AKT Blockade against UPM Not Helping Labor Negotiations with Paperworkers’ Union
According to UPM, AKT’s support measures will be carried out as a blockade in Finnish ports. During the blockade, the stevedores will not handle UPM’s paper and pulp. The blockade begins on 24 January at 06:00. “AKT’s actions do not advance functioning labour markets. AKT is not even a party in the negotiations, which we aim to start with the Paperworkers’ Union,” says Jyrki Hollmén, Vice President, Labour Markets, UPM. Cooper Marine & Timberlands Acquires Seago Lumber Company
“Today, we’re excited to welcome the Seago Lumber team into the Cooper family,” said Angus R. Cooper III, President of Cooper Marine & Timberlands. “The addition of Seago Lumber greatly enhances Cooper Marine & Timberlands’ ability to meet growing customer demand and provide the industry’s highest standard of lumber products and customer service.” Precision Terminal Logistics Acquires The Kearney Companies
KPWS will be rebranded as The Kearney Companies – Savannah. David Kearney will retain his position as president of both companies and will continue to be an equity owner. PTL President Ray Nixon said, “The acquisition expands two critical gateways at a crucial time when customer supply chains at ports are backlogged and need enhanced capacity.” Minister of Transportation to Attend Railroad Timber Terminal Opening at Hauerseter in Norway
Between 100,000 and 150,000 cubic meters of timber will be transported annually via the timber terminal, mainly spruce pulpwood to Norske Skog Saugbrugs in Halden. This amounts to somewhere between 2,500 and 3,750 timber truckloads a year. SSA Marine and The Northwest Seaport Alliance Welcome First Vessel Call to Modernized Terminal 5 in Seattle
Construction on the new facility launched in July 2019, fueled by the combined investment from the NWSA Managing Members and SSA Marine of approximately half a billion dollars. The strategic investment of modernizing Terminal 5 will increase cargo capacity and job opportunities in the Puget Sound region.
Norfolk Southern Rolls Out Pilot Incentive Program for Intermodal Shipping Partners
The Dual Mission Reward Program is being tested at Landers Intermodal Facility in Chicago, the company’s largest terminal handling international freight, and at the railroad’s Kansas City Intermodal Facility. Under the industry-first pilot, truck carriers and steamship lines can earn a $200 incentive every time a drayage driver brings in and departs with a shipping container, completing a “dual mission.” Metsä Board Sells Hangö Stevedoring in Finland to Euroports
The parties have mutually agreed that the transaction price will not be disclosed. Hangö Stevedoring has around 180 employees and its sales in 2020 were approximately EUR 20 million. The company is the largest provider of cargo handling services in Hanko and has a wide customer base, including Metsä Board. Canfor Agrees to Acquire Millar Western Solid Wood Operations for $420 Million
Millar Western's solid wood operations, located in Alberta, Canada, will add 630 million board feet of production capacity and have access to a globally competitive, high-quality timber supply. Georgia Ports Authority Capacity Efforts Paying Off
“Our employees along with Savannah’s stevedores, ILA members, truckers, river captains and many other transportation professionals have pulled together to handle record cargo volumes for an incredible 16 consecutive months, said Griff Lynch,GPA’s executive director. In less than six months, the GPA has designed and begun to bring online an ambitious series of improvements that will increase the Port of Savannah’s annual capacity by 25 percent. Norfolk Southern Earns Leadership Rating from CDP
The achievement was largely driven by Norfolk Southern’s pursuit of a science-based emissions reduction target for efficiency, targeting a 42% reduction by 2034 from 2019, announced earlier this year. The company made a 7% reduction in carbon emissions intensity in 2020 alone. Canfor Pulp Announces Production Curtailments in Response to Supply Chain Challenges
Canfor's pulp shipments have declined as a result of the recent weather-related transportation disruptions. With pulp mill inventories nearing capacity, the company’s pulp production will be reduced until such time as the BC transportation network is able to return to more-normal operating conditions. This will result in reduced production achieved through a minimum two-week curtailment of Canfor's NBSK production at Northwood Pulp and a minimum four-week curtailment of the production of BCTMP at Taylor Pulp. West Fraser Provides Operational Update Regarding Severe Weather, Flooding
In recent weeks, severe weather and flooding in B.C. has caused transportation disruptions to rail and truck routes, including limiting access to ports for overseas shipments. In the second half of November, following the weather event that led to road and rail closures, the Company's western Canadian lumber weekly shipments have declined by approximately 25%-30%. In addition, our pulp shipments to the port of Vancouver, from where the majority of our export pulp ships, have averaged less than 20% of normal volumes. Celadon to Open North American Headquarters, OCC Recycling, Advanced Manufacturing Operations in Savannah
According to the Governor's office, in addition to establishing a North American headquarters and a recycled brown pulp manufacturing facility, Celadon will open a second production line of its recycling and manufacturing operations during Phase 2 of its expansion to Georgia. Once both phases of Celadon's project are complete along with its dry processing plant, the company expects to export approximately 87,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) through the Port of Savannah annually. Morten Brühl to Join Elof Hansson in 2022 as Its New VP Global Shipping
Mr. Brühl joins Elof Hansson from APM Terminals Management BV in The Hague, which is part of the A.P. Moller Group. He will take up his new role in March 2022. Alexander Global Logistics Now Offers QAKE Certified Pulp and Paper Warehouse in Alexandria Port
According to AGL, the acquisition was prompted by a North American pulp and paper producer seeking a fully equipped, bonded warehouse dedicated to pulp and paper that also needed to be QAKE (Quality Assurance Key Environment) certified within a six-month timeframe. This meant special hygiene and maintenance measures, qualified and trained personnel, modern technology, GMP specifications, and more. Port of Coos Bay Enters into Purchase and Sale Agreement to Acquire the Former Georgia Pacific Mill Site
The Port’s intent in this acquisition is to rehabilitate the site and return it to service, utilizing the facility for the movement of goods and commodities through maritime, rail, and trucking for both domestic and international markets. Hapag-Lloyd Reroutes European Container Service to JAXPORT
Hapag-Lloyd’s Atlantic Loop 3 (AL3) rotation will begin calling JAXPORT’s TraPac Container Terminal with the arrival of the container ship Hudson Express in mid-November. The service call will last for at least eight weeks and bring an estimated 1,000 additional TEUs (containers) a week through JAXPORT. The port rotation will be Antwerp, Belgium; Hamburg, Germany; London; Charleston; Jacksonville; and Norfolk. IFPTA Will Not Hold Its “On the Road” Event at London Pulp Week
“Due to uncertainties concerning international travel and COVID-19 restrictions, the likelihood of few, if any, IFPTA officers and/or directors being able to attend the event is inevitable,” said Mr. Bog. “Therefore, it is in everyone’s best interest to postpone the IFPTA gathering in London this year. “We are, however, still planning to hold an IFPTA On the Road event during International Pulp Week in Vancouver, BC, in 2022,” Mr. Bog added. Buddy Greene, Former President of IFPTA, Has PassedFrom Alan Bog, President, IFPTA Dear Members,
I had the privilege of working with him as a Director and Officer of the Association since I was first elected to the Board in 1999. From the start I was impressed by his dedication, his attention to detail and his thoroughness. He became President after the sudden loss of Paul Doiron. Buddy was a strong President. He led us through a difficult period when our partner at the time was having difficulties and at the time saved the Transport Symposium in Mobile, and we have grown in strength since then. Please read, "Remebering Buddy Greene" Update from Alan Bog, President, IFPTA
My last letter to you brought difficult news about the postponement of Transport Symposium 24, which would have taken place in a couple of weeks in Jacksonville, Florida. The current uptick in COVID cases confirms that we made the right decision. On a happier note I am pleased to advise that we have set the dates for the Symposium in 2022. Our Symposium partner, Fastmarkets, has secured the Marriott Sawgrass in Jacksonville for 18 to 20 September 2022. Our teams will get busy in the coming months putting together another exciting programme of panels and events, and we will keep you updated on our progress as we move forward. It is possible that you may be called upon by our Moderators to share your expertise on a panel, and your participation would be considerably appreciated if you’re able to do so. While we are of course sad to have lost the great networking and educational opportunity that the 2021 Transport Symposium would have provided, we look forward to seeing all of you in 2022 — hopefully in a world where travel and in-person events have once again become safe and comfortable. Once more my thanks to Tom Mutz and Rhoda Voth (IFPTA), Rick Schiappacasse (JAXPORT) and the team at Fastmarkets, for all of the time and effort they put into the organisation of TS24. In the meantime, if circumstances permit, we will organize our popular ‘IFPTA on the Road’ get-togethers that take place around industry events such as London Pulp Week and International Pulp Week. All the best to everyone, Alan Bog, President, IFPTA Smart Shipping Reduces Environmental EffectsThe following story is from Domtar’s Newsroom
In 2021, we will move about 240,000 pulp and paper shipments over the road. To get them to their destinations, drivers will travel more than 126 million miles, which is equal to about 5,100 trips around the equator. Our products are also traveling by train. Nearly 1,120,000 tons of our pulp and paper will be packed on more than 16,000 rail cars in North America. MSC Belgium Launches Quayside Fumigation Service
MSC has partnered with disinfection specialists Descroes to ensure a first-class service. “Descroes supports our other portside fumigation services, so it was a natural fit to expand this successful partnership for our new quayside offering,” explains Jerri Smet, Intermodal Manager at MSC Belgium. “Quayside fumigation fulfils our customers’ needs for increased flexibility and accelerated turnaround times and unlocks access to intermodal services that would previously have been inaccessible.” Spliethoff Increases the Frequency of Its Cleveland Europe Express
The CEE service has been offering twice-monthly quick-transit all-water sailings between Europe and various Great Lakes ports for many years, catering to a broad range of consumers and industries. New Rail Shuttle from Middle Sweden to Port of Gothenburg Boosts Forest Product Exports
The driving force behind the newly established rail shuttle is the Fiskarheden sawmill, working in close collaboration with the forwarding company Träfraktkontoret. The first train to depart will carry 32 40-foot containers from the Japanese shipping company ONE and will arrive at the Port of Gothenburg on 30 August. A.P. Moller - Maersk Accelerates Fleet Decarbonisation
More than half of Maersk’s 200 largest customers have set – or are in the process of setting – ambitious science-based or zero carbon targets for their supply chains. ATA Truck Tonnage Index Decreased 1.2% in July
