CARRIERS

[Ladypowerdriver]

Posts:

Judge Bars Forwarder in FMC Case

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

UASC Hikes India-Europe Rates

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OCEMA Tries To Answer Chassis Questions

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

and Etc.

[Ladypowerdriver]

4/25/2011 5:27:49 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A federal judge in Atlanta on April 15 issued a preliminary injunction to curtail operations by Savannah-based freight forwarder Indigo Logistics. The order came after the Federal Maritime Commission charged the company with violations of the Shipping Act.

The FMC complained that Indigo has operated without a license or bond since at least 2008, shipping more than 170 loads of cargo, vehicles and household goods to destinations in Africa, Europe and the Middle East. The company continued to ship household goods through New York-based NVOs through March 2011.

The commission said Indigo applied for licenses as forwarder and non-vessel-operating common carrier in July 2008 but withdrew them after commission staff said the company did not meet licensing standards.

The FMC said its representatives found "Defendants are aware of, but do not intend to comply with, the Shipping Act. They have ignored warnings from the Commission indicating that their operations … without a license and bond is unlawful."

The injunction orders Indigo and its owners to cease operations while the commission begins its own administrative process.

- R.G. Edmonson, The Journal of Commerce.

[Ladypowerdriver]

4/25/2011 2:29:41 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

United Arab Shipping Company announced a general rate increase on the westbound trades from India to Europe and the Mediterranean, the second GRI this year.

Effective June 1, the planned increase will be $200 per 20-foot equivalent unit.

The GRI will apply to all cargo moving from India to North Europe, the United Kingdom, East and West Mediterranean and Black Sea ports.

The Middle East carrier earlier raised rates on the route with a GRI of $150 per TEU that took effect Jan. 15.

UASC's move follows similar GRI announcements by several major carriers operating on the Indian subcontinent-Europe-Mediterranean trade lanes.

Recent increase announcements included: $200 per TEU by Mediterranean Shipping Company as of March 1; $250 per TEU by Maersk Line as of March 1; $150 per TEU by CMA CGM as of March 5; and $250 per TEU by Zim Integrated Shipping Services as of April 1.

- The Journal of Commerce.

[Ladypowerdriver]

5/3/2011 12:32:40 PM

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Ocean Carrier Equipment Management Association is launching a Chassis Provisioning Information section on the OCEMA Web site to help shippers understand the changes that ocean carriers are making in the provision of chassis at ocean ports and terminals around the country.

As a growing number of carriers get out of the business of providing chassis for merchant haulage, shippers are trying to figure out what it means for their haulage.

"This is an area of great interest to shippers, motor carriers, marine terminals, ports, railroads and other participants in the intermodal chain," said Jeff Lawrence, executive director of OCEMA. "We developed the Chassis Provisioning Information section on the Web site to assist ocean carrier customers and service partners in better understanding the status of chassis provision today and in the future."

OCEMA said the new section of its site at www.ocema.org/cpi provides a summary of announcements made to date and answers to frequently asked questions. The Web site will be updated regularly to provide new information on upcoming changes.

"A key concern of terminals, shippers, and motor carriers, as well as ocean carriers, is ensuring a continued stable supply of chassis in all key intermodal locations," noted John Nardi, senior vice president of operations of Hapag-Lloyd and OCEMA Chairman. "We have studied numerous locations and intend to work closely with terminals, motor carriers, pools, and chassis suppliers to ensure a stable and adequate supply of equipment. As ocean carriers, we have a vital stake in ensuring our customers' service needs are met reliably and efficiently."

OCEMA's subsidiary, Consolidated Chassis Management, operates a nationwide chain of cooperative chassis pools. "CCM has undertaken significant efforts to speed up decision making, reduce costs, and enhance flexibility to meet changes in demand for equipment. We have completed development of our new state of the art Chassis Management IT System for CCM pools, which will greatly assist in achieving these objectives," said CCM President Phil Wojcik. The new CMS system is already deployed in two of CCM's six pools.

[Ladypowerdriver]

4/28/2011 6:20:38 PM

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tropical Shipping has announced that next month it will be increasing its port security surcharge for shipments between the continental United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The company said that it is raising the fee to recoup costs associated with implementing security measures and compliance with U.S. federal, state, and local security regulations. Tropical said the increase will apply to all tariff and service contract shipments.

Effective May 15, the surcharges will go up as follows:

For 20’ containers, the surcharge will increase from $100.00 to $125.00.
For 40’X containers, the surcharge will increase from $200.00 to $250.00.
For vehicles not exceeding 700 CFT, the surcharge will increase from $40.00 to $55.00.
For vehicles exceeding 700 CFT, the surcharge will increase from $100.00 to $125.00.
For breakbulk (ST/FT), the surcharge will increase from $4.00 to $5.18.
For LTL (CWT/CFT), the surcharge will increase from $0.20/$0.10 to $0.26/$0.13.
For barrels, the surcharge will increase from $2.00 to $2.44.