Union Pacific Railroad announced it reached agreements with eight labor unions to provide access to up to seven paid sick days, effective April 1.
The unions that reached agreements include: National Conference of Firemen and Oilers; Brotherhood of Railway Carmen; International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers; International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers; International Brotherhood of Boilermakers; International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers – Mechanical Division; International Association of Bridge, Structural and Ornamental Iron Workers; Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division.
The Transportation Communications International Union’s collective bargaining agreement already provided paid sick time, bringing the total number of unions to nine out of 13 that will have paid sick leave agreements.
While all Union Pacific employees receive paid personal days off, employees represented by these unions will also receive four paid sick days annually, prorated for 2023, with the ability to convert up to three paid leave days for use as paid sick days.
“At Union Pacific, we value our employees and are committed to addressing their concerns by working together with union leaders to find solutions,” said Beth Whited, executive vice president – Sustainability and Strategy and CHRO. “We thank the union leadership for their collaboration and we will continue working with the other unions to address paid sick time solutions.”
Together with the clerical craft, the unions that have reached agreements or tentative agreements represent more than 40% of Union Pacific’s craft professionals and negotiations with the remaining four unions are ongoing. The railroad continues to work to identify ways to improve quality of life for all employees.
Envirotainer, the specialist in secure cold chain solutions for the shipment of pharmaceuticals, has reported a 24 per cent increase in the volume of life-saving medicines shipped around the world in its temperature-controlled units.
In 2021 the Envirotainer fleet moved ~600 million doses. In 2022 this grew to ~744 million doses (272 000 pallets).
The news comes just months after Envirotainer extensively expanded its production site in Rosersberg, just north of Stockholm in November 2022.
Already the largest site in the world in terms of output, the investment will allow Envirotainer to grow its current fleet of 7,500 FAA and EASA certified containers by another 1,300 in 2023.
The Envirotainer fleet covers more than 2,000 pharmaceutical trade lanes in over 100 countries and 300 airports. To enable the shipment of ever-increasing volumes of vaccines and treatments such as insulin to where they’re needed, the business will continue to invest and innovate to bring new products to the market.
With its Releye® range, which includes the biggest thermally-controlled container available, Envirotainer can ensure minimal or zero temperature deviations on the shipments and virtually zero product loss. Releye® also offers integrated live monitoring, which enables a unique insight into product condition, location and progress of the shipment. The company also supports cryogenic -70°C dry ice shipping for products such as clinical trials, vaccines, diagnostics biospecimen and many more with its CryoSure® product line.
Fredrik Linnér, Chief Business Development Officer at Envirotainer said, “The increase in our shipments reflects the huge need for efficient, secure and sustainable cold-chain solution for transporting sensitive pharmaceuticals We will continue to increase capacity, developing our product range and accelerating the digitalisation of the cold-chain industry. The need to safely transport pharmaceuticals while minimising wasted space in precious air cargo is unlikely to go away and we will be ready to help our customers move life-saving medicines where they need to be.”
Infrastructure Minister Alenka Bratušek and Economy, Tourism and Sport Minister Matjaž Han visited the Port of Koper.
For Han, this was the first visit to the port in his new role. On this occasion, the President of the Management Board of the Port of Koper, Boštjan Napast, briefed the Ministers on last year’s record results and current challenges, and presented key investments and development opportunities.
During the working visit of the two Ministers, the President of the Management Board presented to the delegation the port’s operations and organisation, as well as the company’s results. Last year, the Port of Koper achieved excellent business results, increased growth in throughput of all commodity groups, and concluded the business operations with historic achievements in two strategic segments – containers and cars. Investments were actively pursued, with priority given to those representing a new development cycle for key terminals in the port. In June, the final section of the container quay extension was completed, providing a new berth and additional storage space, while activities to extend the northern part of the Pier were launched.
Several topical investment issues were discussed, with the emphasis on the fast construction of the second railway line ensuring a reliable rail link to the hinterland, as well as on the ownership relations that are the basis for the implementation of all the projects. They also addressed the issue of reliable electricity supply in the coming years, waste disposal from cargo and passenger ships and exchanged views on the role of the State in the further development of the port.
