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Issue 1 2013 Airlines sign freight network deals
IAG Cargo - British Airways World Cargo and Iberia Cargo’s single business unit – has signed a deal with Global Logistics Network (GLN), IAG hopes the agreement with
company-strong,
125 country network will help it increase market share among small- to medium-sized agents. IAG also promises “highly attractive offers to associated freight forwarders” along with an enhanced customer loyalty programme. GLN president, Roy Stapleton,
said: that few carriers “have the forward vision to embrace a
network with our potential.” Founded in
2003, US-
headquartered GLN claims that its combined annual revenues of US$8.7 billion, 21,127 staff and over 5 million shipments per year is larger than many multi-national forwarders and integrators. Later, on 16 January, American
Airlines Cargo also said that it too had signed a memorandum of understanding with GLN. Managing director of global accounts, Roger Samways,
said
the US carrier had “been looking at prospective network partners where there is potential to expand
German-owned shipping lines Hapag-Lloyd and Hamburg Süd are investing a possible merger. According to a press release, the two companies’ executive boards are investigating whether, and under what conditions, such a move would be of interest. However, latest reports from Germany suggest that the two companies have been unable so far to agree on who would run the combined company, which would be among the world’s top four carriers.
existing business. By working closely together in a more formal way, we hope to build upon the relationship which we already
have with some of GLN members and increase the business development opportunities for both parties.”
Brussels calls for tougher transport security
The European Commission says that weaknesses have emerged in transport security procedures, and more efforts were needed made at international level. In a communication on customs risk management and security of the supply chain, published on 8 January. it said that effective risk management was essential to security and to facilitating legitimate trade and protecting the financial and economic interests of member states. It follows an assessment of
the amended EU customs code in 2005, which was supposed to introduce common rules for customs risk management to identify risks and common conditions for trusted traders (or Authorised Economic Operators). However, further measures are needed to address security and safety hazards at EU borders, says the Commission. The Commission wants action
to ensure the quality, availability and fusion of trade data. Traders need to provide “quality data” to all customs authorities at the right time and in the right place, so that effective risk management can take place. It also wants improved cooperation with legitimate businesses to combat illicit traffic. It also suggests “homogeneous”
implementation of risk management at all EU external borders and creation of “risk management capacity” at EU level, with suitable common risk criteria or EU-level risk profiles applied directly to EU- level data, rather than via 27 national systems, in crisis or other situations. A capability organised at EU level would also strengthen the ability to identify common risks. There should be better customs coordination with other authorities and agencies and increased international cooperation with the EU’s main
trading partners. Peter MacSwiney, chairman of
ASM said: “These proposals are all well and good if everyone involved adheres to the guidelines and works towards a common goal. Unfortunately, experience shows that this will be difficult. Certain member states will concentrate exclusively on their own needs, others will pay ‘lip-service’, while a few will simply turn a blind eye.” As for the Commission’s
suggestion that there should be ‘homogeneous’ implementation of risk management at all EU external borders, MacSwiney stated: “Effectively implemented and monitored the harmonisation of
advance electronic cargo
information and a consistent risk management approach to address security threats must be good. However, experience also shows that ‘across-the-board’ applications of security processes run a high risk of becoming a ‘box-
ticking’ operation rather than a practical risk assessment process.” Creating AEO status means
customs will trust ‘approved’ operators and perform less or no inspections on goods that the AEO imports or export. The intended result is consignments are
Samskip Multimodal is launching a part load service centred on Norway as an alternative to road haulage part load services. It is offering two guaranteed weekly departures linking Rotterdam and the Osloford and, for cargo originating in Norway it can deliver throughout Europe on its pan-European network. It can also transport dangerous goods.
Associated British Ports Grimsby has taken delivery of a linkspan bridge that will form part of the port’s £26m Grimsby River Terminal. The port said that the development is on schedule and the first vessels are expected to berth at the new terminal in the first half of this year.
available faster, while
inspections are targeted at cargo of unknown and potentially unsafe operators. As a result secure supply chains are established to the ultimate benefit of operators and trading partners. MacSwiney concludes: “The
issues here are fundamentally a good idea for trade and security. However, if the EU Commission believes that one central system will solve all the issues we currently have then they could be expecting too much. In reality, individual member states will still focus on their own needs.”
