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Archives for February 2022

AMERICAN CLUB EXPERIENCES AN ENCOURAGING 2022 P&I RENEWAL

February 28, 2022 by

PREMIUM INCREASES ACHIEVED IN BOTH MUTUAL AND FIXED PREMIUM SECTORS

OPERATING OUTOOK IMPROVES, BUT CHALLENGING BUSINESS CONDITIONS PERSIST

NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 28, 2022:  The American Club experienced an encouraging 2022 P&I renewal season. Both its mutual and fixed premium portfolios performed well, with increases in rating for its mutual business somewhat exceeding Board mandates, and its EOM fixed premium book continuing to show growth in both revenue and market share.

Although tonnage entered for Class I (P&I) risks diminished slightly over the renewal period (by about 3%), the average rate per ton on renewing business, excluding the effect of the substantial rise in the International Group’s market reinsurance costs, grew by a margin of about 3.5% above the Club’s minimum requirement of 12.5% as mandated by its Board last November.

Taking this into account in conjunction with a 13% growth in P&I tonnage over the twelve months since February 20, 2021, the Club begins the 2022 policy year with projected income about 20% higher than that at the commencement of the previous year. Moreover, increases in deductibles and the variation of other terms of cover will provide additional value to these rises in premium by comparison with expiring revenue and expiring terms.

The Club’s renewing Class II (FD&D) business remained, in tonnage terms, largely the same as it had been twelve months earlier, but net premium income grew by approximately 11% year-on-year. Similar growth is expected to emerge during 2022 in relation to the Club’s Class III (Charterers’ insurance) portfolio.

Eagle Ocean Marine (EOM), the American Club’s fixed premium brand, has continued to make progress into 2022. Premium development for the current policy period indicates a year-on-year revenue growth of about 8%, implying a compound increase in income of about 15% per annum over the last five years. Most importantly, EOM continues to make a profitable contribution to the Club’s mutuality.

Commenting on the outcome of the recent renewal, Tom Hamilton, Chief Underwriting Officer of SCB, Inc., the American Club’s Managers, said: “Despite very challenging conditions, both the American Club and EOM experienced a positive outcome to the 2022 renewal season. Against a background of rising losses and increasing reinsurance overhead, we were successful in implementing a policy aimed at creating a better balance between income and expenditure in every sector of our underwriting activity.”

Speaking in conjunction with Mr Hamilton, Joe Hughes, Chairman and CEO of SCB, Inc., said: “The last several years have been a stressful period for all clubs as rising claims have combined with falling premiums to seriously disrupt underwriting equilibrium. However, our experience over the recent renewal with the aim of reversing this trend has been positive. Accordingly, there are grounds for optimism that operational results will show improvement over the forthcoming period.

“Above all, we extend our thanks to the Club’s Members, their brokers and all others who were involved in the recent renewal for their enduring support of the American Club and EOM. Although challenging business conditions persist, my colleagues and I are certain that the difficulties of the present will generate opportunities for the future.”

Notes to Editors

The American Club

American Steamship Owners Mutual Protection and Indemnity Association, Inc. (the American Club) was established in New York in 1917. It is the only mutual Protection and Indemnity Club domiciled in the entire Americas and its headquarters are in New York, USA.

The American Club has been successful in recent years in building on its US heritage to create a truly international insurer with a global reach second-to-none in the industry. Day to day management of the American Club is provided by Shipowners Claims Bureau, Inc. also headquartered in New York.

The Club is able to provide local service for its members across all time zones, communicating in eleven languages, and has subsidiary offices located in London, Piraeus, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Houston, plus a worldwide network of correspondents.

The Club is a member of the International Group of P&I Clubs, a collective of thirteen mutuals which together provide Protection and Indemnity insurance for some 90% of all world shipping.

The American Club also operates a fixed premium facility, Eagle Ocean Marine (EOM), aimed at the operators of smaller vessels in local and regional trades. Since it commenced underwriting in 2011, EOM has enjoyed considerable success in building a growing footprint in this specialist market and generating strong profitability for the Club.

American Steamship Owners Marine Insurance Company (Europe) Ltd. – or the American Club (Europe) – is a wholly-owned, Solvency-II accredited subsidiary of the Club, based in Cyprus. Since it began operating in mid-2016 as American Hellenic Hull Insurance Company Limited, it has enjoyed an increasing market presence in the hull and machinery sector. Re-named as the American Club (Europe) since February 2022, it also underwrites P&I and related insurances under recent authorizations to that effect from the Cypriot regulator.

For more information, please visit the Club’s website http://www.american-club.com/

P&I Insurance

Protection and Indemnity insurance (commonly referred to as “P&I”) provides cover to shipowners and charterers against third-party liabilities encountered in their commercial operations; typical exposures include damage to cargo, pollution, death/injury or illness of passengers or crew or damage to docks and other installations.

Running in parallel with a ship’s hull and machinery cover, traditional P&I cover distinguishes itself from usual forms of marine insurance by being based on the not-for-profit principle of mutuality where Members of the Club are both the insurers and the assureds.