The delegation also visited the workplaces in the port and the major investments under way, and made a stop at the Container Terminal quay where the guests climbed to the top of the highest crane in the Port of Koper.
Boštjan Napast, President of the Management Board of the Port of Koper, expressed his satisfaction that the two Ministers had taken the time to visit the Port of Koper, thus showing their support for the business and development of one of the most important economic entities in the country: “Together we have raised key issues, in particular investment in the modernisation of Slovenia’s rail network, which is a prerequisite for us to continue to develop the port and maintain our competitive edge. We will only be able to accelerate this development step with the help of the State, and I am confident that we will work even more closely together in the future.”
“Luka Koper is one of the most important companies owned by the Republic of Slovenia, and it is also very closely linked to the country’s largest infrastructure project, the Divača-Koper second railway line. As a grantor, the Ministry of Infrastructure regularly monitors the projects and developments at Luka Koper, which are indispensable for the optimal use of the new line. Today, too, the development projects were discussed. Just as we expect the second railway line project to be completed within the deadlines that have been set, we also expect Luka Koper to complete its projects on time,” stressed Infrastructure Minister Alenka Bratušek, MSc, who added that these are the conditions for Luka Koper to remain one of the country’s most successful investments, which is of course what we all want.
Minister of Economy, Tourism and Sport Matjaž Han also expressed his satisfaction on his first visit to the Port of Koper, stressing that a well-functioning logistics sector is of paramount importance for the Slovenian economy, as most of Slovene companies are highly export-oriented: “A well-functioning port is key to attracting foreign direct investment to Slovenia, which has an important geostrategic location for foreign investors. We should also not forget its potential for tourism. The efficiency of the Port of Koper is therefore of vital importance for our economy and, moreover, for the Coastal-Karst region, both in terms of jobs and further development. I am glad that over the last decade, the Port of Koper has developed into one of the most modern ports in the northern Adriatic, connecting with neighbouring ports in Trieste, Rijeka, and Venice, and thus representing an important entry point to Europe for cargo from Asia. It is important for the future that it continues to develop its infrastructure, ensuring sustainable operations with the lowest possible environmental and ecological impact, and that it is supported by the State with the construction of the second railway line.”
WestJet Cargo today announced that it has received Transport Canada’s approval and official certification of its four 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighters (BCF).
Following certification, WestJet Cargo and the GTA Group will expeditiously implement three freighters into service, as dedicated aircraft that will fulfill the large-scale needs of businesses, freight forwarders, shippers and individual customers across North America. The fourth of WestJet Cargo’s dedicated freighters is expected to join the accompanying fleet later this year, following the completion of its conversion.
“Today is a long-awaited milestone for WestJet Cargo and the GTA Group, that will now enable us to disrupt the air cargo industry in Canada by providing our customers with more choice, competitive prices and the exemplary customer service synonymous with the WestJet brand, but unique to the air cargo industry,” said Kirsten de Bruijn, WestJet Executive Vice-President, Cargo. “We thank Transport Canada for its dedication to certifying these aircraft, which will serve to better support Canada’s national transportation supply chain through increased competition and capacity within Canada’s air cargo market.”
Seamlessly integrating into WestJet Cargo’s existing operations and operated by WestJet’s highly skilled 737 pilots, the dedicated freighters will initially focus service within North America, serving Calgary, Halifax, Toronto, Vancouver, Los Angeles and Miami. Leveraging its quick to load and fly narrow body aircraft, the 737-800 equipped with CFM56-7B engines will enable WestJet Cargo to offer greater fuel efficiency, flexibility and frequency for its customers, beginning April 22, 2023.
WestJet Cargo’s dedicated freighter routes will further connect to the bellies of WestJet’s fleet, serving to accommodate the diverse needs of cargo customers in leveraging the airline’s expansive network.
“Today’s announcement was made possible by our incredibly talented team of cargo experts and the GTA Group, our valued partner, who have worked diligently towards this achievement that brings WestJet Cargo one step closer to fulfilling our mission to bring competitive cost advantages and reliable on-time performance to Canada’s underserved cargo landscape,” continued de Bruijn.
