IN THE NEWS
ROAD FREIGHT
EU action needed as new Brenner squeeze threatens European trade
A single-lane restriction could disrupt millions of annual freight deliveries via the Brenner motorway, a key artery for European trade across the Alps. Leading transport and logistics associations urge the European Commission to act now and work with affected countries to find solutions.
The Lueg Bridge on the Brenner motorway will be restricted to a single lane each way starting 1 January 2025. Read more here: https://www.iru.org/news-resources/newsroom/eu-action-needed-new-brenner-squeeze-threatens-european-trade
EU increases truck parking funding in response to industry calls
Truck drivers in the EU can expect a much-needed improvement in rest facilities. The European Commission has announced an additional EUR 60 million funding allocation to build and upgrade secure parking areas.
Responding to IRU and industry calls for improved professional driver facilities, the European Commission has announced a new EUR 60 million funding package to develop the network of safe and secure truck parking areas across the EU.
This funding, allocated under the 2023 Connecting Europe Facility call, has been awarded to more than ten projects from seven EU countries to build or upgrade truck parking facilities. Read more here: https://www.iru.org/news-resources/newsroom/eu-increases-truck-parking-funding-response-industry-calls
SEA FREIGHT
Survey: More than 15 years needed for transportation sector to be fully powered by sustainable fuel sources
Almost half the respondents who took part in a survey spearheaded by Reed Smith revealed that they expect it to take more than 15 years for the sector to be powered by 100% sustainable fuel sources. These insights were gathered from nearly 50 of Reed Smith’s clients in the transportation sector, including global companies in aviation, shipping, logistics, manufacturing, utilities and environmental services.
The International Maritime Organization’s (IMO’s) ambitious target of reaching net-zero by 2050 is well known in the industry, but the question of whether the industry feels this is doable has long been debated. Read more here: https://container-news.com/survey-more-than-15-years-needed-for-transportation-sector-to-be-fully-powered-by-sustainable-fuel-sources/
More danger to box ships as Houthis expand Red Sea attack arena
Concerns are mounting that the arena of operations for Houthi strikes against commercial shipping in the Red Sea has expanded, following a series of further attacks at the weekend.
After the Iran-backed militia struck Tel Aviv on Friday, killing one person and wounding at least 10, the Israeli military responded with airstrikes against Yemen’s port city of Hodeidah that left three dead and more than 90 injured. This, in turn, prompted a failed retaliatory attack on Eilat that was intercepted. Read more here: https://theloadstar.com/more-danger-to-box-ships-as-houthis-expand-red-sea-attack-arena/
Seafarer dies in blaze on Maersk-chartered ship
A seafarer has lost his life in the inferno of the newly built container ship Maersk Frankfurt, as firefighters continue to battle the flames three days after the fire broke out on 19 July.
The Panama-flagged 5,920 TEU Maersk Frankfurt, delivered to Japanese tonnage provider Tokei Kaiun from Imabari Shipbuilding in June, is on a three-year time charter to Maersk Line. Bernhard Schulte provides technical management to the ship. Read more here: https://container-news.com/seafarer-dies-in-blaze-on-maersk-chartered-ship/
RAIL FREIGHT
Rail freight remains online despite Crowdstrike global IT outage
Much of the world was shaken up by an IT outage on the morning of Friday, 19 July. A faulty security update from software company Crowdstrike made it impossible to boot up computers running its antivirus application. Whereas airports, hospitals, public transport and many more were affected heavily, rail freight does not seem to have taken a hit. RailFreight.com received responses from the Italian infrastructure manager RFI, rail software company RailCube, Captrain Italy, Azerbaijan Railways, CargoBeamer and Ukrainian Railways. None of the companies indicated that they are affected by the outage, but they are keeping an eye open for developments that may undermine their operations.
