Coronavirus causes job losses in Copenhagen and Malmö
Copenhagen Malmö Port (CMP) has been forced to terminate 55 jobs in Copenhagen as a result of the financial impact of the coronavirus. The move follows the announcement in April that 40 jobs would be lost from Malmö, Scandinavia’s largest vehicle handling port…
Watch: Livestream Hour Episode 5 – Mexico Automotive Supply Chain in Focus
In Episode 5 of the Livestream Hour, we discuss the key risks in the Mexican automotive supply chain, and strategies for successfully restarting manufacturing and supply chains, whilst preparing for USMCA implementation. With special guests from Volkswagen, Honda, the US-Mexico Chamber of Commerce and CNW. Hosted by editor-in-chief Christopher Ludwig.
Blowing a bigger bubble at Zeebrugge
The world’s biggest vehicle handling port saw an increase in vehicle handling in 2019. It is speeding up throughput to keep pace using the latest technology and some major reconstruction projects. was closing on the 3m mark for the number of finished vehicles handled through its terminals when it got to the end of 2019, up 4.4% on the previous year. That was thanks to some major reconstruction projects and developments in digital technology supporting a more sustainable industry
Covid recovery will test resilience of outbound supply chain, says report
As vehicle manufacturers tentatively restart production in Europe after shutdowns caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, there are concerns that insolvencies in the outbound logistics sector could hamper distribution and sales…
Watch: Your questions answered | Restarting automotive production in the new normal
In a follow up to our Livestream Hour episode on restarting production, we bring our guest panel back together to answer audience that we couldn’t get to during the live session, including topics on automation, inventory and future sourcing. Featuring Ralf Bechmann from ROI Management Consulting, and Automotive Manufacturing Solutions editor Nick Holt, hosted by Christopher Ludwig
Coronavirus leads to capacity crisis at Zeebrugge
Europe’s biggest vehicle handling port in Zeebrugge, Belgium, is taking emergency measures to deal with congestion at its ro-ro terminals caused by the coronavirus pandemic…
Onnen-Lübben oversees Mosolf’s expansion at Wilhelmshaven
German logistics provider Mosolf has appointed Inke Onnen-Lübben (pictured) as manager of operations at its facility in the Jade-Weser-Port complex in Wilhelmshaven, Germany…
Stronger connections for a competitive future
Capacity constraints have tested the resourcefulness of Haropa ports, which oversees activity at the sea port of Le Havre, and the inland ports of Rouen and Paris, but the company is responding with investment, redevelopment and the application of smart technology
Next step into the unprecedented
The disruption to the global automotive supply chain caused by the coronavirus pandemic is being exacerbated by uncertainty fed by a lack of accurate information. At last week’s Automotive Supply Chain update webinar, presented by Ultima Media’s business intelligence unit, analysts tried to provide some clarity on the current situation and what lay ahead for the industry
VW Autoeuropa to import gearboxes through port of Sines
Volkswagen is to start shipping gearboxes made at its components plant in Córdoba, Argentina, to its Autoeuropa assembly plant in Portugal. Containers are being shipped from the Argentine port of Buenos Aries to the Portuguese port of Sines for onward shipment by road to the plant in Palmela
Coronavirus takes its toll on maritime sector
Ro-ro operator Wallenius Wilhelmsen Ocean (WW Ocean) is to reduce its fleet of around 125 vessels by up to 15 in wake of car plants closing down, automotive supply chains being interrupted and coronavirus-related disruption to normal business activity looking set to continue for months…
6 questions in 60 seconds…with Kristin Decas
Kristin Decas, CEO/port director, Port of Hueneme, talks, boxing, chocolate and why it’s important to be a sponge
Reaching for the stars: how Galileo’s satellites could help automotive logistics
Since launching its first test navigation satellite in 2005, the European Space Agency (ESA) has steadily built up the Galileo global positioning network and today operates 22 satellites. With four further launches due in 2020, the Galileo network is set to become the first fully operational high-accuracy global navigation satellite system (GNSS) – heralding a new era of precision navigation and, for the automotive industry, bringing opportunities for improved vehicle logistics.
