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Ian Matheson, from Impress Communications, reviews some recent news that might impact on Members’ business
IN THE AIR Global air cargo markets saw
continued strong growth in demand in July, up 8.6% measured in cargo tonne-kilometres (CTK) compared with July 2019, according to data released by IATA. Overall growth remains strong compared with the long-term average growth trend of around 4.7%. Mammoth Freighters LLC has launched a business that will convert used Boeing 777s into all- cargo planes that can carry heavy
containers on the main deck instead of passenger seats.
Global regulators hold liner shipping talks
ON THE QUAYSIDE The Port of Calais has inaugurated a €863 million infrastructure extension that aims to significantly facilitate the transit of freight and passenger traffic. Three ferry stations will be created with ‘floating gangways’, allowing passenger and heavy goods vehicles to be loaded and unloaded on four lanes simultaneously, compared with two previously, offering a time saving of 30% per stopover. Ever Ace, which is claimed to be the world’s largest containership with a nominal carrying capacity close to 24,000 teu, made its maiden call at the port of Felixstowe in mid-September. It is the first of 12 sisterships ordered by Evergreen, each 400 m in length,
ON THE OCEAN Maritime regulators from the EU, US and China met virtually in September for the fifth biennial meeting of the Global Regulatory Summit to discuss competition issues related to liner shipping. They focused on sectoral developments, actions undertaken so far by relevant jurisdictions and authorities in response and their results, as well the way forward and possible actions to increase resilience and smooth operations in the sector. New analysis from Sea-Intelligence shows fierce competition for market share between the world’s three global east-west alliances. Since the start of 2020, 2M – the Maersk MSC grouping – has lost capacity market share to the Ocean Alliance on the Asia-North Europe trade and to both the Ocean Alliance and THE Alliance on the Asia-Mediterranean trade, it added.
Carriage of Containers provides operators with pathways based on analysis and a thorough understanding of safety, regulatory and operational requirements. According to Sea-Intelligence, niche container lines have been better at navigating the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of schedule reliability than the segment’s 14 major shipping lines. They consistently achieved better schedule reliability, by 8% and 11% in June and July, respectively. The accelerating adoption of e-bills of lading and the enabling legislative framework has ramifications for shipowners and insurers. Whilst the disadvantages of relying on paper-based processes to regulate the delivery of cargo from a ship are well known, the increasing use of digital processes exposes carriers to greater cyber-security risks, including the risk that data is compromised or lost. GOING OVERLAND Following a successful nine-year trial and consultation, the Department for Transport will now
consider the use of longer semi- trailers (LSTs), which can be 15.65 m in length, on Britain’s roads outside trial conditions. The more environmentally friendly vehicles could be rolled out sometime in 2022, with estimates suggesting LSTs could remove up to one in eight freight journeys by carrying the same amount of cargo in fewer lorries. Industry commentators appear united in the view that short-term visas for foreign drivers will not solve the UK’s HGV driver problem
and have called for greater recruitment of women and a
61.5 m in width and with a maximum cruising speed of 22.6 knots. IN BUSINESS The Confederation of British Industry said that it could be another two years before the
reduction in the minimum age for obtaining a licence as better long- term solutions. Meanwhile the government announced a series of measures aimed at increasing HGV driver testing capacity. A new unaccompanied cross- Channel freight service managed by Eurotunnel Le Shuttle Freight was launched in mid-September. It operates 24 hours a day, six days a week from the group’s two terminals in Calais and Folkestone, with a capacity of 8,300 trailers per year.
ongoing labour shortage impacting UK supply chains and productivity is solved. It added that while it was “right” that the government wanted to develop the skills of British workers, short-term targeted interventions and solutions were needed to help companies now, as the current labour system is unable to respond to their needs.
Ship classification society Bureau Veritas has developed a formalised
approach to support the safe carriage of containers in bulk
carriers. Its Guidance for Studying and Preparing a Bulk Carrier for the
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October 2021
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