“Today is an exciting day for the GTA Group as we celebrate this highly anticipated moment that will bring our partnership with WestJet Cargo to new heights,” said Mario (Mauro) D’Urso, Chairman of the GTA Group of Companies. “Through the capacity of these four dedicated freighters, we are now in an excellent position to meet the needs of the rapidly growing Canadian cargo market.”
WestJet Cargo freighter bookings will be made available on April 1, 2023. To learn more about how WestJet Cargo’s team, network and flight plans can fulfill a diverse array of shipping needs, visit WestJet Cargo.
The Port of Los Angeles processed 487,846 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in February, a 43% decrease from the previous February’s all-time record.
“February declines were exacerbated by an overall slowdown in global trade, extended Lunar New Year holiday closures in Asia, overstocked warehouses and a shift away from West Coast ports,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka. “While we expect more cargo moving crossing our docks in March, volume will likely remain lighter than average in the first half of 2023.
“We’re using this volume lull to focus on new data and infrastructure initiatives to improve efficiency in preparation for increased throughput,” Seroka added.
February 2023 loaded imports reached 249,407 TEUs, down 41% compared to the previous year. Loaded exports came in at 82,404 TEUs, a decline of 14% compared to last year. Empty containers landed at 156,035 TEUs, a 54% year-over-year decline.
Two months into 2023, total container volume is at 1,213,860 TEUs compared to 1,723,360 TEUs in 2022, a 30% decline.
Atlas Air Worldwide (“Atlas,” “AAWW” or the “Company”), a leading global provider of outsourced aircraft and aviation operating services, today announced that the investor group led by funds managed by affiliates of Apollo (NYSE: APO), together with investment affiliates of J.F. Lehman & Company (“J.F. Lehman”) and Hill City Capital (“Hill City”), has completed its previously announced acquisition of the Company.
The Company will continue to maintain its global presence, continue to operate under the Atlas Air Worldwide name and be led by President and Chief Executive Officer John Dietrich and the Company’s current executive leadership team.
“Today marks the start of an exciting new chapter for Atlas, and we are eager to begin our partnership with Apollo, J.F. Lehman and Hill City,” Mr. Dietrich said. “With the support and resources of our investor partners, we are well-positioned to achieve our growth objectives while continuing to serve the increasingly complex global supply chain. I want to thank the entire Atlas team, whose customer focus and dedication made this milestone possible. I look forward to the opportunities this next phase provides for our Company and our employees.”
On behalf of the investor group, Apollo Partners Antoine Munfakh and Jason Scheir, J.F. Lehman Partner Alex Harman and Hill City Capital Chief Investment Officer Chip Frazier said: “We are thrilled to partner with the talented Atlas team and build on the Company’s strong foundation as a leader in the airfreight industry. We have long admired Atlas’ reputation of providing high-quality service to its customers, as well as the financial and operational excellence the team has established. Atlas is poised for continued growth and expansion as it capitalizes on the long-term demand for global air cargo services.”
Pursuant to the terms of the transaction announced on August 4, 2022, the investor group acquired all of the outstanding shares of Atlas Air Worldwide stock. Atlas Air Worldwide shareholders are entitled to receive $102.50 in cash for each share of Atlas Air Worldwide (AAWW) common stock owned. As a result of the transaction completion, Atlas Air Worldwide’s common stock no longer trades on the NASDAQ stock exchange.
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC served as exclusive financial advisor to Atlas. Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP served as Atlas’ legal advisor. Evercore acted as lead financial advisor to the investor group. Barclays, Goldman Sachs, and Mizuho Bank served as financial advisors to the investor group, and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP served as legal advisor to Apollo and the investor group entity, and Jones Day provided legal advice to J.F. Lehman & Company and Hill City Capital.
DHL Supply Chain has welcomed Roads Minister, Richard Holden MP to its East Midlands Gateway facility as part of the Generation Logistics campaign to raise awareness of careers in the logistics industry.
During the visit, Mr Holden met several young people working in logistics roles, who act as ambassadors for Generation Logistics: “It’s fantastic to see the ground-breaking Generation Logistics campaign already change hearts and minds about logistics and truly putting it on the radar as a rewarding career option for so many.”
