Latest News
NOL 'disappointed' by $478 million loss
The loss by NOL Group of US$478 million – most of it attributed to its APL container line – has been described by the company’s chief executive as “disappointing&rdq...
February 22, 2012
PD Ports take the next step on Teesport makeover
PD Ports has taken the next step in its programme to almost double its container handling capacity at Teesport, with the completion of the ground works. The terminal ...
February 22, 2012
New EU pilot rules are unsafe says union
The UK House of Commons Transport Select Committee will today investigate new EU pilot fatigue rules that could legally allow pilots to land their aircraft 22 hours after they woke for the ...
February 22, 2012
TNT reject EUR 5 billion take over bid
TNT Express has rejected an unsolicited €9 per share takeover bid from UPS. The €4.9billion offer, announced on Friday, represented a 45% premium over the target’s share pri...
February 21, 2012
Transfennica add Tilbury call
This week, ferry operator Transfennica will add the Essex port of Tilbury as a direct call on its weekly service from Bilbao, Spain. The Friday evening sailings from B...
February 21, 2012
Maersk to defend market share 'at any cost'
Oversupply of container vessels operating on the Asia-Europe trade lane has pushed Maersk Line’s container freight rates to unsustainably low levels. In order t...
February 20, 2012
Capacity cuts could help implementation of planned rate hikes
Scepticism over container lines’ freight rate hikes persists, although Maersk’s announcement on Friday that it is to reduce its Asia-Europe capacity by 9% could help GRIs gain t...
February 20, 2012
Sucessful launch from new cross channel service
Model Kelly Brook launched the inaugural sailing of the new ferry route between Dover to Calais run by DFDS Seaways and LD Lines. She was joined by Carsten Jensen, senior V...
February 20, 2012
A further French air strike averted despite no agreement being reached
The threat of further strike action in France’s air transport sector this month has been lifted. Four days of industrial action that disrupted Air France schedu...
February 20, 2012
Further strikes set to hit New Zealand ports
The Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ) has announced ongoing strike action at Ports of Auckland over working conditions. A one-week full strike notice is already due to start 24 February ...
February 20, 2012
Stobart expands North of the border
Eddie Stobart has agreed a deal with Muse Developments to take occupation of the 67,689 sq ft Pinnacle building at Eurocentral for fifteen years Stobert will take occupation of the site bef...
February 20, 2012
Cut in fuel duty could result in £3.6 billon lifeline
The UK Freight Transport Association (FTA) has called on the Chancellor to cut fuel duty by at least 5p per litre and scrap the increase planned for August. In its pr...
February 17, 2012
Worlds fastest train scanner now in use
The world’s fastest train scanner, which produces quality images while a train runs through at up to 60kph, opened this week in the port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands...
February 17, 2012
CSAV restructure starts to pay off for carrier a billion in the red
Compañía Sudamericana de Vapores (CSAV) has announced a significant reduction in its losses on its continuing operations in the fourth quarter of last year. ...
February 16, 2012
Trade route investment announced by Northern Ireland
A £435 million programme to reinvigorate Northern Ireland’s key trade routes has been welcomed by the Freight Transport Association. The programme, announ...
February 16, 2012
Port of Gothenburg to announce new green inititives
In May, industry professionals from more than 50 countries will gather at the Svenska Massan in Gothenburg for RORO – Europe’s only dedicated “roll on-roll off” eve...
February 16, 2012
Salvage costs for MSC Rena pass U$100 million
New Zealand’s environment minister, Nick Smith, has said that a “crude estimate” of the salvage costs since the MSC-operated containership Rena hit the North Isla...
February 16, 2012
US Port offers incentives to 'green' carriers
The US port of Virginia is expanding its Green Operator (GO) programme to provide incentives to ocean carriers that burn ultra low-sulphur fuel or use alternative power technology while the...
February 16, 2012
Two dead after pirate attack on vessel
Pirates attacked a cargo vessel off the coast of Nigeria yesterday, killing its captain and chief engineer, the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) reported, warning shipping to stay clear ...
February 14, 2012
U$1.4m theft hits Miami Airport
Freightwatch has warned shippers to take additional security precautions at Miami International Airport after around $1.4 million in cargo was stolen on Friday. The ...
February 14, 2012
Inaugral voyage for new Calais-Dover service
Ex-SeaFrance staff will make up the crew of the Norman Spirit (pictured) when DFDS-LD Lines launches its Calais-Dover service on Friday, a senior official has confirmed to IFW...
February 14, 2012
US unable to show they can meet 100% scanning
US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have not shown they can meet 100% screening of cargo containers, as required by the 9/11 Act, according to Steph...
February 14, 2012
Lines can win the rate war say freight brokers
Container lines’ attempts to raise prices on the Asia-Europe and transpacific trades stand a good chance of success, according to freight derivative brokers at Clarkson Securities....
February 13, 2012
Carbon free rail services on the way to the UK
DB Schenker Rail UK has outlined plans to introduce carbon-free rail freight services for customers using trains hauled by electric locomotives. The operator is propo...
February 13, 2012
Box price index shows drop in December
The price of exporting containers from Europe to Asia fell two index points in December, while prices in the opposite direction fell even further, according to December’s monthly figu...
February 10, 2012
French strikes ends - but is not over
The four-day strike by French air transport workers ended yesterday with a warning that more action may follow. The stoppage was in protest at a government bill that ...
February 10, 2012
U$1m fine for US air firm
OHL Solutions, formerly Activair, has been fined US$1 million for intentionally failing to screen air cargo it shipped through Indianapolis International Airport for explosives....
February 10, 2012
Asia - Europe launch brought forward by G6 Alliance
The contest between Maersk Line’s Daily Maersk service and a rival offering from the new G6 Alliance has been brought forward, as carriers jostle for market share ahead of freight rat...
February 9, 2012
Second super ferry for P&O cross channel service
P&O Ferries will throw down the gauntlet to rivals on the Dover-Calais trade today, with the launch on the route of the Spirit of France super-ferry. It w...
February 9, 2012
Air carriers warn a solution 'must be found' to the EU's emissions trading scheme
As countries around the world line up against the EU’s emissions trading scheme (ETS), the air sector was warned yesterday that a solution had to be found “to avoid a real crisi...
February 9, 2012
Rates rises largest since 2008
The largest ever rate increases announced by main carriers on the Asia-Europe trade - their latest attempt to recover from losses sustained in 2011 - will be a test of the shipping lines&rs...
February 8, 2012
Reliability reaches new high
Container service reliability reached a new high in the final quarter of 2011 with an on-time average of 69% across all the trades, according to a recent report from maritime consultants at...
February 8, 2012
Strike taking it's financial toll on Air France
Air France could take a hit of up to €100 million in lost revenue from a four-day strike set to end on Thursday, according to estimates from market analysts. The...
February 8, 2012
Latest round of rate hikes slammed by shippers
Dutch shippers organisation EVO has slammed the latest round of freight rate hikes on Asia-Europe trades. Given the significant over-capacity in both vessels and cont...
February 7, 2012
The impact of the French strike worsens
The impact of a four-day strike by French air transport workers, led by pilots, looked set to worsen today. The strike, which began yesterday, is in protest at a gove...
February 7, 2012
Northern Europe to return to recession ?
Deepsea imports to North Europe have weakened substantially in recent months, a reflection of the on-going financial crisis and uncertainty in Europe, according to to the latest forecast fr...
February 6, 2012
Sale of Hapag Lloyd on verge of completion
The sale of container line Hapag-Lloyd could be completed in the next few weeks, according to people close to the process. Tourism group Tui and the Hamburg-based Albe...
