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Archives for June 2024

GEODIS publishes its new Activity and Sustainability Report

June 11, 2024 by

GEODIS announces the publication of its 2023 Activity and Sustainability (CSR) Report. In her editorial message contained in the report, Marie-Christine Lombard, CEO of GEODIS, develops her vision for GEODIS: “Resilience, integrated logistics solutions and decarbonization: three strong markers of the Group’s transformation”.

The report is structured in three parts: 

  • The first presents information on the Group’s business in 2023, including key figures, the value creation model, acquisitions, innovations, etc.
  • The central section focuses on GEODIS’ corporate social responsibility policy, providing details of the Group’s environmental, social and ethical actions.
  • The final section summarizes the performance indicators.

The Group has called on the independent firm EY to verify the assertions and data published, guaranteeing both the transparency and reliability of the information.

This report is fully in line with the raison d’être of GEODIS: “Serving people by delivering their goods all around the world with innovative, sustainable and ethical logistics.”

To read the full report click here

About 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 four lines of business: Global Freight Forwarding, Global Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express Transport, and European Road Network. With a global network spanning nearly 170 countries and 53 000 employees, GEODIS is ranked no. 5 in its sector across the world. In 2023, GEODIS generated €11.6 billion in revenue. GEODIS is a company owned by SNCF group. 

Filed Under: GEODIS

“K” LINE Holds Environmental Awards 2024 Ceremony

June 11, 2024 by

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE) is pleased to announce that the “K” LINE Group Environmental Awards 2024 Ceremony was held on June 7, 2024.

The awards were established to honor and give recognition to outstanding environmental-preservation activities undertaken by both executives and employees working throughout the “K” LINE Group. This year marks the 10th awards ceremony since the establishment of the awards in 2015. We accepted many entries from our group companies both in Japan and overseas. The activities of six companies — one “Grand Award”, four “Excellence Awards” and two “Special Award” — were selected from such standpoints as “originality,” “challenge level,” “degree of contribution,” “continuity” and “potential for pervasiveness”, and they received the awards from our President.

Awardees of the “K” LINE Group Environmental Awards are as follows:

GRAND AWARD

Initiatives for reducing fuel consumption in tugboats. (Daito Corporation)

The tugboats operated by Daito Corporation implemented slow steaming operations to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. In addition to slow steaming, the tugboat “Kagayaki” further reduced fuel consumption by proper trim adjustment (inclination of the vessel), which led to a reduction in fuel consumption of approximately 5%.

EXCELLENCE AWARD

  • Drone delivery

 “K” Line Pte Ltd.

Normally, deliveries of supplies to ships are carried out by service boats, but KLPL switched them to drones, so as to reduce GHG emissions, improve operational efficiency, and enhance safety.

  • Hull cleaning of car carriers by robot

“K” Line (Deutschland) GmbH

The effect of the cleaning is not only to reduce GHG emissions, but also to protect

Biodiversity by collecting microplastics.

The collected algae are reused to generate biogas.

  • Recycling of packaging materials for imported cargo

“K” Line Logistics, Ltd.

Established a scheme to reuse packaging materials in cooperation with related parties

such as customers and delivery companies.

This will lead to cost saving and reduced resource consumption.

  • No Print Week

“K” Line America, Inc.

Promoted reduction of paper consumption during the period by going paperless.

Encouraged participation of all employees through tree planting and other efforts.

SPECIAL AWARD 　*Accumulation 10 entries

Daito Corporation

Nitto Total Logistics Ltd.

The “K” LINE Group will continue to broadly share environmental preservation activities being addressed within our Group companies via the presentation of these annual “K” LINE Group Environmental Awards in order to demonstrate the environmental preservation activities by the entire Group. Through this emphasis on continuing to aggressively contribute to environmental preservation and biodiversity protection, we will successfully accomplish our mission, i.e., “Passing on a sustainable society and this blue and beautiful ocean to the next generation” as expressed in “K” LINE Environmental Vision 2050.

Filed Under: "K" Line

Cargo Integrity Group highlights cargoes that can compromise supply chain safety

June 11, 2024 by

The industry bodies of the Cargo Integrity Group continue in their mission to improve safety in the global supply chain. The Group has identified a number of cargoes, commonly carried in containers, that under certain conditions can cause dangerous incidents. They urge everyone handling these goods to follow all applicable regulations, the CTU Code and industry best practices.

6th June 2024

In addition to promoting sound packing and shipping practices, the Cargo Integrity Group aims to increase awareness about the types of goods, often less obvious, that can compromise safety in the container supply chain under certain conditions.

