Archives: December 2009 cargo news
The News stories below are cargo / freight related stories which made the headlines in December 2009 (other archived months are shown at the bottom of the page).
For all the latest Cargo News, click on the link on the left-hand side menu. ukimports.org
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29/12/09 - Snow hits parts of the UK with heavier falls to come
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Snow has fallen across the UK causing travel disruption, with heavier falls likely in Wales and the Midlands.
There were substantial snowfalls in central and south Wales, and snow showers in parts of Scotland.
Extreme weather warnings have been issued for north-west England, Yorkshire and Humber, the Midlands, east and south-west England. ukimports.org
28/12/09 - Airline security worries hit share prices
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Shares in US airlines fell on Monday following the alleged bomb attack on a US plane bound for Detroit.
Shares in Delta Air Lines, the parent of Northwest, fell 4.1% while AMR, parent of American Airlines, saw its shares fall 4.8%.
Airport security measures have been tightened following the security incident on Christmas Day.
There are fears that renewed security concerns could further depress demand for air travel.
That would add to extra costs that could be incurred as a result of increased security measures. ukimports.org
28/12/09 - Glasgow airport plans expansion
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Glasgow airport has announced a £25m expansion plan to improve facilities for passengers and traffic access to the site over the next two years.
Planned developments include improving the airport road system, a new food court, a new runway lighting system and upgrades to the airfield taxiway.
The airport will invest £12m in 2010, followed by a further £13m in 2011.
By 2014, when Glasgow hosts the Commonwealth Games, the airport expects to spend between £85m and £100m. ukimports.org
21/12/09 - BAA wins appeal on airports sale
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)BAA has won its appeal against an order to sell three of its UK airports on the grounds that the ruling panel was affected by "apparent bias".
But the appeal tribunal rejected BAA's argument that it was being forced to sell the airports too quickly.
The Competition Commission had ruled in March that BAA must sell Gatwick, Stansted and either Edinburgh or Glasgow airports within two years.
BAA has already sold Gatwick but the judgement will not affect that sale.
It is unclear whether BAA will have to sell the other airports. ukimports.org
21/12/09 - Cold weather causes travel disruption across the UK
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Winter weather is continuing to cause disruption across the UK with road, rail and air travel all affected.
Channel Tunnel services remain badly affected after Eurotunnel closed its car shuttle service to new passengers.
British Airways cancelled all European and UK domestic flights leaving Heathrow after 1900 GMT.
Many roads in the Home Counties are gridlocked and the AA said London and the South East were hotspots for vehicle breakdowns.
Luton airport is closed until 0030 GMT and London City airport is shut. Stansted airport is open but flights may be subject to delays or cancellations.
Easyjet said it had operated over 80% of its flights, "albeit with some delays", over the last five days despite the weather, but added that further snow on Monday night could result in continued flight disruptions. ukimports.org
19/12/09 - Air traffic control staff to move
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Manchester's 35-year-old air traffic control centre is to close in 2010, with 180 staff moving to Scotland.
The move by Nats, formerly National Air Traffic Services, will see a new £170m centre in Prestwick, Ayrshire, controlling the general airspace.
Staff at Manchester Airport's control tower, who monitor take-offs and landings, remain unaffected.
A Nats spokesman said passengers in Manchester would not be affected by the reorganisation.
The air traffic control centre employs 220 staff from around Greater Manchester and Cheshire and 180 have opted for the move north. Others have accepted redundancy or retirement. ukimports.org
19/12/09 - Airport prepared for huge numbers
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Staff at Liverpool John Lennon Airport are dealing with one of their busiest weekends of the year.
About 200,000 people are expected to pass through the airport over the festive period.
Recent figures showed a rise of 30,000 passengers in November compared to 2008, and airport bosses are expecting a rise of up to 10% in December.
Popular flights are expected to be ski destinations, southern Spain and cities such as Prague and Bratislava. ukimports.org
18/12/09 - Heavy snow hits roads and flights
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Heavy snowfall across parts of Sussex has left motorists facing treacherous conditions.
Police said they had dealt with over 140 weather-related incidents, which included cars abandoned on the A27.
Some people were trapped in their vehicles, while others had to leave them on the carriageway.
Motorists have been warned not to travel as plummeting temperatures, snow and ice continue to make driving conditions hazardous. ukimports.org
18/12/09 - Snowfall causes major disruption
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Motorists are being urged by Kent Police not to travel by car as plummeting temperatures, snow and ice make driving conditions treacherous.
Several inches of snow fell overnight leaving many roads impassable, with cars abandoned and people stranded.
More than 300 schools were shut on Friday and trains services were severely disrupted.