“With the campaign set to branch further into the education sector, I’m thrilled to see what the future holds for logistics, with more and more people from all backgrounds and walks of life joining the sector and helping turbocharge our economic growth.”
Nick Archer, MD Consumer & Convenience, DHL Supply Chain added: “We’re delighted to be part of such an important campaign and to be highlighting the brilliant work being done by our next generation of leaders at our East Midlands Gateway facility. Raising awareness of the rewarding career opportunities available in the sector is critical, and we look forward to continuing our support for the campaign and seeing further successful results.”
Generation Logistics, the awareness campaign for the sector at the heart of all areas of the industry, has already prompted more than 1.8 million engagements with its target audiences, and its organisers have plans to expand its reach in its second year to include work with the education sector. As Phil Roe, Executive Lead for the campaign explains, the first year’s activity has brought the sector together like never before and has already had a huge impact in changing perceptions which many have never considered as a career option until now.
A key part of the second year of the Generation Logistics campaign will be a move into education, with an annual careers pack being made available to teachers, lecturers and other educators. And as Mr Roe explains, this will be a key part of the campaign’s work in attracting new recruits into the industry.
“Generation Logistics has already changed hearts and minds about our sector, achieving a media audience of more than 180 million people in its first six months. Our website, www.generationlogistics.org, has captured the imagination of our audience, with over 320,000 visitors to date, all intent on finding out more about our sector. Of course, shifting perceptions of logistics will take more than a single year, which is why we are delighted to say that the industry intends to continue the campaign for a second year from August 2023. Early indications are that our sponsors from all areas of logistics are keen to renew their support and keep the conversation going.
“We all know that logistics is a dynamic, exciting industry to work in, and the impact of our campaign in only six months has been particularly heartening. Our plans to move into education will enable us to provide support for those advising young people on careers planning, and provide the missing link between advisors, industry, and the workforce of tomorrow.”
“According to Generation Logistics’ research, educators are a key influencer in helping young people making informed decisions about their future,” Roe explains. “We are focusing our efforts in year two of the campaign to target both groups and provide the information they need at the appropriate time. We are confident that the campaign will continue to grow in year two to have even more influence, with an even greater reach, so that logistics becomes an accepted career path alongside traditional roles such as accountancy and healthcare.”
Crowley is supporting a team of 16 students at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez (UPRM) by providing free shipping and logistics services for their entry in the American Society of Civil Engineer (ASCE) Concrete Canoe Competition in Jacksonville.
The engineering students designed and created a concrete canoe that floats and will race in a March 25 competition at the University of North Florida. The canoe, 20 feet long and 245 pounds, arrived in Jacksonville on Monday aboard the MV El Coquí ship from Crowley’s Isla Grande Terminal in San Juan.
The support continues Crowley’s commitments to the island of Puerto Rico, helping people through educational programs that provide access to practical, in-demand industry skills. The contest, hosted by the University of North Florida College of Engineering, challenges students to leverage their engineering knowledge and creativity while putting the engineering principles learned in the classroom into practice. The university is also home to the Crowley Center for Transportation and Logistics.
“The UPRM team represents the best-in-class and our future leaders,” said Sal Menoyo, vice president of Puerto Rico and Caribbean services, Crowley Logistics. “We are excited to cheer them on as they put their hard-earned skills to the test and go for their next championship title.”
The concrete canoe competition demands teams demonstrate their technical expertise in design, structural analysis and project management. After constructing the canoe, students compete in five rowing races to test its effectiveness in a challenge of knowledge, creativity and innovation.
“Crowley’s support has not only afforded us the opportunity to move our concrete canoe in a timely and safe manner to this year’s Jacksonville competition but played a crucial role in our overall project management process,” said Ariana Rodriguez, UPRM engineering student and 2023 concrete canoe team captain. “We are thankful to Crowley and everyone for believing in us from start to finish. This is just the beginning of our engineering journeys.”
With more than 200 members, the ASCE student chapter of UPRM is one of the largest and most competitive in the ASCE Southwest Region, made up of 25 universities from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and Puerto Rico.
