Archives: June 2009 cargo news
The News stories below are cargo / freight related stories which made the headlines in June 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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30/06/09 - Customs officer held after drugs swoops
- Courtesy of The Kent Messenger (www.kentonline.co.uk)A serving Customs officer from Dover was among seven people arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking.
The 50-year-old was one of five men arrested by officers from HM Revenue and Customs and the Metropolitan Police at addresses in Kent on Sunday. ukimports.org
29/06/09 - Body of man pulled from Liverpool dock confirmed as Bernard Cook
- Courtesy of The Liverpool Echo (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)THE BODY of a man pulled from a dock was last night confirmed to be a Mersey Docks and Harbour Company director who went missing nearly four years ago.
Bernard Cook was 54 when he disappeared from his office on November 16, 2005.
On May 15, a body was pulled from Bootle’s Sandon Half Tide Dock in Regent Road. Following tests, police last night confirmed that it was Mr Cook.
The Wirral father-of-two, from Higher Bebington, was the company’s estates director, based at Seaforth. ukimports.org
29/06/09 - Mersey dock firms fear collapse after new port rates tax setback
- Courtesy of The Liverpool Echo (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)MERSEYSIDE businesses fighting to save thousands of jobs threatened by huge rises in port rates have suffered a body blow.
Waterside firms say they are dismayed a Lords’ amendment – which could have paved the way to resolving the crisis – has been blocked by the government. ukimports.org
29/06/09 - Royal Mail sale plans 'delayed'
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Lord Mandelson has said plans to sell a minority stake in Royal Mail to a private company are being delayed.
The business secretary says the bill which would allow the controversial move was being "jostled for space" in the government's legislative programme.
The bill, opposed by many Labour MPs, was due to go before Parliament before the summer break, but Lord Mandelson said it would not happen until "later". ukimports.org
29/06/09 - T5 check-in reopens after glitch
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Check-in desks at Heathrow Terminal 5 have reopened following problems with luggage conveyor belts that caused major disruption.
Thousands of passengers were delayed, with some saying they had to queue for hours. Others had to rebook or board flights without their luggage.
Airport operator BAA blamed a mechanical failure which was resolved. ukimports.org
27/06/09 - Dover ferry service scrapped
- Courtesy of The Kent Messenger (www.kentonline.co.uk)The ferry service between Dover and Dieppe is being scrapped.
LD Lines introduced the service in February, using its traditional ferry Cote d’Albatre. But the company said that it had not attracted sufficient traffic to make it commercially viable, and the service will end on Monday. ukimports.org
26/06/09 - A14 re-opened after crash (near Felixstowe)
- Courtesy of The Ipswich Evening Star (www.eveningstar.co.uk)THERE were major delays on the A14 near Ipswich today following a crash.
Both carriageways were blocked near the Nacton turn-off after a car collided with the central reservation and rolled on to its roof.
The female driver escaped with only minor leg injuries. She was due to take herself to hospital for treatment.
The accident took place at 9.15am on the Felixstowe-bound carriageway.
The Ipswich-bound carriageway was temporarily closed to allow emergency services to recover debris from the road. ukimports.org
26/06/09 - Freight bid will ease burden on A14
- Courtesy of The Ipswich Evening Star (www.eveningstar.co.uk)EUROPEAN leaders are being urged to support a major project to improve freight rail links which will take thousands more lorries off the A14 through Suffolk.
Network Rail has made a bid for £69 million of European Union money towards a £100m project for the improvements to the Felixstowe to Nuneaton cross-country route.
Vital work has already been completed to upgrade the line to ensure the new 9ft 6in high cube containers can be transported without the need for special wagons.
But the largest slice of the budget is needed to carry out track works which will enable more boxes to be sent on the route, which provides access to distribution centres in the Midlands and north of England. ukimports.org
25/06/09 - 800 BA workers set to work unpaid
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)British Airways has said 800 workers have volunteered to work for nothing for up to a month, following the airline's request to cut costs.
Another 4,000 employees are taking unpaid leave, while 1,400 people have volunteered to work part-time.
The airline had put the proposal to 40,000 staff. BA chief Willie Walsh has already agreed to work unpaid in July, forgoing his month's salary of £61,000.
Unions said asking staff to work for nothing was "unrealistic".
The airline, which is struggling in the downturn, says the move will save £10m. ukimports.org
25/06/09 - Road improvement plans on display
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Proposals to improve two junctions of the M1 in Bedfordshire are being put on public display next month.
The Highways Agency wants to upgrade exit roads at junction 11 at Dunstable and junction 12 Toddington.
Plans include more lanes for traffic leaving the motorway and installing new signals.
Exhibitions outlining the plans will be held in Harlington, Luton and Toddington from 9 to 11 July. People have until 24 September to comment.
If agreed, work is due to start in 2010 to be completed by 2013. ukimports.org
24/06/09 - Slump in Japan exports continues
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Japan's slump in exports continued in May, as overseas consumers bought fewer of the country's cars, electronics and other goods.
Exports were down 40.9% from the same month a year ago, adding to doubts about the possibility of a quick recovery from the global recession.