Filed Under: The American Club

Record performance for GEODIS in 2021

February 28, 2022 by

GEODIS has achieved the targets of its “Ambition 2023” plan two years ahead of schedule, demonstrating the reliability of its business model

  • Revenues: €10.9bn, +28% compared to 2020 and +33% compared to 2019, at constant perimeter and exchange rate
  • EBITDA[1]:€948m, 33% above 2020 level and 38% higher than in 2019
  • Very strong generation of operating cash flow leading to a substantial reduction in net debt

Marie-Christine Lombard, Chief Executive Officer of GEODIS, declared:

“In 2021, GEODIS met the targets of its ‘Ambition 2023’ strategic plan two years ahead of schedule, both in terms of revenue and EBITDA. This performance validates the Group strategy and confirms the value creation for its shareholder, SNCF.

“In less than 10 years, GEODIS, the French leader, has become the 4th largest European player in the logistics sector and the 7th largest in the world, with revenues that have grown by more than 50% and an operating margin that has increased fivefold during this period. I would like to thank our customers for their trust (89% satisfaction rate), as well as our employees for their unwavering commitment to the Group (80% satisfaction rate).

“In 2022, GEODIS will continue implementing the three pillars of its strategic ambition: the development of an end-to-end service offering for freight delivery, the strengthening of its e-commerce logistics offering, and a policy of targeted investments in both strategic assets (logistics real estate including robotics, decarbonated trucks) and acquisitions to bolster our presence in key countries (North America, Europe and Southeast Asia).

“In 2022, GEODIS will strengthen its commitment to ESG by including environmental and social responsibility issues in the variable compensation for top management.”

A historic year for GEODIS in a favorable market environment

  • Revenue of €10.9bn, +33% compared to 2019 on a like-for-like basis[2] (+28% compared to 2020), driven by sustained activity across all the Group’s Lines of Business and regions. In particular:
  • The Freight Forwarding Line of Business benefited from a very positive market environment owing to a favorable price effect and increased volumes. Its revenue in 2021 stood at €4.9 billion, +66% compared to 2019.

In a context of extreme tension in the air and sea freight market, GEODIS managed to secure transport capacities to ensure the continuity of its customers’ supply chains, by:

  • Chartering vessels and securing long-term shipping capacity between Asia and Europe,
  • Strengthening its air charter program and launching a dedicated cargo aircraft.
  • The contract logistics business has been boosted by the boom in e-commerce and market dynamism in the United States and Europe.

The Group’s activities linked to e-commerce now represent more than a quarter of sales in 2021, which illustrates GEODIS’ ability to adapt its offering to market expectations.

  • Record results, well above pre-pandemic levels: post-IFRS 16 EBITDA rose by +38% compared to 2019 (+33% versus 2020) to €948m, resulting in an EBITDA margin of 8.7%thanks to the combined effect of relevant commercial initiatives, strong operational performance and tight cost management.
  • Sound financial position: strong generation of operating cash flow, allowing a substantial reduction in net debt and a leverage ratio[3] below 1x.

Structural investments in 2021 focused on GEODIS’ sustainable growth

In line with its “Ambition 2023” plan, GEODIS carried out strategic and targeted investments in 2021 that contributed to the Group’s sustainable growth, both through external growth operations and the acquisition of transport and logistics capacities.

  • GEODIS made some bolt-on acquisitions to meet customer demand with an enhanced service offering and a stronger geographic presence in strategic markets:
  • The acquisition of Pekaes and Transport Perrier will reinforce the Road Transport Line of Business’ network for palletized freight in Poland and France.
  • The Distribution & Express Line of Business, which is experiencing strong growth, has expanded its offer in the healthcare sector through the acquisition of Gandon Transports, a leading player in the transport of temperature-controlled pharmaceutical products in France.
  • As part of its objective to reduce its CO2 emissions by 30% by 2030 (compared with 2017 levels), GEODIS has ramped up the implementation of low-carbon and carbon-free transport solutions:
  • Implementation of a Sustainable Fuels offer, providing customers with a sustainable alternative fuel for air and sea freight, in addition to the solutions already available for road freight.
  • Ordering 330 light commercial vehicles and heavy trucks from Iveco running on bioNGV fuel. This investment will help reach the target of ensuring 100% carbon-free deliveries in the city centers of 37 French metropolises by 2023.
  • Already the French leader in multimodal transport, GEODIS intends to develop its offering, in particular through the recent launch of a new France-Italy rail-road transport route.
  • GEODIS is investing in strategic assets. The Group has purchased land in Venlo, the strategic logistics hub in Holland close to the German border, with the intention of building a 130,000 m2 logistics facility incorporating the latest environmental standards.

Development of the digital offer

  • Upply,a marketplace launched in 2018, trebled its sales in 2021, driven by strong growth in its transport price benchmarking activity. In 2022, the company intends capitalize on its position as the European leader in benchmarking and expects increasingly rapid growth for the marketplace.
  • The eLogistics offer, developed to meet customers’ expectations in the context of the e-commerce boom, gained momentum in 2021 with three new sites in the United States. It will soon be launched in Europe.

