Transport communications

Portcare International is the press relations consultancy for the shipping and logistics industry. Formed by transport people for transport people. We can truly claim to understand our clients’ needs and ‘talk the same language’. Portcare provide effective, value for money PR to some of the industry’s best-known names.

Archives for October 2022

Opening Ceremony of K Marine Ship Management Pte. Ltd. held in the Republic of Singapore

October 27, 2022 by

We are pleased to announce the grand opening ceremony of our new in-house ship management company, K Marine Ship Management Pte. Ltd. (“KMSM”), in Singapore was held on 26th October 2022 at 79 Anson Road, #06-01, Singapore 079906. The grand opening ceremony was attended by the key management from Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd and KMSM together with the key industry leaders of Singapore’s Maritime Industry and distinguished guests.

Cutting of ribbon by Senior Minister of State, Mr. Chee Hong Tat as Guest of Honour and KMSM Management

The establishment of KMSM is in line with our “K” LINE Group’s plan to further enhance the “K” LINE Group’s value and presence in Asia and in Singapore. Being one of the global bases of the “K” LINE Group, KMSM will be supporting our “K” LINE Group’s Asia businesses, which has been identified as one of the future growth markets under our “K” LINE Group’s New Medium-Term Management Plan.

KMSM aims to provide high-quality and trusted ship management services and establish a customer-oriented support organization rooted in the region, and flexibly respond to diversifying needs. With this, it is KMSM’s intention to strengthen our global functional strategy structures of marine technology, organizations, human resources including ship management companies.

Guests viewing the vessel’s bridge simulator in KMSM office

We look forward to the success of contribution from KMSM to the global shipping industry.

Related News Release

* May 09, 2022: Restructures of Safety and Quality Control Organization

～Challenge to establish an optimal organization for diversifying needs～

https://www.kline.co.jp/en/news/csr/csr3347564231945932575/main/0/link/220509EN.pdf

Filed Under: "K" Line

HARREN GROUP GOES AFRICA

October 26, 2022 by

A new era begins: German shipping and logistics expert Harren Group extends its presence in Africa by opening its first office on the continent. Harren Nigeria in Lagos is led by Managing Director Paul Okpurughre.

“The new office represents the entire Harren Group and serves as a basis for further business development in West Africa,” explains Paul Okpurughre, former Director Business Development and Operations (MEA) at SAL Heavy Lift. “We want to intensify the proximity to our customers and our business activities in the region.”

The Harren Nigeria Team in Lagos – Douglas Eromosele Obuebhor Paul Okpurughre and Oghenemarho Mary Emoghene (f.l.t.r.)

West Africa represents about 30 percent of Africa’s total population. Nigeria has the largest economy in Africa, even ahead of South Africa. “Lagos is the perfect location for us – it’s a vibrant city and one of the main project and logistics capitals on the continent,” explains Dr. Martin Harren, CEO of the Harren Group. “The opening of the new office reflects our remarkably successful development in West Africa. We want to further expand our local position based on the existing, trustful relationships with our customers and partners.”

Jürgen Kuntz, Senior Manager Chartering & Projects and Head of Africa Chartering Desk at SAL Heavy Lift, emphasises: “Having our own office in Africa means a lot to our organisation. Currently, around three of our Group’s ships sail to this region on a monthly basis. So it’s the next logical step to open an office there to be able to further develop our position. We see lots of opportunities for example in the energy and infrastructure segments.”

Nils Aden, Managing Director of the Harren Group, underlines the potential for the entire Group: “There are also new opportunities for business beyond our existing heavy lift activities – for example in the tanker, bulker and renewable energy sectors. The new office will represent our Group’s affiliated companies Jumbo-SAL-Alliance, Intermarine, Harren Bulkers, Harren Tankers, Atheleon and Combi Lift as their commercial agent. Opening the Lagos office makes our dedicated and personal services available to our customers locally. This is another important milestone for our Group.”