“Softness in tonnage over the last few months is due more to supply constraints, rather than a big drop in freight volumes,” said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. “Not only are there broader supply chain issues, like semiconductors, holding tonnage back, but there are also industry specific difficulties, including the driver shortage and lack of equipment. For-hire truckload carriers are operating fewer trucks than a year earlier. It is difficult to haul significantly more freight with fewer trucks and drivers. Nippon Paper Industries Obtains Two Eco Rail Mark Certifications; for its Products and as a Company
Eco Rail Mark is a certification scheme established by Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT). It applies to companies (and the products of companies) which make use of rail freight transportation, which generates lower unit CO2 emissions. Norfolk Southern to Reopen Pennsylvania Intermodal Facility
Effective Sept. 10, the railroad plans a gradual phase-in of business at the Franklin County Regional Intermodal Facility, starting with a lane of domestic intermodal traffic that currently moves between Norfolk Southern intermodal facilities in Memphis and Rutherford, in South Central Pennsylvania. Greencastle will provide additional terminal capacity and help to improve service as demand for the railroad's robust franchise continues to grow. Klabin Begins Construction of New Pulp Terminal at Port of Paranaguá, Brazil
In its first year of operations, the company expects to move 1.4 million tons through the port. Once the second phase of expansion of the Klabin Unit in Ortigueira (Puma II Project) is concluded, which is slated for 2023, the company expects to move 2.2 million tons per year through Paranaguá. Hunt Forest Products and Tolko Industries to Build New $240 Million Sawmill in Northwest Louisiana
The mill will prioritize buying timber locally, and it is estimated that the mill will require approximately 1.3 million tons of wood annually to produce approximately 320 million board feet of lumber annually. The facility will be located on approximately 255 acres of land including the existing Taylor sawmill site and some adjacent timber land. Canfor Announces Production Curtailment in Canada
"The wildfires burning in Western Canada are significantly impacting the supply chain and our ability to transport product to market. As a result, we are implementing short-term production curtailments at our Canadian sawmills beginning July 26,” said Stephen Mackie, Executive Vice President, North American Operations, Canfor. “We are developing site specific plans to minimize the impacts to our employees and contractors." Canfor is working closely with the provincial wildfire services and governments to support a safe response to the very dynamic wildfire conditions in Western Canada. MSC and Shell Sign Collaboration Agreement on Decarbonising Shipping
The companies plan to develop a range of safe, sustainable and competitive technologies that can reduce emissions from existing assets and help to enable a net-zero emissions future for shipping. The Port of Tarragona Begins to Install the Balears Wharf Bollards
The fenders, which are also being installed at a similar pace, and the bollards are the elements that take the strain of docking and tying up the vessel. Thus, when a ship is slowly approaching in a berthing maneuver, the fenders absorb the momentum of the vessel as it maneuvers, protecting both the dock and the vessel when they come into contact. In conditions of strong winds and waves, the fenders and bollards are responsible for absorbing the vessel's energy, especially when it tends to approach or move away from the dock. Port of Antwerp Experiences Growth in First Half of Year
Growth despite ongoing corona crisisContainers are the only cargo type that has continuously grown since 2014, up by 4,3% in the first half of the year compared to 2020 and by 3,9% compared to 2019 (in tonnes). Conventional breakbulk grows by 41,2% compared to 2020 and equals the throughput of the first 6 months of 2019. Port of Antwerp Awards Breakbulk Concession
The area around the Churchill Dock has historically developed into one of the most important sites for breakbulk terminals at the port of Antwerp, a fact that has been further consolidated by this choice of concessionaire. Sappi Invests in Fully Transparent, Customer Centric Supply Chain in Partnership with Shippeo
Shippeo’s solution offers “predictive visibility” of supply chain transportation, enhancing the customer experience by providing a reliable estimate of when an order will arrive with the customer as well as a faster response to customer inquiries on goods in transit. Proactive sharing of the live delivery status with customers ensures early warnings are given on potential delivery delays. Maersk Signs Shipbuilding Contract for World's First Container Vessel Fueled by Carbon Neutral Methanol
The feeder will be 172 meters long and will sail in the network of Sealand Europe, a Maersk subsidiary, on the Baltic shipping route between Northern Europe and the Bay of Bothnia. The methanol propulsion configuration for the vessel will be developed by MAN Energy Solutions and Hyundai Engine and Machinery (main engine) and Himsen (aux engine) in collaboration with Hyundai Mipo and Maersk. Report Raises Concern of Power Shortage for Green Ports, PMSA Warns about Fallout to the Supply Chain
The report from engineering consultants Moffat and Nichol examines the energy grid requirements for vessels and the landside equipment that move cargo between the vessel and inland destinations. The report can be accessed here. The report examines the state’s goal of reaching zero-emission power generation and the enormous demand power demand growth necessary to achieve that goal. With the grid already stretched to its limits, the report indicates that power demand will dramatically grow at the ports.
Port of Gothenburg Ready to Enter Joint Venture with Property Company Castellum
The aim of the partnership is to facilitate planning, development, and construction at Halvorsäng, with a view to owning, managing, and leasing the completed facilities. The land area is approximately 270,000 square metres, including 155,000 square metres of building space. Construction is due to commence during 2021 and will take four years to complete. Ports Moving Together to Reduce Ship Emissions at Berth
Shore Power at the Port of AntwerpToday, there are already 84 shore power connections at lay-by berths for inland navigation craft at the port of Antwerp. Port of Antwerp also wants shore power for container vessels at the port. In recent years, there has been an investigation into which terminals at the port are the most suitable to be equipped with shore power. A.P. Moller - Maersk First Block Train from Southern West Europe to Asia
“There is a limited ocean capacity right now on the eastbound services. In our constant effort to cater for our customers’ needs, we have tailored a solution for an important chemical company, integrating various transport modes to provide them high flexibility as well as reliability to transport their chemical products,” explains Javier Marin, South West Europe and Maghreb Head of Intermodal at Maersk. Gene Seroka Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award from Inland Empire Economic Partnership
“Gene Seroka is the living definition of excellence in logistics and supply chain management,” said Paul Granillo, president and CEO of IEEP. “Because of all that Gene has achieved for our industry, he is very deserving of this award.” Finnlog Expanding Its Operations with 35 New Wood Chip WagonsJune 14, 2021 - Finnlog, the Russian subsidiary of VR Group, is expanding its operations with 35 new wood chip wagons that will allow for importing wood chips from Russia to Finland. The company is investing in the additional wood chip wagons that will import chips from Russia to the Metsä Group pulp mill in Joutseno. The majority of the imported wood chips are from Metsä Group’s Svir sawmill. Finnlog is active in import transport between Finland and Russia providing specialised in the wagon operating services of eastern traffic. The company, which was established in 2019, now has a fleet of about 350 wagons that are available to VR Transpoint’s key customers. Prince Rupert Port Authority Highlights Importance of Exports to Northern BC
The interactive web platform will broaden visibility for community, business and economic policy leaders on the diverse resource export industries that currently support the economy of Northern BC, and will be an important tool to identify new export and economic development opportunities for the region. The development of regional export strategies will be critical to continuing to grow a sustainable, competitive, and diverse Northern BC economy that maximizes the value of local resources and labour. Norske Skog Saugbrugs and Bergene Holm Reduce Emissions by Moving From Trucks to Train
The train line will transport timber and wood chips from Bergene Holm in Amundrod near Larvik to Norske Skog Saugbrugs in Halden. The transport to the east will consist of an approximate 50/50 split between wood chips from the sawmill at Amundrod and pulpwood from surrounding forests. In return, Bergene Holm will transport sawn timber from the Halden area to the sawmill at Amundrod. Robert Palaima, a Globally Respected Leader in the Philadelphia Port Community, Announces Retirement
Among his many accomplishments, Palaima was a key player in growing important commodities for the Port, including forest products, steel, project cargoes, autos and containers. He helped bring generational change to PhilaPort’s Tioga Marine Terminal (TMT) with the advent of a long-term contract for eucalyptus wood-pulp from Brazil. “Bob is respected by shippers and supply chain professionals all over the world. He has been a great stevedore and marine terminal operator, and an ally in promoting the Port. It’s been a real pleasure working with Bob, who was always passionate about the Philadelphia region and our ports,” stated PhilaPort’s CEO Jeff Theobald. Red Leaf Pulp to Build $350 Million Wheat Straw Pulp Mill in Regina, Saskatchewan
The initial plant will have the capacity to produce approximately 182,000 tonnes of market pulp annually from waste wheat straw collected and aggregated from local producers. According to Red Leaf, the new facility is expected to create 110 permanent full-time jobs, and 250 jobs during construction. Euroports Nearing Completion of Phase 2 of New Warehouse at Gaolan Terminal
Quality handling of pulp and paper products in top-class facilities is the key to Euroports’ continued success in China, and the company looks forward to further growth in its South China hub in Gaolan. Finnpulp Calls for Annulment of the Supreme Administrative Court's Decision
The planned bioproduct mill will produce 1.2 million tonnes coniferous pulp per year and significant amounts of biochemicals and bioelectric power. According to Fredrikson, the extra heat generated by the bioproduct mill from renewable raw materials could also serve nearby communities. Certified Pick Up in Port of Antwerp Enters Next Phase
Registration Required by 1 JuneThe second phase of the digital Certified Pick up process will commence on 1 July. From then on, the terminals at the Port of Antwerp will gradually switch to a new way of handling containers, based on identity instead of PIN codes. The MPET and PSA terminals are the first to use the system, which verifies identity through an Alfapass and a finger scan. UK Paper Hub Secures SCA as a Major New Customer
Sweden-based SCA — calling at terminals including Umea, Sundsvall, Helsingborg, Oxelösund, Malmo, Iggesund and Kiel — will see substantial volumes of packaging paper and other third-party cargoes regularly transported by their own Ro-Ro vessels from Sweden to the UK Paper Hubs’ dedicated berths. UK Paper Hub will also assist SCA’s circular supply chain with the export of RDF (Refuse Derived Fuel), supporting circular economy and energy from waste solutions across Sweden. Global Trade of Wood Chips Increased by Almost 50% from 2009 to 2020
Outside of China, the trade of wood chips has been relatively stable the past ten years, ranging between 20-21 million tons annually, except for 2020, when total shipments fell to just under 17 million tons. Hardwood chip imports to China reached a new record high of 13.2 million odmt in 2020. This was a 7% increase from the previous year and continued an unprecedented upward trend that started in 2008 when China imported only one million odmt. UPM’s Deep-Water Pulp Terminal Project in the Port of Montevideo Hits Halfway Mark
