Newsletter – January 19, 2018

AIR FREIGHT UPDATES

Severe weather hits air cargo operations
source: aircargonews.net
Severe weather over the last few days has caused disruption to cargo and express operations in the US and Europe.
Yesterday (January 18) Amsterdam Schiphol Airport was forced to close when a powerful storm hit the Netherlands, while airports in the southeast of the US also continue to be affected. Read more here.

IATA to review air cargo load factor calculations after Project Selfie revelations
source: theloadstar.co.uk
A 27% relative discrepancy in the way aircraft load factors are calculated is a “terrible miss” for the industry, it was claimed today.
Last year’s Project Selfie, which re-examined the way load factors are calculated, revealed that, in some cases, recording utilisation by weight alone significantly mis-represents the air cargo industry. Read more here (login required).

OCEAN FREIGHT

Idle containership fleet falls below 100 as demand for tonnage remains tight
source: theloadstar.co.uk
The number of containerships in lay-up has dipped below 100, according to Alphaliner.
Its latest survey reveals strong demand and tightening availability of tonnage which is putting the brakes on vessel scrapping.
As at 8 January, there were 99 vessels, equating to 377,784 teu, anchored in hot or cold lay-up. This compares with 351 ships for 950,000 teu a year ago. Read more here (login required).

Yangtze Delays Expected
source: splash247.com
The Three Gorges Dam ship locks will undergo maintenance in February, which will delay cargo transits on the Yangtze, the world’s busiest river for commercial traffic.
According the o CHina’s Ministry of Trnasport, the overhaul time of the Three Gorges Ship Lock will begin from February 19 and last for 33 days, while the overhaul time of the Gezhou Dam No 1 Lock will begin from February 26 and last for 20 days. Read more here.

ONE Finally Gets Approval to Start Operating
source: splash247.com
The Japanese can crack open the magenta paint today as the final regulatory approval was crossed in the creation of the dark pink branded Ocean Network Express (ONE).
South African competition watchdogs have held up the process for around six months but finally have given their blessing to the tie up of the liner diviisions of Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line), Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) and Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL), paving the way for the 1.44m ETU giant to start operating as planned on April 1 this year. Read more here.

Dredging works around HK’s Kwai Tsing box terminal 8 to last 3 months
source: shippingonline.cn
THE Hong Kong Marine Department has announced in a notice to the shipping trade (No 4 of 2018) that dredging works at Kwai Tsing Container Terminal 8 West will last for three months. Read more here.

 GROUND AND RAIL FREIGHT UPDATES

Canadian Pacific Railway says tearing up NAFTA poses limited risk to company
source: canadianshipper.com
Calgary, AB —The potential dismantling of NAFTA is a concern because of its impact on the overall North American economy, but its direct effect on Canadian Pacific Railway would be limited, CEO Keith Creel said Thursday. Read more here.