Maersk moves
On Dec. 22, Denmark’s A.P. Moller - Maersk announced it reached an agreement to acquire LF Logistics, a Hong Kong-based contract logistics company that offers omnichannel fulfilment services, e-commerce, and inland transport in the Asia-Pacific region. The $3.6 billion acquisition would give Maersk additional 223 warehouses, bringing its total global number to 549. … On Dec. 16, Maersk announced the signing of an international freight supply chain management partnership with Unilever, effective beginning in 2022. The four-year pact includes the development and management of Unilever’s International Control Tower Solution, an operational management solution which will consolidate the execution of its global ocean and air transport, with the aim of enhancing visibility, increasing efficiency and driving reductions in emissions across its operations. ... On Dec. 8, Maersk unveiled the design of eight 16,000 twenty-foot equivalent container vessels powered by carbon-neutral methanol. The design allows a "20% improved energy efficiency per transported container, when comparing to the industry average for vessels in this size," Maersk officials said. "Additionally, the entire series is expected to save around 1 million tons of annual CO2 emissions, offering our customers carbon-neutral transportation at scale on ocean trades." The vessels will be 350 meters long and 53.5 meters wide and "will look significantly different from what has been seen before for any larger container vessels," Maersk officials said. Built by Hyundai Heavy Industries, the vessels feature a dual-fuel engine setup that can operate on methanol and conventional low-sulphur fuel. With fuel capacity, the vessels will be able to complete an entire round-trip — "for example, Asia-Europe," Maersk officials said — on green methanol.
MSC targets Bollore Group’s Africa logistics unit
On Dec. 20, The Bollore Group announced it received an offer from container transport and logistics company MSC Group to acquire 100% of Bollore Africa Logistics for €5.7 billion. The Bollore Group granted the MSC Group an “exclusivity” until 31 March 2022 to submit, following additional due diligence phase and contractual negotiations, a put option, Bollore Group officials said.
CMA CGM seeks to buy Ingram Micro for $3 billion
On Dec. 8, France shipping and logistics giant CMA CGM Group and U.S. IT product and services distributor Ingram Micro signed a “share and asset purchase agreement for CMA CGM to acquire most of Ingram Micro’s Commerce & Lifecycle Services activities (CLS), including Shipwire and the company’s technology forward logistics businesses in North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia-Pacific. Ingram Micro would retain the remaining portions of the existing CLS business. The enterprise value of the transaction is $3 billion.
A record year for Wolfurt-Rotterdam TransFER
Austria-based Rail Cargo Group’s container rail shuttle between Austrian Wolfurt and Rotterdam will move more than 18,500 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2021, an increase of more than 170$ since the service began in 2016 and an all-time high, Port of Rotterdam officials said on Dec. 27. “The growth since can be attributed on the one hand to the attractivity of the port itself,” said Berhard Ebner, business unit manager — intermodal Rail Cargo Group. “On the other hand, we have succeeded in persuading our customers of the quality and commercial efficiency of our Wolfurt–Rotterdam TransFER. This train connects Western Europe with economic centers in South and South-eastern Europe, like Koper and Trieste. In addition, a direct connection to other Austrian terminals is provided.”
VTG to supply fitting platforms to Russian freight-car manufacturer
VTG Rail Russia, which provides freight-car rental services on the Russian market and is a subsidiary of Hamburg, Germany-based VTG AG, signed a contract to supply 250 40-foot fitting platforms to Russia - RM Rail, a freight-car manufacturer, VTG officials announced on Dec. 15. The cars will be used to transport various containers, including ones with gross loading capacity up to 36 tons. The order will be fulfilled in 2022, with a “possible prior delivery of container wagons at the end of 2021,” VTG officials said.
DB Cargo to lease freight wagons from MFD Rail
In September, DB Cargo AG and MFD Rail signed an agreement on a strategic partnership. Earlier this month, the companies reached a long-term lease agreement was agreed under which DB Cargo can lease up to 2,400 freight wagons of various types for intermodal rail cars from MFD Rail, a Swiss start-up intermodal company. Delivery of the first tranche of 710 wagons is underway and will continue until 2023.
HERE to manage Port of Hamburg's container truck traffic
Amsterdam-based HERE Technologies entered into an agreement with the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) to manage truck traffic in the Port of Hamburg, HERE officials announced on Dec. 22. Within the port, digital information boards will provide drivers with traffic-relevant information to navigate them through the port. With HERE's Corridor Travel Time-as-a-Service solution, the HPA can monitor the traffic situation on relevant road corridors and manage the flow of traffic. HERE's solution is based on vehicle sensor data and uses services like HERE Real-Time Traffic and HERE Routing to provide "fresh and flexible" travel time information, HERE officials said.
Theft from warehouse facilities is main cargo crime in Middle East — report
More than over three-quarters of cargo theft occurs at logistics hubs and warehouses, with Free Trade Zone (FTZ) particularly vulnerable locations, according to a report released Dec. 16 from London-based TT Club and Dubai-based BSI. Titled “Cargo Crime in Gulf Countries and Regional Free Trade Zones,” the report is “intended as a risk mitigation tool for transport operators,” said officials of TT Club, which provides mutual insurance and related risk management services to the international transport and logistics industry. Key findings include: 76% of cargo theft is from warehouse and storage facilities; crime hot-spots in UAE & Saudi Arabia; high-value goods such as electronics targeted; insider assistance and corruption plays a prominent role; and smuggling of illicit contraband prevalent in FTZs. A PDF of the full report is available.
Global rail flaw detection market on the grow
The global rail flaw detection market is projected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 7.10% during the forecast period 2021 to 2030, according to a recent market study issued Dec. 16 by India’s Quince Market Insights. Rail flaw detection techniques typically are used to check the characteristics of parts, structures and materials without causing any further damage. The report includes a global rail flaw detection market analysis by the segments, along with an analysis of trend-based insights and factors; profiles of major market players operating in the global rail flaw detection market; key impact factor analysis across regions that includes analysis, along with the drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges that are prevailing in the global rail flaw detection market; and the impact of COVID-19 on the global rail flaw detection market. For a sample copy of the report, visit https://www.quincemarketinsights.com/request-sample-69836
