This week's round up of news from the world of heavy lift and project forwarding.

This week Pittsburgh, USA based research and consulting company SJ Consulting Group reported that the world's 50 largest logistics companies generated nearly USD248 billion in revenue last year, up nearly 5 percent from the USD237.4 billion generated in 2013.

DHL topped the revenue charts in 2014, with Kuehne + Nagel and DB Schenker taking second and third place respectively, and C. H. Robinson coming in not far behind them.

The SJ Consulting analyst that compiled the list of 50 logistics companies noted that acquisitions contributed to a lot of the companies' growth, but many also experienced organic growth in 2014.

The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) also released its Annual Energy Outlook 2015 this week, which suggests that US energy consumption will grow at a modest rate, but that the country will heavily increase its production levels, reducing the amount of energy imports and increasing the USA's oil and gas exports.

 

In business

Burger takes away DAL

Following this week's closure of Antwerp ship agency Van Doosselaere & Achten, HLPFI understands that the DAL agency representation in Belgium has transferred to VO Agencies.

Cargolux in Oman Air deal

Oman Air has signed a joint venture agreement with Luxembourg based Cargolux Airlines International.

AAPA hails bipartisan trade legislation

The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) has applauded introduction of The Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015.

Antwerp cargo traffic grows

The Port of Antwerp handled 51,023,670 tonnes of freight in the first quarter of 2015 - up 5.9 percent year-on-year over the same period of 2014.

Good start to year at St Petersburg

In the first quarter of 2015 the Sea Port of Saint-Petersburg (SP SPb) handled 2 million tonnes of cargo, an increase of 5 percent compared with the same period in 2014. 

Throughput up, project cargo down at Rotterdam

The Port of Rotterdam posted a 7.2 percent year-on-year increase in throughput for Q1 2015, but also witnessed a 17.1 percent drop in general cargo shipments.

Long Beach sees cargo rise

Cargo volumes at the Port of Long Beach last month showed a 32 percent increase over the same period in 2014, making it the busiest March in the gateway's history.

 

Contractual obligations

Blue Water wins yard stay project

Maersk Drilling has chosen Blue Water Shipping to handle transportation and logistics services for the semi-submersible drilling rig Maersk Deliverer during its yard stay in South Africa.

 

Capacity developments

Hydraulic filter innovation from MGR

MGR Fluid Power has taken delivery of its first shipment of own-branded hydraulic filters from North America, which it says will help hydraulics operators save money on repair costs.

Herbold takes new Liebherr

Rolf Herbold has acquired a new LTM 1070-4.2 mobile crane to replace its 14-year-old LTM 1060/2 model.

Toll opens Ichthys base

Australian logistics service provider Toll Group has officially opened its offshore logistics base in Darwin for the INPEX-operated Ichthys LNG project.

AV Dawson inks new yard deal

UK-based multimodal supply chain specialist AV Dawson has signed a strategic deal with Network Rail to take control of its neighbouring Middlesbrough goods yard.

 

Shipment of the week

Vanguard has coordinated the relocation of a large hydraulic press plant from a factory near Johannesburg to its new facility in southwest Ireland.

 

On the move

New NYK president takes office

Tadaaki Naito has been appointed as the new president of Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK), effective yesterday, April 16.

 

Network and association developments

The Project Professionals Group (PPG) appointed RBS Logistics as a new member in Georgia.

Leman USA joined the Global Project Logistics Network (GPLN). 

The CLC Projects network welcomed Ebentina International as a new representative in Nigeria.

 

All about Evie

Evie was pleased to see that the giant graffiti mural (pictured below) on one of the walls of the Deurganck dock lock in the Port of Antwerp has been completed, and she is looking forward to seeing the work of art in person when she visits Antwerp in May for the Breakbulk event.

Evie was amused this week when she received an issue of Verkehrszeitung that appeared to have been the victim of a grave publishing error. When she opened the magazine, she realised that half of the magazine had been printed upside down...oops.

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