Transport communications

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Crucial Advice on Safe Transport of Charcoal Published

October 3, 2024 by

New “Guidelines for the Safe Carriage of Charcoal in Containers” have been issued by CINS, with the cooperation of the international Group (IG) of P&I insurance providers and TT Club. The regulatory requirements for transport by sea are outlined and additional precautionary measures proposed.

London, 3rd October 2024

The Cargo Incident Notification System (CINS), a safety initiative representing container shipping lines and maritime insurance interests has launched its latest advisory publication, ‘Guidelines for the Safe Carriage of Charcoal in Containers’.  It contains the provisions set out in the maritime dangerous goods regulations for the transport of this potentially combustible commodity, which is commonly shipped in volume, explaining these measures and providing additional guidance for all involved in this complex international supply chain.

The packaging, declaration and transport of charcoal must comply with the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code.  Significant new provisions have been agreed by the IMO (Amendment 42-24) and will come into transitional effect from 1 January 2025 with mandatory compliance required as of 2026. The Amendment means charcoal will no longer benefit from any IMDG code exemption.  The Guidelines however strongly recommend early adoption of the new regulations and explain in detail how compliance may be achieved. 

The CINS Guidelines, prepared and published in conjunction with the IG and international freight and logistics insurer TT Club, states, “It is estimated that global production of charcoal for domestic and export markets is over 50 million tonnes per year¹. From the incident records created by CINS members, it is known that there were at least 68 fire incidents on board ships  between January 2015 and December 2022. Most of these incidents were caused by misdeclared cargo and therefore the carrier was not aware of the hazards presented.”

The practices set out in the document are intended to address safety concerns, recognising that the key driver for change arises from charcoal intended as a fuel for burning.  The guidance also notes that there are other technical types of charcoal, such as used for art materials, which have a different risk profile, urging carriers to establish effective due diligence processes.

In view of the sensitivity of this fuel cargo and history of incidents, the publishers are recommending that it should be treated as dangerous goods, regardless of current or previous regulatory provisions. It is vital to ensure that this cargo is properly prepared, declared and packaged for safe transportation.

To download the Guidelines, click on this link: CINS CHARCOAL GUIDELINES

¹2020 Global Forest Products Facts and Figures of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation (https://www.fao.org/ faostat/en/#data/FO)

About CINS — Cargo Incident Notification System

CINS is a shipping line initiative, launched in September 2011, to improve safety in the supply chain, reduce the number of cargo incidents on-board ships and on land, and highlight the risks caused by certain cargoes and/or packing failures. Membership of CINS comprises over 80 percent of the world’s container slot capacity, together with the Members of the International Group of P&I Clubs.

CINS provides analysis of operational information on cargo and container incidents which lead to injury or loss of life, loss or serious damage of assets, environmental concerns. Data relating to any cargo incident on-board a ship is uploaded to the CINS database. The data includes information on cargo type, nature, packaging, weight; journey (load and discharge ports); type of incident and root cause.  The Technical Advisory Committee is a CINS committee that includes Members of CINS and leading professional experts in relevant fields.

About The International Group of P&I Clubs (the International Group)

The International Group is comprised of 12 P&I Clubs that between them provide marine liability cover (protection and indemnity) for approximately 90% of the world’s ocean-going tonnage.

Through the unique International Group structure, the member Clubs, whilst individually competitive, share between them their large loss exposures, and also share their respective knowledge and expertise on matters relating to shipowners’ liabilities and the insurance and reinsurance of such liabilities.

Each Group Club is an independent, not-for-profit mutual insurance association, providing cover for its shipowner and charterer members against third party liabilities arising out of the use and operation of ships. Each Club is owned by its shipowner and charterer members, and its operations and activities are overseen by a board of directors, or committee, elected from the membership. The day-to-day operations of the Clubs are handled by professional managers, either “in-house” or external, who are appointed by and report to their Club board/committee.

The Clubs cover a wide range of liabilities, including loss of life and personal injury to crew, passengers and others on board, cargo loss and damage, pollution by oil and other hazardous substances, wreck removal, collision and damage to property. The Clubs also provide a wide range of services to their members including claims handling, advice on legal issues and loss prevention, and they regularly play a leading role in coordinating the response to, and management of, maritime casualties.

The International Group of P&I Clubs (igpandi.org)

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. The Club’s services include specialist underwriting, claims management and risk and loss management advice, supported by a global office network. TT Club’s mission is to make the industry safer, more secure and more sustainable. 