The pulp terminal and development of the port play a fundamental role in the logistics of the UPM Paso de los Toros pulp mill, currently under construction in central Uruguay. The mill, scheduled to start up in the second half of 2022, will have a direct railway connection to the port terminal. Suzano to Build 2.3 Million Tons per Year Pulp Mill in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
The proposed pulp mill, referred to by the company as the "Cerrado Project", will have the capacity to produce 2.3 million (two million and three hundred thousand) tons per year of eucalyptus pulp. Suzano said the funds for the project will distributed between the years of 2021 and 2024, and estimates that the new plant will start operating in the first quarter of 2024. Paper Excellence Enters Into Definitive Agreement to Acquire Domtar in $3 Billion Deal
The purchase price represents a premium of approximately 37% to Domtar’s closing share price on May 3, 2021, the last trading day prior to the Domtar’s statement responding to media reports regarding a potential business combination between Domtar and Paper Excellence, and a premium of approximately 44% to the 30-day volume-weighted average price as of May 3, 2021. The all-cash transaction represents an enterprise value of approximately $3.0 billion. HyTrucks Consortium Aims to Have 300 Hydrogen-powered Trucks on the Road in Belgium by 2025
The partnership aims to deploy hydrogen-powered trucks mainly in the area around the Port of Antwerp and major logistics hubs in Belgium. Hydrogen trucks will be used for intensive local and international transport. CLECAT Calls for an Ambitious ‘Fit-for-55' Package
With this in mind, CLECAT, representing European freight forwarders using all possible modes of transport, also looks forward to the 'Fit-for-55 Package.’ The '55' is referring to the 55% net emissions reduction target for 2030 that EU leaders signed off last year. The Commission will pursue a comprehensive set of transport pricing measures to encourage a switch towards greener options, such as emission trading, infrastructure charges, energy- and vehicle taxes. Plaquemines Port and APM Terminals Announce Future Port Collaboration
The facility is in the early stages of development as a deep water, multi-modal, state-of-the-art container terminal in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. Located on the Mississippi river just 50 miles from the Gulf of Mexico the gateway port would cater to exporters and importers who could tap into the multimodal routing options from rail, truck and barge. The agreement represents a formal discussion phase whereby both parties will conduct multiple studies prior to making a final investment decision. Union Pacific Opening New Southern California Terminal in Major Import Distribution Region
Union Pacific will start by establishing a "pop-up" terminal at its West Colton rail yard. Domestic intermodal service will launch between Southern California and Chicago, with expected future service to Dallas and southeast markets. Metsä Fibre and Euroports Finland Conclude Agreement on Port Operations for Rauma Sawmill’s Sawn Timber
Automated conveyors will transfer the timber produced at the sawmill from packaging directly to the transport equipment for delivery to the port warehouse. The sawmill does not have warehouses for finished sawn timber, nor does it handle shipping operations. “When running at full capacity, the sawmill will produce an annual 750,000 cubic metres of sawn timber. Depending on the market situation, a considerable share will be shipped to other countries.” MSC Introduces New Electronic Bill Of Lading for Customers Worldwide Using Wave BL’s Platform
WAVE BL is a blockchain-based system that uses distributed ledger technology to ensure that all parties involved in a cargo shipment booking can issue, transfer, endorse and manage documents through a secure, decentralised network. Georgia Ports Authority Details Capacity, Operations Expansion
Expansion efforts include the Peak Capacity project, which will add 650,000 TEUs of annual container yard capacity in two phases at Garden City Terminal, with the first phase opening in five months. Another main component of the expansion plan is the development of 92 acres GPA purchased last year adjacent to the Mason Mega Rail Terminal. Housing approximately 40 rubber-tired gantry cranes and adding Maersk Launches AE77, a Weekly Asia-Southern Europe Intermodal Freight Service
“The launch of AE77 is an important milestone in Maersk´s expansion of our transcontinental intermodal offering, combining rail and sea. The new route is an excellent alternative since our customers can be confident about fixed-day arrival and have full flexibility between various delivery options that best match their logistics needs,” explains Zsolt Katona, Head of Maersk Eastern Europe. Port of Antwerp Expands Its Fleet with Energy-efficient Tugs
In 2020, 14,000 seagoing vessels and 57,000 inland navigation craft called at the port of Antwerp. To guide all those vessels safely and smoothly from the locks to their moorings and vice versa, Port of Antwerp carries out 19,000 towing operations behind the locks every year, both on the right and the left bank. In order to bring all those towage tasks to a successful conclusion, Port of Antwerp has 18 operational tugs and 250 colleagues on standby 24/7, 365 days of the year. MSC Launches New Solution Connecting Asia and Europe
This new offer will combine both sea and rail service departing from China, Korea and Japan to Europe, via Vladivostok and Vostochniy with further feeder connections from St Petersburg. From St. Petersburg, cargoes can be shipped directly to some of the major European hubs such as Antwerp, Bremerhaven, Rotterdam and Le Havre. Suez Incident: Port of Antwerp Anticipates Busy Terminals Where Possible
“It's going to get busier at the terminals in the port of Antwerp,” says Barbara Janssens. “Starting next week, April 12, our terminals are likely to get busier. The first ships that sailed behind the Ever Given usually first call at Rotterdam and Hamburg and only then arrive at Port of Antwerp. We're assuming 12-14 days after the Suez incident. It isn't easy to estimate the exact impact in terms of traffic at Port of Antwerp. A lot depends on the decisions of shipping companies and terminals, who look at things from a global perspective. Port of Tarragona to Initiate New Rail Services Central Spain, Antwerp and Ludwigshafen
The route operator is calling for a rail superhighway to connect Tarragona with the rest of Europe. As part of the Second Rail Day, the Ekol Group General Freight Manager, Alfio Centocinque, announced the new intermodal services and explained that "there is huge interest in Tarragona is from an existing market.” Port of Gothenburg Says Swedish Forest Products Producer Chooses New Eco-Friendly Rail Shuttle
“There are considerable environmental benefits to be gained with this shuttle. It also offers access to the port’s extensive service network with frequent departures. Good availability of empty containers at the Port of Gothenburg enhances reliability even further. Other shuttle movements to and from the Port of Gothenburg are seen to be working very well, which is reassuring,” said Nikolas Rowland, Managing Director of the forwarding company behind the new shuttle, First Row Shipping and Logistics. Proposed Safe Routes Act Would Improve Log Truck Efficiency, Safety
“When logging trucks aren’t allowed to use federal highways, they use state and local roads where they encounter school zones, crosswalks, and sharp curves. This doesn’t just extend the time it takes to get their products from point A to point B, but increases the number of accidents involving these trucks,” said Rep. Gallagher. “This bill makes a common-sense change that allows certain trucks to travel on the interstate, and in doing so, helps reduce carbon emissions, increase efficiency, and make roads safer.” Port Tampa Bay Approves Lease to Celadon for Construction of Recycled Pulp Plant
The facility will receive and process mixed paper, corrugated cardboard and plastic products sourced in Florida to produce recycled pulp in sheets for export to Asia. Environmental and sustainability benefits include increased recycling, water reuse and reduction of greenhouse gases, saving over 1.8 million tons in carbon dioxide emissions. Short-sea Terminal to Be Opened at the Port of Gothenburg
“In the wake of the pandemic, new logistics patterns have evolved with goods owners moving parts of their global production system closer to Europe. Short sea is a growing segment, and we are pleased that APM Terminals is continuing to meet the needs of the market, and at the same time broadening the port’s overall service offering,” said Elvir Dzanic, Gothenburg Port Authority chief executive. The terminal will be located at the Skandiahamnen western quay, which was recently renovated and reinforced in the lead-up to the Skandia Gateway fairway project. 2 Tugboats Speed to Egypt’s Suez Canal as Shippers Avoid It
The massive Ever Given, a Panama-flagged, Japanese-owned ship that carries cargo between Asia and Europe, got stuck Tuesday in a single-lane stretch of the canal. In the time since, authorities have been unable to remove the vessel and traffic through the canal — valued at over $9 billion a day — has been halted, further disrupting a global shipping network already strained by the coronavirus pandemic. The Dutch-flagged Alp Guard and the Italian-flagged Carlo Magno, called in to help tugboats already there, reached the Red Sea near the city of Suez early Sunday, satellite data from MarineTraffic.com showed. The tugboats will nudge the 400-meter-long (quarter-mile-long) Ever Given as dredgers continue to vacuum up sand from underneath the vessel and mud caked to its port side, said Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement, which manages the Ever Given. Chilean Wood Chip Exports Down 40% in 2020 as Asian Pulp Mills Increased Imports from Vietnam
Together with Vietnam and Australia, Chile has long been one of the primary wood fiber suppliers to the pulp industry in Japan. In 2013, the country was the number one source of wood chips to Japan, with a market share of 23%. However, the Chilean wood fiber supply in that market has diminished, and the percentage of total imports in the 4Q/20 was down to 11%. Ever Given Salvors Weigh Time and Tide with Risk of Tip or Tear
Weighing 200,000 tonnes without cargo, the Ever Given is the heaviest vessel that Smit Salvage, a subsidiary of the Dutch marine services company Boskalis contracted in the rescue, has faced in its nearly 180-year history. With real-time emergency response crews across the globe, Smit Salvage has helped recover or salvage dozens of wrecks and free stranded cargo ships, ferries and tankers. Russia’s Proposed Roundwood Export Ban Would Impact Global TradeBy Agris Melnis, Forest2Market
On January 1, 2021, an experiment on the traceability of timber turnover was launched, and will run through June 30, even though the ban is expected to be adopted as law in 2Q2021. The global market for unprocessed timber will face significant shocks in the wake of such legislation resulting in a ban on Russian exports. By the end of 2020, Russia exported nearly 16 million cubic meters (m3) of timber, which represents almost 13% of globally traded roundwood. MSC Unveils North American Cargo Protection Solution
While taking all the necessary precautions, ocean and inland transportation does not come risk-free. Major unforeseen events, such as rough weather, fire, theft, and many other occurrences, can be the cause of accidental cargo damage. Valid for shippers based in USA and Canada and while cargo is in the care of MSC, Extended Protection helps safeguard cargo owners by providing a supplementary "all risk" layer of protection, designed to protect against almost any kind of accidents, from major land and maritime risks, to reefer malfunction. What’s the Difference Between a Freight Forwarder and NVOCC?
