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Issue 4 2020 - FBJNA


to provide l ea din g


service on both coasts for THE Alliance,” said Eric Waltz, President of GCT Canada. “GCT is proud of its


relationship with THEA at our East and West Coast terminals and welcomes our new customer HMM at GCT Bayonne. By focusing on the customer and service levels, we have continued to grow in the Port of New York


and New Jersey,” said John Atkins, President of GCT USA. “We are pleased to receive the upsized EC2 service and increase to three UCLV vessel calls per week. GCT will continue to offer customers more seamless access to the robust consumer market surrounding GCT Bayonne as well as unparalleled inland connections through our on- dock rail facilities.” “As one of the nation’s largest


container ports, The Port of New York and New Jersey is pleased to welcome new ships and shipping lines as they build their networks through the Port. Through collaboration with our world-class terminal operators, the Port continues to grow and expand its global reach,” said Sam Ruda, Port Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Today, ships on the EC2 service are among the most


NS achieves first with innovative track-inspection technology


Norfolk Southern announced that it has achieved a breakthrough in track inspection technology that will enhance railroad safety and operating efficiencies. Combining ingenuity and


innovation, the company is the first North American freight railroad to develop and deploy an autonomous track geometry measurement system that is mounted on a


locomotive. In contrast,


autonomous track-inspection systems commercially available today are installed on converted freight or passenger


rail cars, which


require an external power source to operate and occupy space on a train that could be used to move revenue- producing freight. “With our locomotive-based


system, we use an existing asset to increase the frequency of our track inspections, without adding another piece of equipment that has to be run across the railroad,” said Ed Boyle, vice president engineering. “This innovative approach enhances our safety


practices by permitting us to have precise and quality track inspections done under load at track speed. With this system, Norfolk Southern will provide service safely, efficiently, and cost-effectively.” Norfolk Southern’s track


inspection group, part of the Engineering Department, developed this mold-breaking system. It provides a more robust and cost-effective way to continuously monitor track performance in near real-time. The system is mounted in a ruggedized box under a six- axle road locomotive between the snowplow and the first set of wheels. A computer that powers the system is housed inside the electrical locker in the locomotive cab. The autonomous system


supplies timely and accurate data used for track maintenance activities and capital budgeting. The system facilitates compliance with both Norfolk Southern and Federal Railroad Administration track safety standards. As part of a pilot, Norfolk


Southern is operating the


autonomous system on a mainline between Norfolk, Virginia, and Portsmouth, Ohio. The route offers a comprehensive range of track and operating conditions, including straight and curved track, hilly terrain, and high- tonnage loads. “With this innovative


system, any time this locomotive is moving and pulling freight, it is testing track at the same time,” said Mike Allran, manager track inspection and development, who helped lead the initiative. “This gives us more robust data for use in predictive- modeling to determine track maintenance intervals, which enables us to maximize efficiencies that will generate significant cost savings.” Norfolk Southern turned


to defense industry firms to find commercially available components to build the system, which


consists of


lasers, gyros, accelerometers, and global positioning system sensors. The system can detect defects or anomalies


modern and largest fleets serving the US East Coast. The EC2 service provides coverage between Asia and the US East Coast markets via the expanded Panama Canal. The addition of the HMM vessels will help deliver


increased


efficiency and quality while reducing emissions. The first THEA ship


carrying HMM


cargo call to the USEC was the Seaspan Harrier on May 10, 2020.


in track geometry, including track gauge, or the distance between rails, and the elevation and curvature of track. The system transmits inspection data wirelessly to office locations, where track geometry engineers confirm potential defects and notify track maintenance personnel. The autonomous inspection


system will supplement testing done by the company’s existing fleet of manned track geometry cars and hi- rail trucks. Norfolk Southern plans to equip additional locomotives with the system and potentially upgrade its capabilities, including adding an optical system to evaluate track components such as fasteners, rail welds, and switch points. “Our team is committed


to helping Norfolk Southern achieve industry leadership in the use of advanced technologies to enhance safety, increase operating efficiencies, and better serve our customers,” Allran said. “The development and deployment of our autonomous track-inspection system is one more way we are making progress toward that goal, generating benefits for us and all our stakeholders.”


