Newsletter – July 18, 2022

AIR FREIGHT UPDATES

500 Flights Scrapped In Italy In A Single Day Amid Strikes

simpleflying.com
On Sunday, July 17th, disruptions occurred at several Italian airports after pilots union and ATC workers went on a planned four-hour strike. Both strikes, although separately organized, overlapped for three hours and resulted in 500 canceled flights on a busy vacation travel day, leaving thousands of passengers stranded. Read more here.

Indian Airports Witness 3 Emergency Landings From International Carriers Within 48 Hours

simpleflying.com
The last few days have seen a few emergency landings made by Indian carriers. But three Indian airports last week also saw international airlines declaring emergencies within a span of 48 hours. Thankfully, all three aircraft landed safely, with no injuries reported. Read more here.

Shanghai airfreight operations stable for now as Covid cases creep up

aircargonews.net
Covid is on the rise again in Shanghai but “there has been no impact on airfreight” so far and turnover at Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG) has bounced back, according to Flexport.
In a freight market update on July 12, the freight forwarder said that trucking also remains unaffected, despite the rise in cases. Read more here.

OCEAN FREIGHT UPDATES

Global boxport congestion sets fresh record highs

splash247.com
Boxport congestion is setting new record highs, quashing talk of any imminent return to supply chain normalisation.
The containership port congestion index created by UK broker Clarksons hit a new record on July 14, whereby 37.8% of the boxship fleet capacity was at port. This exceeds the previous peak level recorded in late October 2021, and stands well above the pre-covid average of 31.5% recorded between 2016 and 2019. Read more here.

Feds give shippers new power to dispute ocean carrier charges

freightwaves.com
New guidance issued by federal regulators aimed at fighting unreasonable ocean carrier charges is short on detail but long on historic importance, according to a U.S. exporter group.
The advisory enacts provisions of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 (OSRA), signed into law last month, by providing a simplified process for container carrier customers who want the Federal Maritime Commission to investigate their complaints. Read more here.

FMC issues guidance for submitting charge complaints under Ocean Shipping Reform Act

splash247.com
The US Federal Maritime Commission has issued guidance for parties wishing to dispute charges assessed by common carriers that they believe may not comply with the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022, which became Public Law 117-146 on June 16.
Shippers with charge complaints can send information to the FMC by email and the Commission will initiate an investigation, “which could ultimately result in a civil penalty and order for a refund of charges paid,” according to a statement. Read more here.

GROUND AND RAIL FREIGHT UPDATES

Biden signs executive order to keep rail freight moving

splash247.com
US President Joe Biden has ordered the establishment of a Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) effective July 18 to help resolve an ongoing dispute between major freight rail carriers and their unions.
The board is to investigate and report on the dispute. Within 30 days of its establishment, the Board must deliver a report recommending how the dispute should be resolved. Read more here.