You are not alone if you are struggling to differentiate between NVOCC and freight forwarding and trying to figure out just which one would be best for your business needs. Generally, there is much confusion surrounding these two types of operations — even within the shipping industry itself. Because the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) classifies both NVOCCs and freight forwarders as Ocean Transport Intermediaries (OTIs), it can get a little convoluted. What this means is that they are both typically involved in ensuring the safe and timely transportation and storage of items for their customers. This includes handling the necessary filings, paperwork, and customs clearances, as well as tracking the goods as they are moved. COSCO SHIPPING Launches Blockchain-based Paperless Import Cargo Delivery at China’s Inland Ports
It is a key initiative of COSCO SHIPPING to actively respond to the integration of Yangtze River Delta, to strengthen the strategic cooperation with Anhui Province, to implement the relevant requirements of the Ministry of Transport on the “clearway program” of port and shipping for imported e-commerce cargo, and to further promote the digitalization of shipping. Port of Antwerp Says ‘Certified Pick Up’ Proceeding Smoothly
“The digital, safe and integrated solution for the release of containers is a long-term replacement for the current PIN code system. The new way of working guarantees a secure, transparent and optimised release process for incoming containers, which will then leave the port by rail, inland navigation or truck.” the Port said. “Signing up to Certified Pick up is mandatory if you are involved in the container release process in Antwerp. This central data platform was developed by NxtPort. At present, nearly 90% of all the shipping companies and terminals in Antwerp have signed up to the system.” APM Terminals Barcelona Applies 5G Technology to Improve Traffic Safety
The pilot test, which is based on technology of the C-V2X connected car and the low latency of 5G communications and Edge Computing, aims to turn APM Terminals Barcelona into a safer space for workers, thanks to a system that allows the coordination of port traffic and the implementation of advanced algorithms for accident traffic prevention. Maritime Industry Leaders to Explore Ammonia as Marine Fuel in Singapore
Emitting zero CO2 when combusted, ammonia has long been considered as one of the most promising alternative marine fuels to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions within the shipping industry, which is in line with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) strategy to reduce CO2 emission by 2050. In particular, green ammonia possesses great potential as it is produced from only renewable electricity, water and air with no CO2 emission. SSA Marine Puts Nine Electric Container Yard Cranes in Service at Port of Long Beach
The demonstration of the electric rubber tired gantry cranes is part of the Zero-Emissions Terminal Equipment Transition Project, which is funded in large part by a $9.7 million California Energy Commission grant. The Port, the CEC and Southern California Edison are partnering on the project to bring 25 vehicles that are zero- or near-zero emissions to three of the Port’s marine terminals and logistics truck provider Total Transportation Services Inc. to test their performance in a real-world setting. Metsä Group Selects VR Transpoint as Logistics Partner for Roundwood Transports to Kemi Bioproduct Mill
The number of wood transports by rail will be increasing significantly in Finland from 2023 onwards when the bioproduct mill in Kemi is commissioned. This means annual deliveries of more than five million cubic metres of wood, MSC USA’s CEO Says Constructive Collaboration is Key amid Supply Chain Overload
Fabio Santucci, President & CEO of MSC USA, stressed the point as he discussed how the landscape of the shipping industry has changed over the past year and how carriers have been impacted in the Journal of Commerce’s new podcast series “Beyond TPM”. “Constant and effective communication and cooperation with partners, vendors and clients remains key. Understanding one another, planning together, and setting the right expectations goes a long way. This is one of the things that we have to continue doing throughout 2021 as well,” Fabio said. What Is a Transportation Management System?
When considering software types to manage your shipping operations — within the company or at the warehouse — the two most recognized systems are Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Warehouse Management Systems (WMS). Each system offers automated functionality to perform a wide range of tasks and processes. Yet, there is another system that goes hand-in-hand with these applications. GTI Preparing to Launch First-of-a-Kind Pilot with Fuel Cell Yard Trucks
For 16 months, GTI and partners have been designing and assembling the tractors in a project called Zero Emissions for California Ports (ZECAP) that will assess vehicle operation in a demanding, real-world cargo-handling application. Port Of Los Angeles Launches New ‘Control Tower’ Data Tool for Tracking Cargo
Phase one of the Control Tower launch provides users current snapshots of turn times at all of the Port’s cargo terminals, updated continuously with GeoStamp data and broken down by historical daily and monthly averages. Alabama State Port Authority Names Beth Ann Frisher as Chief Commercial Officer
Ms. Frisher will be responsible for all commercial activities involving sales, marketing and real estate development. Prior to joining the Port Authority, Ms. Frisher served as the head of business development and international marketing at the Port of Oakland. Her experience also includes over 15 years with AP Moller-Maersk in both Europe and North America directing sales and marketing, business process and pricing initiatives. PSA and CDAS Partner to Launch SmartBooking Platform for Terminals, Haulers and Logistics Facilities across Singapore
Supported by Enterprise Singapore (ESG), Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), and Smart Nation and Digital Government Office (SNDGO), this initiative will play a major role in Singapore’s logistics ecosystem digitalisation roadmap, Euroports Changshu Terminal Reaches Record Discharge and Delivery Volumes in January 2021
The total discharge volume was over 600,000 mt working up to four vessels simultaneously -- a new discharge volume record for the terminal. Delivery volume was close to 500,000 mt which, on its own merit, is equally a record level. Scaling up Digital Solutions to Improve Warehouse Safety with Anti-Collision Program
We are today undertaking the first company-wide global roll out of a digital solution in our mills. The digital solution in scope is called ‘Warehouse Anti Collision solution’ and does just what the name indicates — it helps humans and machines to avoid collisions in our warehouses. Metsä Board Testing Intelligent Packaging for Sheeted Paperboard Transit
Sensor tags that can record humidity, light and temperature were placed on top of the pallets. Empirica Finland provided the software that collected the data during the shipment. They also made a mobile app for collecting pallet data such as bar codes, QR codes and photos at the mill and at the ports in Finland and the UK. The photos taken by the port operators proved particularly beneficial supporting partner network interactions and with data for the final analysis. The Ports of Antwerp and Zeebrugge to Merge, Creating Port of Antwerp-Bruges
As a result of the merger, the ports will be able to strengthen their position within the global supply chain and continue their course towards sustainable growth. Furthermore, the unified port will be more resilient to the challenges of the future and will take a lead in the transition towards a low-carbon economy. “We are proud of this historic agreement, which seals a long-awaited unification,” said Annick De Ridder, port alderman and chair of the board of directors of the Antwerp Port Authority. Russia's Proposed Log Export Ban in 2022 to Have Far-reaching Impact on Global Forest Product Markets
The Russian government is also considering new regulations aimed at reducing the exportation of green softwood lumber. This regulation is loosely planned to also commence in 2022 and is intended to incentivize investments in dry-kilns to produced dried lumber for exports. Reducing log and green lumber exports will likely stimulate further value-added processing within Russia and better control illegal logging, WRI said. Metsä Fibre and Lehto Sign Preliminary Agreement on Construction of Port Warehouse for Kemi Bioproduct Mill
The warehouse, to be built in the Port of Ajos, Kemi, would serve as the new mill’s pulp warehouse before the products are shipped to customers. The floor area of the port warehouse would be nearly 40,000 square metres, and the construction would take around two years. Warehouse's high-ceiling elements would be manufactured from Metsä Group’s wooden elements. The Kemi bioproduct mill, which would operate entirely without fossil fuels, would produce 1.5 million tonnes of softwood and hardwood pulp per year, as well as many other bioproducts. It’s Official: PhilaPort is the Fastest Growing Port on the U.S. East Coast
Additionally, PhilaPort saw a five-year historic high in forest product cargoes. For 2020, the Port was up 14%, and for the month of December the Port saw an increase of 61% vs. December 2019. For breakbulk alone, PhilaPort terminals handled 928,000 tons. Containerized forest products were estimated to be 20,000 units. Paper Excellence Receives Favorable Ruling from Brazilian Arbitration Panel to Complete Acquisition of Eldorado Brasil
The court's ruling will allow Paper Excellence to acquire all of the remaining shares of Eldorado Brasil, of which Paper Excellence currently owns 49.41%. History On September 2, 2017, Eldorado Brasil informed its shareholders in a market announcement that the company's major shareholder J&F Investmentos, a holding company controlled by brothers Joesley and Wesley Batista, had agreed to sell its entire stake in the company to CA Investment (Brazil) S.A., a subsidiary of Paper Excellence. SCA to Invest SEK 460 Million in Expansion of Tunadal Port in Sweden
SCA explained that investments in its Östrand pulp mill, in addition to the ongoing investments in pulp production at the Ortviken industrial site, will more than double the volume of pulp to be shipped from the Sundsvall region. The increased volumes mean that the pulp will be delivered to new and more distant markets. “This development has meant that we need to be able to handle larger volumes of containerized cargo than previously and be able to accommodate larger ships – both container ships and break bulk vessels,” says Magnus Svensson, President Sourcing and Logistics at SCA. Alexander Global Logistics Transports 5000 Cubic Meters of Forest Products from North America to Germany
“Due to the oversized bundles, the S-Type vessel operated by Spliethoff was unable to use the side elevators, making it more challenging to load 3 hatches with its jib cranes,” AGL said in a press release. Wagenborg and SCA Renew Shipping Contract for Wood, Pulp and Paper to US East Coast and Mediterranean
Wagonborg noted that this contract is a renewal of an existing contract. According to Wagenborg, the company’s geared A-type and T-type vessels will continue the Trans-Atlantic paper trade and the gearless vessels up to 14.000 dwt will service the trade to southern Europe and North Africa. CP Announces Hydrogen-Powered Locomotive Pilot Project
"This is a globally significant project that positions CP at the leading edge of decarbonizing the freight transportation sector," said Keith Creel, CP's President and Chief Executive Officer. Royal Wagenborg’s New EasyMax Completes First Sea Trial on the North Sea
According to Royal Wagenborg, with a load capacity of 14,200 tonnes and a hold volume of more than 625,000 cft, the EasyMax is the biggest ship ever built in the north of the Netherlands on the landward side of the dikes. With a length of 149.95m, a beam of 15.90m and a draught of 8.60m, the EasyMax has the maximum possible dimensions for the Royal Niestern Sander shipyard. MPV Sector Benefits from Container Chaos
Jan. 26, 2021Delays, lack of space and a surge in tariffs is plaguing the liner shipping market. While the current situation is causing headaches for shippers and forwarders alike, there are opportunities for the breakbulk and multipurpose shipping sector. Belgium-headquartered logistics provider Ahlers explained: “Aside from some bigger multipurpose, container-fitted vessels being chartered for carrying containers, there is an increase in cargo volumes due to more containerised cargo coming back to the breakbulk market, in addition to the traditional machinery and special equipment.” For example, Ahlers has witnessed shipments of sawn timber, which for several decades now has typically been shipped out of South East Asia in containers, requesting breakbulk vessels due to the high container rates and equipment shortage. Port of Rotterdam Authority Launches Smart Bollard Trial at ECT
