21st February 2012, Edition 64
$1.4 million cargo theft at Miami airport
Tue, 14 Feb 2012 – Raiders swoop on trailerload of consumer electronics for fourth time in a month
Freightwatch has warned shippers to take additional security precautions at Miami International Airport after around $1.4 million in cargo was stolen on Friday.
The cargo was loaded into a tractor-trailer and left in a warehouse parking lot unattended while the driver went to complete his paperwork.
Freightwatch said this was the fourth incident at Miami International in a month, all targeting shipments of consumer electronics.
The group said: “Given the recent budgetary decision by the Miami-Dade police department to scale back on its Cargo Theft Task Force, an increase in organised cargo theft activity was highly probable”
Two killed as pirates attack cargo vessel
Tue, 14 Feb 2012 – IMB warns shipping to stay clear of Nigerian coast after captain and engineer are shot on the bridge
Pirates attacked a cargo vessel off the coast of Nigeria yesterday, killing its captain and chief engineer, the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) reported, warning shipping to stay clear of the are
The IMB Piracy Reporting Centre said the pirates had chased and fired upon the vessel, which raised the alarm by radio and headed towards Lagos.
The centre said all the members of the crew, except the bridge team, “took shelter in a citadel”, but as the pirates sprayed the ship with bullets, the captain and chief engineer were killed.
The attack, which took place 110 nautical miles off the coast, is one of three to have occurred in the area since last Thursday, the IMB said.
The attackers are believed to be Nigerian pirates.
The Nigerian authorities, which launched an operation to intercept the pirates, said they were still searching the area.
African Nations Forge Anti-Piracy Force
9/2/2012 – Tanzania, Mozambique and South Africa this week signed a Memorandum of Understanding on maritime security, in a move designed to enhance collective efforts in fighting piracy and other criminal activities in the Indian Ocean.
“The scourge has caused adverse impacts to our economy as costs of freight and insurance premiums have tremendously gone up due to piracy,” Tanzania’s president Jakaya Kikwete said at the signing ceremony in his nation’s capital Dar es Salaam.
Naval forces from the three countries will cooperate in maritime security including exchange of information, surveillance, joint military exercises and operations.
Irish Rail Freight growth continues.
Iarnród Éireann Freight has reported further growth in volumes in the past year.Volumes increased by 13.6% in 2011 over 2010, on top of the 9% increase between 2009 and 2010. This increase was due to significant growth in Container traffic between Ballina and Dublin Port and Pulpwood traffic between the West of Ireland and Waterford. Total tonne kilometres in 2011 were 105 million (2010: 92.45 million, 2009: 84.75 million).
Track works between the Port of Dublin and Kildare means the line has now been cleared for the carriage of 9’6” hi-cube containers on standard floor wagons, thus allowing a dramatic increase in possible payloads on trains.
The ability to use these wagons further increases both the flexibility and the viability of using rail and now makes it possible to save nearly 9,000 road journeys per year.
The company will now be undertaking works on the route between Portarlington and Cork to allow similar payload improvements.
Iarnród Éireann already operates trains with 9’6” containers between Waterford Port and Mayo (via Kildare).
Howard Knott, Logistics Director of the Irish Exporters Association and Chairman of the IEA Rail Freight Group commented; “the successful completion by Iarnród Éireann of the track lowering work close to Dublin marks a significant step on the road to Rail freight regaining its position as a viable mode of transport for both import and export cargo. The Association welcomes the initiative of Iarnród Éireann in their ongoing work on the opening up of other significant parts of the network to wagons and containers operating to European standards. An efficient and cost effective Rail Freight Industry has a vital role to play in Ireland’s economic recovery.”
Nominations for the Young International Freight Forwarder of the Year Award 2012
The nominations for the 2012 Young International Freight Forwarder of the Year Award were confirmed by the Award Administrator and the TT Club and are broken down by country as follows:
| Regions |
Countries |
| Region Africa/Middle East |
Egypt, South Africa |
| Region America |
Canada, Columbia |
| Region Asia/Pacific |
Australia, Indonesia, Singapore |
| Region Europe |
Austria, Belgium, Georgia, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom |
There were 17 nominations throughout the four regions. FIATA would like to congratulate all the nominees and will be presenting the award at this year’s Headquarter Session in March.
