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Port Houston wins US$27 million grant for eco-clean up
THE US Federal Highway Administration has announced a US$26.9 million grant to Port Houston for its clean truck programme.
Port Houston's CLEANSTACS Programme (Catalysing Lower Emissions with Alliances and New Systems in Trucking and Community Sustainability) was one of fewer than 20 projects selected nationwide.
The programme will help fund 30 new zero-emission (ZE) short-haul trucks, and portable electric chargers for battery electric vehicle trucks, to make zero-emission technology accessible and more affordable to owners and operators of small trucking fleets.
The funds will also pay for installing new automated terminal operating systems to help reduce truck idling times, according to London＊s Port Technology.
The Reduction of Truck Emissions at Port Facilities Grant is a new programme funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed in November of 2021.
Port Houston will use its portion of the grant to subsidise the replacement of existing drayage trucks with new ZE trucks, which can cost upwards of $400,000-$500,000. Fleet owners are responsible for covering 20 per cent of the cost, and both electric and hydrogen fuel-cell trucks are eligible.
Reducing emissions is great for our environment and our communities, said Port Houston's chief infrastructure officer, Rich Byrnes.
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Philippines says China Coast Guard damaged its ship
THE Philippines has accused the China Coast Guard of firing water cannons at two of its vessels, causing damage to one of them, during a patrol near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, reports German broadcaster Deutsche Welle.
"This damage serves as evidence of the forceful water pressure used by the China Coast Guard in their harassment of the Philippine vessels," said Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Jay Tarriela.
"They were not deterred and will persist in carrying out their legitimate operations to support Filipino fishermen and ensure their safety."
The China Coast Guard said the "vessels" had been expelled from waters close to Huangyan Island, which is China's term for the Scarborough Shoal.
One of the vessels belonged to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the other was from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
The Filipino boats were delivering fuel and food to fishermen plying the waters near the reef.
"During the patrol, the Philippine vessels encountered dangerous manoeuvres and obstruction from four China Coast Guard vessels and six Chinese Maritime Militia vessels," said the Philippine Coast Guard.
A Chinese vessel used its water cannon, "directly hitting the starboard astern of the BFAR vessel," it added.
The Chinese also targeted the Philippine Coast Guard vessel from both sides, "resulting in damage to the railing and canopy."
China assumed control of the Scarborough Shoal from the Philippines in 2012.
Since then, Beijing has deployed its coast guard and other vessels that Manila says harass Philippine ships and prevent its fishermen from accessing a fish-rich lagoon there.
In 2016, a court ruled that China's historical claims to the area were invalid but Beijing does not recognise the ruling.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei.
The incident comes as the Philippines and the United States hold a major annual military drill that irks China.
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China research vessel detected off northeast Philippines
THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has detected the unauthorised presence of a Chinese-flagged research vessel northeast of Viga in Catanduanes, which faces the Philippine Sea, reports Manila's GMA Integrated News.
The vessel Shen Kuo was 60.9 nautical miles east off Rapu-Rapu Island in Albay.
The vessel was found to be lying-to in the area and had no personnel on the main deck, based on the latest reports from the maritime patrol of the Tactical Operations Wing Southern Luzon (TOWSOL) on Saturday, April 27.
"Several attempts to contact the vessel through regular channels were unsuccessful, indicating a lack of responsiveness or willingness to engage,§ the AFP said.
※The AFP remains vigilant, monitoring any unauthorised research vessel in our maritime domain. We have already tasked nearby vessels for enhanced surveillance and reporting,§ it said.
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Philippines defence chief finds no deal made with China
THE Philippines Department of National Defence (DND) has no knowledge of alleged internal agreements with China on the Ayungin Shoal, says Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr, reports the Manila Times.
This disputes claims of Chinese officials about two new deals with the Philippines last year to lessen tensions on the disputed territory.
"The DND is not aware of, nor is it a party to, any internal agreement with China on Ayungin Shoal since President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr took office," Mr Teodoro said.
The Ayungin Shoal is a submerged reef in Spratly Islands in the South China Sea (SCS). Mr Teodoro said the DND has not had any contact with any Chinese officials since last year.
"This is all a part of the Chinese propaganda effort to steer the Filipino people's attention away from the real issue and cause of the tensions in the West Philippine Sea, which is China's obstinate refusal to adhere to UNCLOS [United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea], which they are a signatory too," he said.
UNCLOS recognises the Philippine jurisdiction in the South China Sea, he said. "We will never enter into any agreement that will compromise our sovereignty and sovereign rights under the UNCLOS, as affirmed by the 2016 Arbitral Ruling," Mr Teodoro said.