ERTS consensus is elusive
Operators don’t seem able to agree on how future Customs controls for goods moving to Enhanced Remote Transit Sheds (ERTS) should work, says freight soſtware firm ASM, following a recent survey. ERTS issues clearly continue
to divide the freight community as feedback from its recent ERTS Survey
shows both approval
and disapproval of the proposed solution. ASM surveyed all ERTS on
operators its database,
outlining a proposed solution and asking them for their responses as part of ongoing discussions with HM Revenue and Customs to
agree an auditable mechanism to establish when goods are entered and discharged from the transit system. ASM chairman Peter
MacSwiney said that while he was not surprised that opinion was divided, there were “some emphatic points of agreement”, namely the need to avoid anything that increases workload or delays the clearance of freight, and that any solution should be electronic, not manual. He added: “Overall views also reinforced the position that although the current ‘recognised’ and ‘flexible’ rules have been in place for some time, there is little evidence of
widespread tax and duty evasion.” Customs maintain, though, that
the current system will not stand up to a full EU audit, “so it is clear that change is coming,” he pointed out. But those devising a new solution also needed to recognise that the EU would bring in new customs legislation during 2013. Customs wants to prevent
entries being made against consignments while they are being moved between the transit shed or airline and an ERTS – but this could delay clearance by up to 15 hours, ASM argues. Customs entries can be made
at any other time once the ERTS record has been created, even
when the goods are physically still at the airline/transit shed. But ERTS operators would need to closely monitor their ERTS vehicle log to prevent entries being made against those consignments during this movement. MacSwiney said that ASM
did consider whether it could monitor this period with a CCS UK system change but decided it was impossible. “So, the survey asked for views that this period be controlled by the ERTS Vehicle Record underwritten by a change in the ERTS approval to reflect the ERTS operator’s responsibilities.” Discussions with HMRC are
continuing.
Forth Ports has confirmed a new five-year agreement with Meyer Timber to relocate its main Scottish distribution hub to the port of Grangemouth. The company, which supplies wood-based panel products, gains significant on-quay storage facilities at the port, with a 25,000sq ſt landed stock warehouse and an option to increase in 5,000sq ſt increments. Meyer said the move would help delivery of orders received by 5pm next day in the Scottish lowlands.
Unifeeder’s acquisition of fellow short-sea and feeder operator Feederlink became effective from mid-December aſter gaining the approval of the Office of Fair Trade. The two carriers plan to cooperate on services between the UK east coast and Rotterdam, Hamburg and Bremerhaven. Feederlink teams in Rotterdam and Felixstowe will move into Unifeeder office’s and set up a joint UK team. Denholm Wilhelmsen will be local representative for the merged entity in Grangemouth, Tees and Tyne. The new services schedule quotes departures from Felixstowe, Immingham, Teesport, South Shields and Grangemouth to a range of destiantions in Russia, the Baltic, Finland and Scandinavia.
Conygar Investment Company has submitted plans to Ynys Mon County Council for a 4-acre logistics depot and truck stop at at Parc Cybi near Holyhead. The truck stop will include parking for about 168 trailers, a refuelling point and will form part of a larger transport hub which will comprise management and welfare facilities and servicing support units.
Work has started on a major upgrade of P&O Ferries’ Port of Cairnryan. Civil engineering contractors McLaughlin & Harvey have been appointed to provide a new linkspan for services to and from Larne and is due to be completed at the end of the year.
Associated British Ports (ABP) chief executive Peter Jones is to retire at the end of March and will be succeeded by James Cooper. The port operator’s new chief is currently a director of Infracapital, the European infrastructure fund of M&G Investments, one of the four investors in the Admiral Consortium that acquired ABP in 2006.
Coastlink has published the draſt agenda for its forthcoming conference to be held in Zeebrugge on 20-21 February. The theme will be the impact of 18,000teu vessels on intra-European networks.
http://www.coastlink.co.uk/calendar_of_events.htm David Cheslin is meanwhile relinquishing his chairmanship of Coastlink from the end of the year. He will no longer be involved in the organisation but will¬still maintain the Coastlink LinkedIn news site. He will now focus on his public relations interests.
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