Responsible growth rooted in an ambitious ESG approach

  • ESG rating: the GEODIS ESG strategy has been awarded the EcoVadis Gold rating for the last ten years. This is a recognition of the commitment of both management and employees.
  • Diversity and inclusion: beyond the environmental ambition of reducing its CO2 emissions, GEODIS has made inclusion one of its priorities. In 2017, women held 13% of the Group’s top management positions. By 2021, this figure had risen to 20% and it will reach 25% by 2023.
  • Governance: starting in 2022, GEODIS has decided to include ESG as one of the criteria for up to 25% of the variable remuneration of Executive Committee members and the 150 Top managers. This criterion will cover the environment, gender parity and employee commitment.

A promising outlook in the short term

The Group’s objective is to maintain a favorable growth dynamic in a context where the logistics sector remains favorable in the short term, but where medium-term uncertainties persist: inflationary trends, pressure on capacities (particularly regarding sea freight), geopolitical issues, and the continuing uncertainty surrounding the ongoing public health crisis.

[1] Post-IFRS 16 EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization) consists of revenues and related income minus expenses directly attributable to the business

[2] At constant perimeter and exchange rates

[3] Leverage ratio = Net Financial Debt / pre-IFRS 16 EBITDA

GEODIS – www.geodis.com 

GEODIS is a top-rated, global supply chain operator recognized for its commitment to helping clients overcome their logistical constraints. GEODIS’ growth-focused offerings (Supply Chain Optimization, Freight Forwarding, Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express, and Road Transport), coupled with the company’s truly global reach thanks to a global network spanning nearly 170 countries, is reflected by its top business rankings: no. 1 in France and no. 7 worldwide. In 2021, GEODIS employed over 46,141 people globally and generated €10.9 billion in revenue.

Filed Under: GEODIS

BIC and FIATA join Cargo Integrity Group

February 24, 2022 by

February 24, 2022 – The original five partners of the Cargo Integrity Group are excited to welcome the Bureau International des Containers (BIC) and the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA), strengthening the group in its efforts to improve safety in the global supply chain.

The Cargo Integrity Group brings together international freight transport and cargo handling organisations with different roles in the supply chain and a shared dedication to improving safety, security and environmental performance throughout the logistics supply chain.

BIC and FIATA bring valuable complementary perspectives, resources and networks to the group, further deepening its competence and scope. Both organisations have already worked closely with the Cargo Integrity Group and will directly contribute to faster and more effective progress in reducing incidents, accidents, and biosecurity issues in the international supply chain.

“FIATA has long supported the work of the Cargo Integrity Group and has already collaborated with its stakeholders to promote the CTU code through the activities of its Working Group (WG) Sea headed by FIATA Senior Vice-President, Jens Roemer. By joining the group, FIATA reaffirms its commitment to improving the safety and security of sea freight in the best interest of its customers. FIATA is a key component in reaching out to the end customer and making a difference in the implementation of the CIG’s work, while bringing strong safety and security expertise through the
collaboration of its WG Sea and Advisory Body Safety Security,” comments the FIATA Director General, Dr Stéphane Graber.

“With safety and sustainability at the very core of BIC’s mission, topics like cargo safety, proper declarations and the avoidance of pest contamination are clearly of high interest to us. We’ve been supporting the promotion of the CTU code in communications both with our members and externally since it was first published, and most recently sponsored one of the CTU Quick Guide translations. We’re pleased to take this next step by joining the group, and look forward to working more closely with our partner organizations in helping increase safety in our industry,” says Douglas Owen, Secretary General of Bureau International des Containers (BIC).

Dedicated to improving the safety, security and environmental performance throughout the logistics supply chain, the Cargo Integrity Group will continue its efforts in is chosen focus areas:

• Collaborating with other industry and governmental stakeholders in promoting awareness and better understanding of safe cargo packing and handling practices such as the CTU Code
• Working to improve regulatory requirements such as the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code, and
• Working for strengthened cargo screening processes and more effective container inspection regimes.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

About the Cargo Integrity Group
The Cargo Integrity Group brings together international freight transport and cargo handling organisations with different roles in the supply chain and a shared dedication to improving safety, security and environmental performance throughout the logistics supply chain. The Bureau International des Containers, the Container Owners Association, the Global Shippers Forum, the International Cargo Handling Co-ordination Association, FIATA, the TT Club and the World Shipping Council are co-operating on a range of activities to further the adoption and implementation of crucial safety practices and regulations.