In the UK, passenger infrastructure faced disruptions, but rail freight kept its wicket intact. Among the major operators, DB Cargo in the UK reported no issues and said their European colleagues were also working as normal. However, Crowdstrik update affected ports. Read more here: https://www.railfreight.com/railfreight/2024/07/19/rail-freight-remains-online-despite-crowdstrike-global-it-outage/
UK rail freight by the numbers
Britain’s infrastructure agency, Network Rail, has put the numbers up for rail freight. According to the agency, rail freight contributes billions to the UK economy annually, while keeping supermarkets stocked, builders building, and medicine moving.
The study of the rail freight sector is not a vanity project. The outgoing and incoming UK governments have both mandated an ambitious growth target for rail freight. Network Rail has committed to supporting rail freight growth by eight per cent annually, over the next five years. This will help reach the government target set in 2023 to grow rail freight by three quarters, or 75 per cent, by 2050. Read more here: https://www.railfreight.com/railfreight/2024/07/22/uk-rail-freight-by-the-numbers/
Antwerp enriched with two new international rail freight services
Antwerp will be the starting point for two new international rail freight services. XPO Logistics is launching a new multimodal route from Antwerp to Istanbul, and Kombiverkehr will be operating a route to Madrid. Read more here: https://www.railfreight.com/railfreight/2024/07/19/antwerp-enriched-with-two-new-international-rail-freight-services/
Spanish Basque Countries get ready to welcome standard gauge along Atlantic Corridor
The Spanish Basque Countries will soon be home to Spain’s first standard gauge (1435 mm) node along the TEN-T Atlantic Corridor. The upgraded hubs will all be near Vitoria-Gasteiz, with the one in Júndiz nearing completion. The first freight trains with this configuration should start running in 2025, as the Spanish Ministry of Transport Oscar Puente underlined during a site visit. Read more here: https://www.railfreight.com/coronavirus/2024/07/22/spanish-basque-countries-get-ready-to-welcome-standard-gauge-along-atlantic-corridor/
FEATURE
Navigating post-Brexit logistics: Inside Kukla’s Customs Division
One of the most important aspects of Kukla UK’s services to our customers is provided by Kukla Customs Division (KCD).
The challenges posed by the transition into a brave new post-Brexit world saw Kukla invest further in KCD in 2020 with additional staff resources and systems. Key to this was the opening of a second Kukla UK office, based in Folkestone, which now houses the 12 team members of the KCD operation. The entire team includes Blanka Dzurjova, Dan Haddon, Graeme Denman, Hayley Boyd, Kylie Bassett, Maddie Byrne, Martin Jacobs, Olivia King, Owen Wilson, Ruby Featherbe-Nejad, Steve Wilson and Stevie Todd.
The Folkestone office not only serves to manage the administration and clearance of Kukla clients’ in-transit orders into the UK but also offers a full customs brokerage service for ‘stand-alone’ clearances for importers seeking a clearing agent. This makes up a significant part of the KCD business. (…)
We spoke with Kukla Customs Division Director Martin Jacobs and KCD Manager Steve Wilson about the post-Brexit changes, the key moments where HMRC introduced significant changes in the last few years and what we can expect going into 2025
Whilst perhaps not ‘bedtime reading’, the Q&A is something we should all be aware of and why KCD is so important to the success of the Kukla operation. Read more here: https://kbl.kukla-spedition.com/navigating-post-brexit-logistics-inside-kuklas-customs-division
Stay informed with Kukla UK!
Our communication with you is essential to us. Following the fantastic feedback we received for introducing our Information Update last year, we continue on the same path. Check Kukla UK’s website for situational logistics updates, strikes, issues and regulations. The page link remains the same throughout the year. We welcome your feedback and are always happy to hear from you. Check our page dedicated to 2024 updates here: https://kbl.kukla-spedition.com/information-update-2024
Stay up-to-date with Kukla UK LIVE Sailing Schedule website page
The Sailing Schedule is updated weekly or as needed, so please bookmark it and refer to it when you need the information. Read more here: https://kbl.kukla-spedition.com/sailing-schedule
