Summary for April 28 - May 2, 2008:
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Monday, April 28, 2008
K + N partners with largest French brewerKUEHNE + NAGEL April 28 announced it was selected by Brasseries Kronenbourg, the largest brewer in France, to act as partner in the outsourced management of its distribution centers in France. Kuehne + Nagel will support the brewer in a seven-year contract in the operational deployment of its new national distribution concept, moving from direct deliveries out of the production facility in Obernai near Strasbourg to an outsourced network of regional distribution centers. Once the logistics set-up is fully operational as of early 2009, Kuehne + Nagel will manage four regional distribution centers, strategically located in Paris, Bordeaux, Lyon, and Rennes, the company said. The four shared-user facilities will feature a total of 96,000 square meters of warehouse space and handle more than 900,000 pallets in/out per year, “providing high seasonal adaptability levels.” In peak seasons, the network will manage up to five 28-car trains every day, the company said. Kuehne + Nagel’s operations include the receipt of full pallets delivered by train from the Obernai plant, warehousing, and order preparation, as well as dispatch of palletized goods. Web site Kuehne + Nagel
Railroads urge focus on hazardous materialTHE NATION’S major freight railroads Apr 25 asked the U.S. Surface Transportation Board to institute a proceeding “to address the very serious issue of transporting hazardous material around the country,” according to a news release from the Association of American Railroads. Railroads must, under federal law, transport hazardous chemicals. Railroads are the “only participants in the entire chemical supply chain” who are required by law to deal with hazardous chemicals, even when there are safer chemicals and safer technologies that could be used instead, the AAR said. “This system is not in the public interest,” said Edward R. Hamberger, president and CEO of the AAR. “The correct public policy should encourage those companies who make the decision to produce, transport and use dangerous chemicals to use safer alternatives when available.” A recent report by the National Research Council noted, “The most desirable solution to preventing chemical releases is to reduce or eliminate the hazard where possible, not control it.” Turning to broader issues, Hamberger noted that railroads currently are facing capacity constraints and are investing heavily to add capacity. Web site: Association of American Railroads
Port of Vancouver USA’s crane at Winter OlympicsTHE PORT OF VANCOUVER USA, which owns the largest mobile harbor crane in North America, will discharge critical elements of the record-breaking-sized ski lift at Whistler Resort for the 2010 Winter Olympics, the port announced recently. Four spools of cable that each weigh more than 100 metric tons and one smaller spool of cable are included among the cargo that will transit the Atlantic Ocean from the Swiss factory in which it was manufactured to the Port of Vancouver USA for the Olympics. Logistics include the barge move from the factory down the Rhine River to Vlissengen; the overseas move on the Star Indiana to Vancouver USA; the port’s movement on to rail cars; the rail move to Canada; the move from rail to truck; and the move from the rail yard to the job site at Whistler. The port’s heavy-lift mobile harbor crane — a Liebherr LHM500, capable of lifting 140 metric tons, or the equivalent of two space shuttles — was designed in Austria, built in Germany, and made a similar Atlantic transit to get to the Vancouver USA port in 2006. The finished product will connect the peaks of Whistler and Blackcomb mountains and will be the longest free-span lift in the world, the port said. Web site: Port of Vancouver USA Tuesday, April 29, 2008 May Day West Coast ports protest ponderedBy Richard Knee AS THE FREIGHT community looks ahead to a planned work stoppage by West Coast longshore crews this Thursday, May 1, no one wants to predict what, if any, disruption to cargo traffic will result. The labor action, billed as a protest against the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq, has been well-publicized for the past two months, and everyone has had plenty of time to make any necessary adjustments to freight schedules, said Craig Merrilees, press spokesman for the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, on Monday, April 28. Similar such occurrences “have been accommodated by the [shipping] industry with no major impact,” Merrilees said. But shippers and freight intermediaries are concerned about whether the work stoppage will last beyond a single shift, and Merrilees said there was no telling what rank-and-file members might do in the exercise of their First Amendment rights. “My concern is that since this is happening on a Thursday, will they take Friday and Saturday off and make it a four-day weekend?” said Don Simon, logistics manager at Coppersmith Inc., a freight services firm based in El Segundo, Calif. “They say they will go back to work on May 2, but who knows?” Web site: Longshore and Warehouse Union http://www.ilwu.orgConference: How to “green” the supply chainBRINGING INNOVATORS, regulators and supply chain businesses together, the first-ever Greening the Supply Chain Conference will be held at the Sacramento Convention Center June 9–10 in Sacramento, Calif. The conference is a collaboration of the International Warehouse Logistics Association, the Warehousing Education and Research Council and the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. This event gathers “innovators, regulators and industry for a knowledge exchange” and incorporates a green technology trade show and solutions summit, according to the news release. Educational sessions and panel discussions will feature industry leaders and key regulators, with topics such as Energy and Carbon Efficient Supply Chains, Best