GERMANY – Hamburg Süd has announced that Frank Smet, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) will be going into retirement at the end of March after roughly 27 years with the company. Smet, who has been working in the shipping industry for over 40 years, including in Brazil, Chile, Australia and Hong Kong, has been a member of Hamburg Süd’s Management Board since 2012.
DENMARK – Like most maritime nations, and indeed the logistics industry worldwide, female representation is sadly lacking throughout. Now Danish Shipping, the trade and employer organisation for more than 90 ship owners and offshore companies which control 95% of the country's home flagged merchant fleet, want to introduce more women to the maritime sector.
UAE – At this year's World Economic Forum, Dubai took the opportunity to launch its World Logistics Passport, a major Dubai initiative to boost 'South-South' trade. The initiative links Customs World, DP World, and the Emirates Group to enhance connectivity through Dubai and, through expertise sharing and process development directly between partner countries. A pilot project operational since July 2019 has, it is claimed, increased trade by participants by 10%.
WORLDWIDE – Despite overall piracy incidents declining in 2019, there was an alarming increase in crew kidnappings across the Gulf of Guinea, according to the International Chamber of Commerce's International Maritime Bureau's (IMB) annual piracy report.
UK – In a move which will please road haulage interests and, as part of the Mayor of London's action to tackle dirty air across the capital, Sadiq Khan has announced a series of measures that will accelerate the move to cleaner vehicles across the capital, which include plans to double payments for his van scrappage scheme to £7,000, with £9,500 also now available to those switching to electric vans.
UK – WeAreTheCity, an organisation that helps promote female talent in the UK, have announced a new category for its annual Top 100 Rising Star Awards. With the help of industry advocate Anna Delvecchio of Amey and CILT UK, WeAreTheCity have introduced a category for Transport and Logistics to this year's proceedings, joining 20 other industry sectors and professions as part of the annual awards.
CANADA – WORLDWIDE – Whilst the UK government still considers a formal ban on tyres over 10 years old, and has advised against the use of these on the front axles of commercial vehicles in its latest guide to roadworthiness, the problem of recycling them remains.
WORLDWIDE – The BelugaXL specialist freight aircraft has entered into service, providing Airbus with 30% extra cargo transport capacity in order to support the on-going production ramp-up of commercial aircraft programmes.
SWITZERLAND – DUBAI – EUROPE – DP World and container terminal operator Swissterminal Holding have entered a strategic partnership, which will see the Dubai based port group take a 44% stake in Swissterminal from this week. The Mayer family, who founded the business, remaining the majority shareholder.
UK – When the plans for the high speed rail project HS2 was first mooted it is doubtful that the government of the day realised just how controversial the route might prove. What it certainly should have been aware of however was that, like so many such schemes in the past, costs would run up to levels far higher than the original figures put forward.
Claim your free directory listing and view our advertising rates >