By measuring the strain on the mooring lines in real time, the bollard not only allows the real-time monitoring of safety, but it also provides a clearer picture of which vessels can moor at which quays. The trial is in line with the Port of Rotterdam Authority’s policy of making the port more efficient through digitisation. Until now, it has not been possible to measure the strain on mooring lines. The lack of exact data measured on moored vessels meant we had to assume maximum mooring loads exerted on the lines by the vessels and quay walls. MSC Backs Industry Campaign for Seafarers amid Global Crew Change Crisis
Hundreds of thousands of seafarers are stuck at sea since crew changes were banned by many governments to help curb the spread of COVID-19. This has led to serious consequences for seafarers’ physical and mental well-being, as well as risking serious disruptions to global trade. In order to accelerate action to solve the issue that has spiralled into a humanitarian crisis at sea, MSC has signed the Neptune Declaration on Seafarer Wellbeing and Crew Change. JAXPORT Adds an Additional 700 Feet of Newly Reconstructed Berthing Space
The final phase of the project, another 700 linear feet, is anticipated to be finished by the end of 2021. The SSA Jacksonville Container Terminal is a public-private partnership between JAXPORT and SSA Atlantic. Upon completion of the berth enhancements later this year, the facility will feature two newly reconstructed 1,200-foot-long container berths capable of simultaneously accommodating two post-Panamax vessels. The berths are electrified to handle a total of six state-of-the-art environmentally friendly electric-powered 100-gauge container cranes, including three currently in use. Insights on the Global Lumber Markets thru the First Three Quarters 2020
Lumber Markets - EuropeLumber trade fell slightly in Europe in 2020. During the first eight months, shipments from the major exporting countries were down 1.2% - the first y-o-y decline in eight years, as reported in the Wood Resource Quarterly (WRQ) published by Wood Resources International. Countries that have reduced exports the most so far this year include Finland, Latvia, and Austria. There have been mixed developments in the Nordic countries, with Finland shipping substantially less lumber this year, while Sweden actually increased shipments. Sweden is on track to reach an all-time high in export sales this year. The markets where Swedish exporters have expanded the most since 2019 include the US, China, Germany, Denmark, and Egypt. Western Group President Brad Eshleman to Retire; W.D. “Bill” Mooney Named Successor
Eshleman has been with Western for over 35 years and has served as President, Western Group and President, Western Stevedoring Company Limited since February 1, 2011. He will continue on in an advisory role to the Board and President through 2021. Mooney has held numerous senior executive positions with several global agricultural companies throughout his career with a focus on building teams and growing organizations within those supply chains. He was instrumental in the formation of . . . UIRR Study Warns for Consequences of New EU Road Haulage Rules
UIRR (International Union for Road-Rail Combined Transport) conducted its study with the participation of twenty companies from ten different countries. The study’s focus laid in assessing where and how the new EU haulage rules could impact CT, conducting a comprehensive market survey and qualifying possible effects based on market input and CT volumes. UPM Signs Maritime Transport Contract with Saga Welco for Pulp Deliveries from Uruguay
Saga Welco has provided sea transport services for UPM since 2013, delivering 1.3 million tonnes of annual pulp production capacity of the Fray Bentos mill. In summer 2019, UPM started construction of a second pulp mill in Uruguay – a 2.1 million tonnes per year greenfield eucalyptus pulp mill near Paso de los Toros in the central part of the country. $1 Billion USMCA Logistics Complex Planned for Mexico
The project will include an investment of $1.2 billion and could generate more than 65,000 jobs in Nextlalpan, a town about 25 miles north of Mexico City, said Alfredo Del Mazo Maza, the governor of the state of Mexico. Called the USMCA Park Logistics Center, the complex will complement the $3.5 billion Felipe Ángeles International Airport that is being constructed nearby. Euroports Commissions Mantsinen 200 Hydraulic Harbour Crane at the Port of Pietarsaari
The new crane is a nearly 2 million euro investment. With the new crane, Euroports will be able to load and unload ships and increase performance figures in all cargo types. “In terms of production efficiency, we are talking about an increase of more than 10%, as the loading capacity will increase by at least 25%,” says Operations Director Pauli Rautiainen. Port of Tarragona Resumes Railway Service of Paper Pulp with Salamanca
This service, which was interrupted during 2020, will be carried out in two parts given the length and total weight of the convoy. In this way, it will leave the Port of Tarragona in two separate parts that will join outside the Tarragona port facilities to go together towards Salamanca. Of the 22 wagons that will consist of each convoy sent from the Port of Tarragona to Salamanca, 18 will be loaded directly from the ships at the terminal that Euroports has in the Cantabrian wharf, while the remaining 4 will be loaded on another route from the same pier, due to its large dimensions. UAntwerp and Port of Antwerp Testing Innovative Technology for Autonomous Shipping
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Jan. 24, 2022 - The Transport Workers’ Union AKT on Jan. 22 announced a blockade against UPM in Finland to support the strikes of the Paperworkers’ Union and the Finnish Electrical Workers´ Union.
MCCOMB, MISSISSIPPI, Jan 19, 2022 (Press Release) - Cooper Marine & Timberlands (CMT) is excited to announce the acquisition of Seago Lumber Company. Seago Lumber Company, owned and operated by the Seago family since 1948, produces 1-inch dressed boards for sale in both domestic and export markets, and is known in the industry for its superior lumber quality and customer satisfaction.
Jan. 17, 2022 - Precision Terminal Logistics (PTL), effective December 31, 2021, acquired The Kearney Companies, Inc. (KCO) of New Orleans, LA. and Kearney Page Warehouse Services (KPWS) operating in Savannah, GA.
Jan. 12, 2022 - Norske Skog at Saugbrugs, in collaboration with Nortømmer and Viken Skog have established the company Tømmerterminal Hauerseter AS, a privately owned railroad terminal for loading timber by rail. On Wednesday 19 January, the official opening will be attended by Norwegian Minister of Transport Jon-Ivar Nygård.
Jan. 10, 2022 - Phase one of Terminal 5 is open for cargo ships to call the NWSA gateway. The MSC Monterey is the first vessel to call the newly modernized terminal with four new Super-post Panamax cranes ready to work the ship. The Terminal 5 Modernization Program launched in 2016 to expand gateway cargo capacity and enable The Northwest Seaport Alliance to service the largest vessels in the Transpacific trade.
Dec. 23, 2021 - Norfolk Southern has rolled out a pilot incentive program for intermodal shipping partners that aims to drive market efficiencies, grow capacity at its international intermodal terminals, and advance key sustainability goals.
Dec. 21, 2021 - Metsä Board and Euroports have signed an agreement on 16 December 2021, according to which Metsä Board will sell the entire share capital of its fully owned subsidiary Oy Hangö Stevedoring Ab to Euroports Finland Oy.
Dec. 21, 2021 - Canfor Corporation on Dec. 16 announced that it has entered into an agreement with Millar Western Forest Products Ltd. to acquire the company's solid wood operations and associated tenure for $420 million, including $56 million in working capital.
Dec. 10, 2021 - The Port of Savannah handled 495,750 twenty-foot equivalent container units in November, a 6.7 percent increase over the previous year and a new monthly record for the Georgia Ports Authority.
Dec. 8, 2021 - Norfolk Southern has been awarded an A- climate change rating by CDP, the leading carbon disclosure system for the global business community. The rating places Norfolk Southern in CDP’s highest rated tier, the Leadership Level.
Dec. 2, 2021 - Canfor Pulp Products is announcing temporary NBSK and BCTMP production reductions at Northwood Pulp and Taylor Pulp in response to the significant transportation interruptions being experienced in British Columbia (BC).
Nov. 30, 2021 - West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. today announced that in response to the flooding situation in British Columbia it is providing the following update on operating conditions.
Nov. 29, 2021 - Georgia Governor Brian Kemp on Nov. 12 announced Celadon Development Corporation (“Celadon”) will invest more than $155 million in opening a North American headquarters and a state-of-the-art recycling and advanced manufacturing facility in Chatham County, creating 117 jobs in the Savannah area. This represents Phase 1 of Celadon’s major investment project in Georgia.
Nov. 19, 2021 - Elof Hansson has appointed Morten Brühl as its new VP Global Shipping. He replaces Staffan Nordin, who is leaving his role for another position at Elof Hansson Group, and Carina Wallin, who, after more than 40 years in the company, is retiring.
Nov. 11, 2021 - Alexander Global Logistics (AGL) announced that it recently acquired a warehouse facility in Alexandria, Egypt, for the handling of pulp and paper shipments.
Nov. 1, 2021 (Press Release) - The Oregon International Port of Coos Bay (Port) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement (PSA) to acquire the former Georgia Pacific Mill site. The Port and the current owner, CDC Inc. of St. Louis, MO have negotiated the terms of the PSA with the goal of job creation on Oregon’s South Coast.
Oct. 18, 2021 - Hapag-Lloyd has temporarily rerouted a European-US container service through the Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT). The change is part of an effort to “optimize our service portfolio, stabilize schedules and adapt to market needs,” according to Hapag Lloyd.
Oct. 13, 2021 - IFPTA’s president, Alan Bog, announced that IFPTA will not hold its usual “On the Road” event during London Pulp Week in November.
It is with great sadness we learned this week that Buddy Greene passed away on 14 September. Buddy was my predecessor as President of IFPTA.
Aug. 31, 2021 - Dear IFPTA Members,
Sept. 15, 2021 - Providing products people around the world rely on every day involves not just manufacturing, but also millions of miles of transporting. By using smart shipping practices, Domtar has reduced the environmental effects of transporting its products.
Sept. 13, 2021 - MSC has launched a quayside fumigation service at MSC PSA European Terminal, Antwerp, following a successful pilot phase. MSC is the only company, carrier or otherwise to offer fumigation at quay in Belgium. This unique service optimises the supply chain for customers, speeds up turnaround for fumigated cargo and increases intermodal transport options and flexibility.
Sept. 13, 2021 - Spliethoff is increasing the frequency of its Cleveland Europe Express (CEE) service by adding container vessel Peyton Lynn C to the service, in response to the high demand for tonnage between Europe and the Great Lakes. This vessel, owned by Doornekamp Shipping Services, will be taken on long term charter by Spliethoff, sailing in a regular schedule between the ports of Antwerp (Belgium), Picton, Ontario (Canada) and Cleveland, Ohio (USA).
Aug. 30, 2021 - A new rail shuttle is about to begin transporting timber products from Malungsfors in Dalarna to Asia via the Port of Gothenburg. The new shuttle will generate substantial carbon savings and logistical benefits, consolidating the port as the principal hub for the export of Swedish timber products.
Aug. 24, 2021 - In the first quarter of 2024, A.P. Moller - Maersk will introduce the first in a groundbreaking series of 8 large ocean-going container vessels capable of being operated on carbon neutral methanol. The vessels will be built by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and have a nominal capacity of approx. 16,000 containers (Twenty Foot Equivalent - TEU). The agreement with HHI includes an option for 4 additional vessels in 2025. The series will replace older vessels, generating annual CO2 emissions savings of around 1 million tonnes. As an industry first, the vessels will offer Maersk customers truly carbon neutral transportation at scale on the high seas.
Aug. 24, 2021 - American Trucking Associations’ advanced seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index decreased 1.2% in July after falling 2% in June. In July, the index equaled 109.8 (2015=100) compared with 111.1 in June.
Aug. 20, 2021 - Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. has obtained two Eco Rail Mark certifications on August 20, 2021. One of the certifications is in the "Companies" category, and applies to Nippon Paper Industries itself as a company, while the other is in the "Products" category, and applies to the company's paper products (newsprint, printing and writing paper, business communication paper, industrial paper, etc.)
Aug. 13, 2021 - Norfolk Southern today announced plans to reopen its intermodal facility in Greencastle, Pennsylvania, creating capacity to support economic growth and help ease supply-chain congestion that has slowed the flow of commerce across all modes of the U.S. transportation sector.
