GEORGIA PORTS SET RO/RO RECORD AS CONTAINER VOLUMES SLUMP.
The Georgia Ports Authority reported a record Roll-on/Roll-off (Ro/Ro) volumes in FY2023 as container volumes slumped at of Port of Savannah but are still tracking ahead of pre-pandemic volumes. Looking at containers, the Port of Savannah handled 5.4 million TEUs, a decrease of 6.7% from its record set in FY2022, but a 20% increase from pre-pandemic volumes in FY2019. As of April, the Port of Savannah achieved its highest ever market share in container trade among US ports, with 11.2%. “This continues a trend stemming from the U.S. Southeast’s fast-growing population, increased domestic production and a shift in overseas manufacturing toward India and Southeast Asia, favouring delivery via Savannah, To meet future demand, the GPA is investing $1.9 billion in infrastructure projects, including renovations to Berth 1 at Garden City Terminal, which will increase berth capacity by 25%.
ILWU CANADA CAUCUS APPROVES TENTATIVE DEAL; MEMBERSHIP VOTE EXPECTED THIS WEEK.
Rank-and-file membership of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Canada are expected to vote this week on a tentative contract agreement after a union caucus approved terms of the deal. Rob Ashton, ILWU Canada’s president, issued an advisory late Friday to five union locals saying there would be a “stop work” meeting on Tuesday so leadership could “recommend the terms of settlement to the membership. “The British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) said it was “hopeful” the union rank-and-file would approve the deal.“
US LTL CARRIERS PLAN EXPANSION DESPITE MARKET UNCERTAINTY.
Some of the largest US less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers are adding capacity despite lower freight volumes, existing excess capacity and economic uncertainty. They are opening new facilities or adding new doors to existing terminals, increasing density and capacity in LTL lanes critical to their customers.
TECHNOLOGY PROVIDERS PARTNER TO IMPROVE BREAKBULK RAIL TRACKING.
Transportation management system provider IntelliTrans is partnering with sensor visibility provider Nexxiot to provide real-time tracking of rail and intermodal moves for breakbulk shippers. Atlanta-based IntelliTrans, which specializes in solutions for shippers of breakbulk and bulk commodities, will incorporate Nexxiot data
into its existing visibility tool for customers that are also Nexxiot customers. Switzerland-based Nexxiot provides rail, intermodal and ocean container tracking hardware.
CHASSIS REPAIRS CAUSING SHORT-TERM SHORTAGES IN CHICAGO.
Trucking companies hauling ocean containers in Chicago have been encountering a scarcity of chassis from major providers DCLI and TRAC Intermodal in recent weeks amid a rush to repair and refurbish the equipment that saw heavy usage amid high demand in 2021 and 2022. The chassis providers acknowledged the shortage, but it should be resolved in the next week or two.
MAERSK GROWS AIR FREIGHT SERVICES WITH OPENING OF ATLANTA HUB.
Maersk said it has opened a new warehouse near Atlanta’s international airport that will offer global air freight services in what it called a “strategic transportation hub.” The 123,000-square-foot facility will also serve as a forward staging facility for the carrier’s South Carolina flight operations. The warehouse has 39 dock doors and is located two miles from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
