier with which the talks are in progress.

Mr Watts said the facility, spread over 100,000 square metres, is "right sized for the short and medium term", and has scope for further expansion. "We've got plenty of room to grow in terms of general cargo in Hong Kong."

About the company's expansion in India, Mr Watts said Cathay Cargo has no immediate plans to operate cargo terminals around the world.

"I think all I would say is, never say, never. If an opportunity presents itself in India or anywhere in the world where there might be an investment for Cathay Cargo Terminal. Of course, we'd have to, we'd look at that," he said.

Tom Owen, director cargo told PTI in an interaction that Cathay Cargo has enough capacity to play an important role in India's push for manufacturing and exports.

"Our strength is connecting India to the world, and that's what India needs. It needs more capacity to connect to the world," Mr Owen said.

SINGAPORE's PIL Logistics has inaugurated a state-of-the-art distribution centre in the Lion City's Benoi sector, singalling the commencement of operations at the new facility.

The company's future-focused initiative has materialized in the form of this cutting-edge establishment, which has been honoured with the prestigious Green Mark Platinum Award owing to its high specifications, the company said.

Encompassing an expansive area of 130,000 square feet, the distribution centre boasts a substantial storage capacity of 20,000 pallets, making it an ideal choice for accommodating customers with extensive volume requirements all under one roof.

"Positioned advantageously in close proximity to Singapore's ports, the second causeway to Malaysia, and well-connected to major expressways, the distribution centre holds a Zero-Goods and Services Tax (ZGST) license, rendering it well-prepared to serve as a global or Regional distribution hubs," the company said.

GROUND handler Menzies Aviation has expanded its presence in Africa with the opening of a new cargo facility at Maputo International Airport (MPM) in Mozambique.

Menzies Aviation has been operational at MPM since 2018, operating as National Aviation Services until 2022 and providing two lounges, according to London's Air Cargo News.

The new facility means that Menzies can now handle cargo at MPM and increases Mozambique's freight capacity.

Menzies said that the new facility represents a "significant expansion" in its footprint across East Africa, with the company's regional customer portfolio set to increase over the coming months and years.

Launch customers for the new facility are Airlink and Qatar Airways.

The new facility is not the only development for Menzies in Africa this year.

In May, the Menzies Aviation-Siginon Aviation partnership was awarded IATA's CEIV Pharma certification for its cargo handling facility at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) in Nairobi, Kenya.

HALF a year on from the beginning of the Red Sea Crisis, the severe impact on the container shipping industry continues unabated, according to the latest issue of Sea-Intelligence's Sunday Spotlight.

According to the data analysis firm, statistics show the number of deep-sea port calls in the major regions closest to the Suez Canal - East Mediterranean (East MED), Gulf of Aden, and the Red Sea itself - have been impacted.

"While the total number of monthly deep-sea port calls in East MED were already trending downwards pre-crisis, the month-on-month drop in January 2024 was quite significant at 22 per cent," CEO of Sea-Intelligence, Alan Murphy, pointed out. Compared to the pre-crisis average, the drop in 2024 has been 33 per cent.

A similar 33 per cent drop in the average monthly calls was also seen for the Gulf of Aden, from roughly 100 monthly calls to 60-70 in 2024. Like East MED, port calls in the region have been recovering, albeit very slowly.

The Red Sea saw the most severe impact of the crisis, with an 85 per cent drop in the average number of deep-sea port calls in 2024. The figure dropped from over 200 calls per month, to under 40 in January-June 2024.

The figure rose to 60 calls in July 2024, which was double that of the previous months. However, it remains to be seen if this will continue, or if this is a temporary uptick.

"In the Red Sea, the most impacted ports were Jeddah and King Abdullah Port," said Mr Murphy.

Carriers stopped calling King Abdullah Port on their deep-sea services from January 2024 onwards, while Jeddah saw the sharpest decline of 74 per cent month on month from December 2023 to January 2024.

"Even after a slight improvement in July 2024, the port is averaging just 37 calls per month compared to the pre-crisis average of 135 monthly calls. In East MED, Piraeus and Port Said were the most impacted, while in the Gulf of Aden, Salalah saw deep-sea port calls drop by nearly 50 per cent in January-February 2024," Mr Murphy added.

In terms of schedule reliability, Red Sea and East Mediterranean are back to the pre-crisis levels, while the Gulf of Aden is still lagging.

Additionally, an improvement was recorded across all three regions in the average delay of late vessel arrivals, which, after a very sharp increase to 10-14 days in January 2024, dropped back down to pre-crisis levels of 4-5 days.

ISRAEL's ZIM and MSC have signed a new agreement for six Asia to US East Coast and US Gulf Coast services, scheduled to commence in February 2025.

The three-year agreement between the two ocean carriers includes slot swap and vessel sharing agreements, including six services connecting Asia with the US East Coast, West Coast of Mexico, Caribbean ports and US Gulf ports, reports Greece's Container News.

The proposed rotations of the ZIM/MSC services: ZIM Seven Stars (Z7S): Singapore, Laem Chabang, Yantian, Cai Mep, Singapore, Suez Canal, New York, Baltimore, Norfolk, Suez Canal and returning to Singapore.

ZIM Xpress Baltimore (ZXB): Singapore, Cai Mep, Haiphong, Yantian, Panama Canal, Cartagena, Charleston, Savannah, Jacksonville, New York, Baltimore, Suez Canal and returning to Singapore.

ZIM North Star (ZNS): Pusan, Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo, Pusan, Panama Canal, New York, Norfolk, Baltimore, Panama Canal and returning to Pusan.

ZIM Container Service Pacific (ZCP): Nansha, Yantian, Xiamen, Ningbo, Shanghai, Pusan, Manzanillo, MX, Panama Canal, Kingston, Savannah, Charleston, Wilmington, Kingston, Panama Canal, and returning to Nansha.

ZIM Gulf Central China Xpress (ZGC): Ningbo, Shanghai, Pusan, Panama Canal, Mobile, Houston, New Orleans, Miami, Freeport, Panama Canal, Rodman and returning to Ningbo.

ZIM South Lotus (ZSL): Cai Mep, Xiamen, Yantian, Pusan, Lazaro Cardenas, Panama Canal, Houston, Mobile, Tampa, Miami, Suez Canal and returning to Cai Mep.

Eli Glickman, ZIM president & CEO, said the collaboration with MSC is "the direct outcome of our fleet renewal programme which has greatly enhanced ZIM's competitive position, particularly on the Asia to US East Coast trade."

He added: "Consistent with ZIM's focus on decarbonization, this partnership will promote greater utilization of larger and more eco-friendly tonnage, including our LNG-powered vessels. I am proud that ZIM is the first carrier to introduce LNG capacity to the Asia to US East Coast trade and currently offers two services fully operated by these green vessels, giving us a unique competitive position in this strategic trade."

ZIM will continue operating two independent services to the Pacific Southwest (PSW) -ZEX and ZX2- offering connection from Vietnam and China to the US West Coast: ZIM E-Commerce Xpress (ZEX): Cai Map, Yantian, Los Angeles and returning to Cai Mep.

ZIM Central China Xpress (ZX2): Shanghai, Ningbo, Los Angeles and returning to Shanghai.

Additionally, the Israeli box line will continue its existing agreement with MSC to the Pacific Northwest (PNW), under ZNP service: ZIM North Pacific (ZNP): Yantian, Shanghai, Qingdao, Pusan, Vancouver and returning to Yantian.

CONTAINER prices are plummeting as panic ordering of boxes during the pandemic has brought oversupply to the market, reports UK's Seatrade Maritime News.

Container trading and leasing company Container xChange said there has been a downward trend in container prices since around September 2021.

The issue began with container ordering in the early stages of the pandemic, when demand rose sharply, and supply was constrained by congestion and disruption in supply chains.

"This led to the panic ordering of new boxes at record levels. With time, as markets reopen and demand softens, the oversupply is a natural outcome of demand-supply forces balancing at new levels." said Christian Roeloffs, co-founder and CEO of Container xChange.

In the short- to mid-term, Container xChange expects that easing supply chain disruptions will lead to improved productivity per box, and therefore a need for fewer containers to serve cargo demand.

This trend could be exacerbated if demand continues to soften as consumers face economic pressures in Europe and the US and raises questions on where excess containers will be stored.

"This situation will lead to tighter depot space, carriers will rush to get rid of their older equipment, second-hand container prices will continue to slide gradually only to reach a new normal level and the new market will dry up," said Mr Roeloffs.

The company quoted Drewry data which indicates an excess of 6 million TEU of capacity in the global fleet of containers.

"We foresee a significant rise in the pent-up, peak season demand. This will likely keep container prices potentially stable in the short term as we inch closer to the peak season. What remains to be seen is how the geopolitical circumstances and the pandemic-induced lockdowns (for instance, in China) play out in the coming months," said Mr Roeloffs.

THE Maersk Alette arrived at Husky Terminal in Tacoma, becoming the biggest vessel to visit the Northwest Seaport Alliance's (NWSA) South Harbour.

The Alette is the first dual-fuel vessel to stop at the gateway, with a capacity of 16,592 TEU and the ability to sail on green methanol, reports London's Port Technology.

The vessel is the fifth of its fleet that can run on green methanol, which may be manufactured using biomass or renewable energy sources like wind or solar power.

Port of Tacoma Commission president and co-chair of The Northwest Seaport Alliance, Kristin Ang, said: "We were glad to welcome the Maersk Alette to our gateway. This vessel represents a tangible demonstration of the progress being made in developing and deploying sustainable shipping technologies."

Hamdi Mohamed, Port of Seattle Commission president and NWSA co-chair, added: "The arrival of the Alette has demonstrated our gateway's capacity and world-class infrastructure to handle the largest vessels in the transpacific trade."

In August, NWSA announced the selection of United Base Co Ltd as its official representative in Vietnam.

INDIA's new container transshipment hub at Vizhinjam is progressing rapidly, with Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) emerging as a likely long-term customer.

Thanks to its strategic location and deep draft, Vizhinjam is anticipated to challenge Sri Lanka's Colombo Port for a share of the region's transshipment volumes, reports Greece's Container News, which has conducted an in-depth analysis to assess the potential of Vizhinjam, comparing it to the well-established Colombo Port.

According to the Vizhinjam Port Authority, the port received approval from the shipping ministry in April 2024 to operate as India's first transshipment port, aligning with the nation's goal of becoming a global manufacturing hub.

India's major port operator Adani Ports and SEZ (APSEZ) highlights that the port is equipped with advanced automation for quick vessel turnaround and state-of-the-art infrastructure capable of handling Megamax container ships.

In its initial phase, Vizhinjam will have the capacity to handle one million TEU, with plans to expand to 6.2 million TEU in future phases. Designed to accommodate large liners carrying 20,000-25,000 containers, Vizhinjam addresses a key gap in India's port infrastructure.

Our analysis highlights that Colombo Port remains the primary transshipment hub in the Indian Ocean, largely due to its strategic location along the major shipping route connecting the Middle East to East Asia.

Several key global ports, such as Chittagong, Yangon, Kolkata, Visakhapatnam, Chennai, Cochin, Mumbai, Karachi and Fujairah, rely on Colombo as a key transshipment point for their cargo movements.

However, concerns about a potential decline in transshipment volumes at Colombo Port, linked to the expansion of Indian ports, can be observed through key performance indicators such as transshipment volumes and the Port Connectivity Index.

Data shows that Colombo maintained stable volume inflows, with a slight downturn between 2022 and 2023, but recovered in 2024.

A similar pattern is seen in the Port Connectivity Index, which experienced growth from 2019, followed by stabilization, and then a decline during 2022-2023. These two declines are notably parallel. Since 2024, both transshipment volumes and connectivity have resumed an upward trend.

The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) attributes the recent drop in cargo handling to seasonal variations and broader global economic and social factors, emphasizing that this decline is not unique to Colombo but has affected international ports as well.

SLPA advises that fluctuations in transshipment volumes should be viewed within the larger context of global supply and demand dynamics influencing ports worldwide.

Conversely, the authority of Vizhinjam Port believes that it has the potential to become the main transshipment hub in the Indian Ocean.

Positioned at a crucial chokepoint, Vizhinjam could connect not only with other major chokepoints such as the Strait of Malacca, Bab el-Mandeb, and the Strait of Hormuz, but also with secondary routes, particularly those emerging from the rapidly growing Southeastern Asia region.

This notion is reinforced by the growing interest from international shipping lines in utilizing the newly opened Vizhinjam Transshipment Terminal, which shipping lines are increasingly considering due to delays caused by cargo congestion and work disruptions at Colombo Port.

