Singapore, 4 May 2020: The maritime industry can benefit from digital technologies in a way that can have an immediate and transformative impact on design, operations, business models, and environmental impact. To harness this transformational power, the world’s leading classification society DNV GL and technology company Alpha Ori Technologies (AOT) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in which they agree to work together to contribute to the marine industry’s ongoing digital transformation. The MOU will also see the companies work together to unlock the benefits of new digital technologies and methods, including sharing data collaboratively, and the creation of frameworks and standards, to develop new and enhance existing products and services.

China is the Port of Hamburg's most important trade partner. Hamburg serves as the gateway to Europe for Chinese goods. Along with handling ocean shipping, the port city is also an important railway hub for transports to and from China. The new Shandong-Europe Express train from Jinan arrived in Hamburg's Billwerder Terminal for the first time today. It carries valuable and time-sensitive cargo from China to Europe along the New Silk Road.

Amidst an increasingly bleak global economic outlook, IRU is calling on governments to ramp up efforts to support road transport operators so they can drive broader financial and social recovery.

It is realistic to assume that traveling and group assemblies will still be facing severe restrictions on a global scale during at least all 2020. For this reason, the Pangea Group is announcing the celebration of their 9th edition of Freightcamp as a virtual-only event open to all the freight forwarding community.

Kaunas Airport aims to have the most developed infrastructure for further expansion of MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) facilities in the region. At the moment, the airport is entering the final phase of the expansion project. In the final phase, the airport apron will be expanded, a new 15 000 sq. m taxiway will be constructed, and other necessary infrastructure will be built that is necessary for MRO facilities.

Sichuan  Yadong  Cement  Co.  in  Pengzhou,  China,  has been relying on a 12.5 km overland conveyor from Beumer Group in order to convey limestone from  its  quarry  to  its  silo.  When  constructed  in  2009 it was the longest belt conveying system in Beumer history (Beumer installed a longer system in   2016).   The   troughed   belt   conveyor   runs   through  hilly  terrain  and  nature  reserves,  over  streams and unstable ground. The second project includes two additional overland conveyors, with an overall  length  of  13.7km,  transporting  limestone  to  the  cement  plant.  Unlike  the  first  project,  the  task  here  was  to  build  the  conveyor  across  inhabited  areas.  Noise  emission  limitations  set  forth  by  the  government  also  needed  to  be  considered.

The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) has raised its concern on the air-cargo sector in Africa which has experienced a significant drop in capacity to Europe by 70% compared to 2019 according to CLIVE Data Services. Despite the vital role this activity plays in providing people with basic necessities and essential medical equipment, the situation is very concerning on the continent. TIACA is calling on all stakeholders – institutional and private alike – to take action without delay to contain this phenomenon.

Voltrans Logistics, member of XLProjects based in Vietnam recently handled over 100 tons and millions of gel hand sanitizer bottles. The cargo shipped to North America destination by air cargoes.

City Union Logistics, member of XLProjects based in China recently completed the air charter operation of AN124 to Moldova last week, the flight departed from Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG) on early morning of April, 19 which fully loaded anti-epidemic medical supplies including masks, protection suits, Covid-19 virus test kits, gloves, medicines, Ear thermometers and etc.

Saving the whales may be more important than planting trees when it comes to tackling climate change and keeping our oceans healthy. The world’s biggest animals play a crucial role, helping fertilise the phytoplankton that absorbs 40% of the world’s CO2. They also capture vast amounts of carbon in their bodies before sinking to the bottom of the ocean when they die and locking it away, sometimes for centuries.

The British International Freight Association (BIFA) has given a cautious welcome to the UK Government’s announcement today of a broad package of support measures for ferry routes between the UK and Northern Ireland; as well as between the UK and mainland Europe.

Safety specialist Survitec is supplying the offshore oil and gas sector with the Virustatic Shield antiviral snood, following calls for better protection for offshore workers during helicopter transfer to and from their workplace.

We regret to inform that we feel obliged to cancel the ESPO Conference 2020, which was due to take place in one month in Oslo. We came to this tough decision in view of the current situation of the spread of Covid-19 among Europe and the different travel bans that will probably still be in place in May, in Norway as well as in many other EU Member States.

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. ("K" Line) is pleased to announce that it has signed the United Nations Global Compact (the "UNGC"), an initiative proposed by the United Nations, and has been registered as a participating company on April 20, 2020. We have also joined Global Compact Network Japan, which is UNGC's local network in Japan.

Freight association believes extension of Brexit transition period still seems likely

As the stalled negotiations between the UK and EU started again this week, the head of the British International Freight Association has described the UK government's insistence that it will not ask to extend the 11-month transition period as a very risky move.