May 2020

No progress in Brexit talks

The third round of Brexit trade talks between the UK and EU made little progress in mid-May after they restarted via video link, with both sides blaming each other for the lack of progress. EU's Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier and UK chief negotiator David Frost admitted that there had been little progress on reaching agreement on the remaining outstanding differences, the former adding that he was "not optimistic" on reaching a ... [+]

New recruit for Baxter Freight

Nottingham-based Baxter Freight has appointed Luke Braddow as its new UK operations manager. His  role involves working with Baxter Freight’s network of long-term partners and suppliers for the UK and Ireland. Baxter Freight continues has meanwhile embraced remote working to remain operational during the lockdown. With the help of video conferencing ... [+]

New standards for seatrade

The World Customs Organisation (WCO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) have signed a partnership recently to improve exchange of information for maritime trade. They have created a set of standards on the submission of maritime related data to enable coordination between customs and maritime authorities. When ships enter and leave ... [+]

Unions demand deep-clean at XPO

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has criticised logistics operator XPO’s response to the covid-19 pandemic, saying that at least six workers have died at its European sites in the UK, France, Italy and the Netherlands. The unions says that although it remains unconfirmed whether the six individuals contracted the virus ... [+]

KN opens Italian wine warehouse

Kuehne + Nagel has opened a new 27,000sq m dedicated wine and spirits warehouse in Oppeano in Verona, Italy. The fully customs-bonded facility is temperature controlled and offers a range of value-added services. [+]

Hapag-Lloyd defies the crisis – for now

Shipping Line  Hapag-Lloyd says 2020 got off to a good start, despite the coronavirus pandemic. Earnings before interest and taxes were US$176 million (€160 million), only somewhat below the corresponding prior-year figure of US$243 million (€214 million). The Group net result declined to approximately US$27 million (E€25 million). Earnings before ... [+]

Business as usual for DFDS

DFDS is currently operating most of its routes to and from the UK for freight apart from Amsterdam-Newcastle which is suspended up to 3 June. Dover-Calais and Dover-Dunkirk are sailing to normal schedules for freight and those undertaking essential travel although onboard bars, restaurants, shops and lounges are closed until further ... [+]

Tyne to be Dogger Bank base

Equinor and SSE Renewables, the two companies behind the world’s biggest offshore wind farm Dogger Bank are to build a new operations and maintenance (O&M ) base at the Port of Tyne. Construction of the wind farm, led by SSE Renewables, began in January 2020 and Equinor will construct the new ... [+]

Delta to restart Heathrow flights

US airline Delta is to reintroduce three days a week passenger and cargo flights from Detroit to Heathrow on 21 May, for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic closed borders. There will also be a three days a week passenger and cargo service between Atlanta and Frankfurt and a ... [+]

Covid-19 – TT Club has the answers

International freight insurer TT Club has set up a dedicated Coronavirus webpage, including risk briefings and alerts, as well as a set of frequently asked questions. It says that the diverse governmental responses around the globe have created a variable demand for goods, complex regulatory structures, and significantly changed trade patterns. The ... [+]

More »