Aug. 10, 2021 – Klabin, Brazil’s largest paper manufacturer and exporter and the country’s leading producer of papers and paperboard for packaging, has started construction on its new terminal on the quay of the Port of Paranaguá, following the signing of the permit in July by the Port of Paraná. In this phase, the project is expected to create 180 new jobs.
July 26, 2021 - Hunt Forest Products and Tolko Industries Ltd. today announced that they will build a $240 million, state-of-the-art sawmill in Bienville Parish, near Taylor, Louisiana. Construction is expected to start in early 2022, and the new facility will employ approximately 60 people when operations begin in the first half of 2023.
VANCOUVER, BC, July 20, 2021 - Canfor has announced the curtailment of approximately 115 million board feet of production capacity at its Canadian sawmills during the third quarter of 2021 due to the significant supply chain challenges and transportation backlog in Western Canada as a result of the extreme wildfire conditions.
July 17, 2021 - MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and Shell International Petroleum Company Limited (Shell) have agreed to work closely together to help accelerate the decarbonisation of the global shipping sector. The long-term memorandum of understanding will help MSC and Shell to play enhanced roles in the energy transformation of shipping, as developers and early adopters of innovative technologies and fuel solutions.
July 15, 2021 - The Port of Tarragona has begun work on installing the bollards on the Balears Wharf. A total of 33 bollards with a capacity of 200 tons each will be installed to provide mooring for the world’s largest cruise liners.
July, 9, 2021 - During the first six months of 2021, 120 million tonnes were handled in the Port of Antwerp, an increase of 5% compared with the same period last year and status quo compared to 2019, despite the impact of the ongoing pandemic. Cargo to and from the UK and Ireland also shows positive figures; the expanded shortsea connections in response to Brexit are proving effective.
July 6, 2021 - At the end of last year, Port of Antwerp launched an appeal for the water-bound site of around 15 ha beside Churchill Dock South and expressly demanded ‘breakbulk’ activities. Meanwhile, both the appeal and the contract negotiations are complete. PSA Breakbulk NV will become the new concessionaire. In the context of the new project cargo ecosystem on the site, PSA Breakbulk NV has arranged a merger, involving 50% of its shares, with the Austrian association Felbermayr Holding GmbH, as specialists in heavy lifting activities.
July 2, 2021 - Sappi Europe, the leading European producer of coated graphic paper and packaging and speciality papers, has partnered with Shippeo, the European leader in real-time transportation visibility solutions. This partnership will create a fully transparent supply chain helping to boost efficiency and customer satisfaction through innovative digital supply chain capabilities.
July 1, 2021 (Press Release) - A.P. Moller - Maersk and Hyundai Mipo Dockyards have agreed on a contract for Hyundai Mipo to build a feeder vessel with a dual engine technology enabling it to sail on either methanol or traditional very low Sulphur fuel. Maersk announced the intention to order the vessel, an industry first, on 17 February 2021. It will fly the Danish flag.
June 28, 2021 - State policies requiring California’s port supply chain to transition to zero-emission technologies by 2035 need to address challenges relating to providing an adequate energy grid supply coupled with resiliency to avoid significant impacts on the ability of California’s supply chain to move cargo, according to a newly released report.
June 22, 2021 - The Gothenburg Port Authority has signed a letter of intent with the property company Castellum to develop the Halvorsäng area into one of the foremost logistics hubs in Sweden. A joint venture company will be established in which both parties will have equal shares.
June 21, 2021 - Container ships moored at the port generate a lot of emissions, mainly of nitrogen oxides. Today, shore power is the only technology available for reducing marine emissions from container vessels and contributing to better local air quality and less environmental noise. According to the Flanders Environment Agency's emission inventory, almost 19% of the NOx emissions at the port originate from moored ships.
June 17, 2021 - This new Maersk´s intermodal service has moved its first 37 x 40 containers in 32 days. The cargo was sent by truck from Cartagena, Spain, to Madrid during May. From there left via block train to Duisburg, Germany, and from there all the way to Hefei, China, using Małaszewicze, Poland as the EU exit point. Final destination is Nansha, capital of Guangdong Province, where the block train will arrive by the end of June.
June 16, 2021 – Recognizing decades of leadership and accomplishments in the supply chain, logistics and maritime industry, the Inland Empire Economic Partnership (IEEP) has named Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka as its seventh annual recipient of the Southern California Logistics Council Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Supply Chain & Logistics Management. The honor was presented recently at the 2021 Southern California E-commerce and Logistics Summit.
June 14, 2021 - The Prince Rupert Port Authority (PRPA), through a funding partnership with Northern Development Initiative Trust (NDIT), has published a Northern BC Export Profile today that illustrates the critical role that international exports play in underpinning local economies in communities from the Cariboo to the Yukon border.
June 8, 2021 - The transport of timber and wood chips between Larvik and Norske Skog Saugbrugs in Halden has long taken place using trucks. Norske Skog is now using trains on the stretch, which will significantly reduce CO2 emissions from the transport.
June 7, 2021 - Truly a man for all seasons, Robert Palaima is retiring after 31 years with Delaware River Stevedores (DRS). In a career that spanned 44 years, Palaima has been successful as a manager, supply chain expert, negotiator, diplomat, non-profit leader, port spokesman and other roles. He led DRS’s marine terminal operations in Philadelphia, Camden, and Wilmington.
June 3, 2021 - Red Leaf Pulp Ltd., developer of a proprietary wheat straw-based pulp mill, announced that it will locate its initial facility in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. The company has secured properties on the west side of the City of Regina and will begin construction of the $350 million facility in early 2022.
June 2, 2021 - The construction of Phase 2 of Euroports Gaolan Terminal is on schedule and nearing completion. The new warehouse will increase the terminal’s storage capacity and increase the flexibility of the operations. Designed to accommodate container operations both inbound and outbound, it will enable Euroports to capitalize on its location adjacent to the container terminal, operated by partner ZICT.
June 1, 2021 (Press Release) - Finnpulp Oy, which is planning a bioproduct mill project in Kuopio, Finland, has submitted an application for annulment to the Supreme Administrative Court (SAC) on May 25, 2021. Finnpulp calls for the annulment of a negative decision on the environmental permit of the mill project and the immediate granting of an environmental permit, mainly under permit conditions approved by a minority of the SAC, or at least a review of the matter.
May 21, 2021 - The new digital process for releasing containers at the Port of Antwerp, known as Certified Pick up (CPu), is entering its next phase. Instead of using PIN codes, containers will be picked up based on identity from July. The process, which ensures safe, transparent and efficient handling, applies to all import containers unloaded from seagoing vessels.
May 19, 2021 - SCA will return on a long-term deal to market leading UK Paper Hub* located at London’s major port, the Port of Tilbury. The 50-acre facility on the Thames will become SCA’s primary UK logistics hub for the import of packaging materials to supply their UK customers.
May 19, 2021 - Global trade of wood chips, which are mainly used by pulp mills, grew from about 21 million tons in 2009 to an all-time high of 35 million tons in 2018, according to Wood Resource Quarterly. Subsequently, trade declined for two consecutive years to reach just over 30 million tons in 2020. Significant investments in new pulp capacity in China combined with a lack of domestic wood fiber have been driving practically all of the global increase in wood chip trade during the past decade.
May 17, 2021 - The Port of Montevideo in the Uruguayan capital is the site of UPM’s deep-water pulp terminal, which has been under construction since August 2019. The USD 280 million investment will become a terminal with the capacity to handle around 2 million tonnes of pulp shipped to global markets by approximately 100 vessels annually.
May 12, 2021 - Suzano today announced that its Board of Directors approved a capital investment BRL 14.7 billion (approx. USD 2.87 billion) for the construction of a new pulp mill to be located in the municipality of Ribas do Rio Pardo, in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.
May 11, 2021 - Paper Excellence and Domtar today announced that they have entered into a strategic business combination under which the Paper Excellence group of companies will acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Domtar common stock for $55.50 per share, in cash.
May 7, 2021 - Air Liquide, DATS 24 and Port of Antwerp join forces in the HyTrucks consortium to deploy 300 hydrogen-powered trucks and the related renewable hydrogen production infrastructure and supply chain assets in Belgium as part of the HyTrucks initiative. This project aims at enabling in total 1,000 hydrogen-powered zero-emission trucks on the roads and building the adequate infrastructure connecting Belgium, the Netherlands and western Germany by 2025.
May 7, 2021 - European freight forwarders welcomed the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy last December, directed towards zero-emission road transport in Europe, whilst calling for a clear and concrete roadmap for a complete infrastructure roll-out, favouring the most cost- and resource-efficient solutions, also recognising the bridging technologies.
May 6, 2021 - Plaquemines Port and APM Terminals have announced an agreement to work together to discuss the future design of the Plaquemines Port Harbor and Terminal District (PPHTD), including the consideration of APM Terminals as the future terminal operator.
May 4, 2021 - Union Pacific announced plans to open a new intermodal terminal in the heart of Southern California's import distribution region. It is the fastest growing region of industrial warehousing and continues to be a leader throughout the United States. Located near the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, the new terminal will open in the second quarter of 2021, providing customers' expanded access to Chicago and other key markets.
May 3, 2021 - Metsä Fibre’s Rauma sawmill has concluded a service agreement with Euroports Finland on port operations for sawn timber in Rauma. The agreement is for four years and will take effect in the summer of 2022.
April 28, 2021 - MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, a global leader in container shipping and logistics, is officially introducing the electronic bill of lading (eBL) for its customers around the world, following a successful pilot phase, using a solution on an independent blockchain platform WAVE BL. The eBL enables shippers and other key supply chain stakeholders to receive and transmit the bill of lading document electronically, without any change or disruption to day-to-day business operations.
April 26, 2021 - At the Georgia Foreign Trade Conference (GFTC), the Georgia Ports Authority released fiscal year to date numbers (July -March) showing record volumes of 3.9 million twenty-foot equivalent container units, an increase of 15 percent, and detailed a plan that expedites completion of more than 1.4 million additional TEUs of annual capacity.
April 26, 2021 - The first containers coming from Asia on this new regular service arrived at the largest Russian port of Vostochny on Sealand vessels. On 22nd April, the containers were dispatched by train from the Russian VSC terminal (– part of Global Ports Inc.) to NUTEP terminal (– part of Delo Ports) at the port of Novorossiysk, also on Russia soil. From Novorossiysk, the cargo now resumes by sea to destinations in Ukraine and Turkey.
April 19, 2021 - Port of Antwerp inaugurated three new RSD tugs on 19 April 2021. This expansion forms part of the renewal and greening of the fleet, in which Port of Antwerp is focusing on the introduction of sustainable and energy-efficient vessels.
April 13, 2021 - MSC is pleased to announce the launch of a new intermodal solution between Asia and Europe available from April 12, 2021.