The new office is located in The Wings Office Complex (17a Ozumba Mbadiwe Street, Victoria Island, Level 5, East Tower, Lagos State, Nigeria, nigeria@harren-group.com). It allows perfect access in and out of the city and is convenient to all of Lagos’s major business centres.

About Harren Group: The guiding principle of the Harren Group is: If there is water, there is a way. Making the impossible possible, always finding a solution, going all the way.

Under the umbrella of the family-run Harren Group, subsidiaries SAL Heavy Lift (Hamburg), SAL Engineering (Hamburg) and Intermarine (Houston) collaborate with the Jumbo-SAL-Alliance (Rotterdam/Hamburg) to manage and control the world’s largest fleet of super heavy lift vessels in the premium segment (+900 t crane capacity). Their core competencies include developing and implementing sophisticated engineering solutions for complex logistics projects. Combi Lift (Bremen) is a leading freight forwarder for the global transport of heavy lift and project cargo.

Harren Bulkers (Bremen) is a globally operating dry bulk specialist whose fleet includes bulk carriers in the size segments Handy-Bulker to Post-Panamax. Harren Tankers (Bremen) is the Group’s own tanker shipping company, providing both technical and commercial support for vessels as well as transport services to global energy companies.

Atheleon (Bremen) bundles activities in the dynamically growing offshore wind segment. The renewable energy sector already accounts for 60 per cent of the Group’s business – and the trend is growing.

The Harren Group owns the majority of the fleet. The company is committed to carbon-neutral shipping and is working to convert the entire fleet. The goal is zero-emission shipping across the Group by 2035.

Founded in Bremen in 1989, the Harren Group operates 22 offices in 20 countries around the world, employing around 400 people ashore and more than 3,000 crew members on board its ships.

For more information about Harren Group, please go to www.harren-group.com

Filed Under: Harren & Partner

TT Club signs up to the Principles for Sustainable Insurance Initiative

October 25, 2022 by

Specialist international freight transport insurer TT Club has committed to the UN’s initiative designed to unite the global insurance sector’s efforts to achieve sustainability and improve the health of the planet.

Through Transport Mutual Insurance Association Limited (TT Club) is acutely aware of the requirements of all enterprises to take responsibility for achieving a sustainable future for the natural environment and to go further by adhering to the wider environmental, social and governance (ESG) aims. By applying the principles of this United Nations’ initiative, TT Club is underlining its commitment in a way that is relevant to its global risk management and insurance operations.

The Principles for Sustainable Insurance (PSI) is global framework for the insurance industry to address ESG risks and opportunities launched in 2012 by the UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEPFI). It is a global, collaborative initiative that strengthens the industry’s contribution as risk managers, insurers and investors to building resilient, inclusive and sustainable communities and economies on a healthy planet.

Commenting on the news that TT Club has been accepted as a PSI signatory, Charles Fenton, CEO said, “As a mutual insurer our overarching purpose is to make the international transport and logistics industry safer, more secure and as a result, more sustainable. We see the challenges our Members face to tackle sustainability head on and work hard to support them wherever we can. The Principles for Sustainable Insurance align with the Club’s approach in servicing its Members and we look forward to working with other like-minded organisations towards this common goal.”

The insurance industry is particularly well-placed to effect the advance of sustainability policies as it performs a triple role, as risk managers, risk carriers and investors. Insurers therefore can be particularly influential in fostering sustainable economic and social development.

The PSI is the largest collaboration between the insurance industry and the United Nations with over 220 members from all around the world. Ban Ki-Moon, ex-Secretary General of the UN supports the PSI initiative, “The Principles of Sustainable Insurance provide a global roadmap to develop and expand innovative risk management and insurance solutions. With a world premium volume of more than US$24 trillion, insurers that embed sustainability in their business operations can catalyse the kinds of financial and investment flows and long-term perspectives needed for sustainable development.”

TT Club will embrace the guidance provided by the PSI by embedding the issues of ESG in its decision-making; work with its members and business partners in extending awareness of such issues; demonstrate accountability and transparency in reporting its progress and work together with regulators and other stakeholders to promote widespread action on ESG issues.