Established in 1968, TT Club currently services more than 1400 Members – container owners, operators, ports, terminals and logistics companies. Its membership covers the entire logistics journey, working across maritime, road, rail, and air ranging from some of the world’s largest logistics operators to smaller, bespoke companies managing similar risks. The Club is renowned for its high-quality service, in-depth industry knowledge and enduring Member loyalty. Its average annual customer retention rate is consistently over 95%, with some Members having chosen to insure with the Club for over 50 years. 

TT Club is managed by Thomas Miller – an independent and international provider of insurance, professional and investment services.

www.ttclub.com

Filed Under: Uncategorized

ESTABLISHMENT OF A JOINT VENTURE FOR OFFSHORE GEO-SURVEY

October 3, 2024 by

Delivery of geo-survey vessel EK HAYATE to Japan

“K” Line Wind Service (KWS), a joint venture between Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE KINKAI) and Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen Kaisha, Ltd., and EGS Survey (EGS) have established a joint venture company, EK Geotechnical Survey LLC (EKGS) to service the offshore marine geo-survey sector. EKGS is determined to provide various offshore survey services to meet growing demand in the sector, which is expected to increase with the development of offshore wind power in Japan and regionally. In September 2024, the geotechnical survey vessel EK HAYATE, owned by EKGS, entered into service as a Japanese-flagged vessel capable of providing offshore drilling, sampling and in-situ testing. Furthermore, EKGS has recently completed its first survey project for the Happo Town and Noshiro City Offshore Wind Power Project in Akita Prefecture. The survey was supported by group entities from both parties and the final geo-data deliverables were provided to client, OYO Corporation, on program.

KWS proactively supports the supply chain development for expanding offshore wind power generation with the accumulated experience of Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. and Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. in the offshore support vessel business overseas and in Japan. Recognizing the lack of supply of geotechnical survey vessels in Japan, a joint venture initiative was developed with EGS Group, which has strong global track record in offshore geo-survey. By coupling the resources and know-how of both companies, EKGS will participate in the offshore survey sector in Japan and internationally in pursuit of a carbon-neutral society.

The geotechnical survey vessel EK HAYATE

Corporate Profile

Company Name :  EK Geotechnical Survey LLC

Address :   2-1, Kasumigaseki 3-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Shareholders  :   KWS 50%, EGS 50%

Executive Manager  : Teruki Kuramoto

Target Work Scope :  Geo-survey required for offshore wind farms and associated infrastructure

Experience :   Cable route survey for the Happo Town and Noshiro City Offshore Wind Power Generation Project, Akita Prefecture

KWS

KWS is a joint venture between “K” LINE and  (“K” LINE KINKAI) and has been functioning, since its establishment in 2021, as a business platform of “K” LINE Group for any vessel and transportation business around Offshore Wind projects in order to contribute to the offshore wind development to reach carbon neutrality in Japan by 2050. KWS will continue to provide offshore support vessel services with “K” LINE Group’s fleet and further expand the expertise to various types of offshore wind vessels.

EGS Survey

EGS Survey Pte Ltd is part of the EGS Group. Founded in 1974, EGS is a geo-survey company with offices around the world, including Asia, Australia, Americas, Europe and the Middle East. EGS provides marine geo-survey services for offshore infrastructure development including renewable energy, oil and gas and telecommunications and has a strong reputation for professional integrity in data acquisition, analysis and reporting. In Japan’s coastal waters, EGS has over 20 years of track record of geo-survey for submarine telecommunication cables.

Filed Under: "K" Line

Hamburg Port Consulting (HPC) : Cybersecurity Threats for Ports – An Unsettling Picture

October 2, 2024 by

Setting the scene for the ninth CONNECTING PORTS talk show by Hamburg Port Consulting (HPC) earlier this month, an opening drone’s eye view of detailed port facilities under threat from cyber intrusion made for troubled viewing.  Three international experts explained how the maritime port sector must be prepared.  Serious attention to firewalls, passwords and a new perspective are needed to protect the backbone of global supply chains.

Hamburg, October 2nd, 2024: Christina Prieser, Associate Partner at HPC moderated the forum which delivered an unsettling message that potential disruption through malicious cyber attacks on ports’ IT infrastructures will only increase in the future.