April 9, 2021 - The Suez Canal is open again, but the consequences for global shipping traffic will be felt for a long time to come. Ships will be delayed in their arrival and departure, resulting in busy terminals and peaks in cargo. For Port of Antwerp, the impact is very difficult to estimate; where possible, the container terminals are preparing to handle additional cargo.
April 8, 2021 - The Port of Tarragona will initiate new rail services to central Spain, Antwerp and Ludwigshafen. The ro-ro line linking the Port of Tarragona with Turkey is beginning to generate new intermodal services.
April 1, 2021 - The Port of Gothenburg announced that a new rail shuttle service to and from the Port offers environmental benefits and reduced transport time, and another forest products producer in the north of Sweden has decided to transport its products through the Port of Gothenburg and its rail network.
March 31, 2021 (Forest2Market) - Last week, Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) introduced the Safe Routes Act of 2021, a bill that would allow logging trucks that meet state-determined legal requirements to travel up to 150 air miles on the Federal Interstate Highway System. Current law prohibits trucks that meet these requirements from using the federal interstate, forcing them to use state and local roads that increase the risks associated with their trips.
March 29, 2021 - The Port Tampa Bay Board of Commissioners have approved an agreement with Celadon Development Corporation to lease 37 acres for the construction and operation of a paper fiber manufacturing plant. The plant will have significant economic and sustainability benefits generating up to 20,000 export containers per year (40,000 TEUs), creating approximately 100 jobs and involving a capital investment of $160 million during Phase One of the project.
March 29, 2021 - A new terminal service is due to commence at the Port of Gothenburg, dedicated to intra-European container transport. The terminal will be located at Skandiahamnen’s western quay and will be operated by APM Terminals.
SUEZ, Egypt (AP) March 28, 2021 - Two additional tugboats sped Sunday to Egypt’s Suez Canal to aid efforts to free a skyscraper-sized container ship wedged for days across the crucial waterway, even as major shippers increasingly divert their boats out of fear the vessel may take even longer to free.
March 26, 2021 - Wood chip exports from Chile plummeted in 2020, with shipments falling by over 40% from the first quarter to the fourth quarter. Only an estimated 450,000 odmt were shipped in the 4Q/20, the lowest quarterly volume since the 3Q/15, according to 
March 26, 2021 (MarineLink) - The Dutch emergency response team hired to free the vast ship blocking the Suez canal has pulled off some dramatic recoveries, including lifting Russia’s Kursk nuclear submarine from the Barents Sea floor, but says this is one of the trickiest.
March 23, 2021 - Last fall, Russian president Vladimir Putin introduced legislation that would initiate a complete ban on exports of softwood and high-value hardwood logs from the country beginning January 1, 2022. Once established, this could also expand to include untreated or roughly processed green wood/lumber. This reduction in roundwood exports is intended to stimulate additional economic activity within Russia and help to mitigate illegal logging.
March 18, 2021 - MSC announced that it is expanding its commercial offering in North America by launching Extended Protection, a solution that helps customers deal with and be better protected against accidental damage.
March 17, 2021 - If you are looking for a third-party logistics (3PL) provider in and around the U.S., you may have come across these two terms: NVOCC and freight forwarders.
On March 15, 2021, the digitalized contactless imports pickup solution based on blockchain technology, which was jointly developed by COSCO SHIPPING and Anhui Provincial Port & Shipping Group, was officially launched at Wuhu Port, Anhui Province. After coastal ports including Shanghai, Xiamen, Qingdao, Ningbo, Guangzhou, Tianjin, Wuhu Port has become the first inland port in China to realize blockchain-based paperless import cargo delivery.
March 12, 2021 - The Port of Antwerp said that ‘Certified Pick up’ has been in use at the port of Antwerp since January 2021 and the new system is working well.
March 11, 2021 - 5G Barcelona, together with Telefónica, APM Terminals, and Mobile World Capital Barcelona are working on a pilot project to improve security in ports thanks to the use of 5G networks to connect cranes, vehicles, and people by merging different advanced communication and localisation technologies. The main objective of the project is to minimise the potential risk of collisions between mobile machinery and fixed elements, vehicles, and people in the container terminal.
March 10, 2021 - A.P. Moller - Maersk A/S, Fleet Management Limited, Keppel Offshore & Marine, Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping, Sumitomo Corporation and Yara International ASA are pleased to announce that the parties have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly conduct a feasibility study (hereinafter “Study”) with the aim to be one of the pioneers in establishing a comprehensive and competitive supply chain for the provision of green ammonia1 ship-to-ship bunkering at the Port of Singapore, the largest bunkering port in the world.
March 9, 2021 - SSA Marine is now operating the first of nine electric container yard cranes at the Port of Long Beach’s Pier J (California), marking a significant milestone in a goal to transition to zero emissions terminal equipment by 2030.
March 5, 2021 - Metsä Group has chosen VR Transpoint as the logistics partner for roundwood transports to the bioproduct mill under construction in Kemi. This decision was based on more than two years of strategic cooperation during which an effective and environmentally friendly overall solution was designed for the transports. Annually, five million cubic metres of wood will be transported to the mill by rail, which means that an average of nine trains will arrive at the mill every day.
March 3, 2021 - MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company has highlighted the importance of continued collaboration with customers during 2021 to help ease the systemic supply chain overload triggered by the global pandemic, notably in the U.S. container market.
March 3, 2021 - A lot goes on between the shipping and receiving dock. When freight travels, its route, shipping price, and mode of transportation need to be sorted.
March 2, 2021 - GTI announced that performance verification is nearing completion on new zero-emissions fuel cell-electric terminal tractors, and a first-of a kind pilot project is preparing to launch. A terminal tractor, also called a yard truck, is a heavy-duty tractor designed to quickly couple and uncouple with trailers to move them within a cargo yard. 
March 1, 2021 - The Port of Los Angeles has introduced a new “Control Tower” data tool — the third such instrument introduced by the nation’s busiest trade gateway in less than six months. The Control Tower offers real-time views of truck turn times, as well as other truck capacity management information, to help cargo owners, truckers and other supply chain stakeholders better predict and plan cargo flows.
Feb. 26, 2021 - Alabama State Port Authority announced that Beth Ann Frisher has joined the Port Authority’s senior management team as the new Chief Commercial Officer, effective February 18, 2021.
Feb. 24, 2021 - In a concerted effort to drive supply chain orchestration and digitalisation, PSA Corporation Ltd (PSA) and the Container Depot and Logistics Association (Singapore) (CDAS) have launched ‘SmartBooking’ – an integrated one-stop booking platform for container depots, terminals, haulers and logistics facilities across Singapore.
Feb. 22, 2021 - Euroports announced that its Changshu terminal operations, which handles wood pulp, paper, sawn timber and kaolin, kicked-off 2021 recording 1.1 million tons of terminal throughput in January.
February 2021 - In environments where people and heavy machines co-exist there is always an imminent risk of accidents. As a company, we have the responsibility to take every measure we can to avoid those risks and ensure that each colleague gets home safe every day. In this blog, I will share my experience of how we in Stora Enso have leveraged digital technology to avoid accidents in our warehouses, as well as how digital solutions is paving the way to further improve safety in the future.
Feb. 16, 2021 - Last year Metsä Board tested intelligent pallet tags and software to track and record varying information when shipping paperboard sheets from the Simpele board mill in Finland to Hull in the UK. Information was recorded and analysed from production at the mill site, during train transit and shipment all the way to port in the UK.
Feb. 12, 2021 - The City of Antwerp and the City of Bruges have reached an agreement to merge their respective ports. The two-city agreement marks the start of a unification process that is expected to take a year to finalise. Once completed, the ports will operate under the name “Port of Antwerp-Bruges.”
Feb. 12, 2021 - Russia exported 15 million m3 of logs in 2020, which accounted for almost 12% of globally traded roundwood. Much of this trade may come to a halt next year when a new law proposed by Russia's president will ban the exportation of softwood logs and high-value hardwood logs as of January 1, 2022, according to a focus report released by Wood Resources International (WRI).
Feb. 8, 2021 - Metsä Fibre and the construction company Lehto Group have signed a preliminary agreement on the construction of a port warehouse for Metsä Fibre’s proposed bioproduct mill planned to be built in Kemi, Finland.
Feb. 5, 2021 (Press Release) - PhilaPort achieved a 7% increase in container volumes in 2020. This placed The Port of Philadelphia as the fastest growing container port on the U.S. East Coast. These impressive cargo levels continue a decade-long trend of prosperity for the Port, which has realized 10% compound annual growth.
Feb. 5, 2021 - Paper Excellence on Feb. 4 announced that the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) arbitration court in Brazil has ruled in favor of Paper Excellence in a case against J&F Investimentos SA, the parent company of Brazilian pulp producer Eldorado Brasil Celulose.
Feb. 1, 2021 - SCA said that it will invest approximately SEK 460 million in Tunadal port, Sundsvall, Sweden, between 2021 and 2024. The investment will encompass a new container port and new cargo handling areas.
Jan. 29, 2021 - Alexander Global Logistics (AGL) in the first week of January 2021 has kept very busy with the firm’s North America operations receiving, storing, and loading 5000 cubic meters of forest products at the Port of Morehead City in North Carolina.
Jan. 28, 2021 - After a tender process, Wagenborg Shipping and SCA have signed a contract for shipping services, regarding sea traffic volumes of wood, pulp and paper from the Baltic to the U.S. East Coast and multiple destinations in the Mediterranean.
Jan. 28, 2021 - Canadian Pacific recently announced that it plans to develop North America's first line-haul hydrogen-powered locomotive. CP's Hydrogen Locomotive Program will retrofit a line-haul locomotive with hydrogen fuel cells and battery technology to drive the locomotive's electric traction motors. Once operational, CP will conduct rail service trials and qualification testing to evaluate the technology's readiness for the freight-rail sector.
Jan. 27, 2021 - Royal Wagenborg announced that the second EasyMax completed her first sea trials on Jan. 26. Starting in the port of Delfzijl, various tests were completed on the North Sea.
Published by Heavy Lift & Project Forwarding International
Jan. 26, 2021 - Along the quay of the Hutchison Ports ECT Delta terminal on the Maasvlakte, the Port of Rotterdam Authority has installed a smart bollard as part of a trial. The smart bollard was developed in collaboration with Straatman BV, Zwijndrecht.
Jan. 26, 2021 - As the latest measure to alleviate hardship on seafarers, MSC has joined forces with peers across the maritime value chain in a worldwide call to action to end the unprecedented crew change crisis caused by COVID-19.
Jan. 25, 2021 - Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) contractors have completed the latest phase in a total of $104 million in berth enhancements at the existing SSA Jacksonville Container Terminal at Blount Island, adding an additional 700 linear feet of newly rebuilt deepwater berthing space.
Jan. 20, 2021 - The following synopsis on global lumber trade is produced by Wood Resources International.
Jan. 19, 2021 - Western Group’s president Brad Eshleman announced that he will retire effective February 28, 2021, and that W.D. (Bill) Mooney will succeed him.
