Game changer is on track 
This time, the symposium of the association of freight car owners in Germany (VPI) was all about digital automatic coupling (DAC). As VPI chairman Malte Lawrenz explained, the first steps on the long road to the Europe-wide introduction of the DAC technology have been taken.... more
38th rail service launched
GB Railfreight has introduced a new rail service for Maritime Transport in UK to connect the Hutchison Ports of Felixstowe with Birch Coppice in the Midlands. The new link is the 38th daily rail service from the port and the 15th operated by GB Railfreight from Felixstowe. The... more
Advantages of a regional airport
To kick off the new year, Paderborn/Lippstadt Airport (PAD) is implementing another major cargo project. After the aid delivery of medical protective equipment to Namibia in July last year, Emotive Systems, based in Paderborn, now had three wide-bodied freighters of the Turkish... more
Philippos Philis is ECSA's new president
At its general assembly, ECSA (European Community Shipowners' Associations) elected Philippos Philis as its new president for a two-year term, with Karin Orsel as new vice-president. Philippos Philis founded Lemissoler in 1996 and has been chairman and CEO of the shipping... more
First e-truck for Swiss forwarder
Edi Bürgin, managing director of E. Bürgin Transporte based in Stetten in Schaffhausen (Switzerland), had been talking about acquiring an electric truck for years. In December, the time had come. The haulier was the first Swiss customer to take a Scania battery electric vehicle... more
Bluebird enters widebody ACMI market
At the end of December 2021, Bluebird Nordic concluded lease agreements for three Boeing 777-300ER aircraft via its mother company Avia Solutions Group (ASG). At present, the aircraft are in passenger configuration but will proceed for conversion in 2024 and will be utilised as... more
New CEP link from USA to Europe
The e-commerce boom continues. The DPD group has formed a strategic partnership with Asendia USA to provide e-commerce parcel delivery services from USA to Europe. Asendia is a joint venture of the Groupe La Poste and Swiss Post, delivering to about 200 destinations globally.... more
Noatum and Algeposa push Sagunto and Tarragona
In a joint effort with its partner Algeposa, Noatum, through its subsidiary Noatum Terminals, has completed the acquisition of four automotive cranes for its Spanish port terminals in Castellon, Sagunto and Tarragona. This equipment will bring operational advantages to the ports... more
Special transport of a giant mirror
It might have been a gift for Snow White's stepmother. Safran Reosc, a subsidiary of Safran Electronics & Defense, contracted Gefco France to transport a giant mirror prototype for the European Southern Observatory (ESO)'s ELT (extremely large telescope) from France to Spain... more
Next LNG battery hybrid on course
UECC has rolled out its next dual-fuel LNG battery hybrid PCTC. It is the third and final newbuild in a series built at China’s Jiangnan Shipyard. The launch of hull number H2665 on 28 December 2021 came seven months after the keel-laying ceremony for the vessel and followed... more