Japan did see its trade surplus grow to the highest level in a year.
But analysts said this was largely due to fewer imports as Japanese consumers cut their spending in the weak economy. ukimports.org
22/06/09 - Japan Airlines to receive bailout
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)The Japanese government is ready to make an emergency loan to the country's biggest airline.
Loss-making Japan Airlines (JAL) could receive up to 100bn yen ($1bn; £635m) in state aid, say reports, on condition that the airline's management improves.
Any loan would be made through state owned Development Bank of Japan (DBJ).
Earlier this year JAL, hit by the global economic downturn, looked to borrow up to 200bn yen from a government low-interest loans scheme. ukimports.org
22/06/09 - Coal protesters board cargo ship
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Campaigners from Greenpeace have boarded a ship delivering coal to the Kingsnorth power station in Kent.
The vessel was targeted as it sailed up the River Medway, with reports of people swimming in front of the ship to stop it docking.
The group, which is protesting against coal-fired power stations, climbed aboard from inflatable speedboats.
However, Kent Police said the vessel still managed to dock at Kingsnorth with some protesters still on board. ukimports.org
21/06/09 - M25 shut as car hits pedestrian
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)The M25 was closed in both directions to allow an air ambulance to land after a serious accident in Surrey involving a pedestrian and a car.
The crash, on the clockwise carriageway just before the junction with the A22, closed the M25 between junctions 5 in Kent and 6 in Surrey. ukimports.org
21/06/09 - Yacht-dodging ferry runs aground
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)A high-speed ferry carrying 65 people ran aground off the Isle of Wight while avoiding yachts taking part in the annual Round the Island race.
The Wightlink ferry company said the FastCat Shanklin service from Portsmouth to Ryde hit trouble on Ryde Sands on Saturday. ukimports.org
19/06/09 - Thailand exports in record slump
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Thailand's exports slumped by more than a quarter in May - a record fall - as demand for Thai goods overseas continued to drop during the downturn.
Exports fell by 26.6% compared with a year earlier, to $11.7bn (£7.1bn). Imports dropped by 34.7% to $9.3bn.
"Exports to key markets were all lower due to weak demand and intensifying competition," the government said.
The Thai economy, which is suffering from its worst recession in decades, is heavily dependent on exports. ukimports.org
19/06/09 - Postal workers strike over jobs
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Thousands of postal workers in London and Scotland will take part in strike action over the next two days in a row over jobs and services.
The Communication Workers Union (CWU) said up to 8,000 members in London were due to walk out on Friday with workers in Scotland due to strike on Saturday.
The union has accused Royal Mail of cuts which break a national agreement and threatened modernisation.
Royal Mail said it had honoured existing modernisation agreements.
A spokesman urged the union to call off the 24-hour strikes, the first of which was started at 0530 BST. ukimports.org
18/06/09 - Water taxis plan for Ship Canal
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Plans are being drawn up for a water taxi service between Manchester city centre and Salford Quays.
The water taxis - or 'Waxis' as they've been dubbed - would take up to 12 people at a time along the River Irwell and Manchester Ship Canal.
The service is the brainchild of entrepreneur Steve Cadwell, who wants to offer an alternative to Metrolink.
He plans to launch his Waxis in time for the opening of MediaCityUK in 2010 provided he can raise the funding. ukimports.org
18/06/09 - Airport ready for departure lounge arrival
- Courtesy of The Edinburgh Evening News (www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com)THE first phase of a £40 million project to extend the terminal building at Edinburgh Airport will open to the public in November, it was announced today.
Bosses said the new-look departure lounge, offering more shops, bars and restaurants, would be ready by the end of the year, with the entire project due to be completed by early 2011.
A new purpose-built search area, which will be the final stage of the project to be
completed, will speed up security measures for passengers, the airport's owner said. ukimports.org
18/06/09 - BA union backs pay cut for pilots
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Pilots at British Airways (BA) have been asked by their own trade union negotiators to accept a pay cut and work longer hours.
The British Airline Pilots' Association (Balpa) says in exchange the pilots may be given shares in the airline which they can sell after three years.
The aim is to save the struggling airline £26m a year in running costs.
Balpa officials are recommending the deal in a ballot to "help BA get through the current economic downturn." ukimports.org
17/06/09 - Airport seeks views on noise plan
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)An international airport in Essex is to consult residents about noise in a bid to reduce the nuisance significantly over the next five years.
Stansted Airport is asking for views to help create a noise reduction plan.
Local councils and MPs in the region are involved in the consultation which may lead the airport to ask operators to use quieter aircraft.
Airport expansion campaigners welcomed the step but said the only way to cut noise was to have fewer aircraft.
Stansted is the UK's third busiest airport and its managers will hold a series of briefings in local towns and villages affected by aircraft noise. ukimports.org
17/06/09 - Airport seeks views on noise plan
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Southampton Airport has published its plans on managing aircraft noise over the next five years.
The BAA-run site has started a public consultation on the proposals which include keeping night time flight bans and buying two mobile noise monitors.