While Colombo Port currently holds a significant position in the region, Vizhinjam's rapid development and strategic advantages could lead to a shift in transshipment dynamics, potentially reducing Colombo's market share in the future.

GLOBAL provider of marine energy solutions, KPI OceanConnect, has opened its new office in Tokyo, Japan, further strengthening its regional presence and support for local customers.

This marks the company's fifth office in Asia, highlighting its commitment to strategic growth in the region, according to Greece's Container News.

Japan, known for its innovation in the maritime industry and home to the world's third-largest merchant fleet, is a key market for KPI OceanConnect.

The new office, led by Ken Kobayashi, head of Japan, aims to assist both existing and new clients in navigating the increasing complexities of the marine energy sector, ranging from alternative fuels to stricter environmental regulations.

Expanding its local team in Japan will allow the company to engage more closely with Japanese buyers and suppliers, promoting the exchange of knowledge and expertise to support innovative energy transition strategies for its clients.

"KPI OceanConnect has worked closely with clients in Japan for a very long time. As a key market for our sector and our business, this new office allows us to be closer to our customers and other important local stakeholders," commented Anders Gronborg, CEO of KPI OceanConnect.

"KPI OceanConnect is here to support its clients in turning today's challenges and future uncertainties into opportunities for growth and innovation. From new fuels to new regulations, our network of experts is focused on delivering tailored, value-adding services to clients to future-proof their decision-making, no matter the complexity," stated Ken Kobayashi, head of Japan at KPI OceanConnect.

AIR Canada and the union representing more than 5,200 pilots announced over the weekend that they have reached a tentative agreement on a four-year contract, averting a threatened strike that could have started within days.

The preliminary deal must still be ratified by members of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA). Air Canada said contract terms will remain confidential until the ratification vote, which is expected to take place within a month, and approval of the Air Canada board of directors.

Ratification requires approval by a majority of the voting membership, according to New York's FreightWaves.

ALPA said the tentative agreement will deliver an additional US$1.9 billion of value for pilots over the length of the contract.

Canadian newspapers reported that pilots received a 42 per cent pay raise, with a large chunk of it retroactive to September 2023.

"After several consecutive weeks of intense round-the-clock negotiations, progress was made on several key issues including compensation, retirement, and work rules. This agreement, if ratified by the pilot group, would officially put an end to our outdated and stale decade-old, ten-year framework," said Charlene Hudy, chair of the Air Canada master executive council who works as a first officer at Air Canada.

A moratorium on either side implementing pressure tactics was set to end on Sunday if there was no resolution to the 15-month labour dispute, allowing the pilots to give three-days' notice for a threatened strike.

CHICAGO Rockford International Airport (RFD) is targeting further growth in the pharma trade from India after recently welcoming its first shipment of the type from the country.

The first shipment was undertaken by India-based pharma specialist forwarder Penta Freight India on behalf of a pharma company based in the country, reports London's Air Cargo News.

The shipment was flown from Mumbai to Frankfurt and then transferred through Maersk's hub at the airport before being flown to RFD on a Maersk Air Cargo/Magma Boeing 747-400F scheduled freighter flight.

The airport said upon landing, the cargo was taken directly from the aircraft into an Xperts Group Reefer Truck by Menzies Aviation before being transported to the Chicago area for breakdown.

The Good Distribution Practice (GDP) and Good Storage Practice (GSP) pharma import process at RFD avoids airside air cargo building handling, RFD added.

RFD executive director, Zack Oakley said the airport hoped to capitalize on the growing pharma export market from India.

"The establishment at RFD of our GDP and GSP process for the handling of import pharma and life science products comes in direct response to a growing demand by the pharma sector in India, who along with their freight forwarding agents, want to improve the efficiency of the handling of these sensitive shipments by shipping them though a less congested airport system," said Mr Oakley.

A Penta Freight spokesperson added: "Chicago is one of the main air cargo import markets for India pharma products and it is a market that is growing rapidly.

"Because flights into RFD are direct in approach and the aircraft is at the ramp ready to unload within five minutes of landing, the Co2 savings run into the tens of tonnes per shipment.

"By being able to unload the pharma directly from the aircraft and into the reefer truck, we massively reduce risks and costs associated with the traditional airside air cargo airport handling process for pharma.

"Now that we have proven the GDP-GSP pharma handling process at RFD we anticipate growing this trade lane from India and feed more pharma into the US and especially RFD."

SINGAPORE Airlines and CargoAi have partnered in an air freight booking solution, reports Mumbai's Stat Trade Times.

With CargoMART's latest offering, freight forwarders will have access to Singapore Airlines' network, enabling them to book air freight shipments.

By integrating Singapore Airlines' air freight services into CargoMART, CargoAi continues to expand its ecosystem of digital solutions, driving procurement and payment while promoting sustainability within the industry, said the company.

With CargoMART, forwarders will have access to Singapore Airlines' network, enabling them to book air freight shipments, says an official release from CargoAi.

Matt Petot, CEO, CargoAi says: "We are thrilled to join forces with Singapore Airlines. This collaboration underscores a commitment to providing our users with best-in-class technology and unparalleled access to air freight services worldwide."

LATAM Cargo will next month triple the number of flights it carries out to Brussels Airport to boost transport of perishables and pharmaceuticals, reports London's Air Cargo News.

Santiago, Chile-headquartered LATAM Cargo has been operating to Brussels Airport with four flights a week since March 2023, but will up the frequency to 12 per week as of October 27.

This will make Brussels the main European transport hub for LATAM Cargo, said Brussels Airport in a recent press release.

"The inbound flights will mainly ship perishable goods, such as flowers, from Ecuador to Europe. The aircraft then return towards Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Chile carrying pharmaceuticals, as well as other time-critical cargo and automotive parts, said Brussels Airport.

LATAM Cargo will operate the flights using Boeing 767F aircraft, with a cargo capacity of around 60 tonnes.

The airline also plans to use sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). This objective is in line with the decarbonization vision of Brussels Airport, which focuses on the transport of time- and temperature-critical goods, amongst other verticals.

The airport said it has the "largest area of temperature-controlled warehouses in Europe".

LATAM Cargo confirmed last month that it planned to add extra capacity to the Latin America-Europe trade lane. This followed the decision by Qatar Airways and Air France KLM Martinair to remove services from the market.

THE Port of Long Beach has registered its busiest month of August on record and its busiest month in 113 years.

The port attributes its success to retailers moving goods ahead of anticipated tariff increases and continuing labour negotiations at seaports on the East and Gulf coasts, reports London's Port Technology.

Dockworkers and terminal operators in Long Beach transported 913,873 TEU in August, up 33.9 per cent from the same month last year and breaching the port's previous all-time one-month record in May 2021 by 6,657 TEU.

The port revealed that imports surged by 40.4 per cent to 456,868 TEU from August 2023, while exports increased by 12 per cent to 104,646 TEU, and empty containers carried through the port increased by 33.7 per cent to 352,360 TEU.

In addition to being the port's third consecutive monthly year-over-year (YoY) increase, August was only the second time the port handled more than 900,000 TEU in a single month.

Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero, said: "Cargo diversions and concerns about upcoming tariffs are creating a busy peak season for us. We're prepared for the uptick in shipments and continued growth through the rest of the year with a dedicated waterfront workforce, modern infrastructure and plenty of capacity across our terminals."

Long Beach Harbour Commission president Bonnie Lowenthal, stated: "The docks are bustling with record-setting activity as we continue to move cargo quickly, reliably and sustainably."

The port transported 6.08 million TEU in the first eight months of 2024, a 21.9 per cent increase over the same time the previous year.

THE maritime security landscape in the Red Sea and Gulf of Guinea (GoG) is marked by escalating threats and vulnerabilities with recent Houthi attacks which have underscored the growing risks posed by relatively inexpensive and hard-to-detect drones.

These drones, alongside anti-ship missiles and loitering munitions, have become central to Houthi tactics, targeting commercial vessels navigating the critical Bab al-Mandeb strait - a key chokepoint linking the Horn of Africa with the Middle East.

The use of these advanced weapons highlights a troubling shift toward technologically sophisticated assaults against maritime assets, foreshadowing potential future threats to shipping, ports, and navigation systems, writes Greece's Container News.

The impact of these security challenges is tangible. Houthi drone and missile attacks have severely disrupted shipping routes, affecting global trade flows.

According to recent data taken by Safety and Shipping Review for 2024 by Allianz Commercial, transits through the Suez Canal dropped by over 42 per cent at the beginning of 2024, with container traffic plummeting by 82 per cent and specialized car-carrying ships in the Red Sea decreasing by more than half compared to the previous year.

According to Castor Vali Risk Management, the use of uncrewed aerial systems and missiles by Houthi militants is escalating the asymmetric threats facing maritime trade.

As shipping routes increasingly reroute around the Cape of Good Hope, vessels will pass through the Gulf of Guinea, a region already marked by significant instability.

With the potential influx of new, low-cost weapons, there is a growing risk that both the Red Sea and Gulf of Guinea (GoG) could become permanent hotspots for maritime insecurity.

In the Gulf of Guinea, the situation reflects a different yet equally pressing issue. The region's vast maritime resources, part of the so-called blue economy, remain largely untapped due to chronic "sea blindness" - a focus on land-based security at the expense of maritime considerations.

This neglect has left countries in the GoG vulnerable to exploitation by criminal networks, exacerbating maritime insecurity. The lack of investment and strategic focus on maritime spaces has made these regions attractive targets for maritime crime.

In Nigeria, maritime security is further compromised by a high incidence of piracy. The country accounts for 80 per cent of reported maritime piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, despite legislative efforts such as the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences Act (SPOMO) of 2019.

Nigeria recorded thirty-five piracy attacks in 2020, underscoring the ongoing severity of maritime crime despite regulatory measures.

UKRAINE's President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that a Russian missile struck a cargo ship in the Black Sea that was carrying wheat to Egypt in an attack off the coast of Romania.

If confirmed, the attack would be the first on a commercial vessel in open waters since the 2022 invasion, and a sharp escalation of hostilities in the Black Sea, reports The New York Times.

Mr. Zelensky said on social media that there were no casualties in the attack, which Ukraine's military said was conducted by cruise missiles launched from strategic bombers.

Ukraine is one of the world's largest exporters of grain and is a particularly important supplier to countries in the Middle East and Africa. The exports are also important drivers of the country's economy, and any interruption of the trade could be devastating.

At the outset of the war, Russia blockaded Ukraine's Black Sea ports, shutting down all commerce. But in July 2022, the United Nations brokered a compromise establishing a shipping corridor, but Russia backed out of the deal a year later.

The ship, the Aya, which sails under the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis, left the Ukrainian port of Chornomorsk around dawn last Thursday, according to Tomas Alexa, a lead analyst for Ambrey Intelligence, a maritime risk management company.

He said in an interview that it was travelling in a convoy when it was hit on its port side.

"The ship suffered damage to the cargo hold," he said, adding that it had been able to proceed.

The website MarineTraffic, which tracks global shipping using satellite data, said the Aya is currently located off the coast of Romania near the port of Constanta. Mr Alexa said the ship was not at risk of sinking.

An attack on a ship is considered an act of war, but the nation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, which includes two islands and has a population of less than 50,000, would be unable to respond militarily. The Ukrainian Navy released a statement saying that Russia continues to demonstrate "complete disregard" for maritime law.

A Kremlin spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

STRUGGLING with health and environmental impacts of increased marine shipping in Boston Harbour, Massport is seeking US$280 million in federal grants aimed at reducing emissions and expanding electrification at its container and cruise terminals.

The transportation agency - which controls more than three-fourths of maritime shipping in the harbour - told Boston's GBH News that if it wins the competitive grant from the US Environmental and Protection Agency (EPA), it would also spend an additional $70 million from its own budget to decarbonize operations.

This includes providing electric shore power for some ships while they're idling through the offloading process, electric-powered forklifts and trucks, and a solar-panelled rooftop.

Massport submitted the application in the spring and the EPA is expected to announce grant winners later this month, part of $8 billion the federal government is pouring into electrifying and decarbonizing the nation's ports.

"This project is extremely important to us and there is a terrific opportunity here. We are hopeful that the EPA will support our project," Massport spokeswoman Jennifer Mehigan told GBH News.

Numerous studies done by Yale University, the EPA and the World Health Organization have confirmed the link between exposure to diesel emissions near marine ports and poor health outcomes: respiratory illnesses, heart disease and cancer.