The Group has identified fifteen such ‘Cargoes of Concern’ that are commonly transported by sea and intermodally. While these are usually transported safely when regulations and guidelines are followed, the Group has created this list to highlight cargoes that can become hazardous if handled incorrectly. They emphasize that cargoes that are mis-declared or have incomplete or incorrect information about their identity are more likely to be involved in incidents.

This list is not exhaustive, but each item illustrates a common type of hazard, divided into three categories:

Reactive Hazards – These cargoes can catch fire and cause significant damage and casualties under certain conditions. They are generally subject to Dangerous Goods regulations. Examples are:

  • Charcoal / carbon
  • Calcium Hypochlorite
  • Lithium-ion batteries
  • Cotton and wool
  • Fishmeal and krill
  • Seed cake

Spill or Leak Risks – These commodities can present a risk if not packed properly or if they are damaged. Spills or leaks from these cargoes can harm the health of people cleaning up the spill as well as the environment. Examples are:

  • Hides and skins
  • Wine
  • Bitumen
  • Cocoa butter
  • Waste – recycled engines and engine parts
  • Vegetable and other oils, particularly when packed in flexitanks

Improper Packing Consequences – Cargoes that are poorly or incorrectly packed or secured in the container can lead to injuries to personnel or damage to nearby containers, property, or other cargo. Such incidents can cause severe accidents at sea or on land, such as truck rollovers and train derailments. Examples are:

  • Logs and timber
  • Steel coils
  • Marble and granite

In the coming months the Cargo Integrity Group will publish additional guidance on the identification and safe handling of these cargoes.

The list is based on data from, among other sources, the claims history of leading freight insurance provider, TT Club; a report prepared by ICHCA and submitted to the IMO on incidents involving dangerous goods on ships or in ports, and from CINS which collates information provided by its members on incidents involving dangerous cargo.


“The combined experience of our organisations has been harnessed to identify these categories and result in pin-pointing some commodities where the risks are perhaps less obvious,” says Peregrine Storrs-Fox, Risk Management Director, TT Club. “While the potential dangers of transporting, for example, calcium hypochlorite or lithium-ion batteries might be more widely appreciated, the combustible qualities of seed cake or the hazards associated with cocoa butter or vegetable oils, will be less well-known.”


“Every actor in the global container supply chain is responsible for the health and safety of not only their own people, but also of those at any onward stage of the container’s journey. Complying with regulations and following the advice in the CTU Code saves lives, and we appeal to everyone shipping, packing and handling commodities that fall within the categories of these Cargoes of Concern to be particularly diligent,” comments Lars Kjaer, Senior Vice President, World Shipping Council. 

Dedicated to improving the safety, security and environmental performance throughout the containerized supply chain, a primary goal of the Cargo Integrity Group is to increase 

awareness and wider use of the IMO/ILO/UNECE Code of Practice for Packing of Cargo Transport Units – the CTU Code.  


As part of this effort the Group has developed a ‘Quick Guide’ to the CTU Code, together with a Checklist of actions and responsibilities for the guidance of those undertaking the packing of cargoes in freight containers. These are now available in all six official IMO languages as well as Italian and are available HERE

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, FIATA, the Global Shippers Forum, ICHCA, 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.

Filed Under: Cargo Integrity Group, ICHCA, TT Club

GEODIS receives Logistics Sustainability Excellence Award from Lenovo

June 6, 2024 by

Global technology powerhouse, Lenovo, has presented GEODIS with the Logistics Sustainability Excellence Award at their recent annual Global Supplier Conference 2024 in Shenzhen, China.

Since 2019, GEODIS has worked closely with Lenovo to navigate the ever-evolving supply chain landscape throughout the pandemic and after, ensuring their products reach major destinations across all continents.  GEODIS provides air, sea, and road freight services on all major trade lanes with the principal origin being China.  Over the past 5 years, teams from GEODIS and Lenovo have collaborated together to reduce lead times, control expense, streamline flows, all with the goal of CO2 emission reduction.

Photo Caption: From left: Chris Cahill, Managing Director, Middle East and Indian Sub-Continent, GEODIS and Golden Xing, Director, Global Logistics, Global Payment & China Solutions, Lenovo

Lenovo has set ambitious GHG reduction targets for 2030 on its scopes 1, 2 and 3 and is committed to reach net-zero by 2050. This commitment has been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), making Lenovo one of the pioneers among PC and smartphone manufacturers with a net-zero target validated by that organization. As for GEODIS, the Group has pledged to reduce its scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 42% and the carbon intensity of subcontracted transport (scope 3) by 30% by 2030 compared to 2022.  As part of this strong commitment on both sides, GEODIS and Lenovo have entered a long-term exclusive agreement on a customized and flexible “insetting” solution for Lenovo to participate in achieving approximately 80 % CO2 reduction through a fuel switch to Sustainable Marine Fuel (SMF). SMF offers a low-carbon alternative fuel option for ocean freight and mitigates ocean transportation’s impact on climate change. Additionally, GEODIS is exploring with Lenovo to implement a solution to rate, route and allocate volumes on the aircraft type generating the least amount of emission.

