FIATA E-Flash No. 185 – 22 October 2018 (R.EMP.-F- 52/18)

24 octubre, 2018 Ateia

FIATA AND MEMBERS

GIFF (Ghana): GIFF Take Action over Cargo Tracking Note Policy

A member of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders and a Lecturer at Kaaf University College John Kwame Adu Jack has sued the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) over the implementation of the Cargo Tracking Note (CTN) Policy, arguing it was illegal, unconstitutional and a breach of trade facilitation provisions.

The CTN Policy is to allow shipments to Ghana including transit Cargo and shipping exporters and forwarders at various ports of loading globally to obtain a validated CTN number to help track the right content of consignment to avoid undervaluation at the ports.

For more details, please visit: https://www.pulse.com.gh/news/business/freight-forwarder-sues-gra-over-ctn-as-policy-begins-on-oct-15-id8979841.html

ALACAT: Forwarders hit back at ‘shipping monopoly’ and ‘no limit’ box detention

Ecuadorian forwarders are fighting back against a «major trade risk» presented by what they call the «monopolisation» of the shipping sector, and unregulated container detention fees.

Speaking to The Loadstar at Fiata’s World Congress, the president of Latin American forwarding association Alacat, Galo Molina Aguilar, claimed shippers were being «taken advantage of». «Not only are the carriers taking advantage of shippers by collecting fees for the detention of containers, they are failing to invoice separately for these fees,» said Mr Aguilar.

For more details, please visit: https://theloadstar.co.uk/forwarders-hit-back-shipping-monopoly-no-limit-box-detention-fees/

SEA FREIGHT

Freight Forwarding Platform Twill Launches in Germany

The Port of Hamburg has announced that Twill, a digital freight forwarding platform affiliated with Maersk, is now live in Germany, the largest EU market for intercontinental trade.

The Twill platform provides customers with full visibility of their shipment, enabling them to track cargo as it is transported. Another feature of the service, according to a statement, is that customers can co-develop with Twill by submitting requests for new updates on a regular basis.

For more details, please visit: https://www.porttechnology.org/news/freight_forwarding_platform_twill_launches_in_germany

Largest Ever Project Freight Forwarding Movement for Italian Port

The Port of Venice has handled its largest ever load, a colossal project freight forwarding job consisting of two hydrocracking reactors, each weighing 1,535 tonnes and measuring 60 metres long.

Made by heavy engineering equipment manufacturer, ATB Riva Calzoni, the reactors are, according to the company, amongst the largest ever made in the petrochemical sector and bound for its destination, the first Nigerian refinery in private hands and owned by Dangote Refining.

For more details, please visit: https://www.handyshippingguide.com/shipping-news/largest-ever-project-freight-forwarding-movement-for-italian-port_9461

Freight forwarders bemoan low cargo clearing in Apapa port

Some concerned freight forwarders on Saturday bemoaned low number of containers cleared by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in Apapa port.

The port users, who spoke on the challenges facing their operations in Lagos State, alleged that only between 38 and 40 containers were cleared by NCS for release daily, in spite of the automation of ports operations. Risk Assessment Report (RAR), Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) and the latest Nigeria Customs Integrated Service II were expected to speed up cargo transaction but to no avail.

For more details, please visit: https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/freight-forwarders-bemoan-low-cargo-clearing-in-apapa-port/

ICC Banking Commission and Clyde & Co launch report on the legal status of electronic bills of lading

The ICC Banking Commission and global law firm Clyde & Co have launched a report on the legal status of electronic bills of lading. The report considers whether the law in this area reflects the technological change that is rapidly occurring in the international trade sector.

The question remains whether those rights and liabilities are replicated if the original paper B/L is replaced by an electronic bill of Lading (eB/L). Similarly, there is currently uncertainty over the legal consequences if the eB/L is subsequently printed in paper format.

For more details, please visit: https://iccwbo.org/media-wall/news-speeches/icc-banking-commission-clyde-co-launch-report-legal-status-electronic-bills-lading/

AIR FREIGHT

Hobart Airport secures first tenant for USD9.2m freight handling facility

In a significant boost for the Tasmanian export economy, Link Logistics has signed on as the first tenant of the new Hobart Airport freight handling facility and commercial precinct. This brings the airport a step closer to the international market.

An initial A$13 million-dollar investment is set to unlock enormous opportunities for local producers, allowing them to freight their produce directly from Hobart to export destinations following completion of the first phase of the project in December.

For more details, please visit: http://www.freshplaza.com/article/9031267/tasmania-hobart-airport-freight-handling-and-commercial-precinct-has-its-first-tenant/

Florida moves forward with $1.5bn of airport upgrades

HDR Inc. has been appointed to provide civil engineering services for an estimated US$1.5bn (£1.1bn) of capital improvements at five Florida airports including Miami International.

Miami International Airport, which is No 1 in the USA for international freight and No 2 for international passengers, is the largest of the five airports. HDR will also design improvements for four general aviation airports, including Miami Opa Locka Executive, which is home to the largest US Coast Guard air/sea rescue station and Miami Executive Airport.

