Newsletter: February 23, 2022

AIR FREIGHT UPDATES

US Airlines Cancel 100s of Flights As Storms Approach Dallas

simpleflying.com
After last week’s weather shenanigans causing havoc for aviation on the European side of the Atlantic, the turn has now come (again) for airlines in the US to surrender to the forces of nature. Large parts of the US are facing severe weather conditions as the second winter storm in a week batters down, and airlines are canceling hundreds of departures as a result. Read more here.

OCEAN FREIGHT UPDATES

$450 million in port grants aimed at cutting consumer costs

freightwaves.com
The U.S. Maritime Administration announced on Wednesday nearly $450 million in FY22 competitive grant funding for projects to help ports speed cargo flows and ultimately lower costs for consumers.
That amount, to be made available through MARAD’s Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP), nearly doubles the amount released late last year in FY21 grants. Read more here.  

Soaring Diesel and Gasoline Prices Are Bleeding Into Shipping

gcaptain.com
The shipping industry is starting to feel the full force of surging diesel and gasoline costs.
Ship fuel can be made from some of the same ingredients that refiners can also put into diesel and gasoline. But soaring margins of the latter two fuels are making their production more attractive, resulting in tighter supplies for the maritime sector. Read more here.

ONE diverts intra-Asia box ships for ad hoc Japan-US west coast sailings

theloadstar.com
Ocean Network Express (ONE) is launching ad hoc Japan-US west coast sailings to help Japanese exporters facing difficulties getting slots.
Working with relevant port authorities, the pan-Japanese liner operator will deploy the 2013-built chartered 2,500 teu Balsa on a Nagoya-Tokyo-Los Angeles-Oakland trip at the end of this month. Read more here. 

Europe and China need US-style coastguard services to limit cargo losses

theloadstar.com
Master mariner at the German Insurance Association (GIA) Uwe-Peter Schieder believes Europe needs to develop a coastguard service similar to that in the US to help eliminate misdeclared cargo.
Mr Scheider, who works in marine and loss prevention at the GIA and is vice chair of the loss prevention committee at the International Union of Marine Insurers, told The Loadstar shipping lines had no idea whether they were carrying overweight or dangerous cargo – or indeed what was in loaded containers. Read more here (login required).

GROUND AND RAIL FREIGHT UPDATES

US truckers plan copycat anti-jab rule protest to choke Washington traffic

theloadstar.com
Protests by Canadian truckers against the nation’s vaccine mandate for cross-border trucking are spawning similar plans south of the border.
At least three groups of US truckers are planning treks to Washington to choke traffic around the US capital. Read more here (login required).

INTERNATIONAL  BUSINESS – GOVERNMENT UPDATES

U.S. Bans Trade with Two Ukrainian Regions; Additional Sanctions Possible

strtrade.com
The U.S. imposed Feb. 21 new restrictions on trade with two regions of Ukraine after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized them as independent states. The White House said the measures are designed to deny Russia the chance to profit from its “blatant violations of international law” and “are not directed at the people of Ukraine or the Ukrainian government.” Read more here.