Category Archives: International

Gotabaya Rajapaksa, President, Sri Lanka has informed that 49 per cent of the investment in Colombo Port will come from the Adani Group and other stakeholders in developing a container terminal at the strategically coveted Colombo Port. President Rajapaksa was addressing representatives of the Port’s worker unions, amid their persisting resistance to any foreign involvement in the proposed project to develop the East Container Terminal (ECT). “The ECT will not be sold or leased,” he assured them, adding that the foreign investments would cause no harm to Sri Lanka’s sovereignty or independence, according to a statement issued by the President’s office. The development comes a week after External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s visit to Colombo, during which he reportedly urged the Sri Lankan side to expedite finalising the deal. While 66 per cent of the transhipment business at the terminal is linked to India, New Delhi’s strategic interest in having a presence at the Port, located along one of the world’s shipping lanes, is no secret. However, Sri Lankan port trade unions were not convinced with the proposal of Indian multinational company Adani Group and its partners buying 49 per cent stake in the Eastern Container Terminal (ETC) of Colombo Port, the trade unions says a day after President Rajapaksa met them to explain the need for foreign funding.

Qatar Airways Cargo and DHL Global Forwarding have transported 246 containers of active pharma shipments from Milan, Italy to Chicago, USA between October and December 2020. The containers were transported by temperature-controlled trucks to Indianapolis from Chicago. These pharma shipments are being moved using RAP active containers leased from both DokaSch and Envirotainer. The pharma shipments consist of insulin, an injectable prescription medicine for adults with type 2 diabetes used to improve blood sugar (glucose) and reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events in people who have heart diseases or multiple cardiovascular risk factors. Guillaume Halleux, Chief Officer Cargo said, Qatar Airways, “We are glad to support DHL Global Forwarding with this large movement of injectable prescription medicines that will benefit adults with type 2 diabetes. The logistics around pharmaceutical transportation is complex and being at the forefront of time and temperature-sensitive transportation, we understand the intricacies of a seamless cool chain. Our QR Pharma solution is designed keeping in mind the seamless transport of all kinds of pharmaceuticals and healthcare products.” Christian Giacomin, Head of Airfreight Product Capacity Management & Pricing, DHL Global Forwarding (Italy) Spa said, “This important cooperation with Qatar Airways Cargo is a further step that adds value to our comprehensive portfolio of transportation solutions for the pharmaceutical products, enforcing our long-lasting expertise in this sector.” To be able to support its customer and the end user of the product, the airline implemented an additional weekly frequency directly from Milan to Chicago, bringing the total number of B777 freighters from Milan to Chicago to three per week. The significant investments in cold chain management are part of the cargo carrier’s strategy and commitment to improving and …

Widening its range of worldwide project logistics services, GEODIS is positioning this offer with a new name in the market, changing from GEODIS Industrial Projects to GEODIS Project Logistics. The name change reflects the more diversified service portfolio of GEODIS in this sector which now goes beyond serving the industrial segment. In addition to GEODIS’ growing activity in the Renewable Energy market, as well as the company’s evolving offer for the Oil & Gas industry, GEODIS is integrating its Aid & Relief business as well as its Marine Logistics teams into the expanded project logistics organization. “GEODIS Project Logistics represents the full spectrum of services we offer today”, said Luke Mace, Senior Vice President Project Logistics at GEODIS. “While the logistical challenges of each sector can be very different, all have very important requirements in common: expertise in handling, attention to detail and quality of service. Such are the foundations of GEODIS Project Logistics. Our clients can have confidence that our diversification will strengthen our services through extended expertise, a continuous drive for innovation and our high standard for safety and compliance.” GEODIS Project Logistics is offered in over 30 countries. 550 project logistics specialists worldwide operate in the sectors of Oil & Gas, Renewables, Rail, Nuclear, Mining, Power, Infrastructure, Petrochemical Production and Refining, Aid & Relief, Marine Logistics and Governmental Services.

CEVA Logistics has launched an express train service from Jinhua (China) to Dourges (France) to provide additional freight capacity for shippers amid unprecedented demand for transport and logistics services. Loaded with 22 full containers of various supplies, CEVA Logistics’ first train has left China on 18 day journey. The train connects a string of “Belt and Road” countries such as Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, and Germany with a journey of over 11,000 km. Having Dourges as the transit point, the destination delivery outreach will cover Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain and Italy as well as France. Through the Jinhua-Dourges express train, CEVA Logistics can provide its existing customers with a fast, convenient, and sustainable China-Europe rail solutions. Compared to cargo movement via truck, the block train option reduces CO2 emissions by up to 67%. Xavier Bour, Global Ground and Rail Product Leader, CEVA Logistics, says, “With global supply chains experiencing unprecedented demand for transport and logistics services, CEVA Logistics is committed to providing its existing and potential customers with convenient and sustainable solutions. Our rail and multi modal solutions, together with our parent company the CMA CGM Group, between China and Europe are part of that strategy. France is an important logistics hub on the European market and with this new service, CEVA Logistics has tapped into the rail market for Eastern and Western Europe. Our next extension of our rail footprint will be the development of the southern Europe market.”