An EPA report last September stated that emissions from oceangoing vessels "have the highest impact on the communities closest to the ports" - neighbourhoods that often are low-income communities of colour.

The report found the EPA needs to do a better job collecting air emission data near the nation's ports. Massport said it has hired a consultant to conduct its first-ever emissions inventory of its marine operations in South Boston but did not specify a timeline.

Local environmental advocates say it is time for policymakers in Massachusetts to pay more attention to the shipping industry here.

AFRICA has become a focal point for China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), with the continent emerging as the largest recipient of Chinese engagement in 2023.

This strategic focus is further underscored by China's recent agreement with Liberia, indicating that China is actively seeking to increase its presence in West Africa, leveraging the region's importance to global trade routes, reports Greece's Container News.

According to the China Belt and Road Initiative Investment Report 2023, investments in Africa grew by an impressive 114 per cent, totalling US$21.7 billion driven by China's strategic investments in key infrastructure projects, particularly in the port and shipping sectors, where construction contracts in Africa increased by 47 per cent in 2023 alone.

Chinese investments in transport infrastructure, including port facilities, accounted for 16 per cent of global BRI engagement, reflecting China's ambition to strengthen Africa's role in global trade.

According to the Critical Infrastructure in China's Africa Strategy report of 2022, Chinese companies have been involved in the construction and engineering of at least 55 of the 61 African ports where China has a presence.

With China Communications Construction Corporation (CCCC) being a major player, holding contracts in at least 38 ports, China's infrastructure dominance on the continent is unparalleled.

This extensive involvement reflects a geographically comprehensive presence in Africa, with Chinese firms building, managing, or financing port projects across every region.

The push for port development stems from a recognized commercial demand. Africa, with the world's lowest share of shipping trade and its vast stores of untapped natural resources, represents a prime market for Chinese investments.

UAE-BASED port operator AD Ports Group has awarded contracts exceeding US$114 million to Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries (ZPMC) for the supply of six ship-to-shore (STS) cranes and seventeen hybrid rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes.

These cranes will be deployed at AD Ports Group's terminal projects at the New East Mole Terminal in Pointe Noire, Republic of Congo, and Noatum Ports' Luanda Terminal in Angola, writes Greece's Container News.

Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, managing director and CEO of AD Ports Group, said: "These cranes play a crucial role in modern port operations. We are committed to investing in our terminals' infrastructure and adopting advanced, innovative technology solutions to add value to our customers and partners and benefit the economies we operate in".

The contracts align with AD Ports Group's 30-year concession to develop and operate a multipurpose terminal at Pointe Noire Port in the Republic of Congo, and its 20-year concession to modernize and operate the Luanda Terminal in Angola.

Under the terms of the contracts, both Pointe Noire and Luanda terminals will each receive three Super Post-Panamax STS cranes, capable of reaching twenty-one container rows over a 60-metre distance.

Additionally, Pointe Noire will be equipped with nine hybrid RTGs, while Luanda will receive eight. These hybrid RTGs can reduce diesel consumption by up to 60 per cent compared to traditional diesel RTGs, saving approximately one million litres of diesel per year and cutting CO2 emissions by around 5,000 tonnes.

HONG Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific has brought back all warrants issued to the Hong Kong government in 2020, another step in repaying the government for a pandemic-related recapitalization package, the company said.

The airline said the total consideration paid for the warrants buyback was about HKD$1.53 billion (US$196.2 million).

At end of July, Cathay redeemed the remaining 50 per cent of the preference shares that were also issued as part of its recapitalization.

A total of HKD2.44 billion was paid in preference share dividends. Together with the warrants buyback, this represents a payment of nearly HKD4 billion to the HKSAR Government.

Cathay's CEO Ronald Lam said: "Completing the buyback of the preference shares and the warrants marks the close of a significant chapter in Cathay's history. Now, we are firmly focused on the future in pursuing our vision of becoming one of the world's greatest service brands.

"Cathay is spreading its wings as we embark on a bold new strategy, underscored by our recently announced commitment of more than HKD100 billion in investments over the next seven years."Cathay is spreading its wings as we embark on a bold new strategy, These substantial investments will further elevate the experience we provide to our customers and strengthen Hong Kong's international aviation hub status with the opening of the Three-Runway System."

Cathay is expanding and modernizing its fleet with more than 100 new generation narrowbody, regional widebody, long-haul widebody and large freighter aircraft in its delivery pipeline, with the right to acquire over 80 additional aircraft.

DENMARK's DSV has agreed to buy Schenker, the logistics arm of German state rail operator Deutsche Bahn, for EUR14.3 billion (US$15.85 billion) in a deal that would make it the world's biggest logistics company.

The acquisition will be the biggest by a Danish company and, according to DSV, propel it above DHL Logistics and Swiss group Kuehne und Nagel, reports Reuters.

The takeover in both volume and revenue will still only give the group between 6 per cent and 7 per cent of a highly fragmented global logistics market.

DSV, which started as a small enterprise of 10 truckers in 1976, has grown through a string of acquisitions - sometimes taking over companies larger than itself.

"The size of this one is actually larger than all the transactions we've done before," CEO Jens Lund told journalists.

Deutsche Bahn put Schenker up for sale last year to concentrate on its core railway business in Germany and reduce its debt.

The all-cash transaction will be financed through a combination of an equity raising of EUR4-5 billion and debt financing, DSV said.

The combined group will have revenue of DKK293 billion (US$43.52 billion) based on 2023 results, with a workforce of about 147,000 across more than 90 countries.

DSV's CFO Michael Ebbe told Reuters it planned to cut between 1,600 and 1,900 jobs out of Schenker's German workforce of 15,000 but stressed that with EUR1 billion investments planned in Germany the combined group will have more employees in Germany five years from now than Schenker and DSV have combined today.

German labour unions have warned against selling Schenker to DSV, fearing potential job losses. As part of the deal, DSV will spend EUR10 million in extra compensation to soothe union resistance, Mr Ebbe said.

The deal, subject to regulatory and German ministerial approval as well as by Deutsche Bahn's supervisory board, is expected to close in the second quarter of next year.

FORWARDERS are facing an array of challenges in meeting the recent new security requirements for air cargo shipments added by the US and Canadian governments following reports of two packages containing incendiaries having caught on fire within European parcel networks.

Global forwarder association FIATA said the emergency measures will have a significant impact on shippers in the European and CIS regions where they apply, particularly for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) with lower volume shipments.

The new requirements began to be added in mid/late August following the discovery of the packages, reports London's Air Cargo News.

"Due to the complexity and suddenness of the new requirements, FIATA has received industry feedback voicing concerns on the uneven application of the new measures, as well as the new technical and operational challenges brought by the new data requirements introduced in the US Advance Cargo Air Screening (ACAS) programme," FIATA said.

"The challenges in implementing the new requirements have reportedly led to certain air carriers imposing an embargo on all cargo originating from Europe and the CIS region."

The new requirements led to Korean Air Cargo placing an embargo on shipments from Europe and CIS countries to the US until November 18.

FIATA added that it is working closely with its airfreight network to monitor the situation and support the industry in implementing the new emergency measures.

"Fiata calls on air carriers to continue to, as far as possible, accept cargo tendered from European and CIS countries in accordance with the new emergency measures, to foster the smooth flow of trade," the organisation said.

In addition, the organisation called on governments worldwide for greater harmonization in data requirements in pre-loading advance cargo information programmes to facilitate effective and efficient industry compliance, whilst meeting the safety and security objectives of such programmes.

The US Airforwarders Association (AfA) also previously told Air Cargo News that obtaining some of the extra information requested by the US had created challenges for forwarders.

"The air cargo security landscape is constantly evolving in response to an ever-changing threat environment," AfA executive director Brandon Fried said.

SWISSPORT's cargo centres in Madrid (MAD) and Barcelona (BCN) have achieved Good Distribution Practice (GDP) certification for pharmaceutical handling.

The ground handler said in a LinkedIn post that the certification would strengthen its pharmaceutical logistics business, reports London's Air Cargo News.

"This certification highlights our commitment to the safe handling, storage, and transportation of medicines and active ingredients, ensuring product integrity and quality at every stage of the supply chain," said Swissport.

"With GDP certification, we meet the highest industry standards, offering our customers the peace of mind that their pharmaceutical shipments are managed with the utmost care and reliability."

The MAD and BCN facilities are now part of a global network of 23 certified Swissport pharma centres.

DONALD Trump's proposed import tariffs would see the cost of shipping goods by ocean increase in a repeat of the market spike seen during his first term as US President, reports Greece's Container News.

Mr Trump defended his trade policy during the recent Presidential Debate, which includes blanket tariffs of up to 20 per cent on all imports and additional tariffs of 60 per cent to 100 per cent on goods from China.

However, data released by Xeneta - the ocean freight rate intelligence platform - shows the last time Mr Trump ramped up tariffs on China imports during the trade war in 2018, the ocean container shipping markets spiked more than 70 per cent.

Peter Sand, Xeneta chief analyst, said: "Raising barriers to trade is almost always a negative move. We saw the cost of shipping goods by ocean spike dramatically when Trump introduced tariffs back in 2018 and his latest proposals will simply be a case of history repeating."

Mr Trump stated during the debate with Kamala Harris that his proposed import tariffs would not result in increased prices for consumers, however Mr Sand disagrees.

He said: "When ocean container shipping rates increase, that cost gets passed down the line and ultimately it is the end-consumer who pays the price. It could be through increased cost of goods on the shelves or a limited choice in the products available."

Mr Trump's tariff proposals come at a time when global ocean supply chains are already under immense strain due to conflict in the Red Sea.

This has caused spot rates on the trade from the Far East to US East Coast to increase 303 per cent between December 1, 2023, and July 1, 2024. Spot rates from the Far East to US West increased 389 per cent in the same period.

Mr Sand said: "Shippers react to supply chain threats by rushing to import as many goods as possible as quickly as they can. Frontloading of imports has contributed to the massive increases in freight rates following the outbreak of conflict in the Red Sea and we will see the same behaviour from shippers ahead of any new tariffs coming into force.

"Whether it is trade wars or conflict in the Red Sea, geo-political disruptions are toxic for ocean supply chains, and they are happening with a higher frequency than ever before.

WITH the container shipping alliance landscape expected to change in less than five months, the 2M Alliance, composed of Maersk and MSC, continues to hold the leading position with the largest fleet capacity.

Ocean Alliance (including CMA CGM, COSCO, Evergreen and OOCL) follows closely, while THE Alliance (Hapag Lloyd, HMM, Yang Ming and ONE) remains in third place with significant distance, according to Greece's Container News.

Despite the overall increase in fleet size across all alliances, the share percentages reveal a more nuanced picture. Throughout the last five years, the 2M Alliance maintained a relatively stable share, dominating the market.

Maersk and MSC are the world's largest ocean carriers, so their alliance has expectedly outperformed their competitors.

However, Ocean Alliance has managed to sustain a close distance to 2M, despite experiencing a slight decline in its share between 2022 and 2023.

THE Alliance, on the other hand, faced a small dip in its share from 2021 to 2022 but has since remained stable.

The container shipping landscape is set to undergo a significant transformation in February 2025, as new alliances emerge, reshaping the competitive dynamics of global shipping.

According to Container News, based on fleet size and share data from 2024, the formation of new alliances is expected to create a more competitive environment in the industry.

Ocean Alliance, which is the only alliance that will remain the same, will climb to the top spot in terms of fleet size and market share, positioning itself as the leading force in global trade.

However, the newly formed Gemini Cooperation of Maersk and Hapag Lloyd is anticipated to be a close contender. The two new partners have already announced service network options, which will be effective from February 2025.

It is important to note that MSC, which has entered into some slot exchange agreements but will mainly operate independently with 6,082,623 TEU, is in a close distance from Gemini.

With the Swiss/Italian ocean carrier on a newbuilding spree, it could potentially surpass the overall fleet of Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd on its own.

Meanwhile, Premier Alliance, formed by HMM, Yang Ming, and ONE, is expected to rank fourth in terms of fleet size, but the overall competitiveness will remain strong, with fleet expansion and additional partnerships across the board.

When it comes to market share percentage, Ocean Alliance is expected to take the lead, followed by Gemini Cooperation in second place. MSC will claim the third position on its own, while Premier Alliance rounds out the fourth spot.

This shift in alliances is poised to make the competitive landscape fiercer, particularly between Ocean Alliance, Gemini, and MSC, as the gap between the top players narrows.

