Industry News

News from JOC Journal of Commerce

• FMC rule giving contract filing relief to carriers takes effect June 15, 2020
  [caption caption="The FMC final rule concludes a two-year process into an application filed by the World Shipping Council. Photo credit: Shutterstock.com."][/caption]Container lines will no longer be required to file ‘essential terms’ of contracts with cargo owners with the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) under a rule formally adopted by the regulatory...
• FMC’s detention-demurrage proposal divides shipping industry October 31, 2019
  [caption caption="Shipping industry stakeholders are debating who should bear the financial cost when certain events inside a terminal prevent the timely pickup of containers. Photo credit: Ari Ashe/JOC.com."][/caption]The container shipping industry remains far apart on whether the Federal Maritime Commission’s (FMC's) proposed rule on detention and demurrage will resolve or...
• Piracy and corruption stalk West Africa supply chains April 7, 2016
  ACCRA, Ghana — Senior maritime and transport officials in Ghana identified piracy and corruption as central challenges in the development of an efficient port and supply chain network in West Africa. Incidents of piracy and armed robbery were singled out by Richard Anamoo, director general of Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority,...
• Pirates attack two container ships in Southeast Asia August 24, 2015
  [caption]Maersk Lebu. Credit: Fotoflite[/caption]Underscoring Southeast Asia’s new role as the world’s piracy hot spot, pirates attacked six vessels, including two container ships, in the straits of Malacca and Singapore Friday and Saturday Authorities believe the same group, comprising four to five perpetrators armed with knives, were behind all six incidents, according...
• Balancing costs and threats of piracy June 19, 2015
  When it comes to piracy, carriers must balance the speeds and routes their vessels take with crew safety and delivering maximum efficiency to clients. Typically, ships move at slower than their maximum speeds to reduce fuel usage and increase savings for both carriers and customers alike. While these benefits are tangible,...
• Global piracy declines but hot spots remain June 12, 2015
  Shippers have plenty to worry about — including volatile pricing and cargo delays — but piracy should be less of a concern, as the number of incidents has been falling since 2010. The general decline can be attributed to renewed international efforts to combat piracy. Pirate attacks targeting container vessels fell...
• MSC container ship, bulk carrier attacked off Indonesia March 23, 2015
  [caption align="left"][/caption]A Mediterranean Shipping Co. container ship and a bulk carrier were attacked in separate but possibly related incidents off the coast of Indonesia, according to the intergovernmental anti-piracy office ReCAAP. The two incidents, which are reported to have happened within hours of each other, involved ships sailing eastbound in the Straits...
• ISIS could bring piracy back to Mediterranean, officials say February 26, 2015
  Militants loyal to ISIS could bring Somali-style piracy to the Mediterranean, threatening the world’s largest trade lane, European officials warn. It’s been 200 years since pirates operated in the Mediterranean, but recent developments in North Africa suggest the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria could launch attacks on commercial and passenger...
• Maritime piracy falls to eight-year low January 15, 2015
  Maritime piracy fell to an eight-year low in 2014 as a continuing decline in attacks off Somalia offset a surge in ship hijackings in Asian waters. Attacks against small tankers off South East Asian coasts saw global hijackings rise to 21 in 2014 from 12 in 2013, according to the International...
• Weekly wrap-up: ILWU-PMA talks, 2M’s FMC approval and intermodal issues October 11, 2014
  Events on the U.S. West Coast dominated on JOC.com this past week, as labor negotiations between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association could finally be heating up. Five of the Top 10 stories on JOC.com in the past week focused on the issue. This round of...
• Report: Rise in West African piracy requires new industry approach October 5, 2014
  With piracy in West Africa on the rise, a newly released report highlights how pirate attacks in the Gulf of Guinea are far more violent than in Somalia and less-focused on ransom, requiring the industry to take a different approach to curb attacks. The set of standards, a 12-page document entitled...
• Weekly wrap-up for July 19: ILWU talks skew import volumes, Horizon faces debt crisis July 19, 2014
  While it is obvious that beneficial cargo owners shipped early this year through the West Coast in anticipation of the July 1 deadline for contract negotiations between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and waterfront employers, reports of cargo surges at Canadian and U.S. East Coast ports in May and...