Among the experts contributing, Scott Dickerson the founder of CISO LLC, which develops bespoke security programs for the maritime industry predicted, “We focus too much on legal regulations instead of fighting the perpetrators. This will lead to further disruptions to supply chains in the coming years. He went on to focus on contingency planning to combat the risks. Key to this is to foster a culture of security awareness throughout the organization. “This can only be achieved if it is driven from the top down by the CEO or port director,” he emphasized. “If top management don’t really care about a risk area like cyber security, everyone else will quickly see through it. Having the issue handled solely by technical experts would be a disservice to the organization because it’s not just technicians who work with operational technology and the Internet of Things (IoT), but the entire port administration.

Asking the all-important question, the moderator solicited the thoughts of the panel on what specific security measures can protect port facilities from cyberattacks through the growing influence of IoT. Firstly, Gadi Benmoshe, Managing Director of Marinnovators, an Israeli consultancy for maritime supply chains noted that there are currently far fewer IoT systems implemented for data collection, analysis and automation than operational technology that controls physical processes. “One of the biggest weaknesses in port cyber security,” he said. “We therefore strongly recommend separating the physical networks of operational technology or IoT from the administrative networks.”

Pradeep Luthria, Senior Partner at Saiber Innovation Technology, a cyber security solution provider in Dubai (UAE), calls for better communication about attacks: “If we got to the bottom of the causes and communicated about them more quickly, we would be better prepared.” His most recent example is an attack at the end of August on Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, where the internet and web systems were down for days.

One initiative discussed was the international Maritime Transportation System Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MTS-ISAC), a central coordination point for the timely exchange of information on cyber threats between trusted stakeholders. Its focus is on information technology, operational technology and IoT. “The MTS-ISAC and other non-governmental organizations can share information within minutes instead of weeks and months later, as is the case with some government agencies,” Dickerson pointed out.

There is no shortage of rules and regulations for cybersecurity. Gadi Benmoshe, who is also Vice Chairman of the Data Collaboration Committee at the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) highlighted the IAPH Cybersecurity Guidelines for Ports and Port Facilities. The IAPH is also supporting the IMO’s mandatory requirement for a “Maritime Single Window”, which came into force this year. This enables ship information to be exchanged on a central digital platform. “The IAPH is proposing to the IMO that the member states introduce a binding legal framework for cyber security of the Maritime Single Window by April 2025,” announced Benmoshe. He also reminded the audience that the topics of cyber attack mitigation and harmonizing port cyber security standards will feature prominently in next week’s IAPH World Ports Conference in Hamburg.

Cybersecurity requires constant focus and on-going development, the experts agreed. Luthria believes it is important to make people responsible and accountable for this and Benmoshe is pinning his hopes on artificial intelligence, which could help to better detect and prevent cyber-attacks. In conclusion Dickerson had a useful tip, “Restrict your IT, operational technology and IoT architectures from being accessible from the public internet to reduce potential attacks.”

The full session Connecting Ports #09 is available on YouTube Connecting Ports | Session#09 | Uncharted Waters: The Cybersecurity Challenge for Ports (youtube.com)

Contact

Steffi Karsten, HPC Marketing / PR, E-Mail: s.karsten@hpc-hamburg.de

About HPC

HPC Hamburg Port Consulting is a logistics consultancy specializing in strategy and transformation services for the ports, terminals and hinterland facilities sectors. Since its foundation in 1976, the Hamburg-based consultancy has carried out more than 1,800 projects in 136 countries on six continents, covering the entire development cycle of port projects. HPC employs around 100 experts with a background as terminal operators, software engineers, logistics managers, transport economists, data analysts and scientists as well as mathematicians. As a subsidiary of Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA), HPC has its roots in port handling of containers, general cargo and multipurpose freight as well as hinterland traffic.

Filed Under: HPC Hamburg Port Consulting

GEODIS UNVEILS ITS NEW BRAND CAMPAIGN, SYMBOLIZING ITS COMMITMENT TO A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

October 2, 2024 by

“A BETTER WAY TO DELIVER”

GEODIS is launching a new brand campaign featuring its new tagline, ‘A better way to deliver’, underlining its commitment to a sustainable future for the logistics sector. 

The four key visuals in the campaign have been designed to create a strong GEODIS identity and help the Group move closer to its core values and purpose: “Serving people by delivering their goods all around the world with innovative, sustainable and ethical logistics.”