The upcoming formation of new container alliances in 2025 marks a pivotal moment for global trade, bringing significant changes in fleet distribution and market share dynamics.

Overall, the competitive maritime environment in 2025 will be defined by a narrower gap between leading players, making the fight for dominance more intense than in previous years.

AN oil spill from the MSC Apollo containership in Algoa Bay, South Africa, is currently under investigation by authorities as its impact on local wildlife becomes apparent.

The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) reported that while the spread of oil at sea and along beaches appears limited, the incident has affected some marine life in the area, reports Ventura, California's gCaptain.

The spill was first detected on September 7, when another vessel observed oil-like blobs and an oily sheen near the anchorage. The South African Incident Management Organisation (IMOrg) promptly responded to the report.

"A helicopter surveillance flight on Sunday afternoon, despite strong winds, covered the St Croix Island group and surrounding areas. No visible oil or sheen was detected," SAMSA stated.

However, the impact on wildlife became evident when rangers identified six oiled penguins on St Croix Island, with three heavily oiled and three lightly oiled. The affected penguins were transported to a local SANCCOB facility for treatment, but two additional oiled penguins evaded capture. SAMSA has urged the public to report any sightings of oiled birds and other animals.

As the investigation continues, the MSC Apollo is scheduled to dock at the Port of Ngqura for a thorough inspection to identify the source of the oil leak.

The incident comes as vessel traffic around the Cape of Good Hope has increased dramatically this year amid Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. Other recent incidents include three significant cargo losses from containerships and the grounding of the M/V Ultra Galaxy along South Africa's west coast.

THE initial phase of constructing a new container terminal in the Ukrainian city of Vinnytsia has been completed, reports Rotterdam's WorldCargo News.

The newly completed Container Terminal Vinnytsia (CTV), built with an investment of about US$15 million, features a rail link to Gdansk and can handle up to 30,000 TEU annually.

Operated by Lemtras Group, the terminal includes a container yard with a capacity of up to 2,000 TEU and a 3,500 sqm warehouse, spanning eight hectares.

"We are creating new opportunities, as the emergence of such a terminal in the region opens up access to global logistics for cargo owners, both large and small. This means that exporters and importers no longer depend on the size of the shipment or the influence of global trading companies," says CTV CEO Dmytro Balaba.

"The opening of the Container Terminal Vinnytsia is an important step for the further economic development of the region."

Earlier, the terminal received its first train from Poland, carrying over 60 TEU as part of a regular service to Gdansk. There is already an option to send containers to Odesa, with potential future connections to Germany, Belgium, France, Italy, and the Netherlands being considered.

MALAYSIA's Johor Port Bhd, a member of MMC Group, registered a record monthly throughput of 102,324 TEU in August 2024, surpassing the previous record of 99,039 TEU in July 2019.

Over the first eight months of 2024, the port recorded a throughput of 698,914 TEU, which represents a 15.7 per cent increase over the same period in 2023.

It said the improved throughout reflects the increased trade activities in Johor and improved levels of services at the port, reports The Star of Malaysia.

Johor Port CEO Md Derick Basir said it managed an average of 1,700 external hauliers daily and achieved a yard utilization rate of up to 120 per cent.

"These record numbers underscore Johor Port's capability to handle large volumes and our ability to support the local importers, exporters and industries in the Southern Region of Malaysia," he said in a statement.

Association of Malaysian Hauliers vice-president Dzulfariqh Abdul Manap said: "Despite the surge in volume resulting in higher number of hauliers accessing the Port, the Truck Turnaround Time (TTT) at the Port was well managed with almost all the trucks being served below 45 minutes."

The Shipping Association Malaysia (SAM), Johor Chapter, acknowledged Johor Port's throughput achievement in August despite the ongoing challenges arising from the recent global supply chain disruption, which has been affecting many ports globally.

"Johor Port has managed their operations efficiently during this busy period, recording short vessel waiting time and even managing to provide Berth on Arrival (BoA) for most of the vessels arriving out of window," said the spokesperson.

Johor Port said it has allocated more than MYR1 billion (US$230 million) in capex over the next five years to further improve its infrastructure, purchase new equipment and automate some of its port operations.

SINGAPORE-BASED Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) has stepped up its containership ordering drive with up to 11 newbuilds booked at China's New Times Shipbuilding.

Brokers report the Idan Ofer-controlled shipowner, with one of the largest newbuilding programmes in the industry, has contracted four 18,000 TEU vessels - likely options called following eight firm vessels booked earlier this year, reports Singapore's Splash 247.

The quartet, priced at more than US$200 million each, will be LNG dual-fuelled, with deliveries set for 2027 and 2028. Industry sources suggest the newbuilds are backed by charters with French liner CMA CGM.

In addition to the 18,000 TEU series, Splash has been told that EPS has lined up seven 8,400 TEU newbuilds at the same yard. The order covers four firm ships at about $130 million each and three optional newbuilds with similar delivery timeframes as their larger counterparts.

Jiangsu-based New Times is also set to firm up orders from Danish carrier Maersk for 16,000 TEU newbuilds costing about $220 million, according to shipbuilding sources. The yard has taken on several boxship projects in recent months from owners including John Fredriksen's SFL Corporation, Capital Maritime and Seaspan.

ALIBABA-OWNED Cainiao Group is to add more global e-commerce logistics hubs (e-Hubs) that are likely to boost air cargo volumes at the chosen sites, reports London's Air Cargo News.

The e-commerce logistics giant said that the new facilities would create a shared infrastructure "that supports all e-commerce platforms, merchants, and brands in their efforts to sell both online and offline worldwide".

They would also be part of the firm's initiative to achieve its long-term goal of global deliveries within 72 hours.

In response to questions from Air Cargo News, Cainiao said it was not ready to confirm locations.

However, its existing three hubs have all been located close to "high traffic" airports - Liege, Kuala Lumpur, and Hong Kong - and have helped boost volumes and cargo flights through the hubs.

"We're committed to exploring new market opportunities that help strengthen our global network," a spokesperson said. "We'll share more details about our plans as they develop."

Wan Lin, chief executive of Cainiao Group, added: "This expansion is a vital step in enhancing Cainiao's international express delivery, overseas local delivery services, and supply chain solutions. It will strengthen our position in the fast-growing e-commerce and logistics market, allowing us to deliver enhanced end-to-end logistics solutions that improve retail experiences for our customers and facilitate their global expansion."

Cainiao said its existing e-Hub facilities integrate cargo terminals, customs clearance, and sorting functions.

When Cainiao first announced plans to develop global hubs in 2018, it named Hangzhou, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Liege and Moscow as its initial chosen locations.

HONG Kong's Cathay Cargo has refreshed its Cathay Courier solution for urgent, small shipments and has added transparency to its existing features of speed, guaranteed capacity, dedicated handling and customs clearance.

Cathay Courier offers businesses speed, flexibility and access to the wider Cathay network for their shipments with high priority for "flown as booked" assurance. It can either be an airport-to-airport solution or with first and last-mile collection and delivery as required.

There is also real flexibility with a booking window that closes 240 minutes before departure. The acceptance window for documents and shipments of up to 32kg closes 90 minutes before the flight takes off, while shipments can be retrieved 90 minutes after wheels down.

"As part of the refresh, Cathay Courier now features greater visibility for customers who require piece level details, offering enhanced track-and-trace options to customers during the shipment journey. This makes it ideal for high-value or bespoke e-commerce shipments, personal effects and documents," the cargo carrier said in a statement.

The Cathay Courier solution is offered in partnership with Linex, Cathay Cargo's exclusive general sales agent.

Director Cargo Tom Owen said: "Now that we have added the ability to track shipments at piece level, and digitized the back office booking and invoicing process, we believe that Cathay Courier's unique benefits will be attractive for high-value e-commerce shipments as well as delivering smaller items for SMEs that require express delivery, with both first and last mile options."

Lenton Group CEO Valerie Dubuisson said: "With this systems integration with Cathay Cargo, we can now offer our customers even greater reassurance with new levels of visibility through our track-and-trace down to piece level."

Mr Owen added: "The innovations made to Cathay Courier in this significant upgrade have resulted in a great solution that will be valued by a wide range of existing and new Cathay Cargo customers."

FRANKFURT Airport operator Fraport is selling its 10 per cent stake in Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) to majority owner GMR Airports Infrastructure Limited (GIL) for US$126 million.

The agreement for the sale of the joint venture that operates Delhi (Indira Gandhi International) Airport (DEL) was signed on September 9, London's Air Cargo News reported.

Fraport chief executive Stefan Schulte said: "After a successful 18-year partnership driving impressive growth in Delhi, it's time to start a new chapter. We look back with pride on the various milestones we've achieved together with GIL.

"We jointly upgraded and expanded Delhi Airport into one of Asia's leading air transportation hubs."

Despite the divestiture, Fraport will continue to support operations at DEL under an existing Airport Operator Agreement.

The Fraport Group has held its stake in Delhi Airport since India's capital gateway was privatised in 2006.

DELTA Airlines cargo president Peter Penseel has joined Maastricht Aachen Airport's (MST) new supervisory board, according to London's Air Cargo News.

Mr Penseel brings over 30 years of experience in airfreight, including senior roles at Qatar Airways, DHL Global Forwarding, UTi, and CEVA Logistics.

"Maastricht Airport is looking to the future with a new chief executive, Joost Meijs, joining next month and a robust plan for further developing our cargo services," said Jonas van Stekelenburg, MST chief executive.

"Peter's solid track record in airfreight adds weight to our new Supervisory Board and we look forward to his help in driving new initiatives for our cargo offering."

Joost Meijs was appointed chief executive of MST in July and will begin the role on October 1.

MST, the Netherlands' second largest cargo hub, has a new management structure following Royal Schiphol Group's purchase of a 40 per cent stake in June last year.

The airport group, which owns Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, became the second shareholder in MST alongside the province of Limburg, which owns the remaining 60 per cent.

WITH around five months to launch, Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd have shared an update covering finalized service maps and how the network has evolved since the announcement of the Gemini Cooperation in January 2024.

The two partners have also presented an alternative Cape of Good Hope network due to the ongoing crisis in the Red Sea, reports Greece's Container News.

Depending on which network the cooperation will phase in, the new network consists of either 27 or 29 efficient ocean mainliner services supported by an extensive network of 30 agile, intraregional shuttle services. The collaboration will comprise of either 300 or 340 vessels.

"The ambition is to deliver a flexible and interconnected ocean network with industry-leading schedule reliability above 90 per cent once fully phased in," said the companies in a joint statement.

Since Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd unveiled the new long-term collaboration in January, they have been working on finalizing the details of the operational collaboration which covers a joint ocean freight network on East-West trades.

"Reliability, connectivity and sustainability are the keywords in the networks we are presenting today, and we are pleased that we now can give our customers full transparency about how we will deliver a best-in-class ocean network so they can begin planning despite a highly dynamic situation," commented Rolf Habben Jansen, CEO of Hapag-Lloyd.

In October 2024, the Gemini Cooperation will announce which network it expects to put to sea in February 2025.

Vincent Clerc, CEO of Maersk, stated, "We are looking forward to the launch of our completely redesigned network next year, and we are happy to reconfirm that our schedule reliability target remains unchanged irrespective of which network we will phase in. We believe our collaboration will raise the bar for reliability to the benefit of our customers and set a new and very high standard in the industry."

FRENCH shipping giant CMA CGM's Short Sea Lines Division has announced an upcoming change in its EMED 2 service, effective from Week 39 of 2024.

Starting September 24, the service will begin calling at Alexandria's TMT terminal, opening up seamless, direct connections between Levant ports and global destinations, according to Greece's Container News.

The EMED 2 service will feature two vessels, each with a nominal capacity of 800 TEU. The rotation for this loop will include stops at Beirut, Limassol, Port Said East, Port Said West, Alexandria, Tripoli, Tartous, Lattakia, Iskenderun, and back to Beirut.

Operating on a weekly schedule, the service kicks off with the arrival of vessel "Nicola" in Beirut on September 18, 2024.

HIGH charter costs have made HMM join two giant ocean carriers MSC and CMA CGM in buying elderly second-hand feeder ships, reports Greece's Container News.

HMM's spokesperson told Container News that the company is currently in discussions to buy three 2005-built feeder ships. These are MPC Container Ships' 2,500 TEU AS Paola and Regional Container Lines' 2,400 TEU Wanda Bhum and Xutra Bhum.

HMM's spokesperson said: "HMM actively seeks fleet expansion and diversification possibilities. We are considering second-hand boxships for strategic reasons. However, the matter referred to is still under review and we are not able to confirm any details at this time."