About Bureau International des Containers (BIC)
The Bureau International des Containers (BIC) was founded under the auspices of the International Chamber of Commerce in 1933 as a neutral, non-profit, international organization. BIC seeks to promote efficiency, safety, security, standardization and sustainability in the container supply chain and today has over 2600 container owning and operating members in 125 countries. Publisher of the BIC Code Register since 1970, BIC also operates the BoxTech Global Container Database (bic-boxtech.org), providing API-accessible equipment details to help improve efficiency and safety in the supply chain, the BIC Facility Code Database, providing harmonized codes to identify over 17,000 container facilities in 160 countries, and the Global ACEP Database. BIC holds official observer status at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the World Customs Organization (WCO), and the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT). www.bic-code.org

About FIATA
FIATA International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations is a nongovernmental, membership-based organization representing freight forwarders in some 150 countries. FIATA’s membership is composed of 109 Associations Members and more than 5,500 Individual Members, overall representing an industry of 40,000 freight forwarding and logistics firms worldwide. Based in Geneva, FIATA is ‘the global voice of freight logistics’. www.fiata.org

Cargo Integrity Group Media Contacts

Bureau International des Containers (BIC)
Douglas Owen, Secretary General, douglas.owen@bic-code.org

Container Owners Association (COA)
Patrick Hicks, Secretary, secretary@containerownersassociation.org

Global Shippers Forum (GSF)
James Hookham, Secretary General, jhookham@globalshippersforum.com

International Cargo Handling Co-ordination Association (ICHCA International)
Maria Udy, Media contact, Portcare International, maria@portcare.com

FIATA (International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations)
Stéphane Graber, Director General, communications@fiata.org

TT Club
Peter Owen, Media contact, Portcare International, info@portcare.com

World Shipping Council (WSC)
Anna Larsson, Communications Director, alarsson@worldshipping.org

Filed Under: ICHCA, TT Club

Virtual Presentation Ceremony Celebrates the Winners of TT Club Innovation in Safety Award

February 22, 2022 by

From a record number of over thirty entries VIKING Life-Saving Equipment A/S was announced the winner for its innovative HydroPen system designed to fight onboard container fires.  Both PSA International and Cargotec Sweden AB were highly commended.

The ICHCA International (ICHCA) and TT Club collaboration once more recognised the crucial role played by organisations across the world in constantly searching for better solutions to the challenges of improved safety in the cargo handing industry.  While the three short-listed entries, and particularly the eventual winner VIKING, were to be congratulated, the efforts of all the organisations that provided details of their innovations are to be admired.  Their striving for improved safety underlines the need for increased vigilance in the cargo handling and freight transport sector to reduce the loss of life and damage to property while facilitating global trade.

The ceremony, held virtually at TT Club’s offices in London was aired this afternoon and addressed by Heike Deggim, Director of Maritime Safety Division, International Maritime Organization (IMO), which has been a consistent supporter of the Awards both currently, and in the past.  The ceremony also gave an opportunity for each of the three short-listed companies to give a presentation of their successful safety innovations.  A recording of the whole event will be available shortly on ICHCA and TT’s websites.

Hosting the presentation on behalf of ICHCA was Richard Steele, the association’s CEO.  “The list of innovations from our award entrants is truly exciting,” he said.  “Innovation doesn’t just happen by itself.  All the participants have put in hard work, drive and ambition and I am sure there are many entries not short-listed today that will inspire others in the industry and achieve practical success in reducing accidents.  To that end we will be providing a digest of all the entries in the coming months.” Steele also thanked the panel of judges, made up of professionals from across the industry including representation from the International Transport Worker’s Federation (ITF) for their dedicated conscientious work.

The winner, VIKING’s HydroPen helps address the increasing incidence of fire in containers while onboard ships at sea.  The complexity of the cargoes carried and the frequent challenge of accessing the containers makes fighting fires most difficult for the first responders, the ships crew.  HydroPen enables such fires to be attended from a safe distance and the judges were particularly impressed by the specific online training that is provided with each unit.

PSA International’s highly commended Video Analytics solution helps with preventing in-terminal collisions of the heavy cargo handling equipment that can be so damaging to both life and cargo, while Cargotec’s innovation deals with the tricky task of container inspections from below; safely identifying any damage to the under-side of containers and ensuring they are clean and free of any invasive pests.

TT Club was delighted with the industry response this, the fourth, Innovation in Safety Award  Mike Yarwood is the international insurer of cargo handler’s Managing Director, Loss Prevention.  “It is hugely encouraging to have so many entrants seeking to solve a host of challenges from the provision of geo-spatial data and predictive maintenance software to technology that measures local climatic conditions.  The last two years have been incredibly busy and difficult for all concerned and safety issues have arguably increased significantly.  It is good to see that despite these conditions the industry’s commitment to be resilient and increase safety is undiminished.”

Peregrine Storrs-Fox, TT’s Risk Management Director commented, “This Award was inaugurated to celebrate solutions that have proven to make the industry workplace safer. We find that sharing such ideas openly is core to the Club’s mission to make the industry safer and more secure.”

Bill Brassington, Chair of the ICHCA Technical Panel was keen to emphasise the partners in organising the Award’s consistent efforts to improve safety.  “In recent years the shipping industry has suffered a number of severe fires originating in containers and the TT Club and ICHCA have been campaigning consistently to reduce these life-threatening events,” he highlighted.  “Frequent webinars and publications have been dedicated to creating a greater awareness of the difficulties in containing fires both below and on deck especially where the container is high in the stack.  It is therefore heartening to congratulate VIKING Life-Saving Equipment and their innovative HydroPen System.   I would also like to congratulate all of the entrants to the TT Club Innovation in Safety Awards; I am sure that the diverse and fascinating subjects that they covered taxed the judges deeply.”