February 6, 2012
LD and DFDS launch channel service
DFDS and its French partner LD Lines will launch their Calais-Dover ferry service on 17 February. LD Lines’ Norman Spirit (pictured) will be transferred...
February 6, 2012
Air France flights cancelled as strike takes hold
French airline pilots and other air transport workers began a four-day strike today in protest at a government bill they claim seriously limits their right to strike. ...
February 6, 2012
Air traffic continues to decline
Air freight traffic at Europe’s airports declined in the second half of 2011, to end flat year-on-year in December, airports body ACI Europe said. Director Gener...
February 6, 2012
Problems in Ukraine and Russia as sea ice thickens
Thickening sea ice, resulting from the particularly low temperatures across Eastern Europe, is causing disruption to shipping across the Black Sea. While port authori...
February 6, 2012
Email Interuption
We currently have no emails in our Felixstowe ort London offices due to a computer switchover. We are hopeful it shouldn't take too long to resolve but should you need to contact either office, ple...
February 3, 2012
Further carriers announce rate increases
More shipping lines are moving to push up rates on the Asia-Europe trade. Hong Kong-based Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) will hike freight rates by US$200 per c...
February 2, 2012
Far East-Europe trade will see carriers and alliances shuffle services as capacity pours in
The battle for market share on the Far East-North Europe service is set to heat up again after operators in the trade finalise routes and alliances. Figures published ...
February 2, 2012
Another pair of carriers announce losses for 2011
Japanese shipping groups K Line and MOL have joined the growing list of carriers that sailed into the red in 2011. K Line recorded losses of ¥42.16 billion (US$54...
February 2, 2012
Huge losses for 2011 reported by Korean Air
Flag carrier Korean Air Lines yesterday reported massive losses last year, despite its fourth-quarter net profit rising due to foreign exchange gains. The world’...
February 2, 2012
US Secretary Napolitano says DHS is committed to protecting transport systems from attack and disruption
US Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano (pictured) has issued a new call for global co-operation on supply chain security. Discussing the new Natio...
February 2, 2012
Shipping lines continue to try and push up rates
The downward trend for global freight rates won’t improve much until 2014, analysts claimed this week, despite shipping lines announcing increases. A better bala...
February 1, 2012
CMA CGM announce a further co-operation
As part of a new agreement with CSCL and UASC, CMA CGM has announced the reorganisation of its CIMEX 1 service on the Asia-Middle East market from tomorrow. The new C...
February 1, 2012
Freight task force set up by French rail network
France’s rail network manager, RFF, has set up a taskforce dedicated to freight traffic and described the initiative as “the first of its kind”. The ...
February 1, 2012
2011 a record year for Belfast Harbour
Belfast Harbour has reported tonnages in 2011 rose 7% year on year to a record 17.64 billion tonnes – driven by strong performances in the ro-ro and breakbulk sectors. ...
January 31, 2012
Strike brings Antwerp to a virtual standstill
Europe’s third-biggest port, Antwerp, was at a virtual standstill yesterday as Belgium’s unions called the country’s first general strike since 1993, to protest at the gov...
January 31, 2012
Analysts warning on low freight rates
Analysts at maritime consultant Drewry say a recent rally on east-west container rates will quickly recede, but that prices will rise rapidly in H2 if cash-strapped carriers start slashing ...
January 30, 2012
Dubai's new airport off to a good start
Dubai’s World Central Airport handled almost 90,000 tonnes of air freight during its first full year of operations, Dubai Airports said today. The company owns a...
January 30, 2012
First of new 747-8 freighters delivered to ABC
Boeing has delivered the first of five new 747-8 freighters to AirBridgeCargo Airlines (ABC), part of Volga-Dnepr Group. “The introduction of the B747-8F repres...
January 30, 2012
Eurotunnel report a good year in 2011
Eurotunnel this morning reported double-digit sales growth for 2011 and said freight traffic was back to levels last seen in 2007. Eurotunnel Chairman and CEO Jacques ...
January 30, 2012
FairFuel UK continue to campaign for a cut in fuel duty
The FairFuelUK team will meet with MPs in the House of Commons today to renew its call for a significant cut in duty on petrol and diesel in the March Budget. Peter Carroll, founder an...
January 27, 2012
Asda annouce plans for £500m investment in stores and depots
Asda has announced it will invest over £500m in the creation of 25 new stores and three depots. Asda's investment plans were unveiled during a UK visit by Doug McMillon, the president...
January 27, 2012
Eddie Stobart proves 'Every Little Helps'
Transport operator Eddie Stobart this week made the first UK delivery in a government trial of longer lorries introduced to cut congestion and slash carbon emissions in haulage....
January 27, 2012
Belgian ports on the brink of a standstill
A major provider of maritime services is warning its clients not to attempt to deliver cargo to ports in Belgium on Monday, as a nationwide strike is set to impact all ports and airports, w...
January 27, 2012
Record throughput for Budapest Airport in 2011
Budapest Airport achieved a record cargo throughput in 2011, handling more than 100,000 tonnes for the first time. Flown air cargo volumes grew by 6.4% to almost 70,00...
January 27, 2012
Tilbury now under Forth Ports control
Forth Ports has taken 100% control of Tilbury Container Services (TCS) for £95 million (US$149m) from fellow shareholders DP World and Associated British Ports. ...
January 26, 2012
SNCF jobs rejected by SeaFrance staff
Just over 500 former SeaFrance workers have opted for redundancy rather than accept a job within the collapsed ferry operator’s parent group, SNCF. Redundancy no...
January 26, 2012
LOT about to make a move for Turkish Airlines ?
Shares in Turkish Airlines have risen amid speculation that the airline may be about to make a new move on Polish national carrier, LOT. At the end of last year, CEO T...
January 26, 2012
Cautious welcome from hauliers for road charging plans
UK truckers and lobby groups have given a cautious welcome to an announcement by the government today that all lorry drivers will be charged £10 a day to use British roads....
January 25, 2012
Anti-piracy group lobby business leaders
SaveOurSeafarers.com (SOS) is lobbying support from business leaders to increase international pressure on governments to take firmer action to combat Somali piracy. S...
January 25, 2012
Another ferry operator struggling on cross channel route
Following the collapse of SeaFrance, attention has turned to the fragile state of another French ferry operator, Brittany Ferries, and its network of services linking several French western...
January 25, 2012
LD Lines and DFDS looking to launch new service asap
DFDS and its French partner LD Lines are planning to launch a Calais-Dover ferry service as early as next month, with two French-flagged vessels. A DFDS spokesman conf...
January 24, 2012
MP calls for action on Southampton expansion
Labour MP for Southampton John Denham has urged the UK government to unlock a £150 million investment set aside by Associated British Ports (ABP) for the expansion of Southampton Port...
January 24, 2012
Two ships sink in Philippines in seperate incidents
Two cargo vessels sank off the Philippines within hours of each other at the weekend, with 32 seafarers having to be rescued by other ships and fishermen, the Philippine Coast Guard said ye...
January 24, 2012
No fire certificate since 1998 for gutted air cargo terminal
The cargo terminal at Indira Gandhi International Airport, which was gutted by fire a fortnight ago, had not had a clearance certificate from the fire department since 1998, investigations ...
January 24, 2012
Rates continue to rise
With the Chinese Year of the Dragon starting yesterday, the average spot rates on the Asia-Europe westbound trade lane witnessed an increase for the fifth week in a row. ...
January 24, 2012
Biggest ever US port deal for Long Beach
The Californian port of Long Beach has reached a tentative agreement on a 40-year, $4.6 billion lease with Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL), one of the world’s largest transport ...