Chris Cahill, GEODIS’ Managing Director, Middle East and Indian Sub-Continent, who received the award, said, ”I am deeply honored to receive the Logistics Sustainability Excellence award on behalf of GEODIS. We thank Lenovo for this recognition and the opportunity to partner in reducing emissions throughout their supply chain. This award is testament to the dedication of our teams around the globe who have been working closely with our clients and partners for many years to develop innovative and sustainable solutions to reduce our impact on the environment.”

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 four lines of business: Global Freight Forwarding, Global Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express Transport, and European Road Network. With a global network spanning nearly 170 countries and 53 000 employees, GEODIS is ranked no. 5 in its sector across the world. In 2023, GEODIS generated €11.6 billion in revenue. GEODIS is a company owned by SNCF group. 

Filed Under: GEODIS

“K” LINE Group-Managed TEXAS HIGHWAY Receives the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Award from the Japan Meteorological Agency

June 6, 2024 by

Kawasaki Kisen Group (“K” LINE Group) is pleased to announce that the vessel TEXAS HIGHWAY, managed by “K” Line RoRo Bulk Ship Management Co., Ltd. (“K” Line RoRo Bulk Ship Management), our in-house ship management company,  received the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Award at the Meteorological Memorial Day ceremony on June 3. The award recognizes the vessel’s longstanding contributions to maritime weather observation and reporting, which have greatly advanced the country’s meteorological services.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) presents the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Award and the Director-General of the Japan Meteorological Agency Award to vessels engaged in maritime weather observation and reporting  every June 1*1 which is the Meteorological Memorial Day.

The “K” LINE Group will continue to contribute to the development of meteorological services in Japan by providing maritime observation data to the JMA.

*1    Meteorological Memorial Day:

The Tokyo Meteorological Observatory, the JMA’s predecessor, began Japan’s first meteorological and seismological observations on June 1, 1875. To commemorate this event, the Central Meteorological Observatory declared June 1 to be Meteorological Memorial Day in 1942. The annual Meteorological Memorial Day ceremony honors individuals and organizations that have significantly contributed to meteorological services. This year marks 149 years since the Tokyo Meteorological Observatory began its observations.

[TEXAS HIGHWAY receiving the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Award]

Filed Under: "K" Line

Speakers on TOC Safety Village seminar programme announced

June 5, 2024 by

A full programme of panel sessions and demonstrations of safety equipment and systems will be held across two days of TOC Europe (Tuesday 11th and Wednesday 12th June) in Rotterdam. Part of TT Club and ICHCA’s ongoing campaign to promote innovation in safety throughout the cargo handling industry, this is the third Safety Village they have hosted at the annual TOC event.

London, 4th June 2024

The brainchild of safety conscious international specialist insurer TT Club and the association of cargo handling organisations, ICHCA International, the Safety Village provides an ideal opportunity for industry professionals and technical innovators to come together and share their combined knowledge and experience.  The Village forms a key part of the partners’ year-round campaign that includes the well-established annual Innovation in Safety Award presentation and Digest of entries.  These yearly events are all designed in the interest of advancing safe working conditions and reducing risk throughout the global supply chain.

“In addition to showcasing a number of ground-breaking innovations the Village will play a crucial role in allowing cargo handlers to voice their safety concerns and explain their priorities to technical experts dedicated to developing solutions,” comments Mike Yarwood, TT’s Managing Director of Loss Prevention.  “We encourage anyone and everyone who are safety conscious and visiting TOC next week to participate in the information hub that will be the Safety Village.”

Among the confirmed speakers and panel participants will be equipment manufacturers, terminal operators, safety consultants, insurers and fire protection specialists. The wide range of speakers include Maurizio Pilu, MD of Safetytech Accelerator; Stephan Trauth from Mi-Jack; Tommy Carnebo of Dafo Fire Protection;  Lars Meurling of Bromma and Harry Albana QHSE Manager at CMA CGM’s Trans Misr Terminal in Egypt.  The topics they will be discussing range from ‘Integrating safety into the business strategy’ to ‘Benchmarking safety: What does it mean to be a safe terminal?’ 

“Creating a safe working environment at a port is crucial to the success and long term sustainability of its operations,” comments Richard Steele, CEO of ICHCA.  “Effective health and safety comes from committed senior leadership building trust and engaging with the workforce to empower everyone to be a safety leader.  Creating a shared vision of continuous improvement which is integrated across the overall business strategy is essential. Through our Safety Village sessions we are focusing on the opportunities and ideas that are happening right now, the types of thinking that can support organisations in that ongoing improvement journey.”