About TT Club

TT Club is the established market-leading independent provider of mutual insurance and related risk management services to the international transport and logistics industry. TT Club’s primary objective is to help make the industry safer and more secure. Founded in 1968, the Club has more than 1100 Members, spanning container owners and operators, ports and terminals, and logistics companies, working across maritime, road, rail, and air. TT Club is renowned for its high-quality service, in-depth industry knowledge and enduring Member loyalty. It retains more than 93% of its Members with a third of its entire membership having chosen to insure with the Club for 20 years or more.  

www.ttclub.com

About ICHCA International

Established in 1952, ICHCA International is an independent, not-for-profit organisation dedicated to improving the safety, productivity and efficiency of cargo handling and movement worldwide. ICHCA’s privileged NGO status enables it to represent its members, and the cargo handling industry at large, in front of national and international agencies and regulatory bodies, while its Technical Panel provides best practice advice and develops publications on a wide range of practical cargo handling issues.


Operating through a series of national and regional chapters, including ICHCA Australia, ICHCA Japan and plus Correspondence and Working Groups, ICHCA provides a focal point for informing, educating, lobbying and networking to improve knowledge and best practice across the cargo handling chain.

Filed Under: ICHCA, TT Club

“K” LINE Group Open its First Finished-Vehicle Terminal Operation in Japan

February 22, 2022 by

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE) and Daito Corporation will launch “K” LINE Group’s first finished-vehicle terminal in Japan,at Yokohama Daikoku C-4 Terminal from April 2022.

“K” LINE Group leases the terminal from Yokohama Port Terminal Corporation (YPC) and operates it at Yokohama port, which handles one of the largest volumes of finished vehicles in Japan. The terminal is capable of handling a wide variety of products, including new and used vehicles, construction machineries, and break-bulk cargoes, and can also be used as a transshipment base for finished vehicles to meet a variety of needs. Thus, the new terminal will contribute to optimize the handling of vehicles in Yokohama port as a whole by welcoming vessels other than those operated by “K” LINE.

We also aim to create an environmentally friendly terminal by introducing LED lighting for night　time operation, EVs for terminal vehicles, and the use of electricity generated from renewable energy sources. At the same time, we will strive to improve safety, the environment, and quality, which are important issues for the Group, by making active use of digital technologies such as AI and IoT, including the automation of entry and exit gates and the introduction of advanced terminal management systems, and by creating a high value-added terminal.

C-4 Terminal Location

We will respond flexibly and proactively to customer needs, including growing needs for environmental and digital solution. Also, we will continue to protect the environment through our business activities, contribute to realize a sustainable society, and maximize its corporate value based on the “K” LINE Environmental Vision 2050 (Note1).

Pure Car Carrier – DRIVE GREEN HIGHWAY

(Note 1) “K” LINE Environmental Vision 2050

https://www.kline.co.jp/en/csr/environment/management.html

Filed Under: "K" Line

Organisations deprioritised CyberSecurity during supply chain crisis despite rise in attacks, Kaspersky reveals

February 17, 2022 by

A new Kaspersky report – produced in association with leading freight transport insurer TT Club – has revealed that despite a rise in cyberattacks during the supply chain crisis, 16% of UK businesses deprioritised CyberSecurity last year amid the pandemic, port closures, HGV driver shortages and other challenges associated with Brexit.

Cybercriminals have become ever more sophisticated at exploiting organisational silos, security gaps caused by remote working and the supply chain crisis, to undermine the safety and security of critical systems. So much so that companies across the UK and Benelux reported a 30% rise in the number of cyberattacks they faced during last year, compared to previous years.

Indeed, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) recently reported an unprecedented 777 incidents over the last 12 months – up from 723 the previous year. High-profile attacks, such as the SolarWinds attack in 2020, have demonstrated how threat actors can target a vast number of organisations by breaching a single link in a supply chain.

Despite these threats, Kaspersky’s report – titled Supply Chain CyberSecurity – Potential Threats and Rising to the Challenge – found that both enterprises and SMEs are showing a worrying level of complacency when it comes to protecting the resilience of their supply chains. Even though almost three-quarters (72%) of companies state CyberSecurity threats are their number-one concern, only a third (33%) have the necessary internal resources and knowledge to respond to a CyberSecurity incident. And just 35% are certain they have taken every possible step to mitigate third-party risks in their organisation. The findings reveal that companies that deprioritised CyberSecurity did so in favour of other real-time challenges, such as HGV driver shortages and other logistical issues caused by the pandemic.

“At TT Club we are constantly assessing the risk profile of the global supply chain and alerting the industry to our concerns, hence our support of this unique report,” says TT Club’s Managing Director, Loss Prevention Mike Yarwood. “One should not underestimate cyber criminals. They are agile, focused and highly sophisticated, presenting a significant threat to businesses in the global supply chain. As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, TT would encourage a re-evaluation of cyber risk policies and urge operators to satisfy themselves that sufficient resource is allocated to addressing this threat. Resilience in the face of cyber risk is critical.”