January 24, 2012
Firms and jobs will be hit by low sulphur fuel directive
Shipowners are lobbying the French government to put pressure on the EC and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to postpone new rules to reduce the sulphur content of marine fuel ...
January 24, 2012
Piracy incidents down
International naval forces are making their presence felt in the piracy hotspots of the world, as last year the number of attacks on cargo vessels fell after four consecutive years of incre...
January 23, 2012
Approval in principle for LNG powered vessels
International vessel classification society Bureau Veritas has approved in principle a design for a 14,000teu containership to be powered by liquified natural gas (LNG), describing it as &l...
January 23, 2012
RSPB describe Thames Esturary air hub as 'Utterly absurd'
London Mayor Boris Johnson has been heavily criticised for his support of plans for a new airport in the Thames Estuary, dubbed ‘Boris Island’. According to reports, a consultat...
January 23, 2012
Another difficult year in prospect for Asia-Europe carriers
Container volumes in Europe and US markets are expected to face another difficult year as weak demand growth impact the major trading regions. According to figures fr...
January 19, 2012
DFDS faces new competition for North Sea RoRo
Next Tuesday (24 January) will see newly established freight shipping company North Sea RoRo launch a ro-ro service between Sweden and the UK in competition with dominant operator DFDS....
January 19, 2012
Felixstowe get byes in golf knockouts
The EUF Group backed Felixstowe Ferry Stenson Shield and Hambro Cup teams, both captained by our Commercial Manager, Mel Pipe, have both received a bye in to round two of the competitions. This mea...
January 19, 2012
Formal consultation planned on Estuary air hub
The government is to hold a formal consultation on controversial plans for a new airport in the Thames Estuary. The study on the airport, championed by London Mayor Bo...
January 18, 2012
P&O Ferries unhappy with Eurotunnel bid
P&O has told IFW that it “reserves the right" to lodge a complaint with EU competition authorities, following news that Eurotunnel has expressed a formal interest in buyi...
January 17, 2012
Air France-KLM to cut it's aircraft fleet
Air France-KLM has announced cuts to its aircraft fleet and a pay freeze for French staff as part of a three-year plan to turn around its financial woes. The belt-tigh...
January 17, 2012
Comanav-Comarit has two ferries impounded at Sete
Two ferries operated by Moroccan shipping group Comanav-Comarit, the Biladi and the Marrakech, have been seized in the Mediterrranean port of Sète by the French aut...
January 17, 2012
Somali pirates captured by British forces
UK Navy marines captured 13 armed Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean on Friday. The Defence Ministry said the attack on a pirate fishing vessel at dawn was launched fr...
January 16, 2012
Service cuts and reduced capacity coming on Asian air exports
Air cargo carriers look set to cut services and reduce capacity as demand for exports out of the key Asian markets of Hong Kong and mainland China remains soft. Cargoi...
January 16, 2012
Emirates boosts Latin cargo services
Emirates SkyCargo has boosted its South American services to meet the growing demand for air freight between the UAE and the carrier’s global network. Following ...
January 16, 2012
BA Cargo takes delivery of it's last two 747-8 freighters
British Airways World Cargo has taken delivery of its final two Boeing 747-8 Freighters. The group now has three of the new generation freighters, replacing its fleet of 747-400s. The new freighte...
January 16, 2012
City to become centre for Chinese currency trading
The UK and Hong Kong are planning to turn the City into an offshore trading centre for the world’s fastest-growing currency, the Chinese renminbi, of which the Yuan is the main denomination....
January 16, 2012
Will it be a happy new year for freight rates ?
Shippers should not lose sleep over the recent, short-lived jump in spot rates, but ought instead to focus on ways to mitigate the risk of a sudden capacity crunch later in the year, urged ...
January 13, 2012
Plans for the UK's first 'Airport City' made public
UK Chancellor George Osborne yesterday unveiled plans for a £659 million (US$1 billion) Airport City – the first of its kind in the UK – at Manchester Airport....
January 13, 2012
SeaFrance leaves debts of around EUR 190 million
The liquidator of collapsed cross-Channel operator SeaFrance has estimated its debts at €190 million, most of which is owed to its parent, French state railway operator SNCF....
January 12, 2012
Sete plans 'Motorway of the sea'
The French Mediterranean port of Sète is planning to launch a “Motorway of the Sea" (MoS) ro-ro service with the port of Cartagena, in southern Spain, Melilla, a Spanish enclav...
January 12, 2012
Felixstowe 'biggest threat' comes from London Gateway
A senior executive at the UK port of Felixtowe has warned that it will face its “biggest threat in years” when the rival London Gateway terminal opens next year. ...
January 12, 2012
First section of 'MSC Rena' sinks
The stern section which broke off the containership Rena, stranded on the Astrolabe Reef, has now sunk off New Zealand’s North Island. Heavy seas pound...
January 12, 2012
Immingham / Rotterdam service stepped up by DFDS
DFDS Seaways is boosting its UK-Rotterdam freight fleet in an expansionary move that defies European economic gloom. From 17 January, the company will increase frequen...
January 12, 2012
Freight rates continue to rise
Containership operators are upbeat on freight rate prospects out of Asia, according to the latest Containerised Freight Index from the Shanghai Shipping Exchange.The av...
January 10, 2012
New joint Dover to Calais service planned
DFDS and French partner LD Lines are planning to launch a new ferry service between Calais and Dover following the demise of SeaFrance.And the two are looking to hire a...
January 10, 2012
Airfreight traffic continues to fall
Global air freight traffic fell for the seventh consecutive month in November as consumer and business confidence continues to slide in Europe, Asia-Pacific and North America. ...
January 10, 2012
SeaFrance declared bankrupt as Eurotunnel eyes their vessels
The long-running saga to save SeaFrance took a new twist today when Eurotunnel boss Jacques Gounon said he was interested in acquiring the ailing firm’s vessels and assets to launch a...
January 9, 2012
The Rena finally breaks apart in heavy seas
Timber, plastic and sacks of milk powder, along with other debris from containers began being washed up onto popular New Zealand beaches this morning after the containership Rena, ...
January 9, 2012
March will see the first ever 'Satnav summit'
The government’s first ever 'satnav summit' will be held in March in a bid to ensure the right vehicles are on the right roads and lorry and car drivers do not follow out-of-date directions f...
January 9, 2012
London joins call to relax air quality laws
With one of the worst records for air pollution in Europe, London is now joining other industrial areas in pressing the European Commission for even more flexible air quality laws. The air ...
January 9, 2012
Scotland set to sign reneable energy deal
Scotland is to sign a renewable energy deal with renewables giant Masdar, based in Abu Dhabi, in the first agreement of its kind between Masdar and an individual nation. The arrangement wil...
January 9, 2012
Air India looks to sell aircraft as dedicated cargo plan falters
In a bid to shore-up its falling revenues, cash-strapped Air India plans to sell six B737 freighters, virtually ending its plan to launch a dedicated cargo service. Th...
January 9, 2012
Space issues force rates updwards
Shippers are struggling to find space on containerships heading from Asia to the US and Europe, with cargo being left on the quayside and lines newly able to jack up their prices. ...
January 6, 2012
2012 will prove 'Survival of the fittest' for carriers
Amid fears over the strength of global demand and a potential rates war, and with more big containerships due for delivery, shipping lines’ lay-up strategies will dictate if they make...
January 6, 2012
Guidlines needed for guards protecting UK vessels
Members of a UK parliamentary committee have called on the government to provide clear guidelines on whether armed guards protecting UK ships can kill Somali pirates during an attack....