Practices, Greening the Intermodal Sector and more. Key conference objectives are to “educate government on technology available today; move industry to embrace solutions; and stimulate supply chain solutions through innovation.” Conference organizers say attendees will take back to their companies a greater understanding of why “green = profits” and why “going green is becoming mission-critical for the supply chain industry.” Web site: Greening the Supply Chain Conference http://www.greeningthesupplychain.com/index.htmlCon-way wins Wal-Mart LTL Carrier of YearCON-WAY FREIGHT, a less-than-truckload carrier and subsidiary of Con-way Inc., April 21 announced that it has been named by Wal-Mart Stores Inc. as its 2007 LTL Carrier of the Year. Con-way was named Wal-Mart’s top provider of LTL freight transportation services based on an evaluation of key performance criteria including daily on-time delivery performance, market coverage, transit times, claims prevention, effective communication, and ease of doing business and customer service. Chris Sultemeier, senior vice president of transportation for Wal-Mart, commended Con-way and added, “Your company’s overall dedication to customer service, operational excellence and offering creative solutions to our complex supply chain opportunities has set you apart from your peers.” John G. Labrie, president, Con-way Freight, commented, “This award speaks to the integrity of our service, but more importantly, it recognizes the performance excellence that starts and ends with our skilled driver sales and customer service representatives.” Wal-Mart launched its carrier award program in 1997 to recognize the outstanding contributions of its transportation providers in categories including truckload, LTL, small package, produce and intermodal. Web sites: Con-way Freight http://www.con-way.com/freight Wal-Mart Wednesday, April 30, 2008 World’s newest, largest car carrier namedWALLENIUS LINES, along with its commercial operating company, Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics, named the newest member of its fleet MV Fedora in a ceremony held at South Locust Point Cruise Terminal in Baltimore, Md., on April 25. Measuring almost 750 feet long with a deck capacity area of 724,411 square feet, the Fedora’s size and design give it a carrying capacity of 8,000 cars or a combination of 3,484 cars and 468 buses, according to the news release. Five of its 13 car decks are hoistable, and four are strengthened for ro/ro cargo, allowing for maximum cargo-carrying flexibility, the company said. The name bestowed on Hull 4446 maintains Wallenius Lines’ tradition of naming its ro/ro carriers after the world’s famed operas. The Fedora “embodies the company’s prevailing dedication to being at the forefront of environmental responsibility in its ocean business,” the company said. Web site: Wallenius Lines http://www.2wglobal.comDiebold picks Menlo Worldwide for logistics roleMENLO WORLDWIDE Logistics, the global logistics subsidiary of Con-way Inc., April 29 announced that it is expanding its relationship with Diebold Inc. by serving as the company’s principal worldwide logistics management provider. Under the expanded role, Menlo will operate in a “lead logistics provider” capacity, assuming responsibility for projects, work streams, operating plans and management of service providers executing logistics functions, the company said. Menlo’s expanded responsibilities will focus on warehouse network rationalization and optimization, and implementation of processes to identify and reduce waste and inefficiency. Diebold originally contracted with Menlo in 2005 to provide transportation management services. As lead logistics provider, Menlo will help Diebold redesign its global logistics footprint by analyzing material and information flows, physical network layout, and capacity needs and then recommending new solutions and designs to streamline functional execution, operations and service, Menlo said. In addition to its lead logistics provider role, Menlo will continue to provide third-party logistics (3PL) services, managing three warehouses for Diebold in the United States as well as its primary European distribution operations in Hungary at Diebold’s manufacturing plant in Budapest, the company said. Web sites: Menlo Worldwide Logistics http://con-way.com/en/logistics Diebold Inc. http://www.diebold.comPanama Canal, VPA reaffirm strategic allianceDURING AN OFFICIAL ceremony April 29 in Panama, Panama Canal Authority (ACP) Administrator/CEO Alberto Alemán Zubieta and Virginia Port Authority Executive Director Jerry A. Bridges solidified their partnership by signing another Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The agreement further enforces the alliance between the Canal and the Port Authority, first initiated in June 2003, port authorities said. The continued alliance will help to increase growth and trade, facilitate the flow of information sharing and promote the “All-Water-Route” (the route from Asia to the U.S. East Coast via the Panama Canal). Our partnership with the VPA is more important than ever,” said Alemán. “As we embark on the next phases of the expansion project, data sharing and market studies exchange will continue to be essential elements of our collaboration.” “As the only U.S. East Coast port with the existing capability to handle post-Panamax vessels, the Port of Virginia is prepared for the waterway’s expansion,” Alemán added. Expansion will build a new lane of traffic along the Panama Canal through the construction of a new set of locks, which will double capacity and allow more traffic and longer, wider ships. Web sites: Panama Canal Authority Virginia Port Authority Thursday, May 1, 2008 Canadian Pacific Police spread the message of Rail SafetyTHE CANADIAN Pacific Police Service is taking its public safety message directly to schools and community groups this week. Police officers will remind students, pedestrian, cyclists and motorists of the important