A supply chain attack targets an organisation by infiltrating or attacking a business that sits in its chain of suppliers. If one of these entities has low CyberSecurity threat protection – or it is avoiding some specific cyber security hygiene protocols – it could become the entry point into a much wider network of suppliers. The risk can vary greatly and adds to a company’s threat surface complexity.

A vulnerability in one organisation can significantly impact somewhere else in the supply chain, whether that’s via compromised personal identity or payment credentials. If a supply chain’s weak link is exploited, a business can be brought to its knees. Yet, Kaspersky’s report reveals that just a fifth (20%) of businesses have a third-party risk management solution in place and only 18% of companies have cyber/business resilience insurance.

Commenting on the findings, David Emm, principal security researcher at Kaspersky, stated: “The pandemic, Brexit and supply chain crisis have complicated the cyber threat landscape, making it crucial that organisations take steps to defend against evolving threats under new circumstances. Cyberattacks and data breaches can be highly injurious to any business in terms of damage to reputation, costs of remediation, lost business and other expenses. Companies must ensure they only share data with reliable third parties and extend their existing security requirements to suppliers. We urge businesses large and small to scrutinise their suppliers’ credentials as part of the standard due diligence and contracting process, or risk sleepwalking into a CyberSecurity disaster.”   

To read Kaspersky’s Supply Chain CyberSecurity – Potential Threats and Rising to the Challengereport in full, click here.

About Kaspersky 

Kaspersky is a global CyberSecurity and digital privacy company founded in 1997. Kaspersky’s deep threat intelligence and security expertise is constantly transforming into innovative security solutions and services to protect businesses, critical infrastructure, governments and consumers around the globe. The company’s comprehensive security portfolio includes leading endpoint protection and a number of specialized security solutions and services to fight sophisticated and evolving digital threats. Over 400 million users are protected by Kaspersky technologies, and we help 240,000 corporate clients protect what matters most to them. Learn more at www.kaspersky.com. 

About TT Club

TT Club is the established market-leading independent provider of mutual insurance and related risk management services to the international transport and logistics industry. TT Club’s primary objective is to help make the industry safer and more secure. Founded in 1968, the Club has more than 1100 Members, spanning container owners and operators, ports and terminals, and logistics companies, working across maritime, road, rail, and air. TT Club is renowned for its high-quality service, in-depth industry knowledge and enduring Member loyalty. It retains more than 93% of its Members with a third of its entire membership having chosen to insure with the Club for 20 years or more. 

www.ttclub.com

Research methodology

During November and December 2021, Arlington Research surveyed 240 C-suite, middle managers (director level and above) and senior managers who are also sole or joint decision makers for CyberSecurity, IT and information security, across both SMEs (businesses with an annual revenue of less than £/€100m) and enterprises (businesses with an annual revenue of more than £/€100m). 150 interviews were completed in the UK (split 100 SMEs and 50 enterprises) and 90 interviews were conducted across Benelux (split 75 SMEs and 15 enterprises).

Filed Under: TT Club

GEODIS is opening a 24,500 m² logistics center in the greater Dresden area

February 14, 2022 by

GEODIS plans to open a new multi-user logistics facility in Coswig. The new facility meets the latest environmental and safety standards and is scheduled to be ready for occupancy in October of this year. The new logistics center in the Dresden area, is an example of the global transport and logistics service provider’s continued expansion in Germany.

The new logistics center offers customers a wide range of services. These include inbound and outbound logistics, value-added services, after-sales, and return logistics, as well as high-tech services, for example, the repair and refurbishment of information technology products, as well as the assembly and software configuration of devices, right through to installation at the customer’s site. Value-added services, such as flow and transport management via the Control Tower and e-logistics and e-fulfillment services, complete the range of services at the new Coswig site.

In terms of traffic, the new logistics center is directly connected to the A4 – Bad Hersfeld – Görlitz highway via the S84 and B6. The new building, developed by Garbe Industrial Real Estate, a specialist in logistics and corporate real estate will meet safety and environmental standards. For example, it is planned to line the floors of the two large halls with WGK (water hazard class) foil. With a photovoltaic system on the roof, GEODIS will be able to cover a large part of its electricity requirements. Further sustainable measures such as greening the façade and planting 110 trees and 547 shrubs in the outdoor space will be an additional contribution to improving the carbon footprint, as are e-charging stations for cars and bicycles. Certification to the gold standard of the German Sustainable Building Association (Deutschen Gesellschaft für Nachhaltiges Bauen, DGNB) is planned for the entire property.

“The new multi-user facility in Coswig is another step in our growth strategy. As a central multimodal transport hub, the Dresden metropolitan area has ideal conditions for fast and environmentally friendly transport routes within Germany, as well as to Poland and the Czech Republic,” stresses Thomas Kraus, GEODIS President & CEO North, East and Central Europe, underlining the location’s advantages.

“The establishment of innovative companies from the high-tech, greentech, and robotics sectors in this region also offers interesting market potential to expand our customer portfolio in those growth sectors that are important to us,” says Antje Lochmann, Managing Director of GEODIS’ Contract Logistics activity in Germany.

