The growth in the transport of pharma by air and the rapid rise in e-commerce, has led to an increase in demand for real-time shipment tracking, says Brendan Sullivan, Global Head – Cargo at IATA at the ongoing World Cargo Symposium 2024 in Hong Kong. He adds, “Shippers, cargo handlers and stakeholders want to know the procedures and requirements for the approval and use of tracking devices and data loggers. The updated IATA Interactive Cargo Guidance provides a common framework so that tracking devices can monitor the quality and accuracy of conditions of time and temperature sensitive goods. While the journey towards digitalization is not without challenges, our call to action is clear; Governments must consistently implement global standards; Supply chain partners need to collaborate to overcome shared challenges; And the entire industry must align to ensure a unified and effective approach to digitalization. To spearhead this alignment, IATA has introduced the Digitalization Charter to help the value chain give additional focus to this all-important areas. By adhering to the Charter’s principles—such as adopting industry-wide standards, championing sustainability, guaranteeing ethical technology use, and upholding digital leadership—the charter benchmarks excellence, security, and sustainability within the digital domain. I am delighted to announce Cathay Cargo, Champ Cargosystems, Global Logistics System (HK) Company Limited (GLSHK), IAG Cargo, IBS Software, LATAM Cargo and Lufthansa Cargo as the first signatories of the charter.”

The Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations in India (FFFAI) has tied up with Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Mumbai and Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) Kolkata to launch courses on Shipping & Logistics through collaboration between FFFAI’s training arm Indian Institute of Freight Forwarders (IIFF). It is pertinent to mention that IIM Mumbai previously recognized as the National Institute of Industrial Engineering, Mumbai (NITIE Mumbai), is a graduate business school under the Ministry of Education (India), Government of India located in Powai in Mumbai, and is ranked 7th among B-Schools of India. The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade was established as a Centre of Excellence in International Trade & Business, Education and Research in 1963. It is an autonomous educational institute under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. It was granted “Deemed to be University” status in 2002. “We are thrilled to unveil a game-changing opportunity that’s set to transform your career in Shipping, Logistics, and Supply Chain Management! FFFAI, with its well-established training arm IIFF and in collaboration with IIM Mumbai & IIFT, Kolkata to launch the Certificate Course in Shipping, Logistics and Supply Chain Management on April 13, 2024, and April 15, 2024, respectively,” informed Dr. Nirav Thakker, Hon. Secretary, IIFF. The PG Diploma Certificate on Shipping, Logistics and Supply Chain Management course will be validated by IIM, Mumbai. “It will be a huge opportunity for FFFAI members as well as all aspirants from the Logistic industry to avail the benefits of this course across the country thanks to the online facility,” he added.

Ravi Kumar Tummalapalli, Managing Director va-Q-tec India shares, “Good Distribution Practice (GDP) and cold chain integrity are crucial to maintain pharma supply chain. “Despite the increase in the Pharma R&D, clinical trials activity in India there is not much awareness about the GDP practices, and we continue to operate in the traditional ways. This needs to be taken up seriously by the regulators to bring in awareness on the Good Distribution Practices. This will bring more credibility to Indian manufacturers in the Domestic and the International arena. Cold chain integrity, is very important to maintain the stability of the product and deliver a quality product to the patient,” he shares.

DP World operated International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) at Cochin, scaled another milestone in its journey by handling a record volume of 75,141 TEUs in February 2024, registering a 38% volume growth over February 2023. The substantial growth of cargo handled by ICTT is a testament to the pivotal role it plays as a preferred gateway and a growing transhipment hub for cargo movement to and from markets in south India. Cochin connects close to 50% of EXIM cargo directly to the Middle east, Far East, Europe, and the Mediterranean through mainline services. The terminal also acts as a key hub for the flow of coastal cargo between the east and west coast of India. ICTT recently commissioned two state-of-the-art STS (Ship-to-Shore) Mega Max cranes that can handle up to a width of 25 container rows. These coupled with the recently added four e-RTGs and yard capacity expansions have enhanced the ability of the terminal to offer faster vessel turnaround times while offering sustainable movement of cargo. These have also strengthened the terminal’s productivity with increased lift capacity and enhanced the handling ability of ULCVs (ultra-large container vessels) at the terminal.