GEODIS’s new tagline, “A better way to deliver”, reflects the company’s determination to continually reduce its environmental impact by offering a responsible and sustainable service to all its customers. It also highlights the Group’s desire to put people at the heart of its logistics operations, in order to offer the best delivery solutions and a personalized, respectful experience for customers and employees alike. And lastly, it symbolizes the Group’s commitment to keeping pace with the very latest trends in logistics, which need to address global economic and technological upheavals.

The new campaign will launch in the press and on social media on October 3, 2024.  

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 : Presentation at the CCUS WORLD

October 2, 2024 by

Satoshi Kanamori, Managing Executive Officer at Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE), presented “K” LINE’s initiatives regarding CCS (Carbon dioxide Capture and Storage) business developments during CCUS WORLD for the 22nd SMART ENERGY WEEK (Autumn 2024) *1, held between October 2 and 4 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan.

In this presentation, he introduced “K” LINE’s initiatives in the Northern Lights Project *2 the world’s first full-scale CCS value chain project, and the Offshore Sarawak CCS Project*3, which was selected as an Advanced CCS Project by the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC). A lively discussion was also held with attendees.

“K” LINE’s booth will be on display at booth E23-52 until October 4. Please stop by if you visit the expo.

“K” LINE group is promoting a variety of initiatives to support the decarbonization of its own operations and society in accordance with its long-term environmental policy, “Environmental Vision 2050”. The knowledge gained through “K” LINE’s advanced liquefied CO2 transport projects will be utilized in the development of projects with liquefied CO2 shipping that will sequentially begin to operate in Japan and overseas in the future with the aim of realizing a sustainable society and increasing “K” LINE’s corporate value.

(*1)       September 12, 2024: “K” LINE to Exhibit at CCUS WORLD for the 22nd SMART ENERGY WEEK (Autumn 2024)

https://www.kline.co.jp/en/news/carbon-neutral/carbon-neutral-20240912.html

(*2)       February 6, 2024: “K” LINE enters into charter contracts with Northern Lights for third liquefied CO2 vessels:

https://www.kline.co.jp/en/news/carbon-neutral/carbon-neutral-20240206.html

(*3)       September 13, 2024: Commission a CCS engineering design work in Sarawak, Malaysia as the “Japanese Advanced CCS Projects” in FY2024

https://www.kline.co.jp/en/news/carbon-neutral/carbon-neutral-20240913.html

Filed Under: "K" Line

Notice of the Establishment of a Holding Company of Consolidated Subsidiary of Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Co., Ltd. (“K” LINE LOGISTICS, LTD.) and the Partial Transfer of the Company’s Shares to Kamigumi Co., Ltd.

September 27, 2024 by

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (Head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, President & CEO: Yukikazu Myochin, hereinafter ““K” LINE”) and Kamigumi Co., Ltd. (Head office: Kobe City, Hyogo, President & CEO: Yoshihiro Fukai, hereinafter “Kamigumi”) announce today that it was agreed that “K” LINE will establish a holding company that will become the parent company of “K” LINE LOGISTICS, LTD. (hereinafter “K” LINE LOGISTICS) to which “K” LINE will transfer all of the shares of “K” LINE LOGISTICS held by “K” LINE, and assuming the approvals and licenses from the relevant authorities are granted and relevant procedures have been made, “K” LINE will transfer 47% of the total shares of the holding company to Kamigumi.

  1. Target Consolidated Subsidiary of “K” LINE – “K” LINE LOGISTCS, LTD.
  1. Purpose – Since its establishment in 1960, “K” LINE LOGISTIC has been providing international logistics services, including forwarding, for more than 60 years, and plays an important role as a core company in the logistics business of the “K” LINE Group. Through this capital alliance, we aim to achieve further growth in domestic and overseas markets by collaborating making full use of both the global network of logistics services built up by “K” LOGISTICS and abundant logistics know-how and sales assets of Kamigumi, strengthening the functions of contract logistics, and providing high-quality and more diverse logistics services to customers.
  1. Schedule – September 27, 2024 (Fri). Conclusion of the Share Transfer Agreement between “K” LINE and Kamigumi – April 1, 2025 (Tue）（Plan） Execution of the Share Transfer
  1. Outline of the Holding Company
Company NameKLKG Logistics Holdings, Co., Ltd.
Description of BusinessHolding Company of “K” LINE LOGISTICS, LTD.
Date of Share TransferApril 1, 2025（Plan）
Location of Head Office1-1, Uchisaiwaicho 2-chome,Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8540, Japan (Plan）
Paid-in Capital10 million yen
Shareholders and Share Ownership RatioKawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. 53% Kamigumi, Co., Ltd. 47%
  1. Outline of the Target Company （as of March 31, 2024）
Company Name“K” LINE LOGISTICS, LTD.
Description of Business  Handling and agency business for marine, land and air transportation, Authorized Customs Broker, IATA Approved Air Cargo Sales Agency, Air, Sea, Land and Rail Freight Forwarding Business, Consolidation transport service related to international transportation, etc.
Date of EstablishmentOctober 25, 1960
Location of Head Office1-8-10 Harumi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-6030, Japan
RepresentativeAko Hiraoka
Paid-in Capital600 million yen
Shareholders and Share Ownership RatioKawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. 95.96% Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. 4.04%
Number of Employees1,630 （Domestic：509, Overseas：1,121）（consolidated）
Revenue43.5 billion yen (consolidated)