• European shipowners press lawmakers on security plan June 20, 2014
  European shipowners are asking the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers to endorse a maritime security plan aimed at safeguarding ships around the globe. The European Commission and the European External Action Service joined forces to write the security plan earlier this year. Today, the European Community Shipowners Association asked...
• Container ship crew held by pirates finally freed June 9, 2014
  Eleven sailors from the Malaysia-flag container ship Albedo held hostage for more than three years by Somali pirates have arrived safely in Kenya, according to mediators who helped secure their freedom, Al Jazeera reported. The 1,066-TEU vessel, which had a 23-man crew when it was attacked, was hijacked about 1,500 kilometers off...
• Poseidon Marine Security launches ProtectaDeck February 4, 2014
  Manchester - UK – Poseidon Marine Security has launched a global marketing campaign for its new product ProtectaDeck, an anti-piracy barrier for the shipping industry to protect vessels and oil rig platforms from the increased number of piracy attacks throughout the world . ProtectaDeck prevents intruders from boarding, is inexpensive, as well...
• Japan's New Anti-Piracy Law Set to Take Effect November 27, 2013
  Japan’s new anti-piracy law will take effect on Saturday, 17 days after it was enacted by the Diet, the nation’s parliament, the transport ministry announced this week. The new law will allow private armed guards to board Japanese-registered oil tankers and other cargo ships in waters off Somalia and elsewhere. Under the...
• India Arrests US Anti-Piracy Vessel, Crew October 21, 2013
  Ten crew members and 25 security guards aboard a ship engaged in anti-piracy services were arrested in Chennai Oct. 18 after they failed to produce proper documents allowing them to carry weapons, Indian authorities said. The MV Seaman Guard Ohio is owned by Washington-based AdvanFort International, and flies the Sierra Leone...
• IMB Reports Decline in Global Piracy But Rise Off Nigeria October 18, 2013
  Global piracy has fallen to a seven-year low, but attacks off the coast of Nigeria have surged by a third, the International Maritime Bureau said. There were 188 piracy incidents in the first nine months of 2013, down from 233 in the same period last year, and the number of hostages...
• Japanese Government Adopts New Anti-Piracy Bill October 17, 2013
  The Japanese government adopted a new anti-piracy bill at a cabinet meeting this week that would allow private armed guards to board Japanese-registered oil tankers and other cargo ships in waters off Somalia and elsewhere. The government will seek to have the bill enacted during an extraordinary session of the Diet,...
• Belgium Arrests Alleged Pirate Boss in Movie Sting October 15, 2013
  A suspected Somali pirate chief has been arrested in Belgium after he was lured to the country by police posing as filmmakers who wanted him to star in a documentary about his exploits. Mohamed Abdi Hassan, known as “Afweyne” or “Big Mouth,” allegedly has pocketed millions of dollars in ransom payments...