Ireland won this competition in 2011, with the outright victory of Ms Silvia Valles de Barrera of Hawthorn Logistics, representing the Irish International Freight Association. Ms de Barrera was also a successful participant in the FIATA Diploma Course in Freight Forwarding – offered by IIFA – the previous year.
www.iifa.ie
US firm fined $1 million for failing to scan air cargo
Fri, 10 Feb 2012 – OHL Solutions, formerly Activair, has been fined US$1 million for intentionally failing to screen air cargo it shipped through Indianapolis International Airport for explosives.
Investigators said the company had falsified records to cover up the fact that hundreds of unscreened packages were shipped during a roughly nine-month period in 2010 as bellyhold cargo on passenger services.
The US 9/11 Act requires 100% of cargo to be screened for explosives.
In addition to the fine, three managers from Activair face five years in prison and $225,000 in fines.
Andrew Barnes, Brian Vanhandel and Mitchell Totty, all Indianapolis residents, have admitted conspiracy to commit federal reporting and recordkeeping violations.
The charges and fine follow a lengthy investigation by the Transportation Security Administration.
Activair is no longer operating in Indianapolis and OHL Solutions has been forced to restructure its corporate model, including supervision over shipping operations.
Container rate increases ‘largest since 2008′
Wed, 8 Feb 2012 - Alphaliner says carriers will face stiff resistance to biggest price hikes in years.
The announced increases of between US$300 and $800 per teu are the highest quantum proposed by carriers since the abolition of conferences on the European trades in 2008, according to analysts at Alphaliner.
“If successful, they would bring spot rates from the Far East to Europe up from $700 per teu to around $1,000-1,500 per teu,” said the analysts.
“Although rates have rebounded since late December from $500 per teu to $700 per teu currently, they remain below break-even with the average bunker surcharge alone standing at $740 per teu.”
The carriers are expected to face considerable resistance against the announced rate increases.
In the current difficult conditions, the latest round of planned rate increases for 1 March will be put to the test after carriers failed to increase freight rates in eight out of nine attempts since March 2010.
The only successful rate increase was December 2011 when carriers managed to secure a $200 per teu peak season surcharge, driven mainly by the tight space situation due to the seasonal year-end surge in cargo bookings.
Alphaliner said that the increases are expected to bring load factors to below 90% and with no shortage of space and containers in the next few weeks, carriers will face an uphill task to push through with their plans.
idem GmbH launches mobile trailer position location telematics
15. Feb 201 – The telematics specialist idem GmbH has enhanced its product range by the addition of a mobile telematics box TControl W108. Idem’s managing director Pete Jendras said that the new device is a position location module that is suitable for forwarders, transports and logistics providers who want to monitor leased trailers or subcontractors that are used to augment own trailer fleets at peak periods.
IRU and European Commission join forces to promote the 112 emergency number
15. Feb 2012 – The European road transport industry, as represented by the IRU, is throwing its weight behind the European Commission initiative to promote the single European emergency number 112 to enhance road safety and provide a rapid and effective response in case of a road accident. 112 is a single European emergency number, which can be dialled from fixed and mobile phones free of charge, throughout the EU. 112 calls are answered by an operator who handles the request either directly or by transferring it to the appropriate emergency service (police, ambulance or fire brigade).
www.iru.org
Smile Awhile – Trainers
Wee Billy from Glesga always wanted to look cool.
His friend told him that he needed a good designer pair of trainers to go with his shell suit.
Billy saved up all his Giros and all the money he got back from returning his empty bottles of Ginger and finally managed to get himself a pair of brilliant white trainers to go with his shell suit.
Proudly, he strutted down the street calling out to all the passers by “See ma new trainers? Stonkin, eh?”
One fine upstanding gentleman pointed out that they were indeed a fine pair of trainers but was young Billy aware that one shoelace was undone?
Billy scornfully retorted that it was part of being cool to have a trailing lace on one trainer and that on the sole of
the trainer there were instructions for the wearer to do such a thing.
When asked for proof of this instruction, Billy look off his trainer and held it upside down for the disbeliever to read.
“There y’are! It clearly says ….
Taiwan !!!!!
Quote of the Week – Golf
“That ball is so far left, Lassie couldn’t find it if it was wrapped in bacon.”
Thanks to EOD.