“As mayor of Coswig, I can say, on behalf of the city council that I’m pleased our efforts in recent years to develop commercial areas have been successful. This large and modern logistics facility is a new location in Coswig that not only meets today’s customer requirements but also sets standards in environmental protection with a comprehensive PV system and green façades,” says Thomas Schubert, Mayor of Coswig.

Image available:  https://geodis.keepeek.com/mIjtSA1Pa

Copyright : Garbe

GEODIS – www.geodis.com

GEODIS is a top-rated, global supply chain operator recognized for its commitment to helping clients overcome their logistical constraints. GEODIS’ growth-focused offerings (Supply Chain Optimization, Freight Forwarding, Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express, and Road Transport), coupled with the company’s truly global reach thanks to a global network spanning nearly 170 countries, is reflected by its top business rankings: no. 1 in France and no. 7 worldwide. In 2020, GEODIS employed over 41,000 people globally and generated €8.4 billion in revenue.

Filed Under: GEODIS

“K” LINE Awarded CDP’ s “Supplier Engagement Leaderboard”

February 14, 2022 by

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE) is pleased to announce that the company was recognized as “Supplier Engagement Leaderboard” for four consecutive years, the top rating, on “Supplier Engagement Rating” from CDP, which is a non-profit global organization (NGO) engaging in activities for investigating and disclosing environmental information, on February 10.

“Supplier Engagement Rating” evaluates the companies’ initiatives for climate change and greenhouse gas emissions throughout the supply chain and ranks the companies in line with their efforts. Our strategies and initiatives were evaluated on “Supplier Engagement Rating”.

This year 518 companies, including 105 Japanese companies, out of 6,300 companies were awarded as “Supplier Engagement Leaderboard” worldwide. 

In November 2021, we have revised our environmental target in our long-term environmental guideline “K” LINE Environmental Vision 2050 -Blue Seas for the Future- in order to strengthen the initiatives toward global climate change countermeasures and has set our new target for 2050 as “The Challenge of Achieving Net-Zero GHG Emissions”.

As an integrated logistics company, the “K” LINE Group is working to realize sustainable society and increase corporate value. We will not only reinforce initiatives for reducing our in-house GHG emissions but also actively support projects aimed at a decarbonized society. These initiatives include support vessels for projects related to the renewable energy field, such as offshore wind power, transportation of new energy sources, such as hydrogen and ammonia, and carbon capture and storage (CCS) transportation. We reduce its environmental impact based on its corporate philosophy of contributing to society so that people live well and prosperously.

Filed Under: "K" Line

GEODIS Takes Delivery of Fully Equipped Mercedes Trucks to Service its Expanding Asian Road Network

February 10, 2022 by

Seven Mercedes-Benz Actros tractor units will be added to GEODIS’ fleet of prime movers in the Asia-Pacific Region (APAC).  The leased vehicles are equipped with the latest security and safety technology and will be utilized on the logistics operator’s owned network in Southeast Asia.

Supplied by the manufacturer’s Malaysian distributor, Hap Seng Trucks Distribution Sdn Bhd and leased from Euroasia Total Logistics (ETL), the new Actros 5 models will be the first of their type to be sold by Mercedes-Benz in Malaysia.

GEODIS has recently expanded its road network in the region with service destinations in Vietnam added to its existing full and partial load service linking Singapore with Malaysia and Thailand.  The network will eventually connect with Chinese markets on a day-definite, door-to-door basis delivering a road transport alternative to the more costly air, and slower ocean, options.

Lakshmanan Venkateswaran, Sub-Regional Managing Director – South East Asia of GEODIS said, “The rapid expansion of our road mode offerings along the spine of Southeast Asia’s economic backbone has resulted in more than 50% increase in volumes since the service’s inception in late 2019.  Linking Singapore to Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok, and now into Vietnam our owned network brings reliable transit-times and cargo security. This new equipment will further enhance these service attributes and aid the fast-growing businesses of our high-tech, retail, ecommerce and FMCG customers.”

The supply of the Mercedes-Benz Actros tractor units breaks new ground for general distributor Hap Seng Truck Distribution Sdn Bhd. “The units feature state-of-the-art safety and security technology including fifth generation Active Brake Assist, Lane Keeping Assist and MirrorCam in place of a conventional rear-view mirror. The MirrorCam is truly innovative and aerodynamically sophisticated. This creates a saving on fuel of up to 1.3% and offers improved visibility to the rear and in the area of the A-pillar. The MirrorCam also provides added safety during manoeuvring by panning the camera image according to the vehicle’s movements,” commented Mr. Derrick Sim Leng Huat, Chief Executive of Hap Seng Trucks Distribution Sdn Bhd. 

The Actros 5 have been delivered at a Key Handover Session inKuala Lumpur on January 15 at which the lease provider Euroasia Total Logistics (M) Sdn Bhd’s Group CEO, Mr Darren Lee said, “It is not just the safety features of these trucks that make them a superior choice but also their improved fuel efficiency and longer service intervals in comparison with older models.  Downtime is reduced with regular maintenance required only every year (or 55,000 km); a significant upgrade over the industry standard of six months (or 30,000 km).  There are few competitors that can match their performance and we applaud GEODIS decision to employ them.” 