News from Lloyd’s List – Containers

• Pandemic reveals gaps and opportunities in US trade March 4, 2021
  The health crisis exposed sourcing weaknesses in the US supply chain with PPE, pharmaceuticals, and medical equipment being manufactured in...     Related StoriesGeorgiopoulos unveils hopes for breakthrough emissions projectGreek shipping legend Tryphon Kedros dies at 108Greek shipping legend Tryphon Kedrosdies dies at 108 
• Weekly Briefing: Containers conflab reflections | Oil output hike may not be enough to lift tankers | Dry bulk sees a rainbow ahead March 3, 2021
  The box sector has been busy considering the shifting dynamics across the supply chain and options to ease the logjam...     Related StoriesPandemic reveals gaps and opportunities in US tradeGeorgiopoulos unveils hopes for breakthrough emissions projectGreek shipping legend Tryphon Kedros dies at 108 
• Charterers attacked as no crew-change clauses compound seafarer crisis March 3, 2021
  ‘When the market is against the owner and you are bleeding, they kneel on your neck… and they impose things...     Related StoriesJust say ‘no’ to loss-making freight rates, says FrontlineMaritime Markets Outlook: Why tankers need you to take a holidayUS port productivity hindering supply chain recovery 
• PIL restructuring gets court approval March 3, 2021
  PIL will be majority owned by Temasek-linked Heliconia Capital once its proposed restructuring is complete     Related StoriesPandemic reveals gaps and opportunities in US tradeGeorgiopoulos unveils hopes for breakthrough emissions projectGreek shipping legend Tryphon Kedros dies at 108 
• Shippers advised to lock in capacity early March 3, 2021
  The contract rates of recent years are set to be a thing of the past. Shippers should focus on securing...     Related StoriesPandemic reveals gaps and opportunities in US tradeGeorgiopoulos unveils hopes for breakthrough emissions projectGreek shipping legend Tryphon Kedros dies at 108 
• CMA CGM takes over Tripoli terminal March 3, 2021
  CMA CGM completes acquisition of Gulftainer Lebanon, operator of Tripoli’s principal box terminal. The takeover is one of three new...     Related StoriesPandemic reveals gaps and opportunities in US tradeGeorgiopoulos unveils hopes for breakthrough emissions projectGreek shipping legend Tryphon Kedros dies at 108 
• Rail operator aims to bolster North America’s marine terminals March 3, 2021
  ‘In the case of CN we actually hope it happens that way because we certainly serve the three coasts. We...     Related StoriesPandemic reveals gaps and opportunities in US tradeGeorgiopoulos unveils hopes for breakthrough emissions projectGreek shipping legend Tryphon Kedros dies at 108 
• Maritime Markets Outlook: Why tankers need you to take a holiday March 3, 2021
  In this month's edition: Talk of the tanker recovery being kicked out to 2022 will come down to whether EU...     Related StoriesJust say ‘no’ to loss-making freight rates, says FrontlineCharterers attacked as no crew-change clauses compound seafarer crisisUS port productivity hindering supply chain recovery 
• US port productivity hindering supply chain recovery March 2, 2021
  Asian factories and terminals are pushing goods across the Pacific around the clock. But when those containers reach their destination...     Related StoriesJust say ‘no’ to loss-making freight rates, says FrontlineCharterers attacked as no crew-change clauses compound seafarer crisisMaritime Markets Outlook: Why tankers need you to take a holiday 
• CMA CGM bolsters Mediterranean port presence with Spanish deal March 2, 2021
  CMA CGM agrees deal with HMM to take a minority stake in Total Terminal International Algeciras, marking the company’s second...     Related StoriesPandemic reveals gaps and opportunities in US tradeGeorgiopoulos unveils hopes for breakthrough emissions projectGreek shipping legend Tryphon Kedros dies at 108 

News from Container Management

• Eight locations in England given freeport status March 4, 2021
  Eight English sites have had their bids for freeport status approved by the British government, which sees them as a key part of its post-Brexit economic model. The new freeports will be based in East Midlands Airport, Felixstowe and Harwich, Humber, Liverpool city region, Plymouth, Solent, Thames and Teesside. The locations will be special economic […]
• PSA Singapore responds to supply chain disruptions with cargo solutions March 4, 2021
  PSA Singapore has launched a series of value-added services to support cargo owners which includes priority discharge, top stowage, express delivery flexi-alerts and fast connection management for containers moving via Singapore. The company had deployed these additional resources and ramped up its capabilities to increase activity at the Sinagpore port to deal with the current […]
• Draught record broken at the Port of Antwerp’s Deurganck Dock March 3, 2021