Kale Info Solutions (Kale) has joined the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), marking a significant step forward for Kale in solidifying its position within the American maritime arena. With its extensive expertise in community platforms and enterprise solutions for ports, Kale will continue to empower the maritime community to optimise operations, through streamlining workflows, addressing congestion, dwell time, and documentation challenges, and providing technology that promotes paperless trade facilitation. “Becoming a member of the American Association of Port Authorities underscores our commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions tailored to the unique needs of the port industry. By joining forces with AAPA, we aim to contribute to the advancement of port excellence and drive digital, sustainable growth across the Americas,” said Amar More, President, Kale. “Kale aims to leverage its expertise to support AAPA’s mission of promoting port development, environmental sustainability, and economic prosperity.” The AAPA is a leading organisation representing the collective interests of ports throughout the Americas. With a rich history of advocacy and collaboration, AAPA serves as a vital platform for industry stakeholders to drive innovation, share best practice, and shape policies that enhance port efficiency and competitiveness on a global scale. “Most major U.S. ports currently trail global counterparts in digital optimisation – however, ongoing supply chain disruptions from COVID-19, trade tensions, and geopolitical challenges are compelling U.S. ports to enhance efficiency,” said More. “Embracing digital technology is imperative to navigating these complex dynamics and ensuring smoother operations in the future.” Kale offers the world’s pioneering SaaS-based Port Community System (PCS), fully compliant with the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) Maritime Single Window. This system facilitates the electronic exchange of information and documentation among maritime and port stakeholders …

The strong demand growth levels recorded over the first two months of the year are evidence of an improvement in air cargo demand after a weak 2023. Data analyst WorldACD said that it is hard to gain a true understanding of demand trends by looking at January and February individually due to the changing timing of the Lunar New Year – this year the two-week holiday was in February and in 2023 it took place in January. However, statistics for the first two months combined show a 13% year-on-year increase in cargo demand (or 11% if the extra leap year day is stripped out of the figures). WorldACD said that demand in January was up 17% year on year and February was ahead by 8% (4% with the extra day removed). “Worldwide air cargo demand was up by 13% in the first two months of this year, compared with the equivalent period last year, with demand continuing to surge from Middle East & South Asia (MESA) origins, and tonnages recovering from the normal Lunar New Year (LNY) seasonal dip,” WorldACD said in its latest market summary.

Allcargo Logistics has launched Less Than Container Load (LCL) consolidation services in collaboration with India’s largest network of ICDs/ CFSs Container Corporation of India Ltd (CONCOR) at the Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Ankleshwar South Gujarat. The introduction of the first ever LCL consolidation services at ICD Ankleshwar marks a significant milestone in Allcargo Logistics’ mission to provide comprehensive logistics solutions to its customers in south west Gujarat. Leveraging Allcargo’s expertise in freight forwarding and multimodal transportation, Allcargo Logistics aims to streamline cargo movements for MSME, SMB businesses in Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) spread in around South Gujarat Ankleshwar, Panoli, Jaghadia, Vilayat, Karjan, Dahej, Jambusar and Surat. With this strategic expansion, customers can now benefit from cost-effective and efficient consolidation of their smaller shipments into full container loads, facilitating seamless international trade. By offering LCL consolidation services at ICD Ankleshwar, Allcargo aims to enhance international supply chain efficiency by reducing transit time thereby optimizing logistics costs. Aligning with the growth and extensive reach of GIDC Mr. Venkatesh Rajalu, Terminal Manager at CONCOR facilitated the association with Allcargo Logistics. Allcargo’s long-standing relation with CONCOR is truly valued. As a pioneer with 30years of experience in the Logistics industry, we trust their expertise to facilitate this services, said Mr. Venkatesh Rajalu, Terminal Manager, CONCOR Commenting on the launch of the LCL services at ICD Ankleshwar, Mr. Natarajan Iyer Vice President, Allcargo Logistics Limited said, “The introduction of LCL consolidation services at ICD Ankleshwar underscores our commitment to delivering innovative logistics solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers. This expansion not only strengthens our presence in the region but also reinforces our position as a leading provider of end-to-end logistics …