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 97% of its Members with a third of its entire membership having chosen to insure with the Club for 20 years or more.

https://www.ttclub.com

Filed Under: TT Club

“K” LINE received a certificate of appreciation from Ofunato City in Iwate Prefecture, Japan

October 20, 2022 by

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd, (“K” LINE) is pleased to announce that it has received a certificate of appreciation from Ofunato City in Iwate Prefecture, Japan, at the ceremony to commemorate the 70the anniversary of the City, held on October 13, 2022. The certificates have been presented to companies, organizations, individuals, and local governments that have contributed to the development of municipal administration and its reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake, and “K” LINE is among them.

In September 2011, “K” LINE donated five 20-foot reefer containers to the City, which suffered devastating damage from the earthquake and tsunami, as part of its support activities for disaster-stricken areas, especially for the early recovery of the fishery industry, a major industry in that area. Since our support activity was appreciated to have contributed to the recovery and reconstruction of the city that was severely damaged by the earthquake, “K” LINE was awarded the certificate on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the City’s incorporation.

“K” LINE prays for the further reconstruction of Ofunato City and its further development in the future.

Filed Under: "K" Line

GEODIS completes acquisition of Need It Now Delivers

October 11, 2022 by

GEODIS, a world leader in transport and logistics, today announced it has completed its acquisition of American company Need It Now Delivers following regulatory approvals. The acquisition significantly expands GEODIS’s U.S. presence in the areas of contract logistics and final mile delivery and strengthens its end-to-end freight network domestically and internationally.

Based in Keasbey, New Jersey, Need It Now Delivers operates a major freight network in the United States—with a strong presence in the East—including over 65 company locations and more than 300 interconnected distribution points. Need It Now Delivers features a workforce of more than 2,000 employees and serves over 1,600 customers across a variety of high-growth sectors, including apparel, electronics, home furnishings, automotive products and medical supplies. In addition to omnichannel and final mile capabilities, Need It Now Delivers offers logistics services including white glove home delivery, direct-to-consumer parcel delivery, contract logistics and same day logistics.

“The completion of the Need It Now Delivers acquisition will accelerate our continued growth in the U.S., which has become an essential market for GEODIS, as we remain committed to building a fully integrated network of transport and logistics hubs globally,” said Marie-Christine Lombard, CEO of GEODIS. “This acquisition allows GEODIS to expand our offerings in a consolidating market and solidify our position as one of the world’s top 10 leading logistics providers.”

The acquisition will strengthen GEODIS’s national freight distribution network and final mile delivery, omnichannel and e-Commerce capabilities in the United States alongside its existing contract logistics and freight forwarding lines of business in the country. GEODIS customers will now have access to expanded transportation management and warehousing capabilities in the U.S. while Need It Now Delivers clients will have the opportunity to bolster their global supply chains with new access to GEODIS’s international freight forwarding and contract logistics networks for a comprehensive solution.

“GEODIS acquired Need It Now Delivers due to its proven and dedicated team, expansive national network with a commitment to best-in-class service, and diverse and longstanding customer relationships in high-growth industry verticals,” said Mike Honious, President & CEO of GEODIS in Americas. “I am confident the combination of our two organizations will create a powerful set of end-to-end logistics solutions to best support our customers’ growth.”

With the completion of the Need It Now Delivers acquisition, GEODIS now employs approximately 15,000 teammates in the U.S. (with more than 17,000 employees in the Americas region) and operates over 200 locations totaling 52.9 million square feet of warehousing space domestically. The combined organizations would have generated $3.7 billion for full year 2021 in the U.S.

To learn more about GEODIS, visit www.geodis.com.

GEODIS – www.geodis.com 

GEODIS is a leading global logistics provider acknowledged for its expertise across all aspects of the supply chain. As a growth partner to its clients, GEODIS specializes in five lines of business: Supply Chain Optimization, Freight Forwarding, Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express, and Road Transport. With a global network spanning nearly 170 countries and more than 44,000 employees, GEODIS is ranked no. 7 in its sector across the world. In 2021, GEODIS generated €10.9 billion in revenue.