January 6, 2012
SeaFrance workers offered new jobs
SNCF chief Guillaume Pepy has offered jobs with the French state rail group to all SeaFrance’s 880 staff, should the workers co-operative takeover bid for the ferry firm fail....
January 6, 2012
Government backing for SeaFrance rescue receives a cool response
The French government’s backing for a bid from a co-operative of SeaFrance workers to take over the ailing cross-Channel operator got a cool response from unions and staff yesterday. ...
January 4, 2012
Air services suspended by Jade Cargo
Jade Cargo, China’s first air freight joint-venture, has suspended services, hit by weakening demand in the Asia-Pacific market. The carrier said the suspension ...
January 4, 2012
London gateway expands it's management team
London Gateway has made some additions to its management team in the build-up to the new deepsea port’s opening in Q4 2013. They include: Clive Allen...
January 4, 2012
HAPPY NEW YEAR
The EUF Group would like to wish our customers, suppliers and friends all the best for a happy, healthy and prosperous 2012 !!...
January 3, 2012
French government to back SeaFrance rescue bid
The French government has announced that it is backing a bid from a co-operative of SeaFrance workers to take over the ailing cross-Channel operator. The initiative, w...
January 3, 2012
Grounded MSC vessel splits in two
The Liberian-flagged containership Rena that grounded on a New Zealand reef almost three months ago has, effectively, broken into two pieces, New Zealand’s shipping authority...
January 3, 2012
Third runway for Hong Kong
Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals (Hactl) – the biggest air cargo terminal operator at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) – has welcomed the positive findings of the recent cons...
January 3, 2012
A happy new year not predicted by analysts
The rates war that has shattered the Asia-Europe trades this year looks set to worsen in 2012, analyst Alphaliner has predicted in its latest report. Far from restorin...
December 28, 2011
Eurotunnel unhappy with continued SeaFrance decision delays
Eurotunnel’s Chairman and CEO Jacques Gounon has hit out at what he describes as the “total confusion” surrounding the fate of SeaFrance. This follow...
December 28, 2011
Italian cargo vessel hijacked by pirates
Somali pirates have hijacked an Italian cargo ship with 18 crew off the coast of Oman, according to Indian shipping officials. The Turkey-bound Enrico Levoli ...
December 28, 2011
Evergreen target alliance
In a bid to protect its position in the Far East-Europe trades, Evergreen is joining forces with four other major Asian lines. The Taiwanese carrier, which has been lo...
December 28, 2011
Hidden weapons found on UK cargo vessel
Finnish authorities yesterday impounded 160 tonnes of explosives and 69 surface-to-air Patriot missiles found on a UK-flagged cargo vessel. The ship was bound for Sha...
December 23, 2011
MSC to form a further alliance
Two of the biggest container lines serving South America are teaming up in a concerted move to reduce capacity on the trade and stabilise freight rates. Mediterranean Shipp...
December 23, 2011
Beached vessel may be scrapped where it lies
The Maltese-registered cargo ship, TK Bremen, which ran aground off the coast of Brittany late last week in high winds and torrential rain now looks set to be scrapped where it lie...
December 23, 2011
Fight to buy BMI is won by IAG
British Airways owner IAG is to buy BMI from Lufthansa for £172.5 million (US$271m), and warned the deal could lead to job losses. IAG, which also owns Spanish a...
December 23, 2011
Christmas Opening Hours
Please note our office will be open as follows over the Christmas period. Friday 23rd - 0800 - 1300 Monday 26th - Closed Tuesday 27th - Closed Wednesd...
December 21, 2011
SeaFrance decision postponed again
A commercial court in Paris yesterday postponed its decision on the takeover bid for SeaFrance submitted by a co-operative of the cross-Channel ferry operator’s workers until 3 Januar...
December 20, 2011
Despite Eurozone fears, shipping confidence picks up for Q3
Overall confidence and the likelihood of major new investment in shipping picked up marginally in Q3, according to the latest Shipping Confidence Survey from accountant and shipping...
December 20, 2011
US to put £62m into TIGER port projects
The US Department of Transportation (DoT) has announced $62 million in port-related grants as part of the third round of funding in its TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic ...
December 20, 2011
Air Berlin and Ethiad to form strategic alliance
Etihad Airways of Abu Dhabi and Air Berlin, Germany’s second-largest airline, announced a strategic partnership Monday that will see Etihad become Air Berlin’s largest shareholder and g...
December 20, 2011
Decision on SeaFrance could be as early as today
A commercial court in Paris could order the immediate liquidation of SeaFrance at a hearing this afternoon if it rejects the only takeover bid on the table for the ailing cross-Channel ferr...
December 19, 2011
Huge financial boost for New Orleans
The US Department of Transportation has awarded the port of New Orleans a grant of US$16.7 million to construct a freight rail terminal and finance other improvements to cargo operations....
December 19, 2011
Cathay Pacific delayes delivery of new planes
Cathay Pacific, the largest global air cargo carrier, is to delay taking delivery of two B747-8 freighters, as it slows next year’s capacity expansion amid waning demand....
December 19, 2011
Dover summit rescheduled
UK Ports Minister Mike Penning has rescheduled the postponed summit on Dover Harbour Board’s controversial privatisation bid for 12 January. He has also moved th...
December 16, 2011
Weather warning issued for the Port of Felixstowe
The port have issued a warning regarding the weather forecast which indicates high winds at or above our safe working limits covering the period :-from: 15/12/2011 12:00to :...
December 15, 2011
Container line reliability drops for October
Global container carrier reliability slipped last month to 63% from 64% in October, according to the latest analysis by SeaIntel Maritime. Maersk Line regained the top...
December 15, 2011
Idle capacity reaches 18 month high
Idle containership capacity has increased rapidly over the past few weeks to reach its highest level for more than 18 months. Latest figures from Alphaliner show 210 v...
December 15, 2011
Air France strongly deny job cut report
Air France has strongly denied reports in the French press this morning that it is planning to axe 2,000 jobs as part of an €800 million cost reduction plan. The ...
December 15, 2011
Weather update
We have now received a further update regarding the expected Strong Winds and it now appears that the expected low has tracked further south than first forecast and this has resulted in the wind sp...
December 15, 2011
Lines in no rush to form consolidations
There are no signs of capacity reduction happening on the Far East-North Europe trade lane next year. According to analyst Alphaliner, the recently announced MSC-CMA C...
December 14, 2011
No injuries reported after Houston Channel closed due to vessel collision
A cargo vessel and a tanker collided in the Houston Ship Channel yesterday morning, prompting coastguards to close a portion of the seaway. No one was injured and no o...
December 14, 2011
CMA CGM to form second alliance - with OOCL on Asia - New Zealnd routes
CMA CGM and OOCL have formed a partnership to expand a loop that services ports between China, South-east Asia and New Zealand. ANZEX will deploy six ships of 1,800te...
December 14, 2011
Ethiad to buy further Dreamliners
Etihad Airways said yesterday it would buy 10 more B787-9 Dreamliners in a deal which will make it the largest operator of the aircraft type in the world. The airline ...
December 14, 2011
Liquidation looking increasingly likely for SeaFrance
DFDS and Louis Dreyfus Armateurs have withdrawn their joint bid for the stricken cross-Channel ferry operator Seafrance's Dover-Calais services were suspended in mid-Novembe...
December 14, 2011
Weather and wind set to cause problems
The UK is currently suffering from the effects of high winds with a number of ports and inland depots closed or operating under severely limited conditions, including the Port of Felixstowe...