For the first quarter of 2020, Hapag-Lloyd recorded earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of US$176 million, which is below the corresponding prior-year figure of US$243 million. The Group net result declined to approximately US$27 million. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization decreased slightly to US$517 million. Revenues increased in the first quarter of 2020 by around 6%, to US$3.7 billion. This can primarily be attributed to a 4.3% increase in transport volumes, to more than 3 million TEU, and an improved average freight rate of $US1,094 per TEU. Transport expenses increased by almost 10%, disproportionately to revenues, particularly due to higher bunker costs, which increased by US$98 to US$523 per tonne because of the transition to low-sulphur fuel oil required by the IMO 2020 regulation. This had a negative impact on earnings, as did a devaluation of bunker inventories of around US$64 million due to the rapid decline in crude oil prices that began at the end of the first quarter.


During its May 13 board meeting, Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation revealed that consolidated revenues for Q1 totaled US$1.15 billion, a decrease of 1% compared to with US$1.14 billion in revenue from the same period of previous year. The company’s net loss, aſter tax, was US$27.15 million. The first quarter result was impacted by the recognition of loss from part of the group’s subsidiaries, including bulk business, in the amount around US$10.95 million. Coupled with the slow resumption of production aſter Lunar New Year, and the proactive service and space reduction plan instituted by THE Alliance in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, container business earnings were weaker than expected.


The Port of Los Angeles moved 688,999 TEUs in April. While that figure was 53% more than March volumes, it represents a decrease of 6.45% compared to last April, which is the standard comparison. Loaded imports in April increased 2.6% to 370,111 TEUs compared to the previous year. Loaded exports decreased 16.2% to 130,321 TEUs. Empty containers declined 14.4% to 188,567 TEUs. In total, April volumes totaled 688,999 TEUs.


The Tampa Bay/I-4 Corridor Foreign-Trade Zone (TB/I-4 FTZ) project announces the establishment two new programs – the COVID-19 Application Fee Waiver Program and the Third-Party FTZ Service Provider Annual Fee Deferral Program. From May 1, 2020 through Dec. 31, 2020, all application and activation fees administered by the Tampa Bay/I-4 Corridor FTZ Project will be waived for companies seeking FTZ designation and subsequent FTZ activation.


capacity per flight. In a bid to further optimize


With close to 100 daily cargo flights operated to a destination network spanning more than 65 cities across six continents, Emirates SkyCargo is leading the


global cargo industry


during these critical times in delivering essential supplies and commodities to people around


the world. The air cargo carrier is currently operating 11 Boeing 777 freighter aircraſt, each with a capacity to transport about 100 tonnes of cargo per flight and around 60 of its Boeing 777-300ER passenger aircraſt as dedicated cargo aircraſt, with a 40-50 tonne belly hold cargo


cargo operations and capacity, Emirates SkyCargo has also started loading cargo in the overhead bins and seats of its Boeing 777-300ER passenger aircraſt. This move has been made in response to growing customer demand out of key markets. “We took a measured


approach to the loading of cargo inside the cabins of our Boeing 777-300ER passenger aircraſt,” said Nabil Sultan, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Cargo. “Safety of our people and operations is the first priority for us and we had to therefore evaluate the demand from the market against potential risks to our operations.” Consequently,


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GPA has launched a virtual sales tool that offers an in-depth look at the capabilities and specifications of Georgia’s deep-water terminals in Savannah and Brunswick, as well as the Appalachian Regional Port in Northwest Georgia. Brochures cover topics such as containerized trade, Roll-on/Roll-off cargo, breakbulk, and intermodal services. It also provides easy access to GPA’s Insta- Rate system and MTO Schedules to allow customers to submit a pricing request. Contacts for GPA sales representatives are included in an easily navigable format as well as quick links to additional economic development tools.


The Port of Corpus Christi Authority was tentatively awarded a grant from the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to procure and deploy trash skimming technology for collecting fugitive refuse in the Salt Flats Ditch near Nueces Bay. The grant, in the amount of $471,324, includes both equipment and annual maintenance costs.


News Roundup


Ocean Network Express (ONE) is expanding its reefer fleet by adding 5,000 units, including 200 units equipped with CA technology. This slows down the respiration and ripening process to maximize the shelf life of fruits and vegetables.


///NEWS Sea


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