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News Desk


www.bifa.org Ian Matheson, from Impress Communications, reviews some recent news that might impact on Members’ business


A scale model of the proposed ‘Slon’ outsize freight transporter, put forward as a potential successor to the Antonov AN-124, has been demonstrated by Moscow’s Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute ahead of wind tunnel testing.


ON THE OCEAN Whilst most container shipping lines will have no other option than to bunker their vessels with very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO), Alphaliner says that strategies adopted by carriers to deal with the situation are varied, adding that cost structures and service profiles could change as a consequence.


Freight in the City Expo 2019


Freight in the City Expo predicts electric future


OVERLAND This year’s Freight in the City Expo concluded that electric is likely to be the dominant fuel of the future for hauliers but admitted that the sector will ultimately choose a “blended solution” using a mix of technologies based on fleet specific requirements.


Mercedes-Benz says that following extensive trials, its eActros all- electric truck has demonstrated that heavy duty, short-radius distribution is already possible with local zero emissions and quiet operation, adding that it plans to start serial production in 2021.


Whilst the future of overland rail freight between China and Europe is not certain, not least because of the potential for political disruption, currently the route is of global importance and is attracting significant investment, with infrastructure and services continuing to be added as demand grows.


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IN THE AIR With effect from 28 December 2019, the Montreal Convention’s liability limits for international carriage by air will be increased by 13.9% to 128,821 Special Drawing Rights (SDR) for injury/death, 5,346 SDR for delay, 1,288 SDR for baggage and 22 SDR for cargo. The increase is being based on the accumulated rate of inflation (weighted by reference to the average Consumer Price Indices of the US, Japan, China, the EU and the UK) since 2008, when the last adjustment was made. Trade associations are discussing with IATA protocols to use up stocks of master waybills that have been printed with the previous liability limits, and it would be advisable to contact insurers to ensure that they are aware of the change.


IATA’s latest data for global air freight markets shows that demand, measured in freight tonne kilometers, decreased by 4.5% in September 2019, compared with


the same period in 2018, the 11th consecutive month of year-on-year decline in freight volumes.


Heathrow airport is looking at how it can improve load factors on vehicles travelling to and from the Cargo Centre, as research has showed that 69% of vehicles delivering cargo to the Horseshoe had a declared load factor of 50% or less, and 51% of vehicles arriving at the site to collect cargo arrived empty. It wants to work with the cargo community to develop a tech-led solution/proposition. If you are interested, contact Timothy.Wells@heathrow.com or Ross.Mccoriston@heathrow.com.


Air Cargo World magazine reports that the latest monthly (September) figures for cargo throughput at the world’s leading airports indicate overall market weakness, worldwide, with most airports seeing continued declines in volumes, and European airports hit hardest.


A report by Seas at Risk and Transport & Environment maintains that slower ship speeds would massively reduce the damage shipping is causing to human health, nature and the climate. It says a 20% reduction in ship speed would cut underwater noise pollution by 66%, as well as reducing fuel burn, resulting in lower greenhouse gas emissions, black carbon, sulphur and nitrogen oxides.


A containerised 600 kWh marine battery system will be installed in a trial on board the Maersk Cape Town this month aimed at improving vessel performance and reliability, while reducing CO2 emissions and providing a greater understanding of energy storage.


IN BUSINESS The global freight forwarding market is set to record its first full-year contraction in a decade, according to analysis by Transport Intelligence (Ti), which indicates that the global market contracted by 1.4% in first half of 2019, with the analyst projecting an overall contraction in real terms in 2019 of around 1.3%.


Jim Harra has been appointed as the new chief executive and First Permanent Secretary at HM Revenue & Customs, succeeding Sir Jonathan Thompson.


December 2019


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