Flyjac Logistics opened Multi-Purpose Logistics Centre (MPLC) in Mumbai. Flyjac is working on setting up multipurpose logistic centres in all Indian metros at a total cost exceeding Rs.700 crores. This latest facility in Taloja, Navi Mumbai, setup at an investment of Rs.300cr, is spread across 5lakh square feet, sitting on a parcel of 22 acres of land. This is the company’s second MPLC, after the maiden facility in Chennai. These MPLCs are aimed at offering improved efficiency and sustainability in serving Flyjac’s esteemed customers to meet their Integrated Logistics needs in the coming times. According to Flyjac officials, this new facility is equipped with automation technologies. including Auto Truck Unloading, Automatic Battery-operated Pallet Trolleys, which will enhance overall efficiency of Logistics operations. Additionally, the complete functioning of the warehouse and related Business processes can be monitored and controlled through an AI-based Control Tower, that ensures speedy and efficient execution. The infrastructure at the MPLC has been setup in a manner that can be scaled up for future requirements in warehousing, trucking and technology. The MPLC inauguration was done by Kaneko Toshihiro, Chief Consul, Consulate General of Japan and Zaiki, Operating Officer, Business Development HQ, LOGISTEED, Japan, Bharat Kaushal, MD Hitachi India, A.V. Ravikumar, CEO & MD, Flyjac Logistics, founding members of Flyjac, were present among others. A.V. Ravikumar said, “Flyjac would continue to uphold their founding values of – ‘Customer Delight, Self-development and Social Welfare.”

Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) in collaboration with Logix India is all set to organise Logix India from March 26-28, 2024 in Mumbai. The show will provide a platform for the logistics industry players and technology integrators to come forward and discuss solutions to enhance cost- competitiveness, supply chain efficiency and agility. LOGIX India 2024 will display solutions for Improving Cost-effectiveness and operational efficiencies for logistics, Investment opportunities in Infrastructure & Warehousing and Technology integration and IT Enablement.

GE Aerospace announced flight operations software contract with Air India. This strategic collaboration marks a significant milestone as Air India becomes the first enterprise in India to adopt GE’s FlightPulse® pilot app together with Safety and Fuel Insight for its entire group. With Safety Insight, Air India will have access to advanced analytics and real-time data monitoring to enhance safety measures and ensure optimal performance across its fleet. Fuel Insight will provide the enterprise with comprehensive fuel efficiency solutions, enabling the group to optimize journeys for more efficient fuel management. The FlightPulse® pilot app and its embedded Animation Module will drive engagement with more than 5000 of Air India’s flight crew by providing them with insights from personalized flight data, helping make informed operational decisions and taking an active role in driving Air India’s flight safety, training, and sustainability initiatives. “Air India group airlines are thrilled to collaborate with GE Aerospace and integrate their innovative solutions into our operations”, said Klaus Goersch, Executive Vice President & Chief Operations Officer, Air India. “The future looks bright as we work hand in hand to shape the future of Air India and set new standards for excellence and efficiency.” “We are elated to embark on this journey with Air India, a true trailblazer in the aviation industry,” said Andrew Coleman, General Manager, GE Aerospace, Software. “This partnership signifies a shared commitment to innovation, safety, and operational excellence.” As a digitally-led global airline under the Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, Air India is poised to drive substantial changes in its operational landscape. GE Aerospace’s software solutions will further enable the enterprise to cement best practices in flight safety and transform its fuel efficiency program …