The Global Air Cargo Advisory Group unveiled its vision for an end-to-end paperless transportation process for air cargo and its new GACAG e-freight Roadmap, saying GACAG members intend to work to bring that vision to reality. The roadmap has three key sections:
Federal Maritime Commission said the following have filed applications for a license as a Non-Vessel-Operating Common Carrier (NVO) and/or Ocean Freight Forwarder (OFF)-Ocean Transportation Intermediary (OTI) pursuant to section 19 of the Shipping Act of 1984. The FMC also gave notice of the filing of applications to amend an existing OTI license or the qualifying individual for a license. Interested persons may contact the Office of Transportation Intermediaries, Federal Maritime Commission, Washington, D.C. 20573, at 202-523-5843 or at OTI@fmc.gov.
International freight volume will grow 3% per year, to reach 34.5 million tons in 2016, the International Air Transport Association said in its annual forecast. That's 4.8 million more tons of air cargo than the 29.6 million tons carried in 2011, it said. It said the freight growth will accelerate over the next five years, from 1.4% growth in 2012, and reaching 3.7% in 2016. Freight carriage within the Asia-Pacific region will account for around 30% of the expected total increase in freight tonnage over the period, it said. By 2016, the largest international freight markets will be the U.S. (7.7 million tons), Germany (4.2 million tons), China (3.5 million tons), Hong Kong (3.2 million tons), Japan (2.9 million tons), the United Arab Emirates (2.5 million tons), the Republic of Korea (1.9 million tons), the U.K. (1.8 million tons), India (1.6 million tons) and the Netherlands (1.6 million tons).
The Agricultural Marketing Service released the Ocean Shipping Container Availability Report (OSCAR) for the week of Dec. 5-11. The weekly report contains data on container availability for westbound transpacific traffic at 18 intermodal locations in the U.S.1 from the eight member carriers of the Westbound Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (WTSA).2 Although the report is compiled by AMS, it covers container availability for all merchandise, not just agricultural products.
Airlines for America said it launched a campaign for a National Airline Policy supporting the role the domestic airline industry plays in connecting people and goods globally. The airline industry group's priorities include reducing taxes on airlines, reducing the regulatory burden, making it easier for U.S. airlines to compete with foreign carriers, and stabilizing energy prices.
World seaborne trade, including shipping, port and logistics services, climbed by 4 per cent in 2011, said the U.N. Conference on Trade and Development's annual Review of Maritime Transport. But it said world ship capacity expanded much faster, at 10 per cent, and the supply and demand mismatch is bad news for the industry. Global port throughput expanded by 5.9 per cent in 2011, it said.
Federal Maritime Commission said the following have filed applications for a license as a Non-Vessel-Operating Common Carrier (NVO) and/or Ocean Freight Forwarder (OFF)-Ocean Transportation Intermediary (OTI) pursuant to section 19 of the Shipping Act of 1984. The FMC also gave notice of the filing of applications to amend an existing OTI license or the qualifying individual for a license. Interested persons may contact the Office of Transportation Intermediaries, Federal Maritime Commission, Washington, D.C. 20573, at 202-523-5843 or at OTI@fmc.gov.
The Federal Maritime Commission is expected to make a decision by March 31, 2014, on a complaint filed by SBI International against Howard Finkel c/o Cosco Container Lines. It alleges that four refrigerated containers originating from Wilmington, N.C., consisting of USA frozen poultry belonging to the shipper were detained since May/June 2012 in the China port of Xingang, and that "Cosco Container Lines America failed to actively participate" in an informal dispute resolution processes pursued by the shipper through the Commission's Office of Consumer Affairs and Dispute Resolution Services. SBI said it "remains unable to retrieve his cargo valued at USD$164,176.81." The proceeding was assigned to the Office of Administrative Law Judges, which is expected to issue an initial decision by Nov. 29, 2013.
The Federal Maritime Commission released a notice of the filing of the following agreement under the Shipping Act of 1984. Interested parties may submit comments on the agreements to the Secretary, Federal Maritime Commission, Washington, DC 20573, within 10 days.
Shipbuilding production levels have remained at record high levels for two consecutive years (2010-2011), and 2012 is forecasted to remain close to 2011 levels, said a report by Drewry Maritime Research. But it said that could tail off in 2014 and beyond, because over-tonnaging and large operating inefficiencies mask the true levels of fleet under-utilization. The order book is dominated by bulk carriers and containerships, two areas facing the worst over supply, the report said. "The immediate prospects for the shipbuilding industry are therefore bleak," Drewry said.