The final plan will be given to the government by December and, if agreed, implemented for five years from 2010.
Opponents welcomed the moves but warned the problem would get worse if plans to expand the site by 2030 go ahead. ukimports.org
16/06/09 - Fire crews battle industrial estate blaze
- Courtesy of The Ken Messenger (www.kentonline.co.uk)Firefighters spent hours tackling a blaze an industrial unit on the Medway City Estate, Strood, in the early hours of this morning.
Around 36 firefighters tackled the fire, at the Aurun Textile Service building in Trident Close, which broke out around 4am.
The blaze damaged around 20 per cent of the building. ukimports.org
16/06/09 - BA asks staff to work for nothing
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)British Airways is asking thousands of staff to work for nothing, for up to one month, to help the airline survive.
The appeal, sent by e-mail to more than 30,000 workers in the UK, asks them to volunteer for between one week and one month's unpaid leave, or unpaid work.
BA's chief executive Willie Walsh has already agreed to work unpaid in July, forgoing his month's salary of £61,000.
Last month, BA posted a record annual loss of £401m, partly due to higher fuel bills and other costs. ukimports.org
15/06/09 - Crash closes A14, reports of ten-mile delays
- Courtesy of The Ipswich Evening Star (www.eveningstar.co.uk)QUEUES of up to ten miles were being reported on the A14 after it was closed following a two-car accident. Emergency services were called to the busy road on the eastbound carriageway between Haughley and Stowmarket at 4.30pm today. ukimports.org
15/06/09 - New Forest council braced for new Dibden Bay terminal bid from ABP
- Courtesy of The Southern Daily Echo (www.dailyecho.co.uk)COUNCIL chiefs say they fear another application to build a huge container terminal at Dibden Bay could be just years away.
Civic leaders are on alert after Associated British Ports (ABP) objected to their refusal to allocate Dibden Bay for future port development.
New Forest District Council is determined to block any new attempt to build a massive dock development on the environmentally sensitive site. ukimports.org
15/06/09 - TTGDC says no to overnight lorry park
- Courtesy of The Thurrock Gazette (www.thurrockgazette.co.uk)PLANS for a secure overnight lorry park on land opposite the A13 and Arterial Road in North Stifford have been rejected.
The application, submitted by Norwich-based Lanpro Services Limited, includes the formation of an access road and associated facilities buildings.
At a meeting of the Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation (TTGDC) planning committee today, members decided to support officers’ recommendation of refusal. ukimports.org
15/06/09 - Punctuality improves at airports
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Just over four in five scheduled flights were on time at UK airports between January and March, the Civil Aviation Authority has said.
A total of 81% of flights either took of landed on time, compared with 70% during the same period in 2008.
The average delay fell from 17 minutes in 2008's first quarter to 12 minutes this year.
But airports were also less busy, with the number of scheduled flights down by 9%, and passenger numbers down by 11%. ukimports.org
12/06/09 - ABP looking once more at building container port on Dibden Bay?
- Courtesy of The Southern Daily Echo (www.dailyecho.co.uk)PORT bosses have succeeded in putting controversial plans for a massive new container terminal at Dibden Bay back on the agenda.
Associated British Ports (ABP) forced council chiefs in the New Forest to confront their worst fears at a planning inquiry yesterday.
Plans to build a huge container terminal between Marchwood and Hythe were thrown out on environmental grounds in 2004.
The decision cost ABP an estimated £50m. ukimports.org
12/06/09 - Thousands of fake Nike trainers seized at port
- Courtesy of The Ipswich Evening Star (www.eveningstar.co.uk)AN organised crime gang's plot to flood markets with thousands of fake Nike trainers has been foiled at Felixstowe docks.
Two containers with more than 7,200 pairs of women's training shoes have been discovered at the port.
The counterfeit goods arrived from Athens, but were intercepted by customs officers when they arrived in Suffolk.
Boxed in 41 pallets, the 7,260 trainers were originally suspected to be illegal cigarettes when the containers were put through a scanner.
However, when they were opened officials found the trainers, which are estimated to have a street value of £500,000.
The documentation stated they were en route to a warehouse in Deptford, Kent. ukimports.org
12/06/09 - Aer Lingus cuts some US flights
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Aer Lingus has announced it is to suspend flights from Dublin to some of its US destinations over the winter.
The airline's direct services between Dublin and Washington and Dublin and San Francisco will stop from 25 October.
Services between Shannon and Chicago will also be suspended over the winter period, from 1 September.
Aer Lingus said the four times a week Shannon to New York JFK remained under review. ukimports.org
12/06/09 - Indian factory output up in April
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)India's industrial output rose unexpectedly in April, driven by a rise in domestic demand, fuelling hopes that a recovery may be in sight.
Output rose 1.4% from a year earlier, after a 0.8% fall in March, and better than a forecast fall of 0.2%.
Before the April rise, industrial output had fallen in three of the four previous months.
Stock markets around the world have been buoyed in recent days by a string of positive data.
Sales and jobs data from the US on Thursday added to hopes that the global economy may be recovering. ukimports.org
12/06/09 - Lords throw a lifeline