FEATURE
Interview with Mr Harold Porter – The story of Beaujolais Nouveau navigating the ultimate logistical challenge
Photo: From left to right, Mr Chris Porter and Mr Harold Porter today
Not many may know, but the name Beaujolais Nouveau dates back to the 1950s. In November 1951, the Union Interprofessionnelle des Vins du Beaujolais (UIVB) formally set 15 November as the release date for what would henceforth become known as Beaujolais Nouveau.
The third Thursday in November is still known as “Beaujolais Nouveau Day”, and the annual release remains a key date in the wine industry’s calendar and worthy of celebration for winemakers and importers around Europe and the UK.
The leading light of Beaujolais Nouveau forwarders were specialist shipping agents Porter & Laker, who, in the 1980s peak, would move up to 78 trailers (in 1983) in one night. Its managing director, Harold Porter, now 91, spoke to our Business Development Manager (and his son!) Chris Porter, about those days, working together around the challenges and successes of numerous Nouveau nights. Read more here: https://kbl.kukla-spedition.com/interview-with-mr-harold-porter-the-story-of-beaujolais-nouveau-navigating-the-ultimate-logistical-challenge
IN THE NEWS
The UK wine industry is set for new reforms to drive investment and growth in 2024
In a significant move to invigorate the UK’s wine sector, the government has recently announced a series of reforms designed to boost investment, growth and job creation. The reforms were unveiled by Mark Spencer, the Food and Drink Minister, and are expected to come into effect in 2024. They were developed after a comprehensive public consultation on “Wine: reforms to retained EU law” and are aimed at taking advantage of the opportunities presented by the UK’s exit from the EU while maintaining high standards. Read more here: https://kbl.kukla-spedition.com/the-uk-wine-industry-is-set-for-new-reforms-to-drive-investment-and-growth-in-2024
SEA FREIGHT
CO2 storage for Port of Rotterdam industry gets go-ahead
The final investment decision has been taken, giving the go-ahead to the Netherlands’ first CO2 storage project, which is also slated to be the largest carbon capture and storage project so far for Europe. The project focuses on industrial operations in and around the Port of Rotterdam and is expected to reduce carbon emissions in the port area by 10 per cent annually when it becomes operational by 2026. Read more here: https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/co2-storage-for-port-of-rotterdam-industry-gets-go-ahead
Israel-Hamas war: 10% of Ashdod Port staff recruited by Israeli army, first war-related surcharges announced
Israel’s Ashdod Port, one of the country’s largest ports and a crucial asset for the national economy continues to operate normally despite the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, according to the executive chairman of the Ashdod Port Company’s board of directors, Shaul Schneider.
Port of Ashdod, the only state-owned port in Israel, operates 24/7 with employees working longer shifts mainly for two reasons. The first reason is their safety. According to Schneider, it is safer for port employees to remain at the port area rather than be on the road to return home. Additionally, Israel’s military has recruited 10% of the Ashdod Port Company personnel; therefore, the remaining staff must fill the gap. Read more here: https://container-news.com/israel-hamas-war-10-of-ashdod-port-staff-recruited-by-israeli-army-first-war-related-surcharges-announced/
A new study reveals the European countries with the highest shipping costs
A new study by cross-border shopping platform UBuy Switzerland reveals the states where is most costly to ship to are Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. The study compared shipping costs from everywhere in the world to all European countries and then calculated the average to discover which countries are most expensive to ship to. Read more here: https://container-news.com/european-states-with-most-expensive-shipping-costs-new-study/
ROAD FREIGHT
Road transport makes its case on decarbonisation to EU MEPs
EU road transport industry leaders, joined by their American counterparts, were at the European Parliament to outline why some legislators need to reassess their approach to CO₂ standards for heavy-duty vehicles. Marian-Jean Marinescu, Member of the European Parliament (MEP), hosted a roundtable discussion on CO₂ emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles in the European Parliament, ahead of the vote in the European Parliament’s Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI). Read more here: https://www.iru.org/news-resources/newsroom/what-next-road-transport-makes-its-case-decarbonisation-eu-meps
RAIL FREIGHT
England-Scotland rail still struggling after bridge damage near Newcastle
The East Coast Main Line, the route of the famous Flying Scotsman, which suffered the effects of the storms that hit the north of the UK, has a new challenge. The line, which also carries hundreds of mixed traffic movements every day between England and Scotland, remains severely disrupted due to a structural failure on a historic bridge. Read more here: https://www.railfreight.com/railfreight/2023/10/12/england-scotland-rail-still-struggling-after-bridge-damage-near-newcastle/
First Ukrainian freight train reaches Latvia after a year-and-a-half hiatus
A freight train coming from Ukraine, loaded with rapeseed, reached Latvia for the first time in over a year and a half. The pilot operation was carried out by the Latvian national rail freight company, LDz Cargo, and the Ukrainian subsidiary of Lithuanian Railways, LTG Cargo Ukraine. This is the first time that Ukrainian grain products were shipped to Latvia via rail since all previous shipments occurred via road. The train left Ukraine on September 25, reached Kaunas on 8 October, and arrived in Riga on 11 October. The main issue remains bypassing Belarus by using the route via Poland, which makes transit time quite longer. Read more here: https://www.railfreight.com/railfreight/2023/10/18/first-ukrainian-freight-train-reaches-latvia-after-a-year-and-a-half-hiatus/
Stay up-to-date with our 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