Filed Under: GEODIS

“K” Line Conduct Emergency Response Exercise

October 11, 2022 by

On October 6th, 2022, “the Emergency Response Exercise” was carried out as a part of training of optimum emergency response prepared for any major maritime accidents. The scenario of the exercise developed that a PCC operated by “K” Line collided with a ferry boat when she was transiting in west coast of Japan. We confirmed a series of emergency response process by setting crisis-management headquarters upon receiving an incident report, establishing communication channel with Ship Owner, Ship Management company and conducting a mock press conference at the end of the exercise.

Online tools were effectively used on the assumption that many concerned members were working remotely in response to the COVID-19 outbreak to enhance our communication by using online tools during an emergency response and then identified the points and tasks to work and improve on.

A mock press conference was held both at the press room and online simultaneously. Many questions were raised by the attendees as media reporters that made the event more realistic and momentous.

“K” Line enhance organization system which covers safety and quality management both world-wide marine transportation businesses and regional businesses. Under the slogan of “Never Leave a Ship Alone,” we aim to build a system to support the safety of our vessels around the world by providing constant support to ships at sea, regardless of time difference, from onshore bases.

While growing interest on safety and environmental load reduction over the world, we are preparing for any unexpected and unforeseen circumstances through the “Emergency Response Exercise”.

Furthermore, we promote safety in navigation, environmental conservation, and quality enhancement, which are important to fulfill social responsibility while establish a system to monitor and support the safety of our vessels from shore, in addition to maintaining the safety of individual vessels, and strengthen our global functional strategy system of maritime organizations, personnel, and bases.

Filed Under: "K" Line

NEDO Demonstration Project: Demonstration Test Ship for Liquefied CO2 Transportation has broken ground.

October 7, 2022 by

A groundbreaking ceremony for the hull of the demonstration test ship for liquefied CO2 transportation was held today, 7 October 2022 at the Shimonoseki Shipyard of Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Corporation (Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi; hereinafter ‘Mitsubishi Shipbuilding’).

This hull of demonstration test ship will be equipped with the liquefied CO2 tank system which is researched and developed by Engineering Advancement Association of Japan (hereinafter ENAA). After the completion, the demonstration test ship will be engaged in liquefied CO2 transportation for the purpose of “CCUS R&D and Demonstration Related Project / Large-scale CCUS Demonstration in Tomakomai /Demonstration Project on CO2 Transportation / R&D and Demonstration Project for CO2 Marine Transportation” (the demonstration projects) which have been conducted by New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) since June 2021.

At the groundbreaking ceremony, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding prayed for safety during the construction period and completion without accidents with the attendance of Sanyu Kisen Kaisha, which was contracted to provide the demonstration vessel for the project.

Nippon Gas Line Co., Ltd. (hereinafter NGL) and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (hereinafter “K” Line) also present the ceremony.

ENAA, “K” Line, NGL, and Ochanomizu University will accelerate R&D of the LCO2 transportation technology and contribute to cost reduction of CCUS technology and LCO2 safety, long-distance and large-scale transportation.

Ceremony Photograph :
Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd.: Mr. Satoshi Kanamori, Nippon Gas Line Co., Ltd.: Mr. Yasuhiro Muramatsu, Mr. Masafumi Ishizaki, MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.: Mr. Koji Mori, Sanyu Kisen Kaisha: Mr. Masanobu Mochizuki.

ENAA has been promoting research and development towards the operation of a demonstration ship equipped with a liquefied carbon dioxide ship tank system, and will continue to be responsible for planning, analysis and supervision of demonstration test.

Image of the demonstration test ship for LCO2 transportation

“K” Line is planning to carry out a risk assessment of the demonstration test ship for the safety evaluation this year and will contribute to the development of an operation manual of the demonstration vessels.

