Port of Tilbury Sees New Freight Train Container Service Commence
Traditional Road Haulage Outfit is Multimodal These Days

Tuesday, September 18, 2018
UK – More familiar to the general public as a road haulier, transport group Eddie Stobart has launched a new train service connecting the Port of Tilbury to Tesco's site in Daventry, and then Daventry to Mossend, Scotland. Launched at the beginning of the month, this is Eddie Stobart's first ever train service to run from the Port of Tilbury, with the capacity to travel with between 30 and 36 containers.
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Hydrogen Powered Train Debuts in Germany with a Taste of the Future
1,000 Kilometres a Day on One Fill Up

Tuesday, September 18, 2018
GERMANY – Germany has introduced the world's first hydrogen fuel cell train into its passenger service in Lower Saxony, as the industry looks to more sustainable and eco-friendly technologies to replace the current diesel trains. The Coradia iLint, built by Alstom in Salzgitter, Germany, is equipped with fuel cells which convert hydrogen and oxygen into electricity, eliminating pollutant emissions related to propulsion. Henri Poupart-Lafarge, Chairman and CEO of Alstom, commented:
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Row Brews Over Vital Freight and Passenger Ferry Services to Offshore Islands
Union Accusations That Crews Are Paid Below Minimum Wage Levels - Again

Tuesday, September 18, 2018
UK – Offshore island freight and passenger ferry services have been witness to some spectacular disagreements over the years, and some of the fiercest concern arguments with regard to the Scottish island services, like all such services, a vital lifeline for those living and working off the mainland. Now another row has broken out after the Scottish government drafted in an extra vessel onto the Northern Isles RoRo ferry service to meet short term freight capacity. Announcing the decision Scottish Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands, Paul Wheelhouse said:
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International Shipping Trade Fair Will Witness Unique Finale
Luxury Vessel Naming Ceremony is Climax of Event

Tuesday, September 18, 2018
NORWAY – Next year's Nor-Shipping 2019 exhibition, taking place in Oslo and Lillestrøm between 4-7 June, is promising a unique night to remember on 6 June 2019, with a spectacular naming ceremony party for the Viking Jupiter. The 47,800 gross tonne Fincantieri built vessel, the latest addition to Viking's growing fleet, will be celebrated with a public concert in front of Oslo's imposing town hall, overlooking the city's bustling harbour. The free concert will feature a range of as yet unnamed international and Norwegian stars.
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Some Decisions on Road Infrastructure but Doubt Over Haulage Permits for Freight Trucks Linger
Brexit Concerns Trouble Industry Association as Highway Investment Announced

Tuesday, September 18, 2018
UK – There is good and bad news for British hauliers this week with the Freight Transport Association (FTA) pointing to new investment in the country's roads, whilst arguing that more is still needed. Meanwhile the Road Haulage Association (RHA) is concerned that the matter of permits for European haulage operations post Brexit still needs resolution.
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Air Cargo Group Opts for Regular Afghanistan Freight Service
New Route for a New Airline

Monday, September 17, 2018
INDIA – AFGHANISTAN – SpiceXpress, a recently launched dedicated air cargo subsidiary of low-cost Indian airline SpiceJet, has announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) which will see the carrier launch regular freighter services to the country's capital.
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New Multimodal Rail Terminal Gets Royal Opening and Prepares for Six Freight Trains per Day
Doncaster Cargo Hub Up and Running

Monday, September 17, 2018
UK – iPort Rail, the Doncaster based state-of-the-art multimodal rail terminal, was officially opened last week by HRH The Princess Royal. The facility is designed to open up the Yorkshire region with new road, rail and air connections for national and international freight transport. Located on a 30-acre site within the 337-acre iPort logistics hub, iPort Rail is able to accommodate the UK's longest trains up to six times a day. It has storage capacity for 1,500 TEUs and is operated by reach stackers which can each lift a 115-tonne load.
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US Court Judges Freight Forwarder and Chemical Maker Responsible for MSC Flaminia Deaths
Explosion Which Killed Three Should have been Avoided

Monday, September 17, 2018
US – In the second hearing of a potentially three phase case the US District Court for the Southern District of New York has reached a verdict appointing responsibility for the deaths, injuries and damage caused when the MSC Flaminia was struck by an explosion. The tragedy left the container vessel drifting for weeks after the crew abandoned ship. Now the manufacturer of the chemical cargo responsible, and the freight forwarder involved, have been found at fault for the incident.
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Time Critical Freight Group Invests in Vehicle Fleet for Growth in European Logistics Services
Left Hand Drive Trucks and Vans for UK Forwarder Despite Brexit

Monday, September 17, 2018
UK – Preston headquartered freight forwarder GBA Services, which specialises in time critical logistics services, is to invest over £4 million in its fleet of trucks and vans, a purchase driven by continuing growth in demand and a significant new entry into the fast moving consumer goods delivery (FCMG) sector. In addition to strong organic growth, 2018 sales in GBA's UK business are receiving a significant boost with the recent winning of two distribution contracts for household name store chains, which have taken the company into the FMCG sector and added an expected £5million in new revenue.
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Disastrous Week as Hurricanes and Earthquake Impact Freight and Logistics This Week
A Round-Up of Some of the Shipping Industry Stories Over the Past Seven Days

Friday, September 14, 2018
JAPAN – As the hurricane season begins to bite at the US east coast ports, disaster leads our round up of freight and logistics news this week as ocean container carriers Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line) has announced it is providing financial assistance to the tune of 5 million yen in support of those affected by the recent earthquake which struck the port city of Tomakomai last week.
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