VesselsValue, which has reported that South Korea's HMM has bought the ships, estimates that each vessel was sold in the region of US$20 million.

Charter rates for container ships have been holding up despite the correction in long-haul freight rates. Particularly, the focus is now on smaller ships as larger vessels have almost been snapped up.

Maersk recently chartered a 2004-built, 2,500 TEU vessel, Julius-S, for US$24,000/day for two years.

Linerlytica analyst Tan Hua Joo told Container News that HMM is buying these ships for its intra-Asia services.

CHINA is taking the race for ultra-large containerships (ULCS) to another level, with a design concept for a 27,500 TEU LNG dual-fuel boxship, according to media reports.

The design was revealed and received Approval in Principle (AiP) at the recent SMM Hamburg Maritime Exhibition.

The design concept for the vessel named Green Sealion was developed by Shanghai Ship Research and Design Institute (SRDI), a subsidiary of the state-owned China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC).

If built, the 27,500 TEU vessel would become the world's largest containership (by capacity). While several of the major carriers, including MSC, OOCL, and ONE, have all broken the 24,000 TEU hurdle, ONE (Ocean Network Express) claimed the record for loading high number with five successive vessels between November 2023 and January 2024 in Singapore. They topped out at just over 22,200 boxes when the ONE Intelligence departed Singapore.

The Chinese shipbuilder also showcased other innovative vessel designs such as the Green Sealion 20000, which is a 20,000 TEU ammonia dual-fuel container ship, which represents a step forward in green technology by utilizing ammonia to reduce emissions.

The Green Sealion 16000 is a 16,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel container ship, designed with enhanced energy efficiency and a wide-body structure to optimize cargo space while reducing the environmental footprint.

CCSC also unveiled two advanced liquefied gas carriers, a 103,000 cubic metre Very Large Ethane Carrier (VLEC) and a 93,000 cubic metre Very Large Ammonia Carrier (VLAC). Both ships have been built for transporting LPG, ethane, and ammonia with state-of-the-art propulsion and energy-saving systems.

THE Port of Oakland has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to find a developer for its 200,000 square-metre Howard Property, situated along the Oakland waterfront.

This site, which was a marine terminal until 2013, is now open for a variety of potential uses. It is located between industrial operations to the west and Jack London Square - Oakland's premier waterfront entertainment area - to the east.

The Californian port is open to a range of proposals, including maritime, light industrial, commercial, recreational, or water-oriented projects, writes Greece's Container News.

This RFQ follows a period of exploring different ideas for the site. Currently, the Howard Property is primarily leased for short-term purposes such as container parking and other maritime services.

"The Port has a major opportunity to create a transformational development project that can provide critical economic benefits to Oakland and the region. We're looking for development partners who will help realize the Port's commitment to creating good-paying, local jobs for the region while fully activating the Howard Property," stated Jonathan Veach, Port of Oakland's chief real estate officer.

INTERNATIONAL Container Terminal Services, Inc's (ICTSI) cargo handling facility in Iloilo, Philippines, Visayas Container Terminal (VCT), has enhanced its operational capability after taking delivery of two new ESP.5 Konecranes Gottwald mobile harbour cranes (MHC).

The modern port equipment, the largest and first of their kind in the island of Panay, will elevate the standard of port operations in the region, the company said.

Designed to operate on standard class vessels, the cranes each have a maximum reach of 46 metres and top lifting capacity of 100 tonnes. These enable VCT to handle the increasing volume of containerized, bulk, general and project cargo in Panay and Region 6.

The introduction of these equipment class will also streamline the terminal's operation, resulting in faster turnaround times for vessels and trucks, as well as better overall port efficiency and safety.

"These cranes are game changers for the Visayas market. We are excited to integrate them to our operations after five months since VCT started commercial operations at the Iloilo Commercial Port Complex," said Timothee Jeannin, VCT executive director.

"We monitored the production of these cranes from the first day since we ordered them, ensuring that they are made according to our specification," said Gareth Scott, ICTSI equipment procurement and commissioning director.

It will take a couple of weeks for the MHCs to be fully commissioned.

FREIGHT forwarders are warning of an air cargo capacity crunch out of key Asian markets during the peak season as new product launches and e-commerce demand put pressure on an already strained market.

In its latest update, Taiwan-headquartered company Dimerco said that the rise in e-commerce demand experienced this year was putting extra pressure on capacity as online marketplaces had signed deals directly with commercial airlines.

"This has further reduced the availability of commercial flight capacity, particularly on routes from China to the US," the forwarder explained.

"Another product category that will contribute to the capacity demand is the consumer electronics market, which will begin its peak season in September."

The forwarder pointed out that Apple had shifted iPhone 16 manufacturing back to China and the first wave of this product is expected to hit the market in September, alongside other new launches.

It said spot rates have already surged to US$9��10 per kg, according to London's Air Cargo News.

Air cargo capacity out of Southeast Asia is also expected to come under pressure due to a rise in multi-sourcing.

"As more production of finished goods has relocated from China to Southeast Asia since 2022, additional capacity is required to transport these products to the US and Europe," Dimerco said.

"This has placed significant pressure on freighter services in key transit hubs like Taiwan, Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong, impacting outbound capacity from these locations as well."

The company reported cargo backlogs out of Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi, Singapore and Manila.

UK forwarder Metro said that demand this year had been outstripping capacity additions, which was putting pressure on capacity.

It added that the Red Sea shipping crisis had seen some volumes move from sea to air.

INDIA's aviation watchdog has issued a show cause notice to Akasa Airlines over several regulatory breaches identified during a recent review, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said in a recent statement.

Akasa Air, which started flying international in March, was found to be non-compliant with civil aviation regulations and Rule 140C of The Aircraft Rules 1937, which mandate scheduled air transport services to carry a route guide.

The airline said it had received a DGCA notice regarding the audit conducted in May, and it would submit a response, reports Reuters.

The DGCA's spot audit also uncovered that Akasa's practical training sessions were carried out and simulated without the necessary regulatory approvals, raising concerns about the adequacy of the training standards and operational readiness.

The watchdog has asked Akasa to provide an explanation for the lapses within a period of seven days.

Akasa, the latest addition to India's aviation sector, faced significant setbacks last year after many of its pilots quit, leading to reduced flight operations and a loss of market share. The company has since announced that the problem was resolved.

CHALLENGE Group has gained the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) CEIV lithium battery certification as pressure grows on the air cargo industry to improve the safety record of lithium battery transportation.

The certification follows six months of preparation, training and strict auditing and adds to the existing IATA CEIV Pharma and IATA CEIV Live accreditations previously awarded to Challenge Airlines and Challenge Handling in Liege, reports London's Air Cargo News.

"At Challenge Group, we are very concerned with detecting mis-declared or undeclared Lithium Battery shipments and therefore make certain that our people are trained in what to look out for," Yossi Shoukroun, chief executive of Challenge Group.

"We are proud that our efforts have been officially recognized and that we may now carry the IATA CEIV Lithium Battery seal of approval as a visible demonstration to customers that their DGR shipments are in the best of hands, including the ones under UN3090 and UN3480. Thank you to the IATA CEIV Lithium Battery auditors for their commendations and feedback as we continue to ensure the highest level in handling standards."

Challenge Group said it has a dedicated lithium battery expert team that is drilled on risk prevention and crisis management. Lithium Battery shipments have their own separate handling areas, both in the warehouse dangerous goods section as well as in the second-line warehouse dedicated to e-commerce.

"E-commerce receives particular attention since around 70 per cent of e-commerce being flown across the globe contains lithium batteries," stated David Canavan, chief operating officer of Challenge Group.

"That is another reason why more and more air cargo stakeholders should be striving for risk awareness and safe handling. An IATA CEIV Lithium Battery audit is the best way to adopt and ensure company-wide compliance with the required safety standards."

According to IATA, around 1.3 million of lithium batteries are transported by air annually. The trade body estimates that about 5 per cent of air cargo shipments include lithium batteries, in addition to other electronics and mail parcels. And those are just the shipments officially declared as containing these batteries.

AFTER eight years with Flexport, Neel Jones Shah has left the freight forwarder to focus on other business interests and travelling.

Mr Jones Shah started working with the forwarder as it initially expanded rapidly but has more recently faced financial difficulties.

His roles at the forwarder include global head of airfreight between 2017 and 2023, where he helped oversee the launch of scheduled freighter operations, and chief customer officer, writes London's Air Cargo News.

Writing on LinkedIn, he said: "It was a privilege to work for one of the fastest growing companies in the world and to help guide it from a fledging freight forwarder, finding its footing, to a multi-billion-dollar enterprise.

"The hyper-growth story of Flexport came with challenges, however the journey has been extremely fulfilling both professionally and personally. Most importantly it was a pleasure to work with so many talented and dedicated professionals over my tenure at Flexport.

"For the immediate future, I plan to spend some time focusing on my other business interests and travelling for pleasure. I continue to be very interested in challenging and exciting opportunities wherever they may be in the world. I look forward to staying in touch with the amazing network of colleagues that I've had the pleasure of working with in this industry."

When Mr Jones Shah joined in 2017 the forwarder was growing rapidly and in 2019 the firm secured a $1 billion investment.

However, a difficult freight market took its toll on the business and in 2023 the company made a series of job cuts, while there was also the high-profile exit of ex-Amazon logistics leader Dave Clark as chief executive in September last year.

Mr Jones Shah also previously held the role of chief cargo officer at Delta Air Lines, has served on the board of Amerijet, runs his own consultancy and has worked with the Boston Consulting Group.

CHINA's exports grew at their fastest pace in nearly 1-1/2 years in August, suggesting manufacturers are rushing out orders ahead of tariffs expected from a growing number of trade partners, while imports disappointed amid weak domestic demand.

The mixed trade data highlights the challenge facing Beijing as policymakers try to bolster overall growth without becoming too reliant on exports, especially given the tightening of consumers' purse strings, writes Reuters.

China's economy has failed to fire over the past year amid a prolonged property sector downturn, and a survey last week showed exports in the doldrums and factory gate prices at their worst in 14 months, pointing to producers slashing prices to find buyers.

Outbound shipments from the world's second-largest economy grew 8.7 per cent year on year in value last month, the quickest since March 2023, customs data showed on Tuesday, beating a forecast 6.5 per cent increase in a Reuters poll of economists and a 7 per cent rise in July.

But imports increased by just 0.5 per cent, missing expectations for a 2 per cent boost and down from the 7.2 per cent growth a month prior.

Economists have warned that Beijing risks undershooting its growth target if it becomes too reliant on exports, following a series of lacklustre data, raising pressure on policymakers for more stimulus to revive China's economy.

Outbound shipments to the European Union grew 13.4 per cent in August year on year, which represented the biggest increase out of China's major export markets, followed by an 8.8 per cent lift in sales to the Southeast Asian economies.

Chinese exports to the US rose by just an annual 4.9 per cent last month but imports grew 12.2 per cent over the same period, the most of any major import market.

Mounting trade barriers are emerging as another significant obstacle, threatening China's price-driven export momentum.

As China attempts to direct more exports towards Southeast Asia and South Asia, it is also facing pushback there.

India is planning to raise tariffs on Chinese steel, Indonesia is eyeing heavy duties on textile imports, and Malaysia opened anti-dumping investigations into plastic imports from China and Indonesia.

Still, some analysts expect outbound shipments to ride out the storm, given the relative inexpensiveness of China's yuan and the relative ease with which exporters can re-route their wares to avoid tariffs.

WITH container shipping moving into its traditional peak season, US retailers are expected to further accelerate shipping ahead of a potential longshore strike that is looking increasingly likely for October 1.

The forecast is for strong increases in volume this month coming as many US ports are already running at record levels, according to The Maritime Executive, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The two sides in the US East and Gulf Coast longshore contract negotiations remain at an impasse with the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) increasing its rhetoric.

The employers represented by the US Maritime Alliance issued a statement recently calling for the union to come to the negotiating table for the master contract.

The ILA issued a letter to members over the weekend (posted online as well) citing inflation and the need for long-term wage security.

The union "outright rejects" the position of the USMX on wages, including the entry level positions, which the employers called "an industry leading wage."

The union is calling for improved pensions, better health coverage, and a hardship provision in its healthcare coverage. Most significantly, the ILA said it wanted to be clear "We don't want any form of semi-automation or full automation."

With the union digging in and just three weeks to the contract expiration the National Retail Federation reports retailers have brought forward shipments which contributed they believe in a "bumping up" in June through September import volumes.