NGL is proceeding with planning for management and operation of the demonstration vessel. In addition, NGL is conducting a case study on an own LPG vessel in preparation for data measurement of CO2 temperature, pressure, flow, etc. on the demonstration vessel.

Ochanomizu University conducts fundamental research on the control of carbon dioxide state (phase change) and provide the information necessary for safe transportation studies.

ENAA, “K” LINE, NGL, and Ochanomizu University will contribute to realizing the carbon neutral society through this demonstration project.

Filed Under: "K" Line

The Cargo Integrity Group of Seven Updates its Container Safety Guidance

October 5, 2022 by

The need for increased integrity in the global supply chain persists. The Cargo Integrity Group has updated its Quick Guide to the CTU Code and once more urges all involved in intermodal container transport to pay heed.

The multi-faceted group of originally five, now seven industry organisations, produced a Quick Guide to the IMO/ILO/UNECE Code of Practice for Packing of Cargo Transport Units (CTU Code) some two years ago.  The Quick Guide is designed to assist those responsible for packing containers and accurately declaring details of their contents to abide by the often-complex regulations contained in the voluminous CTU Code itself.  There is also a useful Checklist of actions required by packers and shippers of containers. 

The Group believes that awareness of the CTU Code is pivotal to achieving safe and secure transport and has followed up the Quick Guide’s publication with provision of its full text in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish and Italian.  An update has now been made available, taking account of feedback, and is downloadable for free HERE

FIATA Director General Stéphane Graber commented, “Providing individuals responsible for packing containers, and in some cases for preparing documentation and declarations, with easier access to all-important safety guidelines in their own language, is key in order to make available practical cutting edge knowledge of packing. Such information goes beyond maritime operations, reflecting  the complexities of intermodal transport in modern day supply chains, and is key to keeping cargo logistics running efficiently.”

Failure to follow the CTU Code advice puts the people who keep the supply chain moving at risk, leading to incidents and accidents that are still all too common. The Group believes that such tragedies in the supply chain are to be avoided – most vividly demonstrated by the too frequent occurrence of container ship fires – higher standards of cargo integrity.

“We are providing clearer guidance through our revised Quick Guide and Checklist to help those responsible for packing cargo transport units, and in particular intermodal containers, to understand the standards expected in international trade,” stated James Hookham, Director of Global Shippers Forum.  “The revised editions recognise the endorsement of all the partner organisations now active in the Cargo Integrity Group and their joint commitment to dissemination of this advice to their respective memberships and wider networks,” he concluded.

Filed Under: ICHCA, TT Club

Attention to Impending Dutch Customs System Changes Urgently Required

October 4, 2022 by

Customs solution provider C4T is urging traders to and from the Netherlands to be alert to changes in declaration procedures due to take effect on 4th October. With the changeover from the existing AGS system to the highly automated DMS, Dutch authorities seek to accommodate importers and exporters, maintaining the country’s role as a primary EU gateway.

The Netherlands is among the first EU Member States to introduce a real-time declaration process to replace periodic reporting in line with the legal requirements of the Union Customs Code (UCC) to be completed across the EU by 2025.  The Netherlands was also one of the first countries with which C4T connected for the purposes of automatic declaration filing.

In anticipation of the imposition of a uniform data model for all EU states, C4T has built its own centralised, collaborative system, CAS on the same model of customs codes. Accordingly CAS is compatible with not only the new Dutch DMS (Douane-aangiften Management System) but with all the new automated customs clearance systems being developed in each EU state.

“The EU’s Union Customs Code came into effect in 2016 and is intended to result in a fully automated customs union by 2025,” outlines C4T’s Product Marketing Manager Sam Blakeman. “Each state will retain its own customs control and declaration system, but existing electronic procedures are having to be replaced in order for a more harmonised, and hopefully frictionless, freight transport environment to be achieved across the EU.”

The Dutch government has always been committed to as simplified a customs regime as possible in order to encourage the logistics industry to develop further in its ports’ hinterlands.  Consequently it is leading the way in developing DMS with a phased introduction of various elements which started in October last year.  A second phase was completed earlier this year and the final step comes in October.