December 12, 2011
Calls grow for worldwide ban on container conferences
A powerful coalition of shippers from around the world is lobbying hard for a regulatory overhaul of the global container trades, following the lead taken by the EU three years ago....
December 12, 2011
Dover summit cancelled at last minuite by Minister
UK Ports minister Mike Penning cancelled last Fridays summit meeting over the plan to privatise Dover. Last night’s eleventh hour cancellation of the summit &mda...
December 12, 2011
Crew safe after collision sinks vessel in Bay of Biscay
The crew of a cargo ship has been rescued after a collision with another vessel in the Bay of Biscay, about 400km south-west of Land’s End. The Florece ...
December 12, 2011
US flights will not pay European green air tax
A US Senator has introduced a European Union Emissions Trading Scheme Prohibition Act, a bill to prevent the EU from adding a tax on flights in US airspace. ...
December 12, 2011
ABP planned expansion at Southampton on hold
ABP's plan to expand Southampton Container Terminal has been delayed following an objection by Hutchison Ports, but the government has promised to review the matter Last mo...
December 12, 2011
Lines will need to consolidate to survive
Container shipping will need further consolidation to cope with sluggish demand and sustained high vessel-operating costs, an independent analyst has warned the industry. ...
December 7, 2011
Opinion divided on MSC/CMA CGM alliance
Shippers are divided over whether the new partnership between MSC and CMA ...
December 7, 2011
Phara goods growth outstrips usual air cargo goods
A 12% growth rate predicted for pharmaceutical air freight over the next five years outstrips the 4% anticipated for electronics shipments, traditionally the strongest sector for air cargo ...
December 7, 2011
Irish have serious concerns over plans to limit trailer height
Serious concerns from a leading MEP over an EC plan to limit the height of trucks on Irish roads have been echoed by the Freight Transport Association Ireland (FTAI). ...
December 7, 2011
Secretary of State for Transport visits Felixstowe
The UK’s Secretary of State for Transport, the Rt Hon Justine Greening MP, has visited the Port of Felixstowe, the country’s largest container port, to see it take delivery of i...
December 6, 2011
Threat of industrial action causes Maersk to withdraw Auckland service
Maersk Line has withdrawn its Southern Star container service from Auckland, due to industrial unrest at the New Zealand port. Industrial action closed Auckland’...
December 6, 2011
Operation Atlanta set to be extended for another three years
Operation Atalanta, the European Union operation against piracy in the Indian Ocean, has been heralded the most successful EU mission to date and is likely to be extended. ...
December 6, 2011
Price fixing air cargo boss faces up to jail and £1m fine
A former executive of a Peruvian air cargo carrier last week admitted his role in a conspiracy to fix surcharges on air cargo shipments from the US to South and Central America following Hu...
December 6, 2011
Vehicle operating costs at an all time high
Vehicle operating costs are at record levels, and tracking ahead of inflation, according to the Freight Transport Association’s Manager’s Guide to Distribution Costs 2011. The r...
December 6, 2011
Rate hikes and capacity reductions fail to lift freight prices
Capacity reductions on major container lanes and rate hikes announced by Hanjin and CMA CGM failed to budge container freight rates last week. Spot prices continued to...
December 5, 2011
Pirates release vessel after undisclosed ransom is paid
Somali pirates have released the Singapore-flagged cargo vessel Gemini, after receiving a ransom, but are continuing to hold four South Korean crew members, it has been revealed....
December 5, 2011
Oil continmues to leak from the stricken MSC Rena
More oil from the Rena, a cargo ship that has been grounded on a New Zealand reef for two months, is expected to wash up on the country’s beaches after the wreck was battered...
December 5, 2011
Cathay Pacific hoping passengers replace cargo for Christmas
Cathay Pacific is hoping passenger traffic will make up for an 18% plunge in air cargo volumes in the run-up to Christmas. “Somebody cancelled Christmas, as real...
December 5, 2011
MSC and CMA CGM form container line alliance
A partnership between two of the biggest names in container shipping was unveiled yesterday, when Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) and CMA CGM announced an operating alliance....
December 2, 2011
Greece plans armed guards on ships to counter piracy threat
Greece is set to allow its cargo ships to carry armed guards on board to defend them against pirates. Planned legislation will allow up to six armed guards on a Greek-...
December 2, 2011
Hanjin get serious in attempt to raise rates
South Korea’s Hanjin Shipping has announced a rate restoration drive on its Asia-Europe trades, saying that current rates fail to cover basic operating costs, let alone rising fuel pr...
December 1, 2011
Container lines hopes of a profit fade as margins continue to plummet
Any hopes of a profitable year for container shipping lines have been dispelled as they saw their average operating margins plummet further into the red in the third quarter. ...
December 1, 2011
DFDS act to plug gap left by SeaFrance
DFDS has today introduced an additional vessel on its Dunkirk-Dover route to ease the traffic congestion caused by SeaFrance suspending its services. The Danish group has c...
December 1, 2011
New rolling stock means faster freight through the tunnel
Europorte Channel, which provides traction for freight trains through the Channel Tunnel, has been granted approval to use Class 92 locomotives on High Speed 1 – the line between London and t...
December 1, 2011
UK fuel duty increase reprieve
The Freight Transport Association (FTA) and its partners in the FairFuel UK campaign, were yesterday celebrating after the government Autumn Statement included news that January’s 3...
November 30, 2011
Dover gets the go aherad for second terminal
In what is being seen as a vote of confidence in the UK’s busiest trust port, the government yesterday formally gave the go-ahead for Dover’s second ferry terminal. ...
November 30, 2011
American Airline owners file bankruptcy petition
AMR Corporation, the parent company of American Airlines (AA) and its cargo division, yesterday filed voluntary petitions for Chapter 11 reorganisation in the US Bankruptcy Court. ...
November 30, 2011
Huge new investment planned for Grimsby
Associated British Ports’ UK east coast port of Grimsby is in line for a £25 million (US$38.8m) investment in a Humber river terminal to handle car-carriers, due to open in 2013...
November 30, 2011
CSAV say they are restructuring, not up for sale
Chilean container line CSAV has denied claims that its container business is up for sale. In a statement, the company said it was restructuring its services to focus o...
November 29, 2011
Irish traffic continues to decline
Shipping and port traffic through the Republic of Ireland continued to decline during the third quarter of 2011, according to the latest figures from the Irish Maritime Development Office (...
November 29, 2011
27 Days to go - Ready for the festive light up in Trafalgar Square
Last night, the world’s most famous Christmas tree was on its way from Norway, via the UK port of Immingham, ready for the big lighting-up in Trafalgar Square, London, on Thursday. ...
November 29, 2011
Airfreight traffic continues to decline into October
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced global traffic results for October. Cargo demand was 4.7 percent lower than that of October 2010, while passenger traffic showed a 3.6 p...
November 29, 2011
Maersk and OOIL announce cuts in Asia/Europe services
In a sign of further deterioration on the key Asia-Europe trades, two of the world’s largest shipping lines, Maersk Line and Orient Overseas (International), have announced significan...
November 28, 2011
Zim considering merger as cash injection is offered
Troubled Israeli container carrier Zim Integrated Shipping Services is actively considering consolidation as a possible way out of its continuing financial difficulties, CEO Rafi Danieli re...
November 28, 2011
Proposed fuel duty increase will cost £325m - and jobs - say FTA
The Freight Transport Association has called on Chancellor George Osborne to freeze fuel duty throughout 2012. In a last minute move to drive home the message ahead of the Autumn Statement,...
November 28, 2011
UN and IMO call again for action on piracy
The UN Security Council has made renewed calls on states and regional organisations that have the ability to fight piracy, to do so. They should deploy naval ships, ar...