Filed Under: "K" Line

Laura Cristin Egerer named YLP Global Winner at 2024 FIATA World Congress

September 27, 2024 by

Panama City/London, 26 September 2024 – FIATA International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations, together with TT Club, a leading provider of insurance and risk management services for the international freight transport sector, is excited to announce the Global winner of this year’s Young Logistics Professionals Award (YLP) at the 2024 FIATA World Congress held in Panama City, Panama.

Laura Cristin Egerer, the Region Europe Winner nominated by Bundesverband Spedition und Logistik (DSLV)

We are delighted to announce Laura Cristin Egerer, the Region Europe Winner nominated by Bundesverband Spedition und Logistik (DSLV), whose remarkable achievements have earned her the title of this year’s global winner. Her dissertation, Reliable Logistics Solutions in an Unreliable Environment, explored the export of an oversized combustion chamber and the import of a dangerous goods sea freight shipment, which she presented in her live session in Panama. Her solution-oriented approach to these complex cargo movements demonstrates both her expertise and innovative thinking.

Turgut Erkeskin, President of FIATA, remarked, “For over twenty years, FIATA and TT Club have been providing valuable training opportunities for the young rising stars of the industry by organising a yearly contest. The competition demonstrates the recognition by FIATA and TT Club of the need to develop skilled human resources in the freight forwarding and logistics sector and to acknowledge young talents. This award is a unique experience for young professionals, allowing them to gain more experience in the industry and connections throughout the competition. Congratulations to Laura and all the finalists for their contributions and for illustrating the bright future of our industry.”

Michael Yarwood, Managing Director Loss Prevention at TT Club, shared: ““The challenges facing the modern logistics sector are varied and complex; perhaps more so than in any other period in the history of global trade. The professionality, initiative and creativity of our talented young logistics practitioners is, we believe critical in maintaining the stability of world trade now and in the future. As TT has always been committed to improving that stability, we support without question the YLP programme and congratulate Laura Cristin Egerer, all the finalists and FIATA for its continued efforts in nurturing young talent.”

The 2024 FIATA World Congress, held in the strategically significant capital city of Panama, placed a spotlight on young talents with a dedicated full day of activities. As a global hub for logistics, Panama plays a central role in connecting the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, making it a fitting location for an event celebrating innovation and youth engagement in the logistics industry. During the YLP day, the four global finalists shared their inspiring stories of dedication and the self-development journey they embarked on to reach this important milestone in their careers. Each winner reflected on the intensive preparation process and the support they received throughout their journey. This year’s Congress featured a YLP Talk Show, where attendees had the unique opportunity to actively participate by voting for their favourite contestant. This event showed FIATA’s and TT Club unwavering commitment to empowering young professionals and fostering the next generation of leaders in logistics.

As the logistics sector continues to evolve, FIATA and TT Club remain dedicated to making this competition more inclusive and encouraging for all young professionals. By fostering innovation and unlocking potential, we are helping to shape an industry where the brightest talents are at the forefront of progress and transformation.

About FIATA

FIATA International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations is a non-governmental, membership-based organisation representing freight forwarders in some 150 territories. FIATA’s membership is composed of 113 Associations Members and more than 6,000 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’.

communications@fiata.org

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, more secure, and more sustainable. Founded in 1968, the Club has more than 1500 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

Filed Under: TT Club

GEODIS launches a test phase for the Oxygen urban electric truck developed with Renault Trucks

September 23, 2024 by

GEODIS today announced the start of a trial phase for Oxygen, the urban electric truck developed in a partnership with Renault Trucks that began in 2022. This test phase, which aims to prove the effectiveness of this new solution, will take place in Paris and Lyon between September and December 2024.