These vehicles are further equipped to ensure the cargoes are well protected. The keyless starting and remote key access ensure that the driver’s presence is in close proximity to the vehicle at all times together with the remote key, otherwise the vehicle cannot be operated. In addition, specially designed door extensions conceal the access steps into the vehicle which enhances safety and contribute to theft protection.

Since March 2021, GEODIS has expanded its road network capabilities by offering both standard and personalized solutions including its RoadDirect, RoadFast, and RoadSave services. GEODIS balances transit time and costs to ensure customers can tailor the solution that best fits their needs.

In conclusion, Lakshmanan Venkateswaran said, “If ASEAN aspires to see more freight traffic, road borders must see improvement in clearance procedures. Belt road initiatives need the ASEAN countries to harmonize the documentation required to transit their territories. Our owned network and trusted partners play a role in coping with these obstacles, but improvements would be welcomed.  Just so our investment in better vehicles will assist with the challenge of driver recruitment and retention”.

GEODIS – www.geodis.com 

GEODIS is a top-rated, global supply chain operator recognized for its commitment to helping clients overcome their logistical constraints. GEODIS’ growth-focused offerings (Supply Chain Optimization, Freight Forwarding, Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express, and Road Transport), coupled with the company’s truly global reach thanks to a global network spanning nearly 170 countries, is reflected by its top business rankings: no. 1 in France and no. 7 worldwide. In 2020, GEODIS employed over 41,000 people globally and generated €8.4 billion in revenue.

Filed Under: GEODIS

DACHSER expands zero-emission vehicle fleet

February 3, 2022 by

The logistics provider will invest in battery-powered trucks and company cars as well as in the requisite charging systems. Tests with hydrogen-powered trucks are also in the pipeline.   

Kempten, February 3, 2022 – Logistics provider DACHSER is to step up its use of zero-emission vehicles. Zero-emission vehicles are trucks and cars that do not directly produce any emissions of greenhouse gases or air pollutants. In an initial step, the family-owned company will introduce at least 50 additional battery electric trucks on European routes by the end of 2023. DACHSER is also planning to add around 1,000 electric passenger cars to its fleet of company and service vehicles. In parallel, the company will press ahead with a range of pilot projects to develop and test hydrogen-powered trucks equipped with fuel cell technology. DACHSER plans to have hydrogen-powered vehicles from a range of manufacturers operating within its network by no later than the beginning of 2023.

“The only way for the transportation sector to meet the global community’s long-term goal of net zero emissions is by using zero-emission vehicles. That’s why such vehicles form a key plank of our own climate protection strategy,” explains Stefan Hohm, Chief Development Officer (CDO) at DACHSER. “We’re going to significantly expand our use of environmentally friendly vehicles in the coming years, which will give us valuable practical experience and also help us increase the number of units.”

At present, DACHSER primarily uses battery-powered vehicles for urban deliveries within its groupage network. In Europe, the company has electrically assisted cargo bikes in daily operations and, above all, electric vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of up to 7.5 metric tons. There are still very few all-electric production vehicles available in heavier weight classes. At present, the only vehicle of this type DACHSER has in service is a preproduction model of the 19-metric-ton Mercedes-Benz eActros in Stuttgart, the capital of Baden-Württemberg, as part of an innovation partnership with Daimler.

In the next two years, DACHSER will introduce at least 50 additional zero-emission trucks, including heavy battery-electric motor vehicles and truck tractors from a range of manufacturers, either through direct purchase or in cooperation with transport partners.

“We’re actively promoting the use of zero-emission vehicles in our European network with a view to incorporating them as effectively as possible in our transportation processes. These are investments in the future, which will pay off in the long-term,” explains Alexander Tonn, Chief Operations Officer (COO) Road Logistics at DACHSER. “We’ll be expanding our use of zero-emission trucks to the areas of regional and, in particular, shuttle transports this year. We also intend to use battery-powered vehicles to move around swap bodies and semi-trailers at our branches.”

Electric company cars

DACHSER also plans to ensure that by the end of 2023, one in two company cars at its locations in Europe is a battery electric vehicle. This represents approximately 1,000 passenger cars in total. Company car drivers and DACHSER branches will be able to choose between different models from various manufacturers. Since all-electric vehicles do not yet offer the technical specifications required for every kind of user profile, this transition will be gradual. In addition, since delivery times are currently very long, short-term demand cannot be met right now. For members of the DACHSER Executive Board, the switch to electric company cars will be completed in 2022.

New charge spots delivering green electricity
To accompany these measures, DACHSER will ensure adequate availability of charge spots at its branches. In addition, there are plans to create over 40 fast charging stations for trucks, each with a charging power of 180 kW. All of these charge spots are to be supplied with green electricity, which will be either bought in or produced by the company’s own photovoltaic systems.

Filed Under: Dachser UK
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