November 25, 2011
MISC to quit the liner business
Malaysian shipping giant MISC Berhad is to quit the liner business because of deteriorating conditions in the market. The operator said it had lost US$789 million in ...
November 25, 2011
Action is called for over Dartford crossing congestion
The Freight Transport Association has called on the government to invest in reducing congestion for the Dartford crossing following the decision to postpone toll increases. Heavy goods vehi...
November 25, 2011
Further news on stricken MSC Rena is not good
A row has erupted in New Zealand after it was revealed yesterday that the cargo ship Rena, which ran aground last month, was carrying 32 containers containing hazardous chemicals &...
November 25, 2011
CSAV looking for a buyer
Struggling Chilean container line CSAV has asked financial advisor Celfin Capital to find a buyer for its container business. CSAV has decided to dispose of the busine...
November 25, 2011
Court orders probe into SeaFrance's inactivity
A Paris court is to appoint a mediator to determine whether the necessary conditions are in place to allow SeaFrance to sail again. The move follows legal action by th...
November 23, 2011
Greek government rules out tax on shipping
Greece’s new government considered a tax on shipping as part of its efforts to survive the eurozone crisis, but rejected the idea, despite its widespread popularity, the politician wh...
November 23, 2011
Felixstowe port Christmas working hours
1. CHRISTMAS Shipping: Shipping operations will cease at 19:00 hours Saturday 24th December and re-commence at 07:00 hours Tuesday 27th December. During this period there ...
November 23, 2011
Chinese Minister for Transport visits the Port of Felixstowe
Mr. Li Shenglin, the Minister of Transport of the People’s Republic of China has visited the Port of Felixstowe, the UK’s largest container port.Whilst at the port Mr Li met...
November 23, 2011
Local council to finance SeaFrance bid
The Nord Pas de Calais regional authority is ready to contribute around €10 million (US$13.5m) to the takeover bid for SeaFrance by a co-operative of the ferry operator’s worker...
November 22, 2011
Lufthansa Cargo to cut capacity
Lufthansa Cargo (LC) plans to withdraw at least 20% of its cargo capacity in the new year and lay-up aircraft in a bid to counter an anticipated slowdown in demand. Tr...
November 22, 2011
Channel Tunnel freight operators face charges of EUR 600
France’s rail network manager, RFF, is planning to introduce a security fee on rail freight traffic through the Channel Tunnel next year, which could work out at €600 per train....
November 21, 2011
Lufthansa shelve plans for a hub at Frankfurt
Lufthansa Cargo, the freight arm of Germany’s largest airline, has shelved plans to invest around €1 billion (US$1.35 billion) at Frankfurt Airport, as a result of the night-flig...
November 21, 2011
First ferries leave new Stena terminal
Ferries have today begun operating from Stena Lines’ new £200 million port in south-west Scotland. The operator’s last sailings from Stranraer took p...
November 21, 2011
Maersks new fleet for Asia - South America trade
Booming trade between Asia and South America has led Maersk Line to add capacity to its services between the two regions with a new fleet of bigger box ships. Soren Ka...
November 21, 2011
Court orders the liquidation of SeaFrance
The Paris commercial court has ordered the liquidation of SeaFrance – but allowed the ferry operator to continue trading until 28 January 2012. The court yester...
November 17, 2011
Maersk prepared to outlast its rivals
AP Møller-Maersk, owner of the world’s largest container line, has revealed it is ready to outlast its rivals, as the industry faces a possible four years of overcapacity....
November 17, 2011
DHL Express takes delivery of it's first Airbus
DHL Express has taken delivery of the first of 18 Airbus A300-600s, which are being converted from passenger planes to freighters by EADS Elbe Flugzeugwerke in Dresden. The operator is usin...
November 17, 2011
Air cargo to triple over the next 20 years
Air freight traffic is expected to almost triple over the next 20 years, leading to a nearly doubling of the world-wide cargo aircraft fleet, according to the just-completed Airbus 2010-2030 Cargo ...
November 16, 2011
FTA presses fuel duty message
The Freight Transport Association has called on the government to overhaul its fuel duty policy, following the House of Commons debate yesterday which highlighted concerns over the impact of rising...
November 16, 2011
UK to host conference on tackling Somalia and protecting ships
Britain is to host an international conference on tackling instability in Somalia and protecting ships from pirates in the Gulf of Aden, Prime Minister David Cameron has announced. ...
November 16, 2011
Wreckage of missing cargo plane found in Australia
A cargo plane which disappeared and led to one of Australia’s largest searches has been found. Following the discovery of aircraft wreckage in the Torres Strait,...
November 16, 2011
Carriers to raise rates on Asia - US routes
Carriers forced to act after overcapacity causes widespread losses. AP Moeller-Maersk, the world’s largest container carrier, and 14 other shipping lines plan ...
November 15, 2011
Salvors to start removing cargo from MV Rena
Salvors aboard the cargo ship The Rena will soon finish removing oil from the stranded vessel and focus their efforts on its cargo. The Rena caused N...
November 15, 2011
US Customs to simplfy air cargo process
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced plans to streamline the entry process for air cargo. During the “Simplified Entry Pilot”, the importer...
November 15, 2011
Canabis smugglers sentenced to 43 years in prison
MEMBERS of an organised crime group have today been sentenced to almost 43 years in prison for importing almost three and a half tonnes of cannabis through the Port of Felixstowe.The seven man grou...
November 15, 2011
JNPT to incease capacity fivefold
The chairman of Mumbai’s Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust says that JNPT has plans to increase its capacity fivefold in the next eight to 10 years. Chairman L Radhakrishnan told the Indian...
November 14, 2011
LNG powered containerships on the horizon
Germanischer Lloyd and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering have come up with a 14,000 containership design running on LNG GL and DSME carried out a feasibility stud...
November 14, 2011
Banks increase lending to companies in 3rd Quarter
The UK's biggest four banks increased their lending to companies in the third quarter of 2011, official figures show. There were £57.4bn of new loans from July ...
November 14, 2011
Global schedule reliabilty falls by 2%
Global schedule reliability decreased from 66% in September to 64% in October, according to analysts. The SeaIntel Maritime Analysis monthly Global Liner Schedule Rep...
November 11, 2011
MCI to build reefer factory in Chile
Maersk Container Industry (MCI) has announced that it is building a new reefer container manufacturing facility in San Antonio, Chile, “to alleviate Latin America’s peak season bottle...
November 11, 2011
Major Japanese lines 'could merge'
The head of Japan’s largest shipping line — Mitsui OSK — has said that a merger of the three major Japanese container lines into one entity “could be an option&rdquo...
November 10, 2011
Idle capacity to rise by 50%
Idle container capacity is expected to increase by around 50% over the next two months, to reach 600,000teu by early January, according to the latest forecast from Alphaliner. ...
November 10, 2011
United airlines boss quits
The cargo arm of United Airlines has suffered another blow with the departure of Scott Dolan, Senior VP of airport operations and cargo. Dolan, who was President of U...
November 10, 2011
Maersk see profits vanish
Maersk, the world’s biggest container shipping line, has seen expectations of a modest profit turn into a loss as freight rates continue their downward spiral. ...
November 9, 2011
US Congress proposes voluntary air cargo screening
The US Senate Subcommittee on Transportation Security has proposed a new Transportation Security Administration (TSA) bill which includes a voluntary air cargo screening programme....
November 9, 2011
IRU joins battle against trailer heigh restrictions
The UK’s Freight Transport Association’s fight against EU proposals to limit the height of future semi-trailers to just 4 metres has been joined by the International Road Transp...