National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano previously said China must show proof of the Philippines' alleged deal with China to keep the status quo in the West Philippine Sea.
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EU officials raid suspicious Chinese surveillance firms
A CHINESE surveillance equipment firm, operating under European Union (EU) regulations, was raided by EU officials, reports Hong Kong's South China Morning Post.
Inspectors entered the premises of the Dutch and Polish subsidiaries of the Chinese company, involved in the manufacture of surveillance equipment. The raids were a dramatic utilisation of an EU economic tool that has struck fear into the hearts of Chinese businesses operating in Europe.
The European Commission released a statement saying it was ※carrying out unannounced inspections at the premises of a company active in the production and sale of security equipment in the EU.§
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ByteDance-TikTok layoffs amid internal graft crackdown
CHINA's ByteDance, parent company of TikTok, has fired 61 employees as part of an internal crackdown on misconduct related to graft, reports Caixin.
Serious cases involve employees exploiting their role for personal gain through illicit dealings with external partners. Some cases include facilitating business for relatives, orchestrating false financial transactions or accepting substantial benefits illegally.
ByteDance's Corporate Discipline and Ethics Committee unveiled 44 violations, ranging from breaches of integrity, conflicts of interest, breaches of information security protocols, to suspected criminal offenses.
All 61 employees involved have been fired and four placed under criminal investigation by police. Three have been arrested.
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Taiwan AI chip firm quits Suzhou as US-China risks rise
TAIWAN's King Yuan Electronics Co (KYEC), one of the world's largest semiconductor firms, has sold its stake in a subsidiary located near Shanghai at Suzhou, reports Hong Kong's South China Morning Post.
KYEC has disposed of its entire 92.16 per cent share in King Long Technology (Suzhou) for CNY4.9 billion (US$676 million) to a consortium that includes King Legacy Investments, LePower (HK), Anchor Light Holdings, Suzhou Industrial Park Industrial Investment Fund, TongFu Microelectronics Co, and the Shanghai State-owned Enterprises Integrated Improvement and Experiment Private Equity Fund Partnership.
The deal is expected to be completed within the third quarter of this year. The funds raised will be used to invest in high-end testing technology and equipment ※to meet the strong demand in artificial intelligence (AI), high-performance computing and related markets,§ according to KYEC.
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China's wealth fund invests US$1 billion in Middle East
CHINA's sovereign wealth fund has partnered with the Middle East's largest alternative asset manager to launch a US$1 billion fund for investing in companies in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, strengthening economic relationships between the two regions, reports Hong Kong's South China Morning Post.
The Golden Horizon Fund, launched with Bahrain-based Investcorp Holdings, marks the first time that China Investment Corp (CIC), which has assets of $1.35 trillion, has invested in the Middle East.
"As one of the world'st couple of years, we have built several bilateral funds with leading financial institutions to facilitate industrial cooperation between China and major economies in the world.
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China okays IPO for autonomous Pony.ai vehicle firm
CHINA has approved a US listing by Pony.ai, an autonomous driving start-up, indicating a positive trend in the rising number of Chinese tech companies initiating public offerings (IPO) in the US, reports Bloomberg.
Pony.ai plans to sell up to 98 million shares and list on the Nasdaq or the New York Stock Exchange, according to an announcement on the China Securities Regulatory Commission's website.
The Chinese securities regulator said it would support overseas listings of tech firms. Chinese IPOs in the US slowed dramatically after Beijing cracked down on listings and the tech industry in 2021 following controversy over a US share sale by Didi Global Inc.
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Japan probes graphite electrodes imports from China
JAPAN will launch an anti-dumping probe into Chinese graphite electrodes, said Japan's trade and finance ministries, reports Reuters.
The electrodes are an industrial material used in electric arc furnace steelmaking.
Tokyo decided to launch the probe in accordance with World Trade Organisation agreements and domestic laws, after receiving an application from Japanese graphite makers SEC Carbon, Tokai Carbon and Nippon Carbon, the ministries said in a statement.
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Lufthansa Cargo suffers loss as strikes take their toll
LUFTHANSA's' logistics division, including Lufthansa Cargo, experienced operational challenges in the first quarter of the year, reporting a notable decline in revenues and earnings, reports London's Air Cargo News.
Weakening air cargo rates and industrial strikes contributed to a 16 per cent year-on-year drop in revenue.
The challenging market, coupled with strikes and increased operational costs, impacted the division's financial performance.
Lower yields led to a 17 per cent decrease in traffic revenue, while rising costs, including staff wages and depreciation fees, added further pressure.