  The MSC Regulus, with a draught of 15.7 m, successfully entered the Port of Antwerp in the first  of six trials for a programme to incrementally increase the port’s draught from 15.5 m to 16 m. The current maximum draught of the Western Scheldt river for container ships calling at Antwerp is 15.5 m, and […]
• Paceco and Mitsui launch near zero emission RTG March 3, 2021
  Paceco Group and Mitsui E&S Machinery (MES-M) have announced the market release of a near zero emission (NZE) rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) crane as well as the commencement of zero emission (ZE) RTG development. The NZE ‘Transtainer’ model is an updated version of the Paceco-Mitsui hybrid Transtainer, first introduced to the market in 2009 with power […]
• DP World begins operations at Port of Luanda’s Multipurpose Terminal March 2, 2021
  DP World has begun operation of the Multipurpose Terminal (MPT) at the Port of Luanda, as it looks to turn the facility into a regional hub following an investment programme. The MPT was handed over to the Dubai-based company by Porto de Luanda, following the 20-year concession agreement signed in January. DP World Luanda is […]
• APMT Kalundborg begins operations March 2, 2021
  APM Terminals (APMT) has begun operations in Kalundborg, Denmark, with the launch of two weekly feeder services operated by A.P. Moller – Maersk. The new feeder services link the port with major shipping routes by offering a connection to weekly mainliner in Aarhus bound for Asia and a feeder network reaching Russia, the Baltics, Iceland […]
• CMA CGM dedicates a fleet of six LNG ships to the US market March 1, 2021
  CMA CGM will dedicate a fleet of 15,000 teu liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered containerships to the US market as part of the group’s ongoing efforts to improve air quality. The first of these new vessels will be delivered in October 2021, and all ships are expected to be fully operational by the end of 2022. […]
• Port of Santos authorised to receive 366 m vessels March 1, 2021
  The Brazilian Navy has given the Port of Santos approval to receive vessels of 366 m in length, the largest ships calling the East Coast of South America. Currently, the port receives vessels of up to 340 m in length, with a capacity for around 9,000 teu, while the new maximum size of vessels arrivals […]
• Camco to provide gate automation at BCTN Alblasserdam February 26, 2021
  Dutch barge terminal BCTN Alblasserdam has selected Camco Technologies as its gate automation partner, as it looks to optimise terminal automation processes. Utilising two bi-directional Camco truck optical character recognition (OCR) portals, the terminal will have fast access to truck and cargo data, helping to increase truck and container turnaround. This methodology enhances the process […]
• PortMiami sees record cargo activity in January February 26, 2021
  PortMiami handled 113,835 teu in January 2021, a 21% increase from the 94,064 teu handled in the same period last year, as furniture imports rose and business with China, Vietnam, Turkey and Italy boomed. Data from PIERS showed that furniture imports were the top imported commodity in January 2021, a large jump from the 24th […]
• JNPT signs MoUs to boost Indian port industrialisation February 25, 2021
  Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) has signed more than 30 memorandums of understanding (MoU) with potential investors for port projects, technological advancements and development of plots in the port’s special economic zone (SEZ). Worth around INR27,000 crore (US$3.7m), the investment partners include DP World, JM Baxi & Co., Ganesh Benzo, BPCL, NITIE, SS G Pharma […]
• PSA partners with CDAS to launch one-stop digital solution platform SmartBooking February 25, 2021
  PSA Corporation and the Container Depot and Logistics Association (CDAS) have launched SmartBooking, an integrated one-stop booking platform for container depots, terminals, hauliers and logistics facilities across Singapore. The initiative, developed by PSA, aims to play a major role in Singapore’s logistics ecosystem digitalisation roadmap and is part of the National Artificial Intelligence strategy to […]
• Decline in cruise shipping causes fall in revenue at Piraeus Port Authority February 24, 2021
  Tough conditions for cruise and coastal shipping were largely responsible for an 11% fall in revenue at Piraeus Port Authority (PPA) last year, although container volumes at the Greek hub showed some resilience. The port handled 5,437,477 teu in 2020, representing a 4% drop in container volumes, mainly due to a 5% decrease at the […]
• Congestion leads to container volume drop at Port of Oakland February 24, 2021
  The Port of Oakland’s container throughput declined 11.9% year-on-year in January 2021 as a result of spreading supply chain congestion. Exports, in particular, were down 11.3% and the port attributed the cargo declines to several factors that included late-arriving ships from southern California as up to 60 vessels at anchor waited for berth space. Bryan […]