Crowley is the longest serving U.S. supply chain solutions provider in Puerto Rico, providing end-to-end services.
The Jumbo-SAL-Alliance (JSA) has commenced its scope of work in the Basrah Refinery Upgrading Project for JGC Corporation.
It is one of the largest projects ever undertaken by the Alliance. The Jumbo Javelin loaded the first of 19 transports at Dahej India.
The project will see the Jumbo-SAL-Alliance undertake the transportation of a total of 450,000 frts of cargo for its client. Jumbo Kinetic, with two 1,500 t cranes, and SAL Heavy Lift’s MV Svenja, with two 1,000 t cranes will be dedicated to the project for the duration of the transportation scope.
During this time, the two vessels will undertake seven voyages each, providing the project with full flexibility and control of logistics. Sailing schedules are firmly fixed so that all parties within the logistical cycle know well in advance when which cargo will be collected and delivered.
The two vessels, with deadweight tonnage of 14,000 t and 12,500 t respectively, are strong enough to handle all modules and small enough to be able to access the restricted Morimatsu plant in Nantong, China, where much of the cargo will be loaded.
In addition to the two vessels committed to the project, the Jumbo-SAL-Alliance will provide vessels to conduct additional five voyages. With its combined fleet of thirty vessels, the Alliance can offer JGC a vessel with the required capabilities and service level each time, while also ensuring its ability to continue to serve other clients.
Mr. Kiharu Yamashita, Project Logistics Manager of Basrah Project, JGC explained: “Having the two dedicated vessels for the duration of this phase gives us visibility, ensuring that we can remain on schedule. Jumbo-SAL-Alliance who can accommodate the size and capability required for this project is indispensable for the successful delivery of the project to our client.”
Conducting consecutive runs, the Jumbo-SAL-Alliance will transport a range of items from locations in India, China, Thailand, and Korea. Amongst the cargo will be 80 modules. Here, the Alliance will draw upon its experience of using module lifting frames. This will be applied by using JGC’s in-house designed frame, which is specially developed for lifting modules at the Morimatsu facility.
The shipments will also include transportation of 31 pieces of equipment including a regenerator, vacuum columns, a fractionator, and seven 800 t bullet tanks, each one 82 m in length.
The Jumbo-SAL-Alliance began preparations for the project back in 2019, with the provision of engineering support. This included the design of four different loading spread mats, covering the various vessel types to be used, cargo footprint and location of the cargo on the vessel.
As the project is undertaken in consecutive runs with the same vessels, the load-spreading material can be recycled (re-used) each time, offering optimal cost-efficiency.
Laurens Govers, Commercial Manager at Jumbo-SAL-Alliance: “In every project that we undertake we consider not only the costs of transportation, but also the total project cost. With this project, our early involvement played a considerable role in this. We were able to work along with the client in tweaking the sailing schedule and suitable vessel rotations to match the vessels and maximise efficiency.”
Preparations for the project included the creation of a hybrid contract servicing the needs of both parties and tackling the potential challenges of operating in the Basrah region. As this is still considered a hostile environment, the two companies had a particularly keen focus on safety.
With the performance of the main logistical scope for the Basrah project, the Jumbo-SAL-Alliance is showcasing its ability to act as a full-service logistical provider for complex and larger project scopes. Supported by solid in-house engineering, project management, live QHSE procedures and protocols and, above all, experienced crew, the Alliance aims to ensure that cargo is handled, and sea fastened for safe delivery, on time and on budget.
JGC is carrying out an EPC scope in the refinery upgrading project on behalf of the South Refineries Company, an energy company under the Iraq Ministry of Oil. JGC’s scope includes construction of a fluid catalytic cracking unit (34,500 bpd capacity), a vacuum distillation unit (55,000 bpd) and a diesel desulfurization unit (40,000 bpd).
The new facility will be located adjacent to the current Basrah refinery and will provide plant facilities that meet the international environmental standards.
Funds for the project have been provided by a loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). It is the largest Japanese assisted reconstruction project since the 2003 Iraq War. For JGC Group, it is the second project in the country since their completion of a power plant reconstruction in 2013.