SpiceJet has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Belgium’s Brussels Airport to provide seamless transportation of Covid-19 vaccine. As strategic partners, both SpiceJet and Brussels Airport Company NV will jointly work with the government, pharma companies and forwarders to ensure a reliable ecosystem for vaccine delivery in a temperature-controlled environment. Besides, they will also work towards developing and strengthening a direct air link for SpiceJet with Brussels Airport. As part of the association, Brussels Airport will be SpiceJet’s first flight point for Europe. The airline’s cargo arm, SpiceXpress, envisions to provide rapid and secure transportation of Covid-19 vaccine from and to Europe and beyond with proper temperature-controlled mechanism under the MoU. The airport shall provide assistance to the carrier with regards to slots, networking contracts etc. to provide efficient and speedy solutions for delivery. Brussels Airport has several years of expertise in the transport of temperature-sensitive products and has handled multiple flights carrying Covid-19 vaccines recently. Ajay Singh, Chairman & Managing Director, SpiceJet said, “We are delighted to partner with Brussels Airport in our fight against the pandemic. This tie-up will help SpiceJet to seamlessly transport vaccines not only from Europe and beyond to India but also help Indian manufacturers export extremely sensitive drugs in a safe and controlled environment. We are fully committed and prepared to transport the Covid-19 vaccine and assist in the biggest vaccination drive in the history of mankind.” Arnaud Feist, CEO, Brussels Airport Company said, “As Europe’s preferred airport for the transport of temperature-sensitive products, Brussels Airport, certified IATA CEIV Pharma, has more than 30,000 sqm of temperature-controlled areas. As of today, we have already shipped more than 10 million doses of vaccine from …

Cathay Pacific Cargo has built on its many years of experience in transporting pharmaceutical shipments to develop a vaccine solution specifically for the fast and effective distribution of COVID-19 vaccines across the globe. The new quality-assured solution facilitates the fast and effective import and transhipment of COVID-19 vaccines worldwide. Tom Owen, Director – Cargo, Cathay Pacific, said, “With our 20 dedicated freighters and cargo bellies of passenger aircraft supporting our extensive freighter network, we stand ready to assist with what will be the biggest humanitarian response to a situation involving civil aviation that anyone has ever seen.” The cargo carrier is progressively rolling out ‘Ultra Track’ as a key part of the vaccine solution. The next-generation track-and-trace system monitors information including temperature, GPS location, and humidity, using low-energy Bluetooth readers. This gives shippers and forwarders near real time visibility, and ensures vaccines will remain within their transportation temperature ranges. Operations Control Centre In addition, shipments using Ultra Track will also be monitored by the newly established Operations Control Centre. Based in Hong Kong, and staffed by dedicated cargo professionals 24/7, the team can instruct ramp and cargo terminal staff to take proactive steps to ensure the various storage requirements of vaccines are maintained. Owen said, “Ultra Track will allow forwarders to monitor the condition of their vaccine shipments in near real time. It will be progressively rolled out through the first quarter of this year, and we will be offering the service free of charge for any COVID-19 vaccine shipments.” CEIV Pharma accreditation The combined approach follows on from an airport-wide recertification of IATA’s CEIV Pharma accreditation (the internationally recognised quality-assurance scheme for pharmaceutical shipments) at Hong Kong International Airport. …

MASKargo celebrated the success of its first charter flight of 2021 transporting approximately 20 tonnes of Covid-19 test kits from Seoul to Jakarta. The carrier utilised an Airbus A330-200 freighter for the flight, which operated between Incheon International in South Korea and Soekarno-Hatta International in Indonesia with a two-hour transit at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. The ad hoc deployment of the charter service was due to the urgent need to ensure timely delivery of the items, the carrier informs. Ibrahim Mohamed Salleh, Chief Executive, MasKargo says: “With the adequate infrastructure to ensure the safe handling, transportation, and distribution of the temperature-sensitive goods, MASkargo maintained the aircraft temperature at between 15˚C to 25˚C throughout the eleven-hour flight. This mission has proven beyond doubt, MASkargo’s capability and solid track record of carrying time and temperature-sensitive products within its network and beyond.”