In addition to the looming strike, they point out fears of "rising tariffs following the election."

"This is a critical time as retailers prepare for the all-important holiday season, and we need every port in the country working at full capacity. Many retailers have brought cargo in early and shifted to alternate ports as a precaution," said Jonathan Gold, vice president for Supply Chain and Customs Policy for the NRF.

SOUTH Korea's largest shipping firm HMM plans to invest KRW23.5 trillion (US$18 billion) by 2030, including KRW14.4 trillion allocated for eco-friendly management.

The company also aims to achieve KRW15 trillion in annual sales and KRW43.2 trillion in assets by that time, reports The Korea Times.

However, it remained cautious about its creditors' plan for its privatization, as the sale of the struggling shipping firm to Harim Group fell through earlier this year, due to differing views on its valuation.

A day before announcing its long-term investment plan, HMM revealed its intention to continue its partnership with Japan's ONE and Taiwan's Yang Ming until 2030 through the Premier Alliance. This alliance was recently formed after their former German partner, Hapag-Lloyd, left the alliance in February.

Mentioning a slot exchange agreement between MSC and the Premier Alliance, the Korean firm said that the European shipping firm will fill the vacancy left by Hapag-Lloyd, which joined hands with Maersk for the Gemini Cooperation.

According to HMM, the Premier Alliance will provide services on 11 European routes. THE Alliance offered services on eight European routes.

"Through a slot exchange agreement with MSC, we have been able to provide better services than any other alliances," HMM CEO Kim Kyung-bae said during a press conference.

"Although there had been concerns over the dissolution of 2M and Hapag-Lloyd's departure, we have been able to form a stronger alliance."

He added that his company seeks to become a sustainable logistics firm with a diverse business portfolio, including container ships, bulk ships and land logistics services.

To this end, HMM decided to invest KRW11 trillion by 2030 to increase its container fleet to 1.5 million TEU from 920,000 TEU. It will also invest KRW5.6 trillion by then to expand its bulk carrier fleet to 12.5 million DWT from 6.3 million DWT.

Additionally, KRW4.2 trillion will be used for the integrated logistics services, while KRW1 trillion will be spent on renovation of ships, supply of eco-friendly fuel and digital transformation.

HMM explained that it will spend over 60 per cent of its planned investments for eco-friendly management, so that it can achieve net-zero by 2045.

HMM is also seeking to sharply expand its fleet to hone competitiveness.

The company also said that it has invested KRW6.5 trillion, since it announced in 2022 that it would invest KRW15 trillion by 2026.

"We aim to increase our market share to up to 5 per cent from the current 3 per cent," the HMM CEO said.

MEDITERRANEAN Shipping Company (MSC) has maintained its dominant position in the container shipping industry through an unprecedented buying spree of second-hand vessels, according to maritime analytics firm Alphaliner.

The unprecedented expansion has solidified MSC's position at the top of Alphaliner's liner operator rankings, with a fleet of 852 ships representing more than 6 million TEU and nearly 20 per cent of the liner market share, reports Ventura, California's gCaptain.

In recent weeks, MSC reportedly acquired two more ships: the 1,440 TEU Cape Flint from Germany's Schoeller Group and the 2,526 TEU Jan Ritscher from Reederei Gerd Ritscher. The company's summer acquisitions also included several medium-sized vessels, such as the 5,364 TEU Ever Unity and five 'classic panamax' ships with capacities ranging from 4,173 to 4,713 TEU.

"All in all, MSC has now bought a mind-blowing 383 second-hand container ships in the last four years," Alphaliner said in its report.

DESPITE slight improvements, container congestion continues to disrupt operations at Bangladesh's Chattogram Port, with an unusually high number of containers crowding its yard and private inland container depots (ICDs), following the recent political upheavals and devastating floods.

Port officials say the congestion is delaying the handling of import and export cargo, reports Dhaka's The Business Standard.

Although vessel waiting times at the port have improved, dropping from nine days to four-five days at the outer anchorage, pressure on the port's yards and depots remains high, officials say.

According to the officials, at least 5,000 TEU of import containers need to be cleared to restore normal operations of the port. Likewise, the depots must reduce their load by 5,000 TEU of export containers.

Full normalization is expected to take more than 15 days, they added.

Omar Faruk, secretary of the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA), said the situation is gradually improving as importers continue to collect their containers.

The Chattogram Port has a container capacity of 53,518 TEU.

For smooth operations, port authorities aim to keep the number of containers between 30,000 TEU and 32,000 TEU. As of July 15, the port had 32,957 TEU, which was considered manageable, according to the CPA.

Due to disruptions, including political unrest and the flood-related shutdown of the Dhaka-Chattogram highway and rail connections, container deliveries were halted, causing an accumulation of over 44,000 TEU in the port yard by mid-August.

By September 6, the number decreased to 40,180 TEU, but officials still find this unsatisfactory.

They warn that unless deliveries exceed the rate of incoming import containers, the congestion will persist.

THE Panama Canal Authority (ACP) sees the US$1.6 billion proposed reservoir Rio Indio project as a way of countering drought and facilitating the daily transit of 15 additional ships, reports New York's FreightWaves.

The Panama Canal currently connects 180 maritime routes that reach 1,920 ports in 170 countries around the world, through which nearly three per cent of global maritime trade passes, according to the ACP.

Last year, the canal experienced its worst drought since 1950, with water levels dropping to their lowest point in January, almost six feet lower than the same month in 2023.

To alleviate the impact of future droughts, the ACP has proposed the reservoir project that would dam the nearby Indio River and drill a five-mile tunnel funnelling reservoir water into Gatun Lake, which supplies water to the canal.

The Rio Indio Reservoir project, which could take five years or more to complete, could allow up to 15 additional ship transits per day through the canal. But the project has faced criticism from local farmers and communities whose land risks being flooded by the construction of the reservoir.

On July 2, Panama's Supreme Court reinstated a previous law, which expands the boundaries of the ACP's watershed to include 1.4 million additional acres along the canal, compared to the 741,316 acres that were managed before the ruling.

HONG Kong Air Cargo (HKAC) has launched a new route between Hong Kong and Budapest in Hungary to further expand its international route network.

The airline said the new route would be served by two weekly flights operated by an Airbus A330-200 freighter, London's Air Cargo News reported.

Gary Zhan, chairman of Hong Kong Air Cargo, stated: "We are delighted to launch this new route, marking a significant milestone in our company's development. This will facilitate greater trade between Hong Kong and Budapest, and we look forward to providing our customers with superior service."

Budapest Airport is a key cargo hub in Central and Eastern Europe and had a total volume of 201,000 tonnes of cargo in 2023.

The new route is expected to provide more efficient cargo transport solutions between Hong Kong and Budapest, plus the broader Central and Eastern European region, while also meeting growing e-commerce market demand, noted HKAC.

Hong Kong Air Cargo has been expanding its network over recent months as it looks to capitalize on the e-commerce boom.

In March, the carrier launched a service to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Shortly before, in February, the company began operating new routes to Liege in Belgium and London Stansted.

Only in October last year did it start operations in Europe for the first time with a service to Milan Malpensa.

HKAC has also begun a new freighter service to Oslo this month as it looks to benefit from demand for seafood products in Asia.

SPENDING an investment volume of almost EUR600 million (US$665 million), Lufthansa Cargo is focusing on comprehensive modernization by 2030, which will make the Lufthansa Cargo Centre (LCC) at Frankfurt Airport Europe's most modern air freight hub.

"Numerous guests from the worlds of politics and business as well as employees, customers and project partners attended the ceremony at the LCCevo construction site to mark the start of construction, which has already begun. To commemorate this important milestone for the company, the participants filled and sealed a time capsule," according to an official release, reports Mumbai's The STAT Trade Times.

Ashwin Bhat, CEO, Lufthansa Cargo said: "In times of global tensions and changing customer demands, we need innovative solutions that meet our, our customers' and society's needs. This is only possible with a modern infrastructure.

"For our customers, we want to optimize efficiency and quality and make our service even faster and more seamless. For our employees, we want to create attractive and future-proof jobs for the next generations in our newly designed Home of Cargo. At the same time, LCCevo underscores our strong ties to our home base and strengthens Frankfurt Airport's role as a central cargo hub in Europe."

Michael Niggemann, member of the executive board, Deutsche Lufthansa adds: "This investment by the Lufthansa Group is a clear commitment to the Frankfurt location and symbolizes our confidence in the long-term future of the airfreight business. This flagship project makes our cargo business at the Frankfurt hub fit for the future.

"It increases quality and efficiency for customers, creates sustainable jobs for our colleagues, and enables even more environmentally friendly ground processes. At the same time, we are making a significant contribution to the performance of airfreight in the heart of Europe and thus enabling global traffic for our economy."

Since its opening in 1982, the LCC has been in continuous operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and has played a central role in global airfreight traffic, the release added.

"The modernization programme includes the gradual renewal of all central functions by 2030, including cargo handling facilities, storage and conveyor technology, building technology, administrative buildings and IT systems. With a total area of around 330,000 square metres - the equivalent of around 46 football pitches - it is one of the largest air freight hubs in Europe."

DB Schenker has chosen cargo.one to digitally connect with dozens more airlines from across the globe, writes Singapore's Asian Aviation magazine.

The collaboration enhances the global logistics service provider's portfolio of live capacity access from nine originally to over 50 airlines in total. From now on, DB Schenker can better identify suitable capacities and fitting rates for ad-hoc shipments of its customers.

Thorsten Meincke, global board member for air & ocean freight, DB Schenker, said: "We continue to digitalize transportation by establishing solutions that are highly demanded on the market.

"By boosting our access to available airline capacities, we save time for our customers and make processes faster, smoother, and more efficient for them. cargo.one is the perfect fit for this endeavour as they bring profound expertise in managing the massive amount of real-time data to the game."

Moritz Claussen, founder and co-CEO, cargo.one, said: "We are thrilled to provide a state-of-the-art air freight procurement platform that boosts efficiency, accuracy, and user-friendliness for our new partner. With cargo.one's top-tier infrastructure, DB Schenker can elevate customer satisfaction and sharpen its competitive edge."

The demand for rapid short-dated sourcing of air freight capacities and market prices has grown in relevance as global supply chain disruptions have become a normality and e-commerce demand for air transport keeps rising.

FINNAIR Cargo has appointed Jukka Hamalainen as its sales director for Asia, starting in his position at the beginning of September based in Helsinki, Finland.

Mr Hamalainen has held numerous sales and management positions during his career and has also worked nearly 20 years in aviation, focusing previously on ground operations, according to London's Air Cargo News.

His previous position at Finnair was senior vice president, ground handling during 2007-2010. Since then, he has "explored other industries in senior roles", the airline said.

Anna-Maria Kirchner, head of global sales at Finnair Cargo, said: "We are excited to welcome Jukka to our global sales team. His extensive global experience in sales and business development, combined with his strategic mindset, makes him the right leader to manage this important region."

Mr Hamalainen added: "I am really excited to join the dynamic Finnair Cargo team and look forward to fostering cooperation with our partners, providing them with our extensive air cargo network and evolving digital services."

THE International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) union, representing 45,000 workers at major container ports from Texas to Maine, will begin two days of meetings to review wage demands and prepare for a potential strike on October 1.

Formal talks have reached an impasse as the union and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) employer group wrangle over pay, automation, healthcare and retirement benefits, reports Reuters.

A source familiar with the negotiations said the ILA has asked for a 77per cent pay bump over the life of the new contract.

Three experts told Reuters the final increase would likely improve on the 32 per cent rise the West Coast longshore union negotiated last year.

ILA International president Harold Daggett has warned that union workers will walk off the job if a new labour agreement is not reached before the current six-year contract expires on September 30.

USMX said in statements it has been trying to set a meeting with ILA to resume talks.

Any work slowdown or stoppage would affect key ports - including New York/New Jersey, Houston and Charleston, South Carolina - backing up goods ahead of the key holiday season and US presidential elections.

Such disruptions would have "serious ripple effects" on global supply chains already under pressure from Red Sea diversions, said Vincent Clerc, CEO of AP Moller-Maersk, at a recent event in Los Angeles.

Maersk is a USMX member company. When asked about the status of the talks, Mr Clerc said negotiators previously had been able to "take it from the brink" and reach an agreement.

Shippers that depend on affected ports are not taking chances, and many have brought in goods early to mitigate risk.

The National Retail Federation has urged the two sides to return to the bargaining table, following similar calls by the Retail Industry Leaders Association and American Apparel & Footwear Association.