“Our CAS system is integrated with Portbase which facilitates the CVB message and automates the pre-notification and presentation notification processes — each vital in ensuring the free-flow of import cargo through Dutch customs from October 4th onwards,” explains Blakeman.Further elements of DMS will be brought into play through 2023 with the completion of full implementation scheduled for June.

Pieter Haesaert is Founder and President of C4T.  He is enthusiastic about the procedural changes to the customs union and what C4T can offer.  “True frictionless trade within the EU’s twenty-seven states is a tall order.  The current UCC initiative will go a long way to achieving it.  Apart from the willingness to invest and to commit to systems change by governments, we need a heightening of importer/exporter awareness and an effective ‘one-stop’ platform to help them on their way. At C4T we intend to help with both the last two imperatives.”

Established in 2008, Haesaert built the CAS platform from the ground up, employing the more flexible IT technologies available over the last ten years such as real-time data processing and native cloud solutions.  He describes the resulting software represented by CAS as a “Late-comer to the party.” He continues, “Of course, the advantage is that it is easier for us to incorporate the data model on which the UCC initiative is built than it is for customs software providers with legacy systems that arrived earlier. So, we’ll be inviting many more involved in EU trade to the dance and aiming to lead them to customs harmony.”

About Customs4trade (C4T)

C4T has a unique team of customs experts and best-of-breed technology engineers and has developed CAS, a one-of-a-kind software solution for customs and trade compliance. Managed Customs Services have been added to this product offering, helping companies make the most of their software investment.

CAS is a collaborative hub, built on the Microsoft Azure platform and delivered as a service (SaaS). It is designed to manage regional and worldwide customs and trade compliance quickly and accurately, within one single platform. CAS provides customers with continual updates and feature enhancements, including the incorporation of any changes to legislation and compliance regulation—along with Azure’s signature accessibility, scalability, and security.

Forward-thinking companies are turning to C4T to help them navigate customs and trade with native-cloud software and managed services for their organisation’s highest strategic benefit.  

For more information or to contact the company, please visit www.customs4trade.com.    

Filed Under: Customs4trade (C4T)

GEODIS Unifies its Brand in Poland

October 4, 2022 by

PEKAES in Poland is to be re-branded GEODIS after a successful integration following its acquisition early last year. The unified visual identity will bring clarity for customers in Poland and worldwide.

The company’s new identity is effective from October 3. From now, PEKAES provides all its services under the one GEODIS brand.

Commenting, Marie-Christine Lombard, Chief Executive Officer of GEODIS said, “A unified brand in every region in which we do business is crucial in reassuring customers of a truly integrated service of a reliable and consistent standard wherever in the world they are trading. Our priority is to help our customers grow their businesses by providing simple, efficient, and effective solutions. I am impressed with the enthusiasm with which employees are committed to strengthening the GEODIS brand in the Polish market.”

The Group offers, uniformly under the GEODIS brand, services from full truckload and groupage road transport to contract logistics, rail, sea & air freight forwarding.

GEODIS sees the rebranding as a natural step in the process of affirming its presence in the market and its ability to provide comprehensive end-to-end supply chain management across all the regions in which it operates. The dynamic growth of GEODIS in Poland, Europe’s fourth largest logistics market, is an important element of the Group’s ‘Ambition 2023’ forward plan.

GEODIS in Poland employs more than 1,400 employees across 32 sites and has seven warehouse facilities with a total storage area over 160,000 sqm.

GEODIS – www.geodis.com 

GEODIS is a leading global logistics provider acknowledged for its expertise across all aspects of the supply chain. As a growth partner to its clients, GEODIS specializes in five lines of business: Supply Chain Optimization, Freight Forwarding, Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express, and Road Transport. With a global network spanning nearly 170 countries and more than 44,000 employees, GEODIS is ranked no. 7 in its sector across the world. In 2021, GEODIS generated €10.9 billion in revenue.

Filed Under: GEODIS