November 9, 2011
BA set to buy BMI
BRITISH Airways is set to buy rival bmi from Lufthansa at a reported £300 million (US$480 million). Bmi sells belly capacity cargo on 28 aircraft with three on order. Virgin A...
November 9, 2011
UK Businesses benefit from £225 million of unpaid labour every day
UK employees starting earlier, working later and working weekends to put in the extra hours during the economic downturn are providing businesses with £225 million of free hours each day, acc...
November 9, 2011
Private navy to tackle piracy
Shipowners are set to have a commercially viable alternative to armed guards in their fight piracy after the Convoy Escort Programme confirmed it would launch in the first quarter of 2012. ...
November 8, 2011
Taiwan set to order five 16000 TEU vessels
Taiwan’s Yang Ming Marine confirmed that it plans to order five 16,000 teu vessels at CSBC Corp Taiwan, Taiwan’s biggest shipbuilder. The full price for the order, if all option...
November 8, 2011
Happy Birthday !!
Very best wishes from everyone at EUF Group go to our Operations Director, Malcolm Roxburg, whose birthday it is today today. Whilst we wouldn't dare to mention any ages, needless to say it's a mil...
November 7, 2011
New productivity record set at Southampton
DP World has reported a record number of moves at Southampton, on the OOCL SOUTHAMPTON The new record was established last Sunday, 30th October, when 535 boxes were handled...
November 7, 2011
More exploding containers found at port
At least ten more potentially explosive containers have been found at the Port of Seattle with a question mark still hanging over the fate of the growing collection of containers. ...
November 7, 2011
Transpacific box rates continue to rise
Transpacific box freight rates have continued to creep up in the past week. The World Container Index and the Shanghai Containerised Freight Index’s China-US West coast prices have bo...
November 7, 2011
Trailer height proposals 'should be abandoned'
Plans to limit the height of future European semi-trailers to just four meters should be abandoned to end uncertainty in the sector, a trade body has warned. In a toug...
November 7, 2011
Billions wiped off the value of containership fleets
Containership owners have seen billions of dollars wiped off the value of their fleets over the past year. Massive overcapacity has squeezed not only freight rates, bu...
November 4, 2011
Work begins on removing boxes from the Rena
Containers on the Rena could start to be removed from the stricken boxship as early as next week, it has been reported. The Rena caused New Zealand&...
November 4, 2011
Schiphol only European airport to show growth
Air cargo volumes handled at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport remain ahead of its 2010 throughput, despite a disappointing September. Europe’s third busiest c...
November 4, 2011
Stephen Fry on Quantas flight grounded by engine issues
A Qantas flight from Singapore to London - whose passengers included the writer Stephen Fry - has been diverted to Dubai after an engine was shut down. The flight was...
November 4, 2011
Shipping lines unite on need to reduce emissions
A coalition of global shipping companies and NGOs have agreed an ambitious roadmap aimed at achieving a “step-change” in the industry’s carbon emissions through to 2040....
November 3, 2011
The real cost of night flight ban
The decision by a German court to ban night flights will come at a high economic and environmental price, the International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) has warned. W...
November 3, 2011
New online resource launched to help freight industry plan for London 2012
New online postcode data released by Transport for London (TfL) at inaugural 2012 Freight Forum meeting will help firms plan and manage deliveries during Games-time T...
November 3, 2011
Transpacific rates rise for the first time in a month
Rates on shipping’s transpacific trade rose this week for the first time in a month. Drewry’s Hong Kong-Los Angeles container rate benchmark jumped US$65, ...
November 3, 2011
Merchant of death faces life in jail
A Russian air freight boss dubbed the “Merchant of Death” was yesterday convicted of trying to make millions of dollars by selling heavy weaponry to a terror group so it could a...
November 3, 2011
US Vessel costs soar
Average US vessel operating costs last year were almost three times higher than their international counterparts, according to a report from MARAD, the US maritime administration body....
November 2, 2011
Cathay Pacific take delivery of first 'green' freighter
Cathay Pacific Airways has begun taking delivery of its new fleet of Boeing 747-8 freighters, with the first arriving in Hong Kong today. The airline said it was expe...
November 2, 2011
Ships officers face further charges
Two senior officers from the Rena, the cargo ship grounded on a New Zealand reef for almost a month, are to face further charges, the country’s shipping authority has announc...
November 2, 2011
Alarm sounded over exploding reefers
Hundreds of refrigerated containers have been quarantined in various locations around the world following reports of compressor explosions and incidents of spontaneous combustion that hav...
November 1, 2011
Global shipping giants unite on need to reduce emissions
A coalition of global shipping companies and NGOs have agreed an ambitious roadmap aimed at achieving a “step-change” in the industry’s carbon emissions through to 2040....
November 1, 2011
Major revamp planned at Dar es Salaam
Dar es Salaam, is eyeing a major reconstruction and dredging project that would allow Tanzania’s main port to remain competitive as vessels get larger....
November 1, 2011
Demand for air freight services continues to fall
Demand for air freight services fell in September for the fifth consecutive month. The latest figures from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) show a 2....
November 1, 2011
EUF Group are on Twitter and Facebook
Did you know that EUF Group on Facebook and Twitter ? Search EUF Group to keep up with the latest industry news on your PC in the office or on your laptop, tablet or smart phone when you're away fr...
November 1, 2011
UK to allow armed guards on cargo ships
UK Prime Minister David Cameron has announced that cargo ships sailing under a British flag will be able to carry armed guards to protect them from pirates. Speaking ...
October 31, 2011
Hunt for 10 missing sailors after cargo ships collide
A cargo ship sank after colliding with another freighter off the coast of East China on Friday evening, leaving one seafarer dead and another 10 missing. The Panama-fl...
October 31, 2011
Greek shipowners demand action on piracy
Greek shipowners have warned of havoc on vital international ocean trades if the menace of piracy is not curtailed more effectively. The message was spelt out “...
October 31, 2011
Court orders Qantas back in the air
An Australian arbitration court has ordered an end to the industrial dispute that saw Qantas Airways ground its entire fleet. The carrier was ordered to begin flights ...
October 31, 2011
Yildrim vetoes CMA CGM plan for new containerships
A proposed order by CMA CGM for up to 20 10,000teu containerships has been vetoed by Turkish businessman Robert Yildirim (pictured), who exerted his group’s ...
October 20, 2011
NVOCCS pay the price
Ten non-vessel-operating common carriers (NVOCCs) have paid a total of $477,500 in penalties to settle cases brought against them by the US Federal Maritime Commission. ...
October 20, 2011
Piracy hits new highs, but more ships are escaping
Piracy on the world’s seas has risen to record levels, the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) reveals today in its latest global piracy report. The report says...
October 19, 2011
Long Beach Pier brought to life
A proposal to develop a state-of-the-art $650 million container shipping terminal at Long Beach, in the US, is finally under serious consideration after a decade. The...
October 19, 2011
Peak season fizzles out
Global container volumes fell 1% in August for only the second time in 11 years, according to a report by Macquarie Equities Research. Macquarie analyst Robert Joynson...
October 19, 2011
K+N cartel prosecution to go ahead
The New Zealand Commerce Commission has been given the go ahead to prosecute Kuehne + Nagel (KN), the last remaining defendant in an ongoing freight forwarding cartel case. ...
October 19, 2011
UK drops opposition to private armed guards on its cargo ships
The UK is set to drop its opposition to the use of private armed guards on board its cargo ships, finally lifting the threat of prosecution for shipowners that have been operating within a ...