THE Alliance, with Ocean Network Express (ONE), HMM and Yang Ming Marine Transportation as partners, which will become the Premier Alliance from next February, has struck a slot exchange deal with the world's largest container line, Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC).

From next year there is set to be the biggest overhaul in liner alliances in a decade, with MSC ditching Maersk in the 2M vessel sharing agreement to largely go it alone, and Germany's Hapag-Lloyd subsequently exiting THE Alliance to join the Danish carrier in what will be called the Gemini Cooperation.

The liner switches had left the remaining members of the all-Asian THE Alliance as the smallest grouping on the main east-west trades, according to Singapore's Splash 247.

On Monday, the three Asian carriers reaffirmed they will remain partners for at least another five years through to the end of the decade, while unveiling a new branding, Premier Alliance.

"Collectively this new tripartite alliance will offer strong, reliable and highly dependable end-to-end direct port container services to its customers on both the transpacific and Asia-Europe trades," said Jeremy Nixon, CEO of ONE.

More headline-grabbing, however, is the news that the three carriers have negotiated a slot exchange deal with MSC on the Asia-Europe trades on nine services, helping plug the gap in size.

MSC revealed to clients the same day that the make-up of its standalone services come February next year, detailing how it will operate on five east-west trades with 34 loops.

"This announcement represents an important milestone in the evolution of our global network and the vision of MSC's founding family," Soren Toft, MSC's CEO said.

MSC, led by the Aponte family, has been on a remarkable fleet build-up campaign over the past four years as it bids to go it alone. This has seen it order more than two million slots of newbuilds and acquire close to 400 second-hand ships, surpassing Maersk as the world's largest carrier at the start of 2022.

In the wake of Hapag-Lloyd's departure from THE Alliance, the Asian trio of HMM, ONE and Yang Ming have been canvassing potential new partners.

A senior executive at Taiwan's Wan Hai Lines admitted recently that his company had been approached to join a shipping alliance, without revealing which grouping had made the approach.

From February next year, the main east-west trades will see MSC largely operating solo, the Premier Alliance brand commence, the Gemini Cooperation start, while existing liner group Ocean Alliance, made up of CMA CGM, COSCO, Evergreen and OOCL, has agreed to continue their vessel-sharing agreement until the end of March 2032.

HONG Kong's Secretary for Transport & Logistics Lam Sai-hung has sung the praises of Hong Kong's comprehensive maritime strength adding that the territory still remained "among the best in the world".

Writing in his blog, Mr Lam said he recently led a delegation from the Hong Kong Maritime & Port Board to visit Germany and Greece.

He said one of the highlights of the trip was attending the Shipbuilding, Machinery and Marine Technology (SMM) trade fair 2024 in Hamburg, one of the world's leading trade fairs and conferences for the maritime industry.

"We understand that the international community has been observing our city over the past few years. Some commentaries even suggest that Hong Kong's status as an international maritime centre is fading into the background.

"One of the key purposes of our delegation's visit was to clarify and affirm that Hong Kong's comprehensive maritime strength remains among the best in the world."

At the SMM 2024, Mr Lam spoke on two different occasions about the opportunities and challenges facing Hong Kong as an international maritime centre, as well as on the energy transition in the global transport and logistics industry.

On those occasions he highlighted Hong Kong's unique constitutional advantages under the 'one country, two systems' framework, low tax rates and a simple tax system, an independent judiciary, being the only bilingual common law jurisdiction in China, and a strong talent pool, all contribute to Hong Kong's exceptional business environment.

"More importantly, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government not only plays a vital role as a facilitator, but also serve as a super connector and super value-adder between mainland China and international markets in the maritime sector.

"We have a free port with high customs clearance efficiency and strong international connectivity. With our world-class soft and hardware facilities, our comprehensive maritime strength ranks among the best globally. Hong Kong remained firmly in the fourth position in the recently released 2024 Xinhua-Baltic: International Shipping Centre Development Index Report."

FOLK Maritime Services Company, a public investment fund (PIF) company and one of the region's emerging leaders in providing regional liner and feeder services, has launched a new liner service connecting the Red Sea port of Jeddah Islamic Port to India's largest commercial ports of Mundra and Nhava Sheva.

Launched this month, the 10-day new India Redsea Service (IRS) with two vessels, will strengthen trade ties by facilitating the movement of consumer cargo from India, and products from the Kingdom, including petrochemicals.

In addition to deploying its vessel, Folk Maritime has also signed a vessel sharing agreement (VSA) with Oman's Asayd, which will also deploy a vessel for the new route.

Poul Hestbaek, CEO of Folk Maritime, said: "The new route will further enhance bilateral trade between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and India, and underlines our ambition to become one of the leading maritime service providers in the region. It will also contribute to the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 to establish the Kingdom as a global logistics hub by enhancing connectivity and maritime sector growth."

Saudi Arabia is India's fourth largest trade partner and India is the Kingdom's second largest trading partner. Total trade with Saudi Arabia accounted for over 4.5 per cent of India's total trade in FY2022-23.

Saleem Kadernani, COO of Folk Maritime, added: "The new service is an exciting development for the business community with new and existing customers having more solutions to better meet their requirements. We are excited that we can now offer a sustainable service for our customers, and the new route is expected to create more value for them in the near- and long-term."

Folk Maritime started its official operations in the Red Sea with two liner services: one that connects the Kingdom's ports of Jeddah Islamic Port, Neom, and Yanbu to the Red Sea ports, Sokhna and Aqaba, and a second route offering service between Port Sudan and Jeddah Islamic Port.

The company plans to continue to enhance its fleet through own and chartered tonnage and better serve its customers by offering increased coverage to more regional trades and a wider access to global markets.

JACKSONVILLE based CSX railroad said it was weighing options after a US appeals court refused to restart its lawsuit against the rival Norfolk Southern over access to Virginia container port, reports New York's FreightWaves.

The allegations fell outside the four-year window for filing claims under US antitrust law, a three-judge panel of the 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals in Virginia ruled.

A lower judge in 2023 ruled against CSX and the Richmond court's decision upholds that ruling in the case involving Norfolk International Terminals (NIT) at the Port of Virginia.

"CSX is evaluating all options as we remain committed to gaining competitive access at NIT, the Virginia Port Authority's largest marine terminal, so that we can best serve our customers," said CSX.

Norfolk Southern provides on-dock rail on its own tracks to NIT, which has an annual capacity of 3.6 million TEU.

CSX in 2018 sued claiming Norfolk Southern had conspired with Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line Railroad Co to set an excessive "switch rate" for on-dock access.

The claims dated to 2009 and the appeals court said the lawsuit filed against NS and Norfolk & Portsmouth years later was "untimely".

HAVING trucks go green is currently hugely expensive said Juan Baez, director of San Diego-based trucking company Bali Express Services at the North American Development Bank's 2024 summit in San Antonio.

Bali Express is a carrier with 357 diesel trucks, 32 natural gas trucks and three electric trucks, reported New York's FreightWaves.

"Each electric truck costs almost half a million, so the investment is huge," Mr Baez said. "Right now, the most challenging part of the electric trucks is the mile range, the amount of range is minimum.

"It could go from 120 miles up to 220 miles for a truck that costs half a million, which is very, very expensive, even though providing better air quality to the border communities is the most important thing right."

NADBank's annual summit included federal, state and municipal authorities, along with business organisations, academia, financial institutions, investors, project# developers and experts, from both the US and Mexico.

MALAYSIA Aviation Group (MAG), the parent of national carrier Malaysia Airlines, said last week it would reduce network capacity by 20 per cent across its airlines this year amid a shortage of planes, labour and parts.

The group, which also operates carrier Firefly and Muslim pilgrimage service provider Amal, said in a statement the reduction would involve domestic flights as well as routes in Southeast Asia, North Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Greater China, South Asia and the Middle East, according to Reuters.

"While it is a difficult decision, our focus is to prioritize customers first, ensuring we can deliver credible flight schedules and ensure the best possible customer experience moving forward," MAG said.

MAG said this month it would temporarily reduce flights across all of its carriers until December following a string of service disruptions this year.

Malaysia's civil aviation regulator last week cut the duration of Malaysia Airlines' air operator certificate to one year from three years following a probe that found significant technical issues at the state carrier, including a shortage of skilled labour and mechanical parts.

MAG said it would work closely with regulators and manufacturers to address operational challenges and ensure timely and reliable delivery of spare parts.

A global shortage of parts has also affected deliveries of new planes, which has impacted the group's flight planning, MAG said.

It said it had received only four Boeing 737-8 aircraft out of 13 expected this year.

Similarly, it was scheduled to take delivery of four A330neo planes from Airbus in 2024 but will now receive only three by the end of the year, MAG said.

JAPANESE low-cost carrier Peach Aviation Ltd is to launch flights between Kansai International Airport in Osaka Prefecture and Singapore starting December 4.

This is the first time in 14 years that a Japanese airline will operate flights between Kansai airport and Singapore, according to Japan's The Mainichi.

The budget airline based at Kansai International Airport revealed late last month its second medium-haul international route, following its flights between Osaka and Bangkok, with the aim to capture the strong demand from Southeast Asia for travelling to Japan.

There will be one round-trip per day.

Flights will depart from Kansai airport at 6:50 pm and from Singapore at 2:15 am, taking around 6 1/2 hours to reach the destination. The fare for a one-way ticket starts at JPY13,690 (roughly US$94).

Peach Aviation CEO Kazunari Ohashi said: "We will deploy the latest Airbus A321LR aircraft with more spacious seating to ensure a comfortable flight experience. We hope passengers will take advantage of our affordable fares and travel frequently."

INDIA's aviation watchdog said it has placed budget airline SpiceJet under enhanced surveillance with immediate effect after a recent audit revealed "certain deficiencies".

The move last week came three weeks after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) conducted a special audit following reports of flight cancellations and financial troubles.

"This would entail an increase in the number of spot checks/night surveillance with a view to ensure safety of operations," the DGCA said in a statement, citing the airline's past record and the special audit.

The watchdog did not disclose the exact issues it found, reports Reuters.

The DGCA had conducted a special drive of spot checks on the carrier in 2022 and put it under enhanced surveillance again in 2023. A SpiceJet spokesperson sought more time to comment on the latest action.

The Hindu Daily reported earlier in the day that SpiceJet had to operate empty flights from Dubai as passengers were not allowed to check in because of the airline's unpaid airport dues, marking at least the second such disruption this month.

The current disruption is the latest in a long list of troubles for SpiceJet, which has struggled to fully restore operations despite multiple fundraises over the last year.

A SpiceJet spokesperson said the cancellations were "due to operational issues" and affected passengers were accommodated on subsequent SpiceJet flights, on other airlines or provided with a full refund.

All scheduled flights from Dubai were now operating as planned, according to the spokesperson.

THE Business Aviation Coalition for Sustainable Aviation Fuel has called on the Biden administration to follow the same standards it has already applied to biofuel feedstocks, reports London's Biofuels International.

Specifically the group wants the old rules to determine the level of Inflation Reduction Act tax incentives available to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) producers.

When finalized, the greenhouse gas rules will impact how SAF producers can take advantage of the Clean Fuel Production Credit enacted in the Inflation Reduction Act.

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking comments as it tries to encourage the use of climate-friendly farming practices to develop SAF feedstocks. The Biden administration's SAF Grand Challenge aims to have the US producing three billion gallons of SAF by 2030.

"The BizAv SAF Coalition encourages the Department to enable as much adaptability and flexibility in its framework as is practicable and encourages the USDA to embrace a performance-based approach in its analysis, focusing on outcomes rather than prescriptive and exclusionary lists of acceptable feedstocks," the coalition said in its letter.

Without the right approach and flexibility with the greenhouse gas rules, the US will not be able to meet the SAF Grand Challenge goals, the coalition said.

"It is likely that we will only achieve those goals through the existing scale and capabilities of US agriculture through access to sustainable crop-based feedstocks," the coalition said.

2024 will be a pivotal year for ports and their communities. Geopolitical instability is on the rise. Physical and digital security is under threat, at sea and on shore. Shipowners, supply chain providers and cargo owners must adapt rapidly. The energy transition towards low- and zero-carbon fuels must be balanced against national energy security concerns.

The aim of the IAPH 2024 World Ports Conference is to offer insights on these topics, revealing how ports - from developing and developed nations - are building secure and sustainable solutions to these shared challenges, in a deeply interconnected world.