The full agenda is detailed on HERE  alongside more information about the Safety Village

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 1200 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.

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.

www.ichca.com

Filed Under: ICHCA, TT Club

L-Acoustics and GEODIS announce the opening of a Regional Distribution Centre in Singapore

June 3, 2024 by

SINGAPORE – June 3rd 2024 – GEODIS,a leading global logistics provider,  and L-Acoustics, the industry leader in premium professional sound, opened their new regional distribution center in Singapore. The distribution center, the first for L-Acoustics in the Asia Pacific region, is a testament to the manufacturer’s commitment to this strategic and growing market.

“Our mission is to strengthen our ties with clients, creating a hub from which we can provide ideal support,” explains Tim Zhou, CEO APAC at L-Acoustics. “The new warehouse will enable elevated customer service and faster delivery for their important projects.”

Photo caption –  Left to right: Oksana Mudrak, Global Director of Sales Coordination, L-Acoustics. Gregoire Lange, Global Director of Supply Chain Operations, L-Acoustics. Tim Zhou, CEO Asia Pacific, L-Acoustics. Hervé Guillaume, CEO L-Acoustics Group. Onno Boots, President and CEO, Asia Pacific and Middle East, GEODIS. Lakshmanan Venkateswaran, Managing Director of Southeast Asia, Japan and Korea, GEODIS. Nicolas Mialon, Regional Contract Logistics Director, GEODIS. Florence Lee, Regional Sales and Marketing Director, GEODIS.
 
Photo copyright is GEODIS

All L-Acoustics solutions are manufactured in Europe and prior to the opening of the Singapore distribution centre, orders for customers in the Asia Pacific region were fulfilled from France. The new centre will allow the company to better support clients throughout the region, shortening delivery times and streamlining the supply chain.

L-Acoustics and GEODIS have grown a global partnership which began in 2018 when GEODIS was trusted with the distribution of the manufacturer’s products in France and Europe, with GEODIS providing L-Acoustics with global end-to-end logistics solutions covering freight,  and customs and trade compliance management. The choice to partner with GEODIS for the launch of a new distribution centre in Singapore stems from the company’s supply chain expertise and track record in setting up bonded warehouses which demand licensed storage facilities with robust security measures, skilled personnel and operational capabilities aligned with local customs regulations.  The Singapore distribution centre is a bonded/zero-GST (Goods and Services Tax — GST) facility.

“Today marks a pivotal moment for L-Acoustics as we expand our regional logistics hub network with the help of our partner GEODIS, aiming to bring our customers the same level of service worldwide” says Hervé Guillaume, CEO at L-Acoustics Group.  “The foundation of our relationship with GEODIS is built on a shared spirit of innovation and performance, and a people-first mindset.  Together, we champion hyper-care for our partners throughout all our operations.”

“This recognition of our shared values reaffirms that our commitment to excellence and care is valued by our partners,” commented Onno Boots, President and CEO of Asia Pacific and Middle East, GEODIS, “It is a testament to the strong relationships we have built, the service we provide, and the trust we’ve earned. Together, we will continue to raise the bar of excellence and support L-Acoustics in their growth.”

About 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 four lines of business: Global Freight Forwarding, Global Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express Transport, and European Road Network. With a global network spanning nearly 170 countries and 53 000 employees, GEODIS is ranked no. 5 in its sector across the world. In 2023, GEODIS generated €11.6 billion in revenue. GEODIS is a company owned by SNCF group. 

About L-Acoustics – www.l-acoustics.com

L-Acoustics is renowned for developing innovative sound systems and technologies that elevate the listening experience. Founded in France in 1984, L-Acoustics currently employs 800 team members worldwide, with headquarters in Paris, Los Angeles, London, and Singapore. Recognized for pioneering the line source array, L-Acoustics continues to shape the future of sound with solutions such as the L-ISA Immersive Hyperreal Sound technology, which offers 3D multi-dimensional audio. L-Acoustics also offers exceptional concert-grade sound systems and immersive sound spaces for residential and architectural environments. In recognition of introducing these groundbreaking creative technologies, L-Acoustics was named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies of 2020 and 2023.

L-Acoustics sound systems can be heard around the globe in venues like the Hollywood Bowl and the Philharmonie de Paris, at the world’s top-grossing festivals such as Coachella and Tomorrowland, international special events like the World Expo 2020 and World Cup 2022, and on tour with world-class artists such as Billie Eilish, Post Malone, Arctic Monkeys, and Jacky Cheung, and in the Las Vegas residencies of Katy Perry, Adele, and more.

Filed Under: GEODIS
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