IN THE NEWS
New alliance vessel plans add to ongoing port congestion in Europe
Severe congestion continues to plague ports across Europe with new alliance vessel plans combining with strikes, bad weather and fully occupied container yards to delay ships and disrupt terminal operations. The bottlenecks are being felt in both North Europe and the Mediterranean, with carriers, terminals and forwarders reporting lengthy delays in some ports.
Maersk said in its latest Europe advisory that all terminals in Antwerp were congested “due to the phase-in and phase-out of vessel plans,” a factor that was being exacerbated by late vessel arrivals from delays in previous ports. Read more here: https://www.joc.com/article/no-clear-timeline-for-red-sea-return-as-carriers-face-rising-insurance-costs-5946947
DP World set to break ground on London Gateway expansion
DP World has received approval for the GB1 billion London Gateway expansion project, which is expected to establish the facility as the UK’s largest container port. The construction works will commence in May, with DP World estimating that the expansion project will be completed after four years. The project includes the construction of two 400 metres-long all-electric berths and the building of a second rail terminal. Once the expansion is completed, London Gateway will be able to simultaneously accommodate six of the world’s largest container ships, served by Europe’s tallest quay cranes. Read more here: https://container-news.com/dp-world-set-to-break-ground-on-london-gateway-expansion/
UK freight association dinner raises £10,000 for charity
The Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice charity is set to receive a donation of £10,000 from the British International Freight Association (BIFA) following fundraising at the trade association’s annual Liverpool region charity dinner.
Around 300 BIFA members, their guests and local stakeholders gathered at The Hilton Liverpool City Centre, where they were joined by the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Richard Kemp MBE and the Lady Mayoress, Councillor Erica Kemp MBE. Read more here: https://www.ukhaulier.co.uk/news/road-transport/charity/uk-freight-association-dinner-raises-10000-for-charity/
ROAD FREIGHT
EU recognises road transport’s acute labour shortages
IRU welcomes the European Commission’s Union of Skills Communication and its clear recognition of labour shortages in the road transport sector. This crucial acknowledgment sets the stage for further action.
The European Commission’s Union of Skills Communication explicitly recognises the severe labour shortages facing road transport. The industry’s vital role in the EU’s mobility and economy depends on a skilled workforce. This acknowledgment sets the stage for further, targeted action. Read more here: https://www.iru.org/news-resources/newsroom/eu-recognises-road-transports-acute-labour-shortages
EU automotive plans advance but gaps remain for heavy-duty transport
IRU welcomes the European Commission’s Industrial Action Plan for the European Automotive Sector, particularly the focus on incentives and better infrastructure access to support commercial road transport operators’ uptake of zero-emission vehicles. However, IRU remains deeply concerned about the lack of technology options for road transport – only battery-electric technology is promoted as a clean solution – and the potential purchasing mandates for corporate fleets.
The European Action Plan sets out the roadmap to support the automotive industry in its transition to clean, connected and increasingly automated vehicles. Read more here: https://www.iru.org/news-resources/newsroom/eu-automotive-plans-advance-gaps-remain-heavy-duty-transport
SEA FREIGHT
MSC containership seeks refuge in Vigo after container collapse
Authorities in the Port of Vigo, Spain, reported they moved quickly to reduce the navigation hazard and direct the MSC Houston V (58,300 dwt) containership into port after it reported a stack collapse. The objective was to get the vessel to dock to prevent further damage and the loss of more containers overboard.
The containership was off the southwest corner of Portugal near Cape St. Vincent when it encountered a strong late winter storm. The vessel is reported to have experienced winds approaching 50 knots. The last stack at the stern of the vessel collapsed to starboard, ripping open several boxes. With boxes ripped open and hanging over the side of the vessel, her arrival attracted attention in the port on Friday, March 21. Read more here: https://maritime-executive.com/article/msc-containership-seeks-refuge-in-vigo-after-container-collapse
Australian shippers back competition probe into DP World’s deal for Silk Logistics
Shippers in Australia are backing a probe by the country’s competition authority into DP World’s planned US$110 million acquisition of leading forwarder Silk Logistics, saying the deal could lead to higher charges and anti-competitive behavior.