• Container volumes slip at Port Houston February 23, 2021
  Container activity at Port Houston surpassed 250,000 teu in January, marking the port’s second busiest start to a year, albeit 5% lower than in January 2020. Loaded container imports totaled 121,578 teu last month, which was the fourth highest month on record for imports, while loaded exports totaled 99,694 teu. Port Houston Executive Director Roger […]
• Kuehne+Nagel acquires Apex International Corporation February 23, 2021
  Kuehne+Nagel has acquired Apex International Corporation, one of Asia’s leading freight forwarders, and taken a large step towards fulfilling its strategic Asia ambitions. Air freight forwarder Apex was founded in China in 2001 and as expanded throughout Asia and beyond over the years of its growth history, having gained particularly gained traction in the transpacific […]
• Hutchison Ports ECT Rotterdam orders 10 Kalmar hybrid straddle carriers February 22, 2021
  Hutchison Ports ECT Rotterdam has ordered 10 hybrid straddle carriers from Kalmar for its ECT Delta terminal in Rotterdam. The order was booked in Cargotec’s, Kalmar’s parent company, 2021 first quarter intake and the equipment are expected to be delivered during the third quarter. Mikko Mononen, VP sales, EMEIA at Kalmar, said: “It is a […]
• Container volumes down 3% at Port of Rotterdam February 22, 2021
  The Port of Rotterdam handled 14.3m teu last year, representing a drop of 3% despite a recovery in the second half of 2020 as consumers spent on physical goods rather than services. In the second half of the year, the port handled 76.4m tonnes of containerised throughput, up from 75.7m tonnes during the equivalent period […]
• New intermodal hub in Hungary chooses Camco as automation partner February 19, 2021
  New intermodal logistics hub East-West Gate Terminal Hungary (EWG) has selected Camco Technologies as its partner for a gate automation and camera system for vehicle and container tracking. Camco will deliver the gate access automation as well as optical character recognition (OCR) for rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes, rail-mounted gantry (RMG) cranes and rail at the […]
• Ongoing tension and aftermath of 2020 strike sees Port of Montreal lose business February 19, 2021
  Several Quebec and Ontario businesses that use the Port of Montreal have diverted containerised goods to other ports as a result of the dockworkers’ strike in 2020. Some of these businesses move critical cargo to combat COVID-19 and the Montreal Port Authority (MPA) has found other businesses have planned to divert as well if a […]

News from CN – Container News

• DP World to fast-track London Gateway new warehouse March 3, 2021
  DP World in the United Kingdom has announced that London Gateway’s Logistics Park will fast-track the delivery of a speculative 13,565m² green warehouse facility, which is expected to be completed and ready for occupation in December 2021. The post DP World to fast-track London Gateway new warehouse appeared first on Container News.
• Maersk Eindhoven sets course for LA March 3, 2021
  The Maersk Eindhoven set sail for the US on 2 March, following a stack collapse that saw 260 boxes lost on 17 February, which saw the ship divert to Yokohama Port for repairs and to discharge damaged boxes. The post Maersk Eindhoven sets course for LA appeared first on Container News.
• Global tank container fleet exceeds 680k units March 3, 2021
  The global tank container fleet reached 686,650 units worldwide on 1 January 2021, which represents a year-on-year growth of 5.26%, according to the ninth Annual Tank Container Fleet Survey by the International Tank Container Organisation (ITCO). The post Global tank container fleet exceeds 680k units appeared first on Container News.
• Antwerp launches succesful trials of Scheldt draught extension March 3, 2021
  Port of Antwerp has announced the first successful trial of the extension to the maximum draught of the Western Scheldt river with the 13,100TEU MSC Regulus entering the Belgian port with a new record-draught of 15.7m on 28 February. The post Antwerp launches succesful trials of Scheldt draught extension appeared first on Container News.
• Seaspan buys two ULCV’s on charter with a major line March 3, 2021
  Seaspan Corporation (Seaspan) has entered into an agreement to acquire two 15,000TEU scrubber-fitted container ships on long-term charter with a global liner. The post Seaspan buys two ULCV’s on charter with a major line appeared first on Container News.
• Singapore court endorses PIL restructuring March 3, 2021
  The Singapore High Court has sanctioned Pacific International Lines’ (PIL) debt restructuring scheme on 3 March, after PIL’s bond holders voted on 1 February to accept the company’s proposal to convert the bonds to perpetual securities. The post Singapore court endorses PIL restructuring appeared first on Container News.
