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Newsletter – March 31, 2020
AIR FREIGHT UPDATES
Urgent Demand for Medical Equipment Is Making Air Cargo Fees ‘Absolutely Crazy’
ttnews.comUrgent demand for medical equipment to fight the coronavirus has sent the cost of chartering aircraft skyrocketing and turned a typically humdrum process into an ultra-competitive auction. Read more here.
Analysis—How Much Money Do Empty Flights Really Cost Airlines
forbes.comWith the unprecedented grounding of aircraft around the world due to global travel restrictions to combat the spread of COVID-19, some airlines are continuing to operate flights. Read more here.
OCEAN FREIGHT UPDATES
More cargo chaos looms as carriers slash ocean services
freightwaves.comCoronavirus fallout for container shipping is now in full swing.Social distancing and quarantines are causing cargo buyers to cancel bookings in Europe and the U.S., which is in turn prompting container lines to “blank” (cancel) scheduled sailings, starting with those from Asia to Europe. Read more here.
European and American ports ready for box congestion
splash247.comContainer ports across the world aside from China are set to face imminent congestion as a swathe of boxes sent for shipment from factories in Asia arrive at their import destinations. Read more here.
Spanish authorities handling coronavirus case onboard CMA CGM vessel
splash247.comSpanish authorities are testing the crew onboard the 16,020 teu CMA CGM Marco Polo after one crewmember came down with symptoms linked to coronavirus as the ship came into dock at Algericas. Read more here.
IMO 2020 capped by coronavirus, stretched authorities ditch fuel checks
splash247.comLess than three months after being introduced the global sulphur cap risks being another victim of the coronavirus with news from the UK where authorities have publicly admitted they have stopped checking for compliant fuel. Read more here.
GROUND AND RAIL FREIGHT UPDATES
China-Europe Rail Is Set To Boom As COVID-19 Chokes Air, Sea And Road Transport
forbes.comSince the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, dozens of countries around the world have effectively shut down their economies—factories have been closed, shops shuttered and supply chains have been tossed into disarray. In this fray, an unexpected form of trans-continental transport is rising to the top: trans-Eurasian rail. Read more here.
CANADA BUSINESS – GOVERNMENT UPDATES
Transport Canada to focus on shippers to prevent mis-declared dangerous goods in containers
canadasailings.ca‘A container fire onboard COSCO Pacific in early January highlights the need for Transport Canada to focus on educating shippers on the importance of keeping mis-declared or undeclared dangerous goods from marine shipments, say shipping line and freight forwarder representatives. Read more here.
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS – GOVERNMENT UPDATES
Extend Brexit transition by years over coronavirus, UK told
theguardian.comThe largest group in the European parliament has urged the UK government to do the “responsible thing” and extend the Brexit transition period, as coronavirus plays havoc with the timetable for an EU-UK deal. Read more here.