Day one will be high level and focus on what next steps the industry will take on its decarbonisation journey, just one week after the crucial MEPC 82 IMO negotiations in London, with the intervention of Secretary General Arsenio Domingue, among others. There will be high levels sessions on digitalisation, the challenges and opportunities AI has to offer the industry, how to combat illicit trade and how to build up resilience.

Day two will look at the energy transition, specifically on low and zero carbon fuels of the future, how they will be deployed and managed at ports for bunkering and cargo transportation. Each day will have breakout sessions illustrating the tools available to ports and their stakeholders from IAPH and their partners, as well as practical workshops and site visits. In the Port of Hamburg, shore power technical visits will be organised to both Hamburg's cruise and container terminals, a cyber security workshop will be organised and there will be two gameplays of the highly successful Port Endeavor sustainability game.

On the evening of day two there will be the gala dinner announcing the winners in the six categories of the IAPH 2024 Sustainability Awards, which count on seventy-one candidates from over seventy ports from fifty countries.

Day three will continue with a global outlook on the port sector markets from an economic perspective with world-leading economists and the conference will close with a keynote of the highest order looking into the future for ports.

Speakers from the IMO, World Bank, UNCTAD, World Economic Forum, World Customs Organization, the International Chamber of Shipping, BIMCO and the world's leading port authorities will make IAPH 2024 and essential date in the diaries for the port executive.

CHINA's two biggest shipyards, which count the People's Liberation Army Navy among their customers, are set to merge their resources to heed the government's instruction to streamline their operations, reports Hong Kong's South China Morning Post.

China CSSC Holdings said it plans to issue yuan-denominated shares to take over China Shipbuilding Industry Company (CSIC), they said in a Shanghai Stock Exchange filing, without disclosing the merger terms. Both stocks slumped before trading was halted for the announcement.

Both listed shipyards are subsidiaries of China State Shipbuilding Corp, the world's largest shipbuilding conglomerate with one-third of the global market based on shipbuilding orders.

The impending merger will create a shipyard with combined annual sales of CNY122 billion (US$17.1 billion), almost double the size of South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries.

The merged entity would be capable of building a variety of vessels, from warships like aircraft carriers to commercial ships like containerships, very large crude carriers and even passenger liners.

THE Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) handled a total volume of 806,015 TEU, the busiest July in the port's history and its seventh busiest month ever

According to the port, total volume increased 11.1 per cent from 725,479 TEU last year, bringing the year-to-date (YTD) total to 5.01 million TEU through July, reports London's Port Technology.

Imports also surged dramatically in July, up 13.5 per cent from July 2023. In July, a total of 422,212 TEU were registered, compared to 372,139 the previous year.

From January to July, imports at the Port of New York and New Jersey totalled 2.58 million TEU, a 13.7 per cent increase over the 2.26 million TEU reported during the same period in 2023.

Exports increased by 12 per cent in July, totalling 112,175 TEU compared to 100,195 TEU in July 2023.

From January through July 2024, exported loads reached 795,697 TEU, a 5.9 per cent increase from the 751,527 TEU in the same period of 2023.

Export empties totalled 269,026 TEU in July 2024 compared to 251,140 TEU in July 2023, a 7.1 per cent increase.

From January through July, 1.62 million export empties moved through the Port of New York and New Jersey, an increase of 13.5 per cent from the 1.43 million TEU recorded in the same period of 2023.

Import empties rose by 26.9 per cent from January through July versus the previous year.

DP WORLD, the global port operator that operates the existing cranes on the port's property, will add two more to the Port of Saint John, New Brunswick, reports CTV News.

The cranes will travel north from the Port of Virginia this fall, with the goal of having them in operation by early 2025.

This will give Port Saint John a total of six container cranes, the most that have ever been located along the Saint John Harbour at one time.

"We're tremendously excited," says Port Saint John president and CEO Craig Bell Estabrooks. "To go from two cranes in 2017 that DP World brought in the first month. They began operating to four cranes early last year to now six. That's a big deal for our port."

The new cranes will be larger than the ones currently on the port's property. They will boast an outreach of 65 metres, be able to reach up to 24 containers wide (the existing cranes can reach up to 21 containers wide), and can service ships with a capacity above 10,000 TEU.

SINGAPORE is to allow for night movement of line-towed container barges to and from Pasir Panjang Terminal, following a four-month trial, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said in a statement, according to Ventura, California's gCaptain.

The latest measure comes after a period of longer waiting times for vessels for container berths earlier in May and June, when congestion at Singapore, the world's second-largest container port, hit its worst since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Night movement was previously allowed only at the Brani and Keppel Terminals, where navigational traffic is less complex than around Pasir Panjang.

This measure aims to improve connectivity with regional ports, enhance port efficiency, reduce the time container and feeder vessels spend at berth and the need for containers to be transported between land terminals, MPA said.

Additional safety measures will also be implemented, including mandatory pilotage for the barges, restrictions on the length of towing lines and close monitoring of barge movements by MPA's vessel traffic management system, it said.

Each line-towed barge can carry an average of 300 TEU.

The average wait time for container berths at the port has been reduced to less than one day in July, after several measures were introduced, MPA said.

These included adding new berths at Tuas port, reactivating berths and yard spaces at Keppel, increasing manpower and collaborating with liners in scheduling operations.

EXTREME weather has caused chaos in and near Mundra Port, further pressuring the outward flow of cargo and exacerbating capacity concerns as volume builds up, reports New York's Sourcing Journal.

Multiple reports from Indian logistics publication Logistics Insider and supply chain publication, London's Loadstar said shipping operations at Mundra were put at a standstill for three days last week.

The reports indicated it could take up to an extra week, or even longer, for cargo flow to improve, subject to weather events fading.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a "red alert" warning for several districts in the western state of Gujarat due to the heavy rains and ensuing flooding ahead of the formation of Cyclone Asna.

Adverse weather has not only caused delays in vessel berthing but has also disrupted cargo rail movements in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat, FreightMango said. More than 50 per cent of Mundra's volumes move by rail or is held at one of its local inland container depots (ICDs).

Mumbai's Jawaharlal Nehru Port, also known as Nhava Sheva Port, also took on some impact as supply chains feel the ripple effects of the flood.

ROTTERDAM's Shipping Technology, that offers hardware and software for maritime operations, has secured AI investment from First Dutch and the founders of Platform Zero, reports San Francisco's Silicon Canals.

Shipping Technology's core product is the ST BRAIN integrates hardware and software to optimize nautical data, support autonomous sailing, and improve operational efficiency.

The company also offers up to a 50 per cent insurance discount for vessels equipped with the ST BRAIN.

Shipping Technology's growth strategy focuses on expanding data capabilities for fleet management and advancing the digitization of maritime operations through innovative applications and strategic partnerships.

Said founding partner Remco Pikaart: "Currently, the ST BRAIN is installed in more than 250 vessels. In the past years, we've not only grown our installed base but also the technology, developing reliable software that makes shipping, especially inland shipping, safer, more sustainable and more efficient."

THE Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) should reject appeals made by airlines against fines issued after they took part in a cartel to fix air cargo prices, according to a CJEU advocate general.

Appeals filed by airlines against the cartel fines imposed by EU antitrust regulators in 2017 should not be granted, said CJEU Advocate General Athanasios Rantos, London's Air Cargo News, citing Reuters.

The matter stretches back to 2010, when eleven airlines were fined EUR799 million (US$886 million) for operating a price-fixing cargo cartel that affected cargo services within the European Economic area (EEA).

The cartel members coordinated various elements of price for a period of over six years, from December 1999 to February 2006, according to the European Commission.

The airlines originally named by the European Commission in 2010 included Air Canada, Air France-KLM, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Cargolux, Japan Airlines, LAN Chile, Martinair, SAS, Singapore Airlines and Qantas.

Lufthansa (and its subsidiary Swiss) received full immunity from fines under the Commission's leniency programme, as it was the first to provide information about the cartel.

In 2015, the European Union (EU) General Court annulled the fines totalling nearly EUR800 million imposed by the European Commission against 11 of the airlines for the alleged fixing of airfreight charges, concluding that there had been a procedural error.

However, in 2017 that annulment was overturned by the EC and the fines re-instated, which prompted several airlines to launch appeals.

In March 2022, the EU General Court dismissed the actions brought by Martinair Holland, KLM, Cargolux Airlines, Air France-KLM, Air France, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines and Singapore Airlines Cargo and upheld the fines previously imposed on those companies by the Commission.

However, it slightly reduced the fines against Japan Airlines, Air Canada, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, SAS Cargo Group, Latam Airlines Group and Lan Cargo resulting in reduced fines for those carriers.

The airlines next took their appeal to the CJEU.

In November 2022, Air France obtained the annulment of a EUR3.9 million fine imposed by the Competition Commission on the carrier in December 2013.

Mr Rantos said SAS' appeal for a cut in its fine should be referred back to the General Court to be reviewed.

ZAMBIA has passed an audit conducted by the UN's International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to assess the safety of the country's aviation sector, announced a senior government official.

Minister of Transport and Logistics, Frank Tayali said preliminary results show that Zambia achieved a 73.48 per cent effective implementation rate, surpassing the East and Southern Africa average of 60.71 per cent and the global average of 69.4 per cent.

He said that the results highlight the significant progress made through reforms and preparations in the country's aviation sector, especially in contrast to the 2009 audit, where Zambia scored only 35.35 percent, leading to a ban on its planes flying into certain airspaces.

"I wish to thank the Civil Aviation Authority, together with its board, for meticulous preparation for this particular audit. I think that we needed to ensure that Zambia comes out of that which we faced in 2009," said Mr Tayali.

He observed that this achievement is a testament to the country's ambition to become a transport and logistics hub in the Southern African region.

The minister also said that Zambia's aviation sector now has no safety concerns, indicating strong compliance levels and boosting confidence among stakeholders.

Mr Tayali said that the audit covered not only infrastructure but also the operational systems within the sector. He assured that the government will continue improving operations to attract more international airlines, which had previously avoided the country.

A team from ICAO with its headquarters in Montreal, Canada, visited Zambia last month to conduct the universal safety oversight audit programme under its continuous monitoring approach, marking the second such audit since 2009.

NIGERIAN airlines have been delisted from the United States Aviation Administration Category One Status (USFAA CAT 1) International Aviation Safety Assessment programme, according to Lagos' Businessday.

This is due to the failure of any of the country's airlines to operate directly to the US for two years or vice-versa.

Nigeria's name is currently missing from the list of African countries in the FAA Flight Standard Service International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) programme otherwise known as the Category One country list.

Egypt, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Morocco, and South Africa are the African countries on the FAA Category One list. The countries on the category one list are certified to have met International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards.

A new law by the United States apex aviation regulatory body, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stipulates that nations whose carriers fail to operate into the United States under the 'Open Skies' agreement between it and the US for at least two years will have its entire sector and airlines designated to undergo recertification.

KENYAN aviation workers have held a demonstration at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), protesting plans to lease the airport to an Indian company, reports Xinhua.

The strike, organised by the Kenya Airports Authority workers, caused significant flight delays, leaving passengers stranded even after checking in.

The workers are opposing a Public-Private Partnership that would allow Adani Group Holdings to take over operations at one of the East Africa's busiest airports.

The disruption came despite a previous announcement by Kenya Aviation Workers Union Secretary General Moses Ndiema that the strike would be postponed for seven days to review the lease agreement.

However, Mr Ndiema said that the delays were due to workers marching to present their grievances to airport management. Passengers said that the check-in process took as long as three hours. One frustrated traveller said "the transfer desk is overwhelmed because one machine has broken down, and no one is here to help us."

The workers expressed concern that the Adani deal could jeopardize their jobs, favouring foreign workers instead. Despite the opposition, Kenyan President William Ruto has defended the proposed deal.

"The airport we have in Nairobi is made of canvas. This is a temporary structure we built almost seven years ago. Ethiopia has a brand-new airport, and Rwanda the same. That's why we need to work with investors to build a new airport in Nairobi."

The union is calling for a halt to all stakeholder engagements regarding the deal until they have had time to thoroughly review the documents presented by the government. According to the Ministry of Roads and Transport, JKIA handles 80 per cent of network passengers and 90 per cent of cargo operations, with the capacity to process 35 aircraft per hour.

Mr Ndiema said that the "intended sale of JKIA" to the Indian company does not meet legal requirements for public participation and excludes union members, who are key stakeholders. The government, however, has denied that the airport is being sold, emphasizing that no final deal has been reached regarding the proposed public-private partnership.

The agreement with the Indian firm includes the construction of a new passenger terminal and the refurbishment of existing facilities under a 30-year build-operate-transfer contract.