• Wan Hai buys another ship from CMB March 3, 2021
  Wan Hai has purchased its 11th ship since earmarking US$360 million to buy second-hand ships. The Panamax vessel was bought from CMB for US$21 million. The post Wan Hai buys another ship from CMB appeared first on Container News.
• DHL backs Maersk’s view of contract negotiations March 3, 2021
  As the annual contract season progresses DHL has outlined its view of the future of negotiations and the necessity to understand the resetting of the supply chain with higher ocean rates and two-way commitments between shippers and carriers. The post DHL backs Maersk’s view of contract negotiations appeared first on Container News.
• Dutch company to convert inland ships to H2 March 3, 2021
  Vessel operator Future Proof Shipping (FPS) has partnered with terminal operator BCTN Container Terminals and the Holland Shipyards Group to convert its first inland vessel to carbon free hydrogen power. The post Dutch company to convert inland ships to H2 appeared first on Container News.
• Maersk Eindhoven and ONE Apus ready for operations March 2, 2021
  Both the Maersk Eindhoven and the ONE Apus which suffered major cargo losses in the Pacific are expected to resume service, with the Eindhoven becoming operational earlier than originally expected. The post Maersk Eindhoven and ONE Apus ready for operations appeared first on Container News.

News from Tradewinds

• With rates in the red tanker owners need the courage to say no March 4, 2021
  Until the market recovers, owners encourage each other to pick and choose voyages
• Sembcorp Marine secures first ever sustainability-linked loan facility March 4, 2021
  Singapore yard group says pre-determined ESG targets will result in lower borrowing costs
• AET offloads another of its older VLCCs as part of eco-shipping drive March 4, 2021
  Conversion buyers said to be paying firm price for Bunga Kasturi Empat
• Report charges Elaine Chao with using government staffers to promote father March 4, 2021
  Government watchdog says staff members worked on books on James Chao and Foremost Group, but ultimately nothing criminal
• Refinery closures and vaccines push product tanker recovery ahead of crude March 4, 2021
  Panellists at Capital Link's International Shipping Forum believed the sector's turnaround would be quick
• Boxships may be headed into supercycle, owners say March 4, 2021
  Owners are eager to buy second-hand tonnage to keep up with demand, says Euroseas chief executive Aristides Pittas
• Interest high in shipping Spacs, but odds remain low March 4, 2021
  Expert in blank cheque deals lays out the realities of the IPO craze sweeping US equity markets
• Analysts see a dry spell and that's a good thing, but then what? March 4, 2021
  Majority of Capital Link pundits like dry bulk's momentum to continue, but other bets more attractive in longer term
• Shipping can embrace connectivity at sea in response to IMO cyber security deadline March 4, 2021
  IMO cyber security deadline is an opportunity for shipping to embrace the technologies available today to ensure operations are secure
• Siem Offshore's Omdal warns banks over distressed OSV sales in race to bottom March 4, 2021
  Norwegian CEO says newcomers can drive down rates with their low capex costs

News from Transport Topics

• FedEx Sets Plan for Carbon-Neutral Operations by 2040 March 3, 2021
  FedEx Corp. announced plans to achieve carbon–neutral operations globally by 2040, with vehicle electrification a key tenet of the strategy.
• Minnesota Proposal Would Tax Electricity as Fuel March 3, 2021
  As gas tax revenue declines because more people are buying electric vehicles, a Minnesota lawmaker has proposed a bill that would tax electricity as fuel at charging stations for electric vehicles.
• No Final Hair Testing Rule Yet, but HHS Plans to Add More Drugs to Tests March 3, 2021
  Ron Flegel, chairman of the federal Drug Testing Advisory Board that developed the controversial proposed mandatory guidelines for federal drug testing using hair samples, was mum at a March 2 meeting on when HHS plans to issue a final hair testing rule.
• Deputy DOT Pick Trottenberg Would Prioritize N.Y.-N.J. Rail Tunnel March 3, 2021
  President Joe Biden’s pick to be second in command at the U.S. Department of Transportation pledged March 3 to help the administration prioritize the proposed Gateway rail tunnel between New York and New Jersey if she is confirmed by the Senate.