Colombia’s Santa Marta port sees 30% surge in imports
Santa Marta port is now responsible for importing 25% of Colombia’s finished vehicles and is also rising in importance as a transhipment hub. Vehicle traffic through the port increased by more than 30% last year as sales in the country to more than 257,000
Port of Vitória sees 40% rise in imported vehicles
Stability in the Brazilian economy is reported to be behind the 40% surge in imported finished vehicles through the port of Vitória in January 2020, compared to the same month last year, with 3,569 units imported
Listen: Interview with Antonio Zepeda Torres, CSI Group
At the Automotive Logistics Mexico 2020 conference, Antonio Zepeda Torres, commercial director for CSI Group, tells editor Joanne Perry about the company’s recently completed, six-storey car storage facility at Veracruz – the busiest port in the country for automotive traffic. He also discusses the wider challenges of transporting finished vehicles in Mexico.
Shipping lines accused of fixing transport charges which cost UK car buyers
Five shipping firms have been accused of overcharging OEM customers by conspiring to fix the prices they charged for transporting new cars and vans to the UK.
NYK boosts ro-ro service from Europe to South America
NYK Line is starting a new, direct monthly ro-ro service from Europe to South America’s west coast in April this year. It supplements the existing service NYK that was set up in 2018 and runs monthly between Europe and South America, which includes transhipment at Panama
Watch: BMW prepares its logistics network for global export from Mexico
Karl-Friedrich Koch, vice-president of production control, logistics at BMW Group Mexico talks to Christopher Ludwig about the ramp up in production at the carmaker’s plant in San Luis Potosí
Vitória sees double-digit growth in imports
The Brazilian port of Vitória, which is managed by Codesa port authority, reported a 16.8% rise in imported vehicles during 2019 and there is strong expectation that volumes through the port will increase
Water woes: how European river transport projects have ground to a halt
In Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Poland the authorities are embarking on big projects aimed at boosting cargo flows along key rivers. Potentially, this could provide more opportunities for the European finished vehicle logistics industry, but for a number of reasons it is not clear that river transport in the region will become more popular.
Toyota begins exports of Tacoma from Guanajuato
Following the start of production at its new $700m Mexican assembly plant in Guanajuato, Toyota has outlined its distribution strategy for the new model-year Tacoma pick-up trucks it is making there. The majority of the output from Guanajuato will be exported to the US on short-sea routes through the ports of Veracruz on the east coast and Lazaro Cardenas on the west. The remaining volume to the US will be shipped via rail through the border town of Laredo in Texas
Dedicated ro-ro terminal planned for Egypt’s Port Said
Egypt’s Port Said is to benefit from a dedicated vehicle handling ro-ro terminal to support the regional growth of the automotive indutry in the Middle East and North Africa. A consortium comprising Toyota’s trading arm Toyota Tsusho, Japanese shipping line NYK and French transport services company Bolloré Africa Logistics have agreed with the Suez Canal Economic Zone’s general authority to develop and operate the terminal
Philaport to benefit from containerised vehicle shipment service
Containerised vehicle forwarder CFR Rinkens and GWSI, which specialises in warehousing and cross-dock services, have set up a centre for containerised vehicle shipping near the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal at the US port of Philadelphia (PhilaPort)…
Ro-ro service underway at Argentina’s Tajiber terminal
The port of Campana’s Tajiber terminal, in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, has begun a regular ro-ro service for vehicle import and export volumes..
Weighing the cost of the EV revolution
The rise in the number of electric vehicles being transported in Europe is bringing with it some significant challenges for those carriers tasked with volume shipments. They are having to deal with heavier and higher voltage vehicles that need charging on routes that cross countries with differing regulations on load dimensions
Mena aftermarket: Playing a bigger part
Overall economic growth may be lacklustre, but automotive aftermarket sales are on the increase in the Middle East and North Africa…
Cleaner vehicle carriers sail into new decade at a cost
Shipping lines including WW Ocean and UECC are beginning a new decade in line with the IMO’s regulations on 0.5% sulphur content in marine fuels, which came into force this month
In the zone at Jebel Ali port
With a multi-tier parking facility holding around 27,000 car equivalent units (CEU), Jebel Ali is the biggest port in the Middle East and the 11th largest worldwide. The port has four terminals connecting to more than 150 other ports through 80 weekly services, and its activity accounts for 26.1% of Dubai’s GDP. In 2018, 82% of Dubai’s automotive trade passed through Jebel Ali, worth $31.6 billion in vehicles, tyres, parts and accessories.
Room for manoeuvre with Glovis at Philaport
Glovis America is now operating a new $110m vehicle terminal at the port of Philadelphia on the US east coast, providing much-needed capacity at a time when larger car-carrying vessels are loading and discharging greater volumes
Fresh floes: What does the Northern Sea Route mean for automotive logistics?