Eurotunnel said its Folkestone terminal was running at full capacity and urged people to stay away.
It also announced it was shutting its France passenger service because of the weather and urged any customers with reservations to ring before they travel. ukimports.org
18/12/09 - Isle of Wight ferries cancelled because of high winds
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Ferry and catamaran services between Southampton and the Isle of Wight were suspended overnight, forcing some passengers to spend the night aboard.
Two of Red Funnel's hour-long car ferry services were cancelled due to high winds, while four 30-minute Redjet catamaran crossings were called off.
The winds made it difficult for the vessels to be tied up safely alongside their berths in Cowes and East Cowes.
Services resumed early on Friday morning.
The 0100 GMT vehicle ferry from Southampton was cancelled, as well as the return 0230 GMT from East Cowes. ukimports.org
18/12/09 - Travellers face snow disruption in Suffolk
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Motorists were trapped in their cars overnight as heavy snow caused problems for travellers, commuters and schoolchildren in Suffolk.
The worst affected area has been on the A12 between Copdock near Ipswich and the Essex border.
Gritting lorries faced problems as they tried to clear roads, with one becoming stuck on the approach to the Orwell Bridge on the A14.
Many schools have been closed, giving pupils an early start to the holidays.
Suffolk Police said they had dealt with 230 incidents since Thursday evening.
They said Operation Stack had been put into place. ukimports.org
17/12/09 - Man jailed over cocaine smuggled in biscuit lorry
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)A man who tried to smuggle a haul of cocaine with a street value of £1.3m into the UK in a lorry loaded with biscuits has been jailed for 15 years.
Jose Castro Alvarez was charged with being knowingly concerned in importing 32kg (70.5lb) of the drug.
Castro Alvarez, 49, of Cantabria in Spain was convicted at Portsmouth Crown Court on 10 December under section 3(1) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
UK Border Agency officers stopped him at Portsmouth Ferry Port in February. ukimports.org
17/12/09 - British Airways strike blocked by court
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)A strike by British Airways cabin crew planned for Christmas has been declared illegal in a High Court ruling.
The judge agreed with BA that the cabin crew's union, Unite, had not correctly balloted its members on the strike action.
The injunction means that the 12-day strike cannot now go ahead.
Unite called it "a disgraceful day for democracy" and vowed to hold a fresh ballot of cabin crew if the dispute with BA was not resolved. ukimports.org
17/12/09 - Heavy snow forecast for many parts of UK
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Heavy snowfall is expected in parts of the UK, with south-east England expected to be worst affected.
The Met Office has issued an early warning and said travel networks may be affected by snow on Friday.
Up to 20cm of snow could fall in some parts of Kent, Sussex, Surrey, London and East Anglia, with gale-force winds causing drifts, forecasters say.
Snow is also forecast in parts of central and northern England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. ukimports.org
17/12/09 - Flyglobespan collapse strands thousands of passengers
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)An operation is under way to fly back to the UK thousands of people left stranded after Flyglobespan, Scotland's biggest airline, collapsed.
All flights were cancelled after its parent company, Globespan, entered administration on Wednesday.
About 800 jobs are under threat and unions have expressed anger at the plight of employees.
About 4,500 passengers were stranded by the airline's collapse, mostly in Spain, Portugal, Cyprus and Egypt. ukimports.org
17/12/09 - Plane diverted after smoke alert
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)A plane had to make an emergency landing at Manchester Airport after a warning light alerted the captain to smoke in the cockpit.
The Bombardier Q400 Flybe aircraft, flight BE 278, was en route from London's Gatwick Airport to the Isle of Man when it was diverted on Wednesday. ukimports.org
16/12/09 - Cheques to be phased out in 2018
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Cheques will be phased out by October 2018, but only if adequate alternatives are developed, the body that oversees payments strategy has said.
The board of the UK Payments Council has set the date in a bid to encourage the advance of other forms of payment.
The first cheque was written 350 years ago and the decision will be greeted with disappointment by some small businesses and consumers.
The Council said there should be "no scenario" for using cheques by 2018. ukimports.org
15/12/09 - Boeing 787 Dreamliner takes off for first flight
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Boeing's 787 Dreamliner has taken off on its first test flight - almost two and a half years late.
It had been grounded by a series of hitches, including design problems, strikes and even a shortage of bolts.
Boeing has pegged its hopes for the future on the plane, which promises to be one of the most fuel-efficient in the world.
It has attracted some 840 orders from all over the globe, although some have been cancelled because of the delays. ukimports.org
15/12/09 - British Airways in legal challenge to strike
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)British Airways is to take legal action to try to prevent a cabin crew strike set to begin on 22 December.
BA said it hoped the legal action would "protect customers from the massive stress and disruption" threatened by the 12-day stoppage.
It has highlighted "irregularities" in the strike ballot which it believes makes the outcome of the vote invalid.
The Unite union responded by saying BA's "macho management" preferred confrontation to negotiation. ukimports.org
15/12/09 - Airlines 'to lose $5.6bn in 2010'
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Airline industry body Iata has predicted that airlines will lose $5.6bn (£3.5bn) next year - an increase from the $3.8bn it originally forecast.
Iata also reiterated that losses this year would probably total $11bn.
Chief executive Giovanni Bisignani said 2009 had been an "annus horribilis" for the sector, but added that "the worst is likely behind us".
He predicted that next year would see more passengers as well as increased air cargo volumes. ukimports.org
15/12/09 - Ships tracked with smart software
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Ships could be in and out of European ports much quicker thanks to smart software that monitors their movements.
Developed for Dutch firm Royal Dirkzwager, the monitoring system tracks ships almost in real time.
It will be used to tell ships to speed up or slow down to ensure there is a berth for them to unload.
As use of the system increases, it hopes to cut costs, reduce fuel consumption and allow ports to unload and service ships much faster. ukimports.org
14/12/09 - British Airways cabin crew vote for Christmas strike
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)British Airways cabin crew have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action in a dispute over job cuts and changes to staff contracts.
The strikes are set to begin on 22 December and run until 2 January.
Cabin crew voted by nine to one in favour of the strike action, with an 80% turnout. ukimports.org
13/12/09 - Fire in Felixstowe Docks
- Courtesy of The Ipswich Evening Star (www.eveningstar.co.uk)SUFFOLK: Fire crews have continued to battle flames this evening after a fire broke out in Felixstowe Docks.
The Fire Service was called to the docks after a fire started in an LGV.
One crew from Felixstowe Docks attended at 5:53pm after reports of a fire in the wiring loom at Trinity Terminal. ukimports.org
12/12/09 - Fatal crash on M40 shuts route to London
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)A fatal crash on the M40 motorway on the border of Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire closed the London-bound carriageway for several hours.
A man was killed when the Ford Transit van he was driving was in collision with a Daf lorry early on Saturday. ukimports.org
11/12/09 - Thousands of letters undelivered
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)The delivery of thousands of letters sent to people in a Kent town has been delayed by up to nine months.
An investigation by Royal Mail is under way after post intended for addresses in Edenbridge laid undiscovered at the town's delivery office.
It said the post had been withheld from delivery by one of its employees.
Local resident Caroline Laming said she had only recently received items, which included a bank card and statements, posted in March, August and September. ukimports.org
11/12/09 - Boeing 787 passes key structural tests
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Boeing has announced that its long-delayed 787 Dreamliner aircraft has passed final structural tests and is almost ready for its first flight.
The company said in June that a side body section of the plane's structure needed reinforcing. It is now satisfied that the modifications are a success.
There has been a series of delays in the 787's development, which is running almost two years behind schedule.
Boeing has said it hopes to deliver the first plane by the end of 2010. ukimports.org
11/12/09 - Freight site inquiry on final day
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)The final evidence about a major road and rail freight depot planned for Kent is being given on the last day of a public inquiry.
The Kent International Gateway (KIG) project north of Bearsted has been scrutinised in the two-month inquiry.
Developers AXA Real Estate Investment Managers said the scheme would create 3,500 jobs and take lorries off roads. ukimports.org
10/12/09 - Smuggled birds found in luggage
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Six live pigeons were found in a passenger's hand luggage by officials at Manchester Airport.
The man, who had travelled from Pakistan, was stopped by UK Border Agency officers on Friday.
Officers searched his bags and found five birds hidden in a wooden box and one in a plastic bag.
The birds had to be put down because of their risk to public health. Officials are considering if any action should be taken against the passenger. ukimports.org
09/12/09 - Plans to privatise Port of Dover
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)The Port of Dover could be sold off as part of government attempts to raise money to help cover the budget deficit.
According to a government document, it is on a list of six ports that might be sold, with the proposals for Dover described as "the furthest advanced".
Labour's MP for Dover, Gwyn Prosser, has vowed to fight the plan, saying he feared job losses would be inevitable.
But Bob Goldfield, the harbour board's chief executive, said the plan would benefit the community.
The Port of Dover is the UK's busiest roll-on/roll-off port and the largest passenger ferry port in northern Europe. ukimports.org
08/12/09 - Officers find £1.7m cocaine haul
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Cocaine with a street value of £1.7m has been seized by the UK Border Agency from Harwich port in Essex.