“[The deal] has major implications for competition in Australia’s container freight sector, with potential impacts on supply chain costs for importers, exporters and transport operators,” said Paul Zalai, director of the shippers group Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA). Read more here: https://www.joc.com/article/australian-shippers-back-competition-probe-into-dp-worlds-deal-for-silk-logistics-5963851
Baltimore bridge highlights vulnerability risks for 68 bridges
NTSB has recommended that owners of 68 bridges across 19 states conduct a vulnerability assessment to determine the risk of collapse from a vessel collision, part of the ongoing investigation into the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
The NTSB found that the Key Bridge, which collapsed after being struck by the containership Dali on March 26, 2024, was almost 30 times above the acceptable risk threshold for critical or essential bridges, according to guidance established by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, or AASHTO. Read more here: https://safety4sea.com/ntsb-baltimore-bridge-highlights-vulnerability-risks-for-68-bridges/
RAIL FREIGHT
RSSB relaunches Occupational Road Risk Management Charter
The Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) announced the relaunch of the Occupational Road Risk Management Charter, aimed at reducing road risk and enhancing the safety of employees, contractors, and the public. It sets out a series of commitments to manage and mitigate the likelihood of being killed or injured while driving, or being driven, for work purposes. Read more here: https://rssb-newsroom.prgloo.com/news/rssb-relaunches-occupational-road-risk-management-charter
A second rail terminal to be built at London Gateway
DP World, the owner of the multimodal port facility at London Gateway, intend to add a second rail terminal. It will be part of a £1bn (€1.17bn) expansion of logistics handling at the Essex port, on the north bank of the River Thames. Read more here: https://www.railfreight.com/intermodal/2025/03/24/dp-world-to-build-a-second-rail-terminal-at-london-gateway/
Is Welsh rail freight underrated?
It is not necessarily underperforming, but rail freight in Wales is not quite all it used to be. So Network Rail, the UK infrastructure agency, has been prompting the services available. They’re working to encourage new customers to try out rail. That would help reach UK government-mandated targets to increase rail freight operations by 75 per cent by 2050. Read more here: https://www.ukhaulier.co.uk/news/freight-logistics/rail-freight/new-teesport-to-manchester-direct-rail-freight-service-makes-its-first-journey/
FEATURES
Mastering the France-UK route: Smart transit strategies with Liam Jacobs
Photo credit: PexelsAdaptability and precision are essential for success in the logistics industry. In our latest interview, Chris Porter speaks with Liam Jacobs, the dynamic leader of the Kukla French team, who embodies these qualities. With an impressive portfolio, Kukla has refined the art of adjusting to a wide range of order sizes and values coming in from France to the UK.
Liam, thank you for taking the time to talk to Kukla News. How has Q1 been for you and the team?
“Q1 has been very active for us, and the team has been very productive. Our orders are increasing by the month, and everything is building up for when the British sunshine decides to appear”. Read more here: https://kbl.kukla-spedition.com/mastering-the-france-uk-route-smart-transit-strategies-with-liam-jacobs
DP World London Gateway welcomes first Gemini vessel
DP World London Gateway has marked a significant milestone with the arrival of its first ship under the new Gemini Cooperation, a partnership between shipping giants Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd. The Maersk Stadelhorn became the first vessel to call at London Gateway on 19 March as part of the Gemini ME2/IEX India-Europe service. This follows the announcement of the agreement in November, highlighting the growing importance of London Gateway as a key hub in global shipping networks. Read more here: https://kbl.kukla-spedition.com/dp-world-london-gateway-welcomes-first-gemini-vessel
Did you know? The story of the Plimsoll Line: How one man saved countless lives at sea
Samuel Plimsoll’s name might not be the first that comes to mind when thinking about maritime history, but his legacy is still saving lives today. His creation, the Plimsoll Line, is a simple but crucial mark on a ship’s hull that tells captains and the crew how much cargo their vessel can safely carry. It’s a story of political struggle, resistance from powerful shipping companies and, ultimately, a victory for the safety of seafarers around the world. Read more here: https://kbl.kukla-spedition.com/the-story-of-the-plimsoll-line-how-one-man-saved-countless-lives-at-sea
Join Kukla UK at the London Wine Fair 2025
We are thrilled to announce that we will attend the London Wine Fair from May 19th to 21st, 2025. We invite you to join us and continue the tradition of meeting at this prestigious annual trade event. We’ll be at stand B37, so come along and talk to our team.
Kukla UK LIVE Sailing Schedule
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
Stay informed with Kukla UK!
Check Kukla UK’s website for logistics updates, strikes, issues, regulations and much more. The page link remains the same throughout the year. We welcome your feedback and are always happy to hear from you. Access our dedicated page for the 2025 updates here: https://kbl.kukla-spedition.com/news/information-update-2025