For more details, please visit: https://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/florida-moves-forward-with-15bn-of-airport-upgrades

ROAD AND RAIL FREIGHT

IRU: Pakistan launches first outbound TIR transport

IRU member, PNC-ICC, issued the first TIR carnet in October to Pakistani transport operator, TCS Logistics, ahead of the departure on 12th October, which is marked by a ceremony in Karachi.

Mr. Muhammad Javed Ghani, Director General Transit Trade from Pakistan Customs added, «The TIR system offers a solution for harmonised processes at borders across the region and we should now see cross border transport and transit become much more streamlined and secured.»

For more details, please visit: https://www.iru.org/resources/newsroom/pakistan-launches-first-outbound-tir-transport

Rail shippers «undoubtedly more negative»: Cowen

Cowen and Company’s 3Q18 rail shipper survey says that shippers are anticipating price increases of 3.7% over the next 6-12 months, down from 4.7% in 2Q18, but in line with the survey’s long-term average, according to Managing Director and Railway Age Wall Street Contributing Editor Jason Seidl.

«On a same-shipper basis, however, pricing expectations sequentially declined just 50 basis points,» said Seidl. «Economic confidence and recent business trends remain above the survey’s long-term average. We view these results as neutral to slightly negative for the railroads.»

For more details, please visit: https://www.railwayage.com/freight/rail-shippers-undoubtedly-more-negative-cowen/

Ground transportation in a spin due to e-commerce and digitisation

Global freight transport is «the definition of volatility», but the ground logistics sector is «undergoing change that far exceeds the norms of regular market fluctuation». That is the main finding of a special report produced by DHL Supply Chain, The Logistics Transport Evolution: The Road Ahead.

In Latin America, for example, the priority consideration in selecting a ground transportation provider is on-time delivery, while in Europe, where the market is more mature, optimisation of networks appears to be the key focus for shippers.

For more details, please visit: https://www.aircargonews.net/news/freight-forwarder/single-view/news/ground-transportation-in-a-spin-due-to-e-commerce-and-digitisation.html

INNOVATION

Digital freight forwarder Zencargo raises US$4 million

London-based digital freight forwarder Zencargo announced the completion of its «seed plus» round of funding, led by LocalGlobe, with participation from Samos Investments and Picus Capital, bringing total funds raised to more than US$4 million for the startup.

The company offers services such as instant quotes, instant booking and real-time shipment tracking through a centralized platform, which «pulls supply-chain data from different systems and parties and displays it together in one place.»

For more details, please visit: https://aircargoworld.com/allposts/digital-freight-forwarder-zencargo-raises-us4-million/

Antwerp and Abu Dhabi sign blockchain deal

United Arab Emirates Maqta Gateway, an Abu Dhabi Ports subsidiary, unveiled that it began implementing the first international blockchain pilot testing project in partnership with the Port of Antwerp in Belgium The project, writes Maqta Gateway in its press release, is expected to support companies in conducting trade transactions between the UAE and Belgium, providing full cargo visibility and streamlining trade flows and supply chains.

For more details, please visit: http://www.themeditelegraph.com/en/shipping/2018/10/17/antwerp-and-abu-dhabi-sign-blockchain-deal-ZIcJvpRn6y45AZAL49KicN/index.html

INTERNATIONAL FORWARDERS

Italian freight forwarders consider lawsuit after bridge collapse

Italian freight forwarders who say their business has been affected by the deadly bridge collapse in Genoa are taking legal advice and considering whether to sue toll-road operator Atlantia if the group is found responsible. The government has blamed an Atlantia unit, which operated the viaduct that collapsed killing 43 people on Aug. 14, for the disaster. The company is under judicial investigation, along with the transport ministry, for culpable homicide.

The unit, Autostrade per l’Italia, has denied wrongdoing, saying regular, state-supervised inspections had indicated the ageing bridge was safe. A spokesman for Atlantia declined to comment. The shippers are also looking into lawsuits against the government if the transport ministry is held responsible. The government denies responsibility.

For more details, please visit: http://www.themeditelegraph.com/en/transport/ports/2018/10/08/italian-freight-forwarders-consider-lawsuit-after-bridge-collapse-WbV9dR1cAFiww0hFpw9hbI/index.html

Freight forwarders feel the pinch as demurrage charges shoot up

The increase in demurrage charges at the Port of Mombasa by about $5 to $10 has led to the loss of business for forwarders who have reported that their customers are choosing alternative import routes or not importing at all to avoid incurring extra expenses.

In August this year, the government implemented a 20 per cent withholding tax on demurrage charges paid to foreign shipping lines. This has, in turn, resulted in the shipping lines increasing their demurrage to enable meet their profits and maintain their margins.

For more details, please visit: https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/corporate/shipping/demurrage-charges-shoot-up/4003122-4798792-fwg5uvz/index.html

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