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Ian Matheson, from Impress Communications, reviews some recent news that might impact on Members’ business
increasingly popular source of renewable energy.
A survey of CILT (UK) membership has revealed that some of the largest companies in the logistics sector are struggling to recruit and retain staff in warehouse and driving roles, with 86% experiencing warehouse operative staff shortages in the past two years. In the same period, 60% experienced a shortage of drivers. IN BUSINESS The ‘overlooked’ logistics industry has expanded by 190,000 employees since 2019 and created a further 125,000 jobs in regional economies, according to a report by Frontier Economics commissioned by Amazon. The growth of online shopping during the pandemic made the sector one of the fastest growing in Britain. One positive side-effect of the COVID-19 pandemic for the logistics industry has been visibility – and that has attracted the attention of investors, according to McKinsey & Company. It reported that logistics start-ups received almost twice as much funding in 2021, compared with 2020, with larger amounts being paid out during roughly the same number of funding rounds. The UK parliament’s transport committee says the logistics sector should be given two years to deliver sufficient drivers, workers and facilities, including high-quality services and welfare, or the government should step in and implement a supply chain levy. Newly appointed as chair of Transaid’s board of trustees is former Traffic Commissioner for Scotland Joan Aitken OBE FCILT, a long-time supporter of the international development organisation. She has taken part in two Transaid fundraising cycle challenges, visited projects in Uganda and Zambia, and been a trustee since March 2019.
Hapag-Lloyd demurrage practices fine approved
ON THE OCEAN The US Federal Maritime
rejection of its proposed research and development fund to catalyse sector decarbonisation. It said that the IMO has wasted its opportunity to kick-start a rapid transition to zero-carbon technologies, which will be vital if the shipping industry is to decarbonise completely by 2050. However, the Global Shippers Forum (GSF) opined that if implemented, it would cause already record freight rates to climb again. IN THE AIR IATA has released April 2022 data for global air cargo markets showing that the effects of Omicron in Asia and the Russia–Ukraine war continue to create a challenging operating backdrop driving the decline in global air cargo demand. The total cargo tonne-kilometres flown fell 11.2% compared with April 2021. Transatlantic capacity is returning to the air cargo market as airlines ramp up their summer schedules to meet rebounding passenger demand, according to Clive Data Services. It reports that load factors on the Europe-to-North America
trade lane fell from 82% in March to 64% in May as a result of the increased capacity. OVERLAND The Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) delivered a landmark judgment in June entitling the Road Haulage Association to proceed with its collective claim on behalf of hauliers seeking damages from the major European truck manufacturers who were found to have operated a price-fixing cartel between 1997 and 2011. ABP has awarded a long-term lease to Maritime Transport to operate Hams Hall, one of the UK’s busiest rail freight terminals, which plays a central role in the nation’s logistics network. IN THE WAREHOUSE UKWA has commissioned research to examine the case for putting solar panels on warehouse roofs across the UK. It said that forecasts suggest solar PV deployment appears to be an excellent choice for the industrial and commercial sector, as solar panels become an
Commission has approved a settlement agreement reached between its Bureau of Enforcement (BoE) and Hapag-Lloyd where the ocean carrier will pay a US$2 million civil penalty to address alleged violations related to its detention and demurrage practices. The authorities in South Korea have fined 15 shipping companies, 14 of which are South Korean, a total of KRW80 billion (US$64 million) for price fixing on routes to and from Japan. It cited 76 specific instances of ocean freight collusion on Japan routes between February 2003 and May 2019. Disruption in global supply chains caused by the COVID-19 pandemic triggered exceptional growth in the world container fleet. According to SeaCube Containers, it now stands at over 51 million teu. The shipping industry has expressed its frustration at International Maritime Organization’s (IMO)
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July 2022
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