Newsletter – January 11, 2019

AIR FREIGHT UPDATES

Air freight cargo deals for 2019 will include fewer blocked space agreements

theloadstar.co.uk
Forwarders and airlines are concluding the first round of negotiations for 2019, which is expected to lead to fewer blocked space agreements (BSAs) than last year. Read more here. 

OCEAN FREIGHT UPDATES

MEA: Negotiation of the collective agreement

Maritime Employers Association
As part of this negotiation of the collective agreement between the Maritime Employers Association (MEA) and the longshoremen’s union, Local 375, which ended on December 31, 2018, the following is a brief summary of the situation:
• The negotiation process started on September 18, 2018
• The MEA and the union are currently in mediation, meetings are scheduled for January 2019
• The MEA has filed a request to maintain essential services with the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB)
• Hearings scheduled for February 2019 before the CIRB
• At this point, because of the request to maintain essential services, the parties do not have the right to strike or lockout.

Hapag-Lloyd details massive cargo damage on fire-ravaged Yantian Express

splash247.com
One week on, the fire that has raged on the 7,500 teu Yantian Express has finally been brought under control. The ship’s owner, Hapag-Lloyd, said that salvors are now towing the burnt ship to Halifax in Canada. Three tugs are being deployed to get the ship moved to its destination some 800 nautical miles away. Read more here.

Shipper hackles rise as Hong Kong box terminals announce operating alliance

theloadstar.co.uk
A new alliance of four Hong Kong major container terminal operators has been slammed as anti-competitive by local shippers. Read more here. 

ZIM and the 2M Alliance Announce a Major Expansion

ajot.com
ZIM and the members of the 2M Alliance, Maersk and MSC, have announced a second strategic cooperation agreement following the agreement announced in July 2018 in the Asia-U.S. East Coast trade. Read  more here. 

HMM CEO tells workers big break expected if all pull together

seanews.com.tr
KOREA’s Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) CEO Chang Keun Yoo appealed to employees to ‘put an end to this difficult period’ by improving co-operation between departments.
‘To operate 12 containerships of 23,000 TEU class from the second quarter of 2020 without interruption, all departments including sales, management, operations and IT need to cooperate,’ said Mr Yoo in his New Year’s message. Read more here.