Against the backdrop of rapid growth in urban logistics, GEODIS is contributing to the development of solutions adapted to the urban environment through its ongoing partnership with Renault Trucks, established in 2022. The goal of the project is to develop Oxygen, an urban electric truck featuring the latest technologies, including integrated screens, a connected driver station and the use of artificial intelligence to improve the safety of the driver and other city center users, while meeting the demands of freight transport and addressing environmental challenges.

Photo credit: @Benjamin Bechet

A test phase in two French cities: Lyon and Paris

The test phase got under way on September 9 in the center of Lyon and will run until October 4, before moving on to Paris from October 21 to November 22. It consists of using this vehicle, developed specifically for downtown deliveries, in real-life conditions for an evaluation of its success and advantages.

This experiment will be followed by a phase of analysis of the vehicle’s on-board features, taking account of feedback from drivers (comfort of use, convenience, recharging, etc.) and fleet managers.

A long-term partnership dedicated to carbon-free urban logistics

Renault Trucks and GEODIS have for many years been pooling their industrial, logistics and engineering know-how to design this electric truck for urban logistics. A partnership was formally established in 2022, enabling this 16-tonne vehicle to come to be produced.

Sébastien Faivre, Technical and Performance Director of the Distribution & Express Line of Business at GEODIS, said: “Addressing the urgent need to protect the environment and the booming volume of logistics flows, particularly in cities, GEODIS has been heavily committed to the decarbonization of transport for several years now. We are now proud to be stepping up our partnership with Renault Trucks with the launch of this test phase in Paris and Lyon. We hope that these tests will prove fruitful, so that we can continue to introduce other concrete solutions for sustainable urban logistics.

”Guillaume Fouré, Chief Project Manager for the Oxygen project at Renault Trucks, said: “Real-life testing of a transport solution designed for the city alongside an expert in urban delivery like GEODIS will enable us to advance together in understanding this complex ecosystem and to provide solutions fully adapted to it.”

The development of this urban electric truck project forms part of a broader, ambitious decarbonization strategy undertaken by GEODIS. The Group has been committed for a long time to working alongside its customers and partners to measure and reduce its impact on customers. It has now completed the updating of its commitments in line with a Science Based Targets (SBT) approach covering its scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. In this context, GEODIS will be capable of using low-carbon solutions for deliveries in 100 French conurbations by the end of 2024. The Group currently operates a fleet of over 100 electric vehicles.

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.

Photo credit: @Benjamin Bechet

Filed Under: GEODIS

“K” Line : Car Carrier “TEXAS HIGHWAY” Given a Notation for the Safe Transportation of BEVs

September 23, 2024 by

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE) is pleased to announce that “TEXAS HIGHWAY,” a car carrier currently under its operation, has been given a notation from Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK). This notation means that additional fire-fighting measures have been implemented for the ocean transportation of battery electric vehicles (BEVs). *¹

“K” LINE has worked to strengthen its initiatives towards safer car transport. As a part of this, “K” LINE has developed and implemented a car firefighting manual for all vessels, which also applies to BEVs. This notation was given in response to this and other initiatives towards improvements in safety during transport.

“K” LINE plans to obtaining and apply some notations for other vessels operated by it. “K” LINE will continue to further improve measures against fires and work for greater safety in navigation and cargo operations as a marine transport company chosen by customers.

*1 Notation (vessel classification)
A notation given to vessels and systems that meet the requirements of vessel classification organization.

This time, it has been given the notation for Additional Fire-Fighting Measures for Vehicle Carrier (Fire Fighting)(Electric Vehicle)

Obtaining the Notification

From left:
Inspector Takashi Matsumoto, Nagoya Branch Manager, ClassNK
Capt. Dimitar Dimitrov, Master, STARGATE SHIPMANAGEMENT GmbH
Filed Under: "K" Line

Harren Group, Kestrel Italia and Intermare join forces to establish KestrelMare in Italy

September 23, 2024 by

An exciting new venture is about to unfold in the Mediterranean: Shipping and logistics companies Harren Group, Kestrel Italia and Intermare have joined forces to found KestrelMare S.r.l. This move will strengthen their shared operations in Italy while expanding their project cargo and heavy lift activities. Genoa-based KestrelMare is the new one-stop shop for all kinds of project and heavy lift cargo in Italy.