The upgraded refinery will help to close a supply-demand gap for Petroleum products in Iraq, reducing the country’s dependence on imports. It will also contribute to reconstruction and economic growth, not least in the creation of several thousand jobs both for the construction and operation of the refinery.
Maersk and BionicHIVE, are four months into a pilot designed to assess automation processes that sort, select and put away packages and can navigate warehouse floors using built-in cameras and sensors, moving between people and objects.
The uniqueness of the product is the ability to climb on the existing warehouse racking to sort, pick and replenish cartons directly to/from any spot in the rack. This is the only solution in the market with so much flexibility in operations and minimal impact to existing warehouse interior infrastructure.
The evaluation is being conducted at a Maersk warehouse in Mira Loma, California and is expected to last another four months. The mobile units are battery-operated, running a smart-power consumption module which automatically replaces its power packs. SqUID’s software integrates into warehouse management systems, providing real-time inventory data.
"Maersk is investing in testing new technologies that offer upgraded warehouse services to increase efficiency and add more flexibility to supply chains. By integrating BionicHIVE’s SqUID solution into our warehouse operations, we will be able to optimize processes and better serve our customers in a rapidly evolving market."Erez Agmoni, Global Head of Innovation for Logistic and Services at Maersk.
"We are thrilled to complete this milestone with Maersk. SqUID has been designed to automate warehouse environments by integrating into existing operations without the need for major investments. The solution is scalable with minimal changes to the existing warehouse and provides flexibility to handle any box from any location and deliver it anywhere with no height limitations." Liran Raizer, CEO and Founder of BionicHIVE.
The global warehouse automation market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 14.2% through 2026.
To meet the needs of its region - home to a host of pharmaceutical companies -, Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport, managed by VINCI Airports, has opted to make pharmaceutical cargo a key component of its business.
Working hand in hand with manufacturers, airlines and specialist operators to handle temperature-sensitive cargo led to the creation of specific facilities, including an extensive cool storage area.
This strategy entered a new phase in February when Lyon Aéroport obtained IATA CEIV Pharma certification (Center of Excellence for Independent Validators in Pharmaceutical Logistics). The certification guarantees the handling process in place for pharmaceutical products, and notably the ability to maintain constant temperatures in the airport’s cool storage units in order to meet the high standards imposed by pharmaceutical laboratories. It also confirms that the airport addresses the needs of freight forwarders and airlines handling the transportation of these highly specific goods.
As a result, Lyon airport's storage facility is one of just four airport centres of excellence worldwide to have been awarded CEIV Pharma certification by IATA.
The large cool storage site operated by Lyon Aéroport stretches over 500 square metres and is split into three areas: +2°C / +4°C: 370 m2 in modular units; +15°C / +25°C: 96 m2 in two units; -22°C: 15 m2 (one unit).
The location of the specialist warehouses housing the cool storage centre enables smooth transportation of goods with direct access to loading and unloading bays and the airside zone.
The Cargoport area, covering some 150 hectares dedicated to cargo and logistics, is ideally located (less than one kilometre between the aircraft stands and the motorway network), making it quick to access and ensuring efficient air-road operations.
For Tanguy Bertolus, CEO of Lyon Aéroport: “We are proud to have obtained CEIV certification and to be able to play our part in guaranteeing the safe handling of the healthcare products, which pass through Lyon airport. At VINCI Airports, we make all efforts to ensure our airports address the needs of their region. Here in Lyon, we help support the growth of key industries such as pharmaceutical manufacturing.”
“Lyon and its region are amongst the most advanced pharmaceutical hubs in the world. The CEIV Pharma certification obtained by Lyon Aéroport for its storage facility is an important tool for meeting the needs of pharmaceutical companies, as well as transporters, for both standardisation and transparency throughout the pharmaceutical supply chain. This official recognition will bolster Lyon’s reputation as a hub, and we are pleased to congratulate Lyon Aéroport on their success”, stated Frederic Leger, Senior Vice President for Commercial Products and Services at IATA.
*The International Air Transport Association (IATA) supports aviation by drawing up global standards for security, safety, performance and sustainability.
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