News In Brief

21 May 2011

News In Brief

FedEx Express is building a new regional hub within the Air Cargo Express hub at Singapore Changi Airport. The 28,000sq metre hub is the second largest operation facility of its kind in the Asia Pacific region. It is scheduled for completion in the second half of 2012. The FedEx Singapore Regional Hub will integrate delivery, pick-up and air operations under one roof. It will boast a five-belt sort system with capacity to sort up to 9,000 packages an hour and house over 250 delivery vans. It will also include airside infrastructure such as two new aircraft parking bays as well as a special on-site facilitation by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority and Singapore Customs.

Elite Transport has completed the acquisition of the container haulage business interest of Matthews International Transport. The acquisition includes 50 trucks and trailers and expands Elites’ network to eight depots across the UK in addition to further strengthening the company’s presence in Felixstowe.

Ceva Logistics US is to close its operation in West Chester, Ohio, cutting nearly 200 jobs. The closure is the result of the decision by computer manufacturer Dell to transfer operations from the facility to a new location. The 42,000sq metre Dell distribution hub opened in November 2004.

Allseas Global Logistics has moved Synergy Cargo Services Europe’s Bridgewater paper processing factory from the UK to Bangladesh. The relocation required the shipment of pieces up to 5.8 metres wide and included a series of massive tanks and drums as well as 132 high-cube containers. A road journey was not an option for the largest pieces, so these were shipped out of Ellesmere Port by feeder to Antwerp, for loading onto an ocean vessel.

Less than four months after its debut, virtual freight forwarder group Conqueror Freight Network has launched “virtual branches” in 100 cities in 58 countries. The group said it was recruiting “strong and solvent” independent forwarders to act as “virtual branches” in each of the world’s 564 largest cities. Network Development Manager Russell Whittington said: “The idea is to equip our members with all the advantages previously enjoyed only by the mega-forwarders, including a global network of reliable agents, exclusive software to delimit territories, a payment-protected environment and even a dispute resolution service.”

Çelebi has opened a new state-of-the-art facility in Cargo City South at Frankfurt Airport, offering warehousing and document services. Çelebi’s customers receive automatic status updates on the cargo as well as full inventories of cargo and equipment at the touch of a button. The warehouse offers 16,000sq metres, giving it a capacity to handle up to 240,000 tonnes a year.

Kuehne + Nagel has opened an operational branch office in Krakow, Poland, in addition to its existing sales office. The new centre for sea freight, air freight and multimodal transports is located at the Krakow Airport cargo hub. The operational presence in Krakow will enable KN to better leverage its service portfolio across its network and to accelerate the strategic expansion in Poland.

Boeing and Lufthansa Cargo (LC) have finalised an order for five Boeing 777 freighters for US$1.35 billion. LC previously indicated its intention to order the freighters in March. The 777 freighter is the world’s longest range twin-engine freighter.It can fly 9,000km with a full payload of 102 tonnes.

Source: Lloyd’s Loading List

Author: Lloyd’s Loading List