Jan. 15, 2021 - The European Parliament adopted the Mobility Package I last July. It includes rules that concern drivers’ working conditions, rules for drivers in international transport, and update provisions regarding access to the haulage market. However, it also provides the chance to the EU Member States to suspend Article 4 of the Combined Transport directive in their territories. This practically means that short-distance trucking prices could double-a catastrophic consequence for CT that relies on them.
Jan. 13, 2021 - UPM has signed a long-term maritime transport agreement with Saga Welco for the transportation of UPM’s Euca eucalyptus pulp production from the Fray Bentos pulp mill and UPM’s new Paso de los Toros pulp mill, which is under construction. UPM pulp will be shipped from the ports of Nueva Palmira and Montevideo to customers around the world.
Jan. 13, 2021 - Officials in Mexico unveiled plans Tuesday for a multimodal logistics center aimed at boosting international trade as part of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
Jan. 12, 2021 - In mid-December, Euroports commissioned its new Mantsinen 200 hydraulic harbour crane at the Port of Pietarsaari. The major export port mainly handles pulp, sawn timber, coal, and industrial raw materials.
Jan. 7, 2021 - The Port of Tarragona resumes the weekly railway service of paper pulp with Salamanca. This operation has started operating again this first week of 2021 and is coordinated by the operations service of the Tarragona Port Authority and ADIF. In the first service 12 wagons have been moved and in the following the number will increase to 22.
3D sonar sensors enable unmanned sailing
Jan. 4, 2021 - Xiamen Ocean Gate Terminal under COSCO SHIPPING Ports in December completed its 5G unmanned DCV full-scale ship test, delivering another achievement in the construction of the terminal into a 5G smart port.
Jan. 4, 2021 – BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) and Wabtec’s (NYSE: WAB) exploration of the future potential of battery-electric locomotives crosses another significant milestone this week as they begin testing the technology in revenue service between Barstow and Stockton, California. As BNSF seeks ways to further reduce its environmental impact, the advancement of battery technology offers some possible solutions.
Dec. 15, 2020 - The largest port expansion in Gothenburg since the 1970s is underway at the Port of Gothenburg. The terminal will be 140,000 square meters in size (equivalent to approximately 20 football pitches) and will be directly adjacent to other major terminals at the port.
Dec. 7, 2020 - Cooper Marine & Timberlands (CMT) has expanded and strengthened its logistics and business development team through its promotion of Strickler Adams to Director of Marine Logistics and hiring of Alan Dodd as Director of Business Development.
Dec. 2, 2020 - G2 Ocean announced that it is launching a new web-based platform for its customers; MyG2. The platform gives customers full visibility and access to live data and information related to various business activities, including:
Dec. 2, 2020 - MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company today announced the appointment of Soren Toft as Chief Executive Officer, effective 2 December 2020. He reports directly to Diego Aponte, MSC Group President, and Gianluigi Aponte, Founder and MSC Group Chairman.
Dec. 2, 2020 - The Port of Tarragona, together with a stevedoring company, have completed the removal of the 12,626 tons of wood chips located in the docks of Navarre and Aragon of the Tarragona port area.
Dec. 1, 2020 - Mondi today announced that it will open a new facility in Cartagena, Colombia (South America) for the production of paper bags.
Nov. 30, 2020 - The Prince Rupert Port Authority (PRPA) today announced the Fairview-Ridley Connector Corridor is now over 75 percent complete.
SINGAPORE, Nov. 23, 2020 - Swire Shipping has deployed its first 2,750TEU newbuild, MV Lae Chief, on its newly upgraded North Asia Express (NAX) service. Launching the new fixed-day fortnightly service with her maiden voyage, the vessel made her first port call in Shanghai on 5 November 2020. She made subsequent port calls in Ningbo, Nansha and Hong Kong SAR, and is currently en route to make port calls in Lae, Port Moresby and Townsville before returning to Shanghai.
Nov. 18, 2020 - Wagenborg announced that as of January 1, 2021, a new Wagenborg branch office in eastern Finland will be operational to offer full agency services in various ports around the Gulf of Finland and the Saimaa region.
Nov. 18, 2020 - The digital, secure and integrated solution called ‘Certified Pick up’ will soon replace the existing system of PIN codes for the release of containers in the Port of Antwerp. The new digital container release process is due to launch in January 2021. In the first phase, CPu will provide transparency about the status of your container. The PIN code system will then be phased out and replaced with a digital container release process.
Nov.17, 2020 - International Forest Products (IFP) announced that it has been selected to receive the 2020 President’s “E” Award for Exports, the highest recognition any U.S. entity can receive for making a significant contribution to the expansion of U.S. exports.
Oct. 12, 2020 - With the aid of AI and digital linking, the Port of Gothenburg will become quicker, more cost-effective, and climate smart. A customised digital platform is due to be rolled out during the second half of 2021. It will enhance freight flow transparency and have a direct impact on productivity, lead times, and delivery capacity throughout the entire transport chain.
Oct. 9, 2020 - Container chassis may be simple assets, but there is nothing simple about tracking their location throughout the U.S. supply chain.
Oct. 9, 2020 - The Port of Trois-Rivières announced that it has received confirmation of significant financial assistance of $33.4 million from Transport Canada for the construction of Terminal 21. The new terminal will be used for the transhipment of dry bulk, liquid bulk and general cargo. The project includes the construction of a wharf and road and rail access roads, as well as storage space.
Oct. 8, 2020 - China's Belt and Road Initiative is a global infrastructure development strategy adopted by the Chinese government that aims to invest in nearly 70 countries and international organizations. The initiative is poised to boost international trade, and it has the potential to accelerate economic growth across Asia, Central and Eastern Europe.
Oct. 8, 2020 - A container shipping terminal at the Port of Long Beach is now using new, zero-emissions cargo-handling tractors to test the readiness of the equipment to handle the workload at a busy seaport.
Oct. 6, 2020 - Alexander Global Logistics (AGL) announced that it has expanded its warehouse capacity significantly in Bremerhaven for new business, especially in the pulp and paper sector.
Oct. 1, 2020 - The current negotiations between the European Union and the United Kingdom on their new relationship are difficult. Clarity about the outcome is expected in the immediate future. Irrespective of whether this results in a deal or a no-deal: as of the 1st of January 2021, customs formalities will always be in effect for cargo traffic with the United Kingdom. Participation in the Dutch chain solution is mandatory at all ferry terminals and most shortsea terminals. Act now and complete the 5 steps to be Ready for Brexit before the 1st of January 2021.
Sept. 15, 2020 - London’s Port of Tilbury today launched its new all-in-one paper and forest product handling Hub, the UK Paper Hub -- the first facility in the UK created to actively reduce all forms of waste in the supply chain.
Sept. 11, 2020 - On Sept. 10, the World Shipping Council published a paper highlighting serious concerns for maritime trade and global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions if the EU expands its Emissions Trading System (ETS) to include international shipping. The WSC paper focuses on a critical threshold issue for application of the EU ETS to shipping: geographic scope.
Sept. 10, 2020 - A pilot intermodal container transportation was carried out on September 3 from the Port of Ningbo in China through the Port of Vladivostok in Russia to the Kolyadichi station in Belarus as part of the INTERTRAN project.
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Sept. 9, 2020 (The Loadstar) - Transpacific container shippers are paying more than three times as much as their Asia-North Europe counterparts, as freight rates on the headhaul leg from Asia to the west coast North America hit unprecedented highs.
Sept. 8, 2020 - CN (Canadian National Railway) announced that it has joined The Commtrex Transload Marketplace, offering customers one-stop access to CN’s unique tri-coastal rail network and its extensive range of transloading distribution services across Canada and the U.S.
Sept. 7, 2020 - U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao [on Sept. 3] announced the release of the first-ever National Freight Strategic Plan (NFSP). It is the latest effort by the Department and the Trump Administration to strengthen America’s economic competitiveness. The NFSP lays out a vision for long-term investments in infrastructure, the workforce, and other essential parts of the freight system.
Sept. 4, 2020 - PSA Antwerp and PSA Breakbulk are launching a new and ambitious ‘log handling concept’ together. At the Churchill Terminal at quay 410, PSA has fitted out a custom location for the large-scale handling of logs.
Sept. 3, 2020 (Press Release) - DP World, a global infrastructure-led supply chain solutions provider, and Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ), a global institutional investor, announce the expansion of their ports and terminals investment platform through a new commitment of US$4.5 billion (CA$6 billion), which increases the total size of the platform to US$8.2 billion (CA$ 10.6 billion). DP World holds 55% share of the platform, and CDPQ the remaining 45%.
Sept. 2, 2020 - The global forest products industry has been making headlines since the COVID-19 pandemic struck at the beginning of 2020. First, the pulp & paper sector was the talk of the town during the widespread run on toilet paper that took place from March - June, and the lumber sector has been front-page news in recent weeks as prices for finished lumber have set new records by huge margins.
Aug. 30, 2020 - The log market in Germany has been extremely volatile in the first half of 2020, with high demand from the export market and a tight supply of fresh green logs. When the Coronavirus Epidemic forced sawmills to close in March, domestic demand for sawlogs fell and the price increases seen earlier in the quarter reversed – resulting in both domestic and export prices falling.
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Aug. 26, 2020 - SCA intends to invest SEK 1,45bn in the production of chemically pre-treated thermo-mechanical pulp (CTMP) at the Ortviken paper mill in Sundsvall (Sweden). In parallel, SCA is initiating consultations with trade unions and employee representatives to discontinue the production of publication paper at the mill.
Aug. 24, 2020- The Port of Savannah exported more loaded containers than any other port in the country from January through May, achieving a 12.2 percent market share. Garden City Terminal handled a total of 593,195 twenty-foot equivalent container units of loaded exports during the first five months of the calendar year.
Aug. 19, 2020 - Canadian Pacific on Aug. 11 officially launched its international intermodal service through the Port of Saint John, N.B. The inaugural train carries containers from the Hapag-Lloyd vessel Detroit Express bound for intermodal terminals on the CP network in Canada and the U.S.
Aug. 19, 2020 - July marked the busiest month in the 109-year history of the Port of Long Beach as terminal operators and dockworkers moved 753,081 cargo container units, topping a record set two years ago.
Aug. 19, 2020 (Press Release) - In anticipation of continuous strong Transpacific market demand, MSC is pleased to announce its new Santana service for the North American west coast. The service will commence at the end of August in Yantian and will remain in place until further notice.
Aug. 19, 2020 – The Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) announced that Vincent J. Marino, President and CEO of the Marino Group, will be honored with the 2020 Silver Kingpin Award in an online presentation to be held Monday, September 14th.
Aug. 18, 2020 - On 31 July, the shipping company CMA CGM launched a new container service, adding a new link between Gothenburg and Hamburg. The new service includes calls at Gothenburg every Friday, initially using a vessel with a capacity of over 1,000 TEUs.