With an aim to provide distribution and storage of the Covid-19 vaccine, Moderna and Kuehne+Nagel has announced that they have agreed an international supply chain arrangement. The announcement follows the granting of conditional marketing authorisation by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for Covid-19 Vaccine Moderna. Kuehne+Nagel will support the worldwide distribution of vaccine doses from Moderna’s international supply chain, based in Europe. This includes distribution to markets in Europe, Asia, Middle East and Africa, and parts of the Americas. “We are proud to be partnering with Kuehne+Nagel from Europe to support the distribution of vaccines to global citizens. Following the recent approvals, this is another step closer to resolving the pandemic and an exciting time for both our companies and everyone involved,” says, Dan Staner, Vice President Head of EMEA region, Moderna Inc. The arrangement includes distribution and warehousing of the vaccine from Kuehne+Nagel’s pharma hub in Europe. Kuehne+Nagel will use its network of more than 230 operations worldwide to distribute the vaccine via road and air. In Europe alone, the company operates its own fleet of over 200 dedicated pharmaceutical transport vehicles. At all stages of transport and storage, product integrity at the required temperature of -20°C will be maintained. Robert Coyle, Senior Vice President, Pharma & Healthcare, Kuehne + Nagel Management AG, comments: “With today’s announcement, we take on the responsibility to distribute Covid-19 Vaccine Moderna around the world. We have invested in our pharma & healthcare network and our global team of experts for decades – we are ready now, for when it matters the most.” Kuehne+Nagel’s clinical trial logistics subsidiary, QuickSTAT, has been an integral part of Moderna’s vaccine supply chain as well, having supported Phase …

In a bid to enhance connectivity to South East Asia and China, DP World operated Chennai Container Terminal (CCT) has added a new China–East India Service, ‘CI5 service’. The service is operated by a consortium of five vessel operators – Wan Hai Lines, Interasia Lines, KMTC, Goldstar Lines and BTL. The new CI5 service is the first-ever service from Chennai that will provide direct connection to Pasir Gudang, Malaysia and Kaohsiung, Taiwan and will also offer direct connectivity to key ports of China in Shekou and Qingdao on the East Bound leg. The service started with the maiden call of vessel ‘MV Interasia Heritage’ on January 5, 2021. The vessel arrived from Port Kelang and carried total exchange of 4690 TEUs of which 2685 TEUs were Import and 2005 TEUs export. Inclusion of this service reinforces Chennai Port’s position as South India’s major trade gateway with state-of-the-art facilities and best-in-class infrastructure to effectively serve growing needs of the trade. MV Interasia Heritage is one of the six 4250 TEUs capacity vessels which will call the DP World Chennai terminal. Capt. R. Venkatesh, CEO, DP World Chennai, welcomed the partners of the new service and reiterated the terminal’s efforts to render world-class customer service and to deliver best-in-class operational performance. The new service will allow customers to connect their cargo efficiently with better frequency and service coverage as well as boost the growing trade between China / South East Asia, and East coast of India. P. Raveendran, Chairman, Chennai Port Trust, says, “We welcome the new service and look forward to more customers selecting Chennai as their preferred port of call. By the recent declaration of VRC rebates to vessels engaged …

The world’s leading cargo carrier introduced its sustainability project, WeQare, which consists of a series of positive and impactful actions in the form of chapters. These actions are based on the core pillars of sustainability – environment, society, economy and culture. They are being implemented at all levels of the cargo carrier’s business which is a real turning point for air freight and will make the cargo carrier’s operations more sustainable, going forward. “We are deeply concerned about the legacy we leave for the future generation. As a leading cargo carrier, we want to make CSR a key strategic element of our business and want our positive actions to have a ripple effect. Keeping this in mind, we are proud to present WeQare, a project close to the heart of every Qatar Airways Cargo employee,” said Guillaume Halleux, Chief Officer Cargo at Qatar Airways. Last July, Qatar Airways Cargo launched Chapter 1 in its series of WeQare actions by providing the free transport of 1 million kilos of humanitarian aid and medical equipment to charitable organizations. Chapter 2 will be announced this month. To commemorate this important programme, the cargo carrier also released a special logo. Its tree patterns symbolise life and growth, the environment and our society as a whole. The tree patterns are enclosed within a round shape representing the planet. All of these elements are united around a common or shared purpose – sustainability. The cargo carrier’s employees are the driving force behind WeQare, a project that encourages cohesion and also provides a sense of fulfilment. All chapters launched throughout the programme are directly linked to everyday activities of the cargo carrier, its daily experience within the …