The Friday Flyer - November 28th 2014

Welcome to the first edition of a revamped Friday Flyer; which now has a sister title following the launch of our Wednesday Wire this week. In response to reader requests, we have reduced the number of advertising slots in each newsletter, so each advertisement has greater prominence. We also provide traceability that shows how many people are clicking to read stories and visit advertisers' websites. Our recent reader survey makes it clear that the printed magazine is still our flagship product, but also indicated that 66 percent of our readers across all our channels have used HLPFI to contact an advertiser. 

HLPFI would be interested to hear from anyone who can shed a little light on the Chinese operation called United Faith, which announced earlier this year that it had signed an exclusivity agreement with Maersk Broker enabling Maersk, together with Profundo Offshore Contractor, to promote and market two newbuild semi-submersible heavy lift carriers that United Faith suggested would be built at the Yantai CIMC Raffles Offshore Shipyard.

At the time, this seemed to us to be a repeat of an announcement from 2011, which also mentioned the construction of two ships, plus a further two semi-subs at another Chinese shipyard. HLPFI understands that Maersk Broker has walked away from that agreement and wonders if United Faith is now looking for new partners for the vessels. Enquiries to United Faith have gone unanswered and we were put off from a visit to their website, by a Google alert that suggested such a visit might seriously damage our computers. Do get in touch, if you know and are willing to share the facts.

In business

Toll NQX takes on Deeson Heavylift

Toll NQX, part of Toll Group, has strengthened its heavy haulage capabilities with the acquisition of Deeson Heavylift.

Risky alliances need controls

The European Shippers' Council (ESC) says it believes the formation of container shipping line alliances is a risky development for a free market for transportation of goods by sea, which is not good for clients of the carriers, shippers, and consumers in terms of price and quality of service.

Air cargo challenges highlighted

A recent 'air cargo training day' delivered by the Baltic Air Charter Association (BACA) demonstrated how complicated the business of airfreight can be.

Russian government orders reintroduction of TIR

According to the International Road Transport Union, Russia's government has issued an order to the federal customs service and ministry of transport to finalise the tender procedure to establish the TIR association in line with Russian law and the TIR convention.

Trident Alliance strengthens force

Fourteen more shipping companies joined the Trident Alliance - the shipping industry initiative for robust enforcement of maritime sulphur regulations.

Van Oord in Ballast buy

Van Oord reached an agreement on the acquisition of Ballast Nedam's offshore business unit.

Contractual obligations

Gefco on track to Russia

Gefco Spain and Gefco Russia signed a contract with Spanish railway manufacturer, Talgo, for the shipping and distribution of six Talgo trains in Russia.

Kongsberg in with Blue Water

Blue Water Shipping signed a contract with Kongsberg that includes a two-year framework agreement covering international and domestic freight by air, sea and road for all the latter's subsidiaries.

Capacity developments

PNG gets two-way shipping routes

A new ship routing system will come into effect on June 1, 2015 at Papua New Guinea's Jomard Entrance.

Arkon takes Lena from SAL

Arkon Shipping and Projects has purchased the multipurpose heavy lift vessel Lena from SAL and will rename her Lena J.

HongFa Shipping to launch liner service

On January 10, 2015, HongFa Shipping is set to launch a new liner service between the Far East, Southeast Asia and the East Coast of South America.

Shipment of the week

Air Marine transported a 1,480-tonne absorber for the Petronas LNG production development in Malaysia, using 48 axle lines of Scheuerle SPMTs. The massive absorber was moved from Malaysia's Bintulu port to the jobsite by road, which involved various discussions and meetings with local authorities prior to the movement, as well as the removal and widening of the port exit gate; removal of various lamp posts and sign boards; cutting of trees; clearing of areas; and strengthening of drains and culverts using steel plates.

On the move

ACS promotes Thompson

Richard Thompson has been appointed president of Air Charter Service's (ACS) North America operations.

Network and association developments

The Global Project Logistics Network (GPLN) added Argentina's Inter American Group, Freight Link Express from Singapore, and HLI Logistics in the USA to its roster.

Polytra joined the XLProjects (XLP) network as a new member in Belgium, Tanzania, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Project Cargo Network (PCN) welcomed Golden Ways for Logistics (GWL) as a new member representing Jordan.

The Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association (SC&RA) gained nine new members to its group - Box Insurance Agency; Coordinated Wire Rope of Hawaii; Crane Training and Safety Consultants; Cranes and Equipment Asia; Gruas Garcia Especializados; Shuman Specialized Transportation; TLG Transport; TSC; and U.S. Cargo Control - as well as welcoming back four returning members: C. L. Services; CRW Corp; Mid Cities Erectors; and Uland & Son Heavy Equipment Transporting.

All about Evie

Evie was tickled this week by reports of a BP oil tanker that left passers by at Charleston's waterfront puzzled when it let out a huge black fart of smoke, in what seems to have been a system malfunction.

She passes on her congratulations to Eddy Bruyninckx, ceo of Antwerp Port Authority, who was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the IBJ Awards ceremony in Rotterdam.

Evie also wishes a Happy Birthday to Lufthansa Cargo, which celebrates its 20th anniversary on Sunday.