The Northern Sea Route (NSR), a growing shipping lane linking South-East Asia with Northern Europe through Arctic waters, is set to become a competitor to the Suez Channel for cargo delivery between these two regions. Russian authorities believe that the NSR would could be used for all types of cargo – and automotive product, both parts and vehicles, would be no exception.
Ports America appoints Peter Levesque as president
Peter Levesque is to become president of North American marine terminal operator and stevedore, Ports America in February 2020. He takes over from Mark Montgomery, who has held the position as well as that of CEO since the beginning of 2018. Montgomergy will continue as CEO.
VW pushes the boat out with LNG-fuelled car transport
Volkswagen Group Logistics (VW Logistics) says it will be the first company to use car carriers powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) in overseas traffic. The vessels, chartered from Siem Car Carriers, will be deployed in the new year
South Korea’s NEV exports continue to rise
In the face of a general decline in vehicle exports from South Korea, the country’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy has found a silver lining in increased exports of new energy vehicles (NEVs). It has also recorded rises in automotive parts exports to emerging markets.
JLR moves into larger VPC in North America
British OEM JLR has relocated to a larger, renovated vehicle processing centre (VPC) in Brunswick, Georgia, to cater for increasing demand for its vehicles…
UK activates Operation Brock to avoid port-bound highway congestion
Highways England has activated its plan to avoid freight traffic congestion on the M20 in the event of disruption to cross-Channel services caused by the UK’s withdrawal from the EU...
CLdN expands fleet with Hermine con-ro vessel
European shipping line CLdN has taken delivery of MV Hermine, the fourth con-ro vessel and sixth in the company’s current building programme.
DP World: Access to Africa
DP World is expanding its network of logistics operations for the automotive industry across the Middle East and Africa, with a focus on integrated services and special economic zones such as its flagship Jebel Ali Port
K Line starts ro-ro service between Spain and Japan
K Line has started a twice-weekly, deep-ocean vehicle service between Spain and Japan for passenger and commercial vehicles as well as high and heavy cargo
Julia Prescot joins Port of Tyne board
Julia Prescot has been appointed a non-executive director of the Port of Tyne authority in North East England
Penske builds on range of EVs deployed in California with Kalmar Ottawa
Penske is deploying an Electric Terminal Tractor made by Kalmar Ottawa for trailer-handling operations in California
Ben Buben to lead cargo sales at Jaxport
Ben Buben has moved to a new role as director of cargo sales at Jacksonville Port Authority (Jaxport) replacing Frank Camp, who has moved to a new role at Jaxport focusing on developing new and existing container cargo business
GPA expands vehicle handling space at Brunswick port
The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) has added 40 acres (16 hectares) of dedicated ro-ro space at Brunswick port’s Colonel’s Island Terminal. The additional dock space increases the car storage area at the vehicle terminal by 6,000 spaces and will help speed vessel turnaround
Adampol: One Belt, One Road
Adampol’s intermodal terminal in Małaszewicze, Poland is crucial for container transport between China and Europe. Territorial development director Dariusz Stypułkowski explains how the transport and logistics firm’s new Baltic and Euro China trains are ready to offer clients a short cut
UECC wins Bremenports’ Greenports award
United European Car Carriers’ (UECC) pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) Auto Energy has been recognised as the most environmentally friendly vessel calling at the ports of Bremen, northern Germany. Its sister ship, Auto Eco, was runner-up.
Tangible progress: Morocco boosts automotive production and logistics
There is no doubt that shipping professionals are familiar with the Moroccan city of Tangier, as it is ranked 50th among container ports worldwide. The first container terminal opened in 2007 and has since been joined by three others; two at Tanger Med port 1 and two at Tanger Med port 2.
VW AutoEuropa back on track to Setúbal
Volkswagen Autoeuropa has reintroduced a rail connection to the port of Setúbal.
Grimaldi adds PCTC to North America service
Italian shipping line Grimaldi has taken delivery of the pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) Grande Mirafiori – named after a Fiat car plant – at the Yangfan shipyard in Zhoushan, eastern China.
Easing off the gas: Is the shipping industry ready for Sulphur 2020?
The IMO’s new regulation to cut sulphur emissions, which is coming into force next year, will require operational changes by ports and shipping lines. But some parts of the world are far from prepared.
Ford to import EcoSport to Canada via Vancouver
Ford will start importing EcoSports through the Canadian port of Vancouver next month for the first time. The carmaker has previously only used the port of Halifax on the east coast and used rail to distribute the vehicles to rest of the country.