“KestrelMare is taking over all Intermare and Kestrel Italia business units, merging them under one brand,” explains Adolfo Herrero, General Manager at Kestrel Italia. “The new team combines experienced staff from both former companies, allowing us to offer much broader, more dedicated support to all our customers.”

KestrelMare is the new representative office in Italy for Harren Group, including its brands SAL Heavy Lift, Intermarine and Combi Lift. It also serves the JSI Alliance with Dutch joint venture partner Jumbo Shipping, a company that Kestrel Italia has been supporting as commercial agent for over 30 years. KestrelMare is operating as a new brand, offering maritime services to customers. The new joint venture has access to a globally unique fleet of heavy lift vessels – including the JSI Alliance fleet (65 ships).

Adolfo Herrero, Guglielmo Viola, Stefania Morasso and Marco Campodonico make up KestrelMare’s Management Team.

Stefania Morasso is excited about the joint venture: “We are very much looking forward to working with Harren Group and Kestrel. Like us, they are family-owned companies that want to expand their activities in the project cargo and heavy lift segments. By joining forces, Harren, Kestrel and Intermare will strengthen their product portfolios. Customers will benefit from more choices and better solutions.”

Guglielmo Viola adds: “We understand the needs of industrial clients and major forwarders worldwide. At KestrelMare, we are committed to providing our customers with high-quality solutions in all our areas of expertise – from break bulk to super heavy lift. When heavy, oversized or unusual cargo needs to be transported to any destination, we are there to help.”

Two of Italy’s most established shipping agencies, Kestrel Italia (founded in 1988 by Captain Carlo Viola) and Intermare (founded in 1980 by Giorgio Morasso) are maritime companies rich in tradition. They come from the world of Genoese maritime brokers and aim to provide a specialised, high-profile response to the needs of the project cargo and heavy lift sectors. Harren Group is the majority owner of Intermare.

Marco Campodonico stresses: “The new setup is good for us because it’s good for our customers. It extends our scope of action to create customised solutions. This new format will help us develop even higher standards in maritime transport logistics and project engineering. At the same time, our customers can rest assured that nothing will change in terms of the high level of services we have always provided. The only difference: They can now draw on the entire expertise, assets and network of Harren Group and Kestrel when needed – a valuable new benefit.”

KestrelMare headquarters (agency@kestrelmare.com) is located at Corso Paganini, 39/2, 16125 Genova. Easily accessible, it is conveniently located near Genova’s major business districts. Intermare’s and Kestrel’s e-mail addresses will be operational until the end of the year and all e-mails will be automatically forwarded to the new accounts.

“Italy is a market with a very bright future for the project and heavy lift industries. We’ve seen great potential there for a long time,” explains Harren Group CEO Dr Martin Harren. “Establishing KestrelMare is such an important strategic step for us. It provides new perspectives and opportunities in Italy and the entire Mediterranean region.”
Harren continues: “We’re already very familiar with Kestrel. For many years, they were the Italian agent for our friends and partners at Jumbo. KestrelMare is a real powerhouse in the international shipping industry – making the joint venture between the three brands a perfect match. All three companies have a long, shared past. Now, they can look forward to a bright future together.”

About Harren Group:

For over 35 years, Bremen-based Harren Group has been at the forefront of the ever-changing world of shipping. Today, Harren Group’s core business areas include heavy lift and MPP shipping, maritime engineering solutions, integrated project logistics, ship management and crewing, as well as commodity logistics. With an unwavering passion for people and progress, Harren Group is dedicated to leading the energy transition, carrying loads no one else can. Harren Group brings the world – and their people – closer together. Learn more about Harren Group: www.harren-group.com

About KestrelMare:

KestrelMare S.r.l. is the new joint venture between Harren Group, Kestrel Italia and Intermare in Italy, specialising in project cargo and heavy lift services. The three companies aim to expand their activities in the Mediterranean region, recognising significant potential in the Italian market. KestrelMare represents the Harren Group brands, including SAL Heavy Lift, Intermarine, Combi Lift as well as the JSI Alliance with Jumbo Shipping. KestrelMare is taking over all Intermare and Kestrel Italia business units, combining their experienced staff to offer more comprehensive and dedicated services. The new Italian powerhouse builds on the tradition and reputation of the two established maritime agencies, providing specialised solutions for industrial clients and freight forwarders worldwide. KestrelMare is headquartered in Genoa.

Filed Under: Harren & Partner
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