message of staying safe around railway property, in particular at railway crossings. As part of Railway Safety Week in Canada, which runs from April 28 to May 4, CP Police will conduct safety awareness blitzes at a number of crossings, survey rail property for trespassers and target a variety of educational institutions with rail safety presentations. CP events will coincide with those being put on by other Canadian railways, associations and organizations dedicated to further reducing the amount of fatalities and serious injuries tied to rail-related incidents each year. Transport Canada reported 209 crossing collisions across Canada, 27 fatalities and 21 serious injuries in 2007. There were also 100 trespasser incidents, including 57 fatalities and 25 serious injuries. Web site Canadian Pacific http://www8.cpr.ca/Samsung’s $942 Million DealSAMSUNG HEAVY Industries, the world's second-largest shipyard, has won another deal to build a drill ship, this one for $942 million. Samsung Heavy is to deliver the vessel to Sweden-based Stena Line on December 2011 — a year later than Stena has hoped. The drill ship is also costing Stena 50 percent more than pervious ships that Samsung Heavy has built for them. Some say this could reflect high prices in steel, material and equipment. The Korea Times reported that Samsung Heavy has this year won deals valued at approximately $6 billion. Website Samsung Heavy Industries www.samsung.comClarkson Asked to LeaveRICHARD FULFORD-Smith, head of Clarksons, the world's largest shipbroking and shipping services group, was asked to resign Wednesday, April 30. Reuters reported that the resignation was over litigation with Russian companies. On Tuesday “new evidence” was produced regarding the cases with Russian state-owned shipping companies Sovcomflot and Novoship. However, there has been no mention by the company that Fulford is in any way linked to that evidence. Web site Clarksons www.clarksons.comFriday, May 2, 2008 Terminals idled by anti-war protestON MAY 1, more than 25,000 longshore workers at 29 West Coast ports called for an end to the war in Iraq by taking a day off work, the ILWU said in a press statement. The International Longshore and Warehouse Union leadership had been ordered by an arbitrator to tell its members to report for work, but ILWU International President Bob McEllrath commented, “Longshore workers are standing down on the job and standing up for America.” “We’re supporting the troops and telling politicians in Washington that it’s time to end the war in Iraq,” McEllrath added. Ships and trucks were left idle at ports from Long Beach to Seattle, said Steve Getzug, spokesman for the Pacific Maritime Association, which represents port operators and shippers. The work stoppage comes “at a time when people are relying on US West Coast ports operating smoothly. These kinds of stoppages aren’t helpful,” said Getzug. Terminal operators said they expected ILWU members to return to work for the second shift beginning at 6 p.m. Annual business activity related to the West Coast ports is about $1.2 trillion, 10% of total U.S. gross domestic product, according to John Martin and Associates, a company that does economic impact analysis. Web sites: ILWU Pacific Maritime Association http://www.pmanet.org/Holland America helps Washington state needyHOLLAND AMERICA Line and the Port of Seattle April 29 jointly announced an innovative community-giving program, Ship to Shelter, “that is the first of its kind in the nation,” according to the announcement. The Seattle-based Holland America Line will collect valuable and reusable goods from their ships sailing from Seattle this summer and donate the goods to Seattle area charities serving people in need, the announcement said. The Port of Seattle, partnering with US Customs and Border Protection, Cruise Terminals of America and Northwest Harvest, will work with Holland America to donate items from the ships weekly. The goods will be distributed to shelters and homeless programs throughout Washington state. The program began April 29 with ms Oosterdam, docked at Pier 30, which provided hundreds of items to Northwest Harvest, where they will be stored and then distributed to needy individuals and families. On May 16, ms Amsterdam will provide toiletries as well as dishes, 150 cooking knives and 300 sheet pans. Mike Regis, procurement and outreach director for Northwest Harvest, said, “The missions and shelters will be incredibly grateful to receive these items as they are very difficult to come by and not something we see in the donation stream very often.” Northwest Harvest is the only statewide hunger relief agency in Washington State. The non-profit organization receives no city, county, state or federal funding for operating expenses and relies solely on contributions from individuals, businesses, foundations and other organizations. Web site: Holland America Line Northwest Harvest http://www.northwestharvest.orgPort of San Diego Sea and Air Parade this weekendSATURDAY, May 3, the “flagship event of San Diego’s week-long salute to the military” — the Port of San Diego Sea and Air Parade — will begin with “an awe-inspiring parade of military ships, aircraft and equipment sails on San Diego Bay” from Point Loma to the G Street Mole area near Seaport Village. Ships in the procession include a guided missile cruiser, a frigate, two guided missile destroyers and two amphibious dock landing ships, according to the announcement. The Maritime Museum of San Diego’s two tall ships, the Californian and the HMS Surprise, will participate and stage a mock gun battle. The best viewing will be from Shelter Island and Harbor Island, according to the announcement. The Port of San Diego is the title sponsor of the 2008 Sea and Air Parade and has been sponsoring the event since 1998. The parade is one of a series of events that are part of Fleet Week San Diego, an annual celebration to commemorate San Diego’s military. Web site: Fleet Week San Diego |