• Walmart to Spend on US Products, Create 750,000 Jobs March 3, 2021
  Walmart Inc. pledged to support American manufacturers by spending an additional $350 billion on items made, grown or assembled in the U.S. over the next 10 years.
• Granholm Says Oil Industry Must Embrace Green Transition March 3, 2021
  Jennifer Granholm used her first speech as U.S. energy secretary to warn oil and gas companies they risk being left behind unless they embrace a transition to cleaner sources of energy, while offering them an opportunity to partner with the new administration.
• VW’s Electric Car Stacks Up Well Against Tesla, Analyst Says March 3, 2021
  A teardown of Volkswagen AG’s first dedicated electric vehicle found it measures up favorably with Tesla Inc. models in several key aspects, sending the German carmaker’s shares to levels last seen before its diesel emissions scandal.
• Frothy Cargo Market Spurs Vessel Owners to Flip Ships March 3, 2021
  Flip this ship. That’s exactly what some containership owners are opting to do, capitalizing on a hot ocean freight market that shows few signs of cooling off.
• Jigar Shah to Run Energy Loan Office March 3, 2021
  The U.S. Energy Department has appointed Jigar Shah, a clean-power pioneer who helped bring solar into the mainstream, to run the loan-program unit that backed Tesla Inc. and failed solar manufacturer Solyndra.
• GM-Backed Cruise in Talks to Buy Startup Voyage March 3, 2021
  Cruise, the self-driving vehicle company majority owned by General Motors Co., is in talks to acquire Voyage, an autonomous technology startup that operates in retirement communities, according to people familiar with the matter.
• Lightweighting of Trucks Could Become More Prevalent, NACFE Finds March 3, 2021
  Some truck buyers require lightweighting while most others move toward it slowly, if at all, but the coming of electric trucks may demand more of it, according to an updated confidence report from the North American Council for Freight Efficiency.
• Class 8 Orders Surge 212% to 43,800 March 3, 2021
  North American Class 8 orders hit 43,800 in February, up 212% compared with a year earlier, ACT Research reported, citing truck makers’ preliminary data.
• ASCE Report Card: Infrastructure Improves to C- March 3, 2021
  The nation’s infrastructure received a C- grade on the American Society of Civil Engineers’ latest report card, marking an improvement from D+.
• Navistar Stockholders Approve Merger With Traton SE March 2, 2021
  Moving one step closer to being acquired, Navistar International Corp. announced stockholders approved Traton SE’s proposal to buy all of Navistar’s outstanding common shares for $44.50 per share in cash, or $3.7 billion.
• UPS Ships Out First Batch of Johnson & Johnson Vaccine March 2, 2021
  UPS Inc. began shipping out its first batch of Johnson & Johnson vaccines March 2, now that the single-dose vaccine for the coronavirus has emergency use authorization.
• Trottenberg Mum on Highway Funding Details March 2, 2021
  Polly Trottenberg, nominated to be deputy secretary at the U.S. Department of Transportation, told senators March 3 she was unable to disclose details about the Biden administration’s highway-funding plans.
• Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo Confirmed as Commerce Secretary March 2, 2021
  Gina Raimondo easily won Senate confirmation as Commerce secretary, placing the Rhode Island governor at the heart of President Joe Biden’s efforts to revive the U.S. economy and confront alleged unfair trade practices by China.
• As Amazon Air Expands, Report Sees Potential Challenge to UPS, FedEx and USPS March 2, 2021
  Amazon Air is poised for a summertime growth spurt that could send its daily schedule to more than 160 flights per day.
• American Petroleum Institute Mulls Embrace of Carbon Pricing March 2, 2021
  The American Petroleum Institute is considering throwing its weight behind a government-imposed price on carbon dioxide emissions as a way to slow global warming, a major policy shift by the oil industry’s top trade group.
• Hertz Eyes Bankruptcy Exit Via $4.2 Billion Stake Sale March 2, 2021
  In a deal to jettison itself from under bankruptcy protection, Hertz said March 2 that it may sell a controlling stake in the company to two investment firms for $4.2 billion.