The 25kg of cocaine was found in a box inside an HGV trailer that arrived from the Hook of Holland on Sunday evening.
The package was found among a number of legitimate consignments heading to a number of places across the UK, the agency said. ukimports.org
07/12/09 - Airport plans new island flights
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)A new air route is to operate between Kent and the Channel Islands for two months in the summer of 2010.
The service from Lydd to Jersey will run on Saturdays between 10 July and 11 September using a 50-seater plane.
A spokesman for London Ashford Airport said it was the first time for 20 years there had been a direct link with Jersey from the Kent/Sussex border.
The flights will be operated by CityJet, which already flies to Jersey from Kent International at Manston. ukimports.org
07/12/09 - Transport committee 'unsure about Stansted runway'
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Consideration should be given to building an extra runway at Gatwick rather than Stansted, MPs have said.
The Commons Transport Committee said it was "not convinced" a national case for another Stansted runway had been made.
It supported Heathrow's expansion but called for assurances that the west London airport would be linked to other major airports by high-speed rail. ukimports.org
04/12/09 - Rare lizards found in video tape
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Three rare alligator lizards are being cared for at the animal reception centre at Heathrow Airport after being found in a video tape at Gatwick.
The reptiles were intercepted by customs officials in a courier parcel at the West Sussex airport en route from Guatemala to the Czech Republic.
The UK Border Agency said black market dealers would pay over £1,000 for two Cope's arboreal alligator lizards.
They cannot be sold legally and it is believed there are no others in the UK. ukimports.org
03/12/09 - Video: Trucker Terry back at the wheel - at 93!
- Courtesy of The Ipswich Evening Star (www.eveningstar.co.uk)IPSWICH: For great grandfather Terry Miles, it was a day he never thought he would see.
For 22 years, Terry drove lorries delivering yeast before he retired in 1981.
Looking back at his life on the open road, Terry often wished he could get back behind the wheel.
But as he prepared to celebrate his 93rd birthday today his family arranged a surprise trip for him in a top-of-the-range, modern lorry. ukimports.org
03/12/09 - Smuggled beer will be poured away
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Officials at the Port of Felixstowe have seized 40,000 bottles of beer being smuggled in to the country for the Christmas market.
The Beck's lager had arrived from Rotterdam on a lorry bound for Shooters Hill in London.
The UK Border Agency seized 13,686 litres (24,083 pints) from the lorry, which lacked the correct documents. ukimports.org
03/12/09 - Japan Airlines receives new offer
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)American Airlines and private equity firm TPG have offered $1.1bn (£659m) of investment to struggling carrier Japan Airlines (JAL).
It said the offer was "far superior" to the $1bn offered by rival Delta.
Both carriers are keen for a stake in the Asia Pacific market. JAL has said it will make a decision on the bids by the end of the year. ukimports.org
03/12/09 - Eco-friendly cargo ship firm invited to Downing Street
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)A delegation from a Larne-based company developing eco-friendly cargo ships is to meet Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
B9 Shipping designs and manufactures cargo ships which are not dependent on fossil fuels. The first such vessel will be launched in 2012.
It was one of 100 companies invited to Downing Street on Thursday evening for "embracing the low-carbon economy". ukimports.org
01/12/09 - Heavy snow warning for motorists
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Motorists are being warned heavy snow is forecast on high ground in the North of England.
The Met Office has issued a heavy snow alert in Cumbria, Durham and Northumberland for between 1800 GMT and 2200 GMT on Tuesday. ukimports.org
01/12/09 - Port of Tyne strikes £16m deal
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Port of Tyne bosses have struck a 10 year deal with one of Britain's biggest power stations to handle a new biomass facility in South Shields.
A total of £16m will be invested into the provision of handling and covered storage facilities for up to 1.4m tonnes of biomass a year.
The fuel, which is a mix of animal and plant waste, will be used at the Drax Power Station in North Yorkshire.
Commissioning of the facility and cargo handling is targeted to start in 2010.
The Port of Tyne will be responsible for the unloading of vessels containing up to 75,000 tonnes of biomass, transfer to storage facilities and then reloading it for dispatch. ukimports.org
01/12/09 - 'Superlorry' grounded by police
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)A 25.25m (83ft) long so-called superlorry has been blocked from being driven on public roads by police in Lincolnshire.
The new longer vehicle was being driven from the headquarters of owners Denby Transport, in Lincoln, when it was stopped earlier.
Police said the vehicle was unlawful due to its length.
Denby Transport said its lawyers believe the lorry complies with all the current regulations. ukimports.org
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