October 13, 2011
Air cargo services return to Coventry
Air cargo services are to return to the UK’s Coventry Airport, it was confirmed yesterday. The resumption of cargo services is the first move towards the airport...
October 13, 2011
Longer trailers get the green light for 10-year trial
News that some UK hauliers will be allowed to use longer trailers under plans announced yesterday has divided logistics firms. In what many consider...
October 13, 2011
London Gateway announce opening target
The first phase of DP World’s £1.5 billion London Gateway will open in the fourth quarter of 2013, sowing the seeds for the creation of Europe’s largest logistics park on London&r...
October 7, 2011
Shipowners that arm their vessels could face prosecution
Shipowners that hire armed personnel to protect their vessels from pirates could face prosecution, claimed a Netherlands law firm this week. The stark warning came aft...
September 29, 2011
Royal visitor for ports birthday party
The Port of Felixstowe organised a fantastic day to mark both its 125th birthday, and the opening of its new £300 million expansion project. The sun shone as the Princess Royal visite...
September 29, 2011
Port provides major boost to UK Economy
• UK’s largest container port opens new deepwater terminals• Terminals are the only UK berths capable of accommodating the world’s largest container ships• Th...
September 29, 2011
Felixstowe unveils new terminals
The UK’s largest container port, Felixstowe, today opens a new deepwater shipping terminal with the country’s only berths capable of accommodating the world’s largest cont...
September 28, 2011
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Today is the Port Of Felixstowe's 125th anniversary. EUF Group is proud to be associated with Britains Premier port - and wishes all at the port all the best on this great occasion....
September 28, 2011
Pirates set fire to vessel after failed hijack
Pirates set fire to a cargo ship after they were unable to hijack it, according to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB). Armed pirates aboard two skiffs about 300 n...
September 26, 2011
Bigger ships mean bigger cranes
According to shipping industry analyst Alphaliner, as of the middle of August, 133 new containerships had been delivered into service this year, bringing the global containership fleet to o...
September 26, 2011
Port of Felixstowe Named Rail Freight 'Business of the Year' Again
The Port of Felixstowe, the UK’s largest container port, is celebrating after scooping the top award at the Rail Freight Group’s annual awards for the second time in three years....
September 26, 2011
Felixstowe still the UK's Premier Port
UK ports handled 512 million tonnes in 2010, a 2% increase over 2009, but still 12% below the 2005 level, according to statistics from the Department for Transport (DfT)....
September 23, 2011
Rates On The Up
Container shipping lines continued their fight back last week as all-in spot rates on all four main east-west trade lanes continued to increase as vessel utilisation levels remained steady....
August 22, 2011
Shoppers fuel is cheaper than hauliers
The UK’s Road Haulage Association (RHA) has hit out at the unfairness of private shoppers receiving substantial discounts on fuel while freight and other truck operators are forced to...
August 22, 2011
Rates start to rise
Rates on services from Asia to Europe picked up last week for the first time this year, just prior to carriers bringing in price increases on Monday. According to the...
August 3, 2011
US anger at EU emission plans
The US transport industry yesterday vented its anger at EU plans to introduce an Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) it claims will cost its airlines more than US$3 billion by 2020. ...
August 3, 2011
Container shipping will stay volatile for four more years
The high volatility experienced in the container shipping market over the past few years will continue for another four years, according to one analyst. Analyst SeaIn...
August 3, 2011
BAA Lose appeal – Stanstead to be sold
The UK’s Competition Commission has formally ordered BAA to sell Stansted Airport in Essex, and either Edinburgh or Glasgow airport, after an appeal by the operator was dismissed. BAA...
July 21, 2011
Easy victory for FFGC
Felixstowe Ferry GC, backed by EUF Group, cruised through their home Hambro Cup match with Woodbridge, running out winners by 25 holes. Although they face a st...
June 27, 2011
Lines begin to withdraw capacity
Shipping lines have begun withdrawing capacity from the floundering Asia-Europe trade. On Friday, it was revealed that Cosco, K Line, Yang Ming and Hanjin Shipping – ...
June 22, 2011
Hambro defence begins for Felixstowe
The weekend sees Felixstowe Ferry GC, backed by EUF Group, begin the defence of the Hambro Cup, won in such great fashion last season. After a bye in the first round, this se...
June 22, 2011
Fears raised over Olympic disruption
UK logistics and transport firms are concerned that restrictions placed on them during next year’s Olympic Games may make it difficult for them to cater for the increased demand. ...
June 15, 2011
Mothballed fleet set to grow ??
The world’s idle containership fleet has reached its lowest level since August 2008, but uncertainty remains as overcapacity on all main trade routes has led to poor utilisation level...
June 15, 2011
Poor service - something you won't suffer with EUF Group
Shipping lines and NVOCCs regularly ignore email requests for prices on small cargo shipments, and use unintelligible industry jargon and offer significantly different rates when they do qu...
June 15, 2011
Phones Back On
We are pleased to say that our phones are now back working again. Many thanks....
May 26, 2011
Phone Problem
Our phones are currently not working, along with most of Felixstowe due to a cable being cut at roadworks on the A14. At present we have been unable to assertain any timescales for the phones to be...
May 25, 2011
Ferry companies square up
P&O Ferries has lodged a complaint with the European Commission, accusing rival SeaFrance of receiving state aid in disguise, via its parent company SNCF, resulting in unfair competitio...
May 20, 2011
No rapid recovery for lines
Container lines will see their financial performance worsen in the second quarter of the year, as weakening freight rates and rising operating costs hit their bottom lines. ...
May 20, 2011
Bunker surcharges to hit record levels
Container lines operating on the key Asia-Europe trade will pass on record bunker fuel costs to customers, despite many making savings from slow-steaming. The average b...
May 10, 2011
Idle vessel numbers lowest since 2008
The idle containership fleet has returned to pre-crisis levels, with just over 70 ships recorded as unemployed. The latest figures from analyst Alphaliner show that the...
May 5, 2011
Rates set to rise ?
It is looking increasingly likely that the cost of shipping will be increasing in the near future. With several carriers announcing increases varying between USD 200 and USD 400, it would seem that...
May 3, 2011
Paperless Invoicing
We would like to advise that from Monday 9th May, we will be sending out all invoices and accompanying via email rather than via the rather less reliable Royal Mail. We hope this will ena...
May 3, 2011
Britains best known haulier looking to raise £115 million
UK haulier Eddie Stobart has unveiled plans to raise £115 million (US$191.8m) in a share placing that will give it the “firepower” to develop its assets including Southend...
April 28, 2011
New vessels put pressure on lines
Shipping lines are set to come under increasing pressure on rates over the coming months as a record number of ships are due to be delivered in April. ...
April 28, 2011
Well done Guilford Hockey Club
We send our congratulations to Guliford Mens Hockey Club, of whom EUF Group are a sponsor, on their very credible third place in the league....
April 27, 2011
Pirates are still proving a problem
A 6,500 teu containership owned by Hanjin managed to escape a pirate attack late last week, while another group of captured pirates has been released without prosecution. ...
April 26, 2011
CSCL Pusan delayed
The CSCL Pusan, which was due on 3rd May has been delayed slightly. The vessel will arrive outside the port as planned but the Dock Company will not have a berth available until late on the 4th or ...
April 19, 2011
2012 Olympics are not good news for everyone
UK haulage companies, already reeling from high fuel prices, face losing millions of pounds as a result of the Olympic Games in London in summer 2012.One of the biggest...
April 19, 2011
Bank Holidays
We would advise you that our offices will be closed for Easter from Friday 22nd April to Monday 25th of April inclusive. The office's will also be sh...
April 12, 2011