Despite these challenges, air cargo traffic increased 10 per cent, reflecting overall market trends, with a 2.1 percentage point improvement in the cargo load factor.
However, the Lufthansa Group reported an adjusted EBIT loss of EUR849 million (US$912 million) for the first quarter, primarily attributed to the impact of strikes.
Moving forward, Lufthansa aims to mitigate cost pressures through cost-saving initiatives while navigating ongoing market volatility and operational disruptions.
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Logicsols picks BlueBox Systems for its air freight data
BLUEBOX Systems, a developer of intelligent air freight tracking solutions, has gained a new customer for its state-of-the-art air freight tracking, reports the American Journal of Transportation.
Called Logicsols, the platform of the digital logistics solution provider from New York, allows customers to manage their entire logistics operations.
Logicsols can now integrate BlueBox Systems' tracking data into its own platform and offers its customers even more accurate data.
The enhanced data availability has convinced Saif Uddin, digital delivery leader at Logicsols.
"BlueBox Systems offers a wider range of data points for air freight shipments compared to other providers," said Mr Uddin.
This includes real-time location updates, weather impact information and potential delays due to customs clearance, he said.
BlueBox Systems boasts a comprehensive global network for air freight tracking and delivers tracking data of more than 130 airlines, 1,600 airports and about 40 million status updates per day, which is another reason for Logicsols to choose the Bonn-based company.
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Bahrain's Texel Air renews with converted 737-800BCF
BAHRAIN's cargo airline Texel Air is updating its fleet with a 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF) to replace its oldest aircraft, the Boeing 737-300F, reports London's Air Cargo News.
The aircraft has recently been converted in China and is being leased from lessor AerCap. The aircraft will be used for charter operations.
Chisholm Enterprises subsidiary Texel Air said that the new aircraft unifies our global fleet to an all-New Generation B737 fleet, driving further efficiencies within our airline .
This significant upgrade provides enhanced capabilities and broader destination access, offering our valued clients even greater service and flexibility, the company said.
Bahrain International Airport-headquartered Texel Air became the first operator in the Middle East region to include the 737-800BCF in its fleet in January 2022.
As well as the new 737-800BCF, Planespotters data shows Texel Air s fleet includes two other B737-800BCF aircraft, one B737-300F that will be replaced by the 737-800BCF and two 737-700 FlexCombi aircraft.
The 737-800BCF carries more payload up to 23.9 tonnes (52,800 lbs) and flies farther 2,025 nautical miles (3,750 km compared to 737 Classic freighters. Globally, the 737-800BCF has more than 200 orders and commitments.
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Cathay Pacific's creation Cargo qi appoints new board
HONG KONG'S Cargo iQ, a creation of Cathay Pacific, has elected a new board as it prepares to launch two major new initiatives to drive up membership engagement and welcome a new executive director next month.
Two board members are new to the post, including Fanny Chan, head of cargo global operations at Cathay Pacific Airways; and Olaf Hagelstein, senior vice president, global head of operations, processes & systems air freight, DHL Global Forwarding.
They join Hendrik Leyssens, vice president process, planning and project delivery, Emirates; Jussi Lemola, vice president, global operations cargo, Swissport; Rutger-Jan Pegels, director performance management, Air France KLM Martinair Cargo; and Klaas Kurz, director aviation security & governance, Schenker AG, who were all re-elected to their posts. Mr Pegels also serves as vice chairman of Cargo iQ.
Outgoing Cargo iQ executive director Lothar Moehle will in May be succeeded by Marie Seco-Koppen, co-founder of Im3pact and currently chairwoman of the Cargo iQ Master Operating Plan (MOP) Working Group.
Commenting on the appointments, Moehle said: These individuals bring with them a wealth of knowledge and valuable expertise that will help steer and advise our organisation during a year of exciting changes.
Their appointments come as we prepare to launch two major initiatives that will result in enhanced cooperation and collaboration across the air cargo chain, and with our new executive director Marie Seco-Koppen driving implementation.
The new board was formally welcomed at Cargo iQ s Working Group meeting, which is taking place this week in Geneva.
The Cargo iQ Board is made up of 11 voting members, including representatives from Air France KLM Martinair, Cargomind (Austria), Cathay Pacific, DB Schenker, DHL Global Forwarding, Emirates SkyCargo, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics, Kuehne+Nagel, Lufthansa Cargo, Qatar Airways Cargo and Swissport International, supported by observers Riege Software, FIATA, and ASA, plus advisor Im3Pact AG.
The new initiatives Cargo iQ plans to roll out include a tiered membership programme that awards members Bronze, Silver, or Gold membership according to their level of implementation and their conformance to reporting.
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‧ Logistics Yellow page
