TRANSPORT & LOGISTIC NEWS * WORLDWIDE

Briefing Weekly News

(Video from The Telegraph,UK: Moment Japan tsunami engulfs Sendai airport, giant waves carrying mud and debris invade the tarmac at Sendai airport in north east Japan following a 8.9 magnitude earthquake)

* Hands off airline timetables, says BAR UK

- The Board of Airline Representatives in the UK (BAR UK), which represents 86 airlines, has slammed proposals to impose emergency timetables on airlines as a means to handle extreme weather or exceptional situations. Read full news here.

* IATA calls for urgent change in Brazil’s aviation industry

- The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has praised President Dilma Rousseff's strategic focus on Brazilian aviation and urged a quick follow-up with critical reforms to improve the industry's competitiveness, saying that preparations to host the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics make urgent progress necessary. Read full news here.

* Status of airline services to Japan

- Reuters has published the responses of airlines from several countries following the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan last week, as well as the subsequent crisis at a nuclear power station. Read full news here.

* Status of Japanese ports

- According to Reuters, some of the Japanese ports that sustained major damage in last week's earthquake and the subsequent tsunami may be out of action for months. Read full news here.

* Maersk suspends service to three Japanese ports

- The world's biggest container shipping line, Maersk, has suspended services to and from three Japanese ports. Read full news here.

* The impact of Japan’s earthquake and tsunami on shipping

- While the earthquake and subsequent tsunami that hit Japan last week immediately disrupted transportation and logistics operations throughout the country, the scale of the disaster's impact on the shipping industry is still unknown, says BIMCO. Read full news here.

* Chapman Freeborn flies search & rescue teams to Japan

- Chapman Freeborn Airchartering has been involved in the effort to fly search and rescue teams to Japan following last week's devastating earthquake and tsunami. Read full news here.

* Toll to acquire mining services provider for A$110m

- Toll Group has agreed to acquire Mitchell Corp, a major supplier of transport and logistics services to and from mining sites in Western Australia, for A$110 million. Read full news here.

* Recently awarded contracts

- Unilever appoints Kuehne + Nagel in Romania; Rudolph & Hellmann Automotive opens a new parts DC for Ford in Dubai. Read full news here.

* IMMARBE evaluates IMSN’s anti-piracy system

- The International Maritime Security Network (IMSN) has developed a solution to combat piracy with its Triton Shield Anti-Piracy System (APS) -a multi-layered defence package designed to detect, deter and defend against piracy. Read full news here.

* Priority Freight expands in Germany

- European time-critical freight specialist, Priority Freight, has established an office in Germany to support its services to the automotive sector - both OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers. Read full news here.

* OOCL and YM enhance joint China-Pakistan Express service

- Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) and Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp (YM) will enhance the China - Pakistan Express (CPX) service and launch the CIX2 (YM code CIS) service this month. Read full news here.

* Spiralling diesel prices drive up haulage costs

- Further diesel price hikes have increased the cost of operating a typical large lorry by £850 a year, says the Road Haulage Association (RHA). Read full news here.

* Kirby Corp agrees to acquire K-Sea Transportation

- Less than a month after signing an agreement to purchase United Holdings for $270 million, Kirby Corporation has entered into an agreement to acquire K-Sea Transportation in a transaction valued at approximately $600 million. Read full news here.

* Japan update:

- After taking a heavy hit on Friday by an 8.9 magnitude earthquake and its aftershocks, as well as the infinitely more damaging tsunami that followed, Japan's transportation network and infrastructure is being restored bit by bit. Sharon Gill reports ... Read full news here.

* Mohawk Global Logistics launches trade consulting division

- US-based 3PL, Mohawk Global Logistics, has launched a new consulting division named Mohawk Global Trade Advisors (MGTA). Read full news here.

* Recently awarded contracts

- Wincanton secures a new three-year deal with WDT; the US Army's Military SDDC awards two contract modifications to Menlo Worldwide Government Services. Read full news here.

* DB Schenker Logistics updates tracking app for iPhone

- DB Schenker Logistics has launched an updated version of its Apple iPhone application that enables customers to track their shipments. Read full news here.

(Video from YouTube, by itnnews: 13 March 2011: Amatuer video captures the moment a tsunami sweeps over Sendai Airport in Japan)

* Massive earthquake hits Japan

- A massive earthquake and the tsunami that followed have closed three of Japan's airports and all of the country's sea ports. Read full news here.

* DHL exceeds earnings forecast

- Deutsche Post DHL has reported a significant increase in revenues during the past financial year as well as strongly improved profitability. Read full news here.

* OOCL releases Lite iPhone app

- OOCL has launched OOCL Lite, an iPhone app that enables users to access real-time sailing schedule of vessels anytime, anywhere. Read full news here.

* Toll Global Forwarding targets growth in airfreight sector

- With IATA forecasting strong growth in the Asian airfreight sector for the next three years, Toll Global Forwarding has been investing in building its regional and global air freight services and network. Read full news here.

* Grand Alliance re-launches JCX; enhances CCX, SCX & SSX services

- Grand Alliance members Hapag-Lloyd, Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) and Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) have announced the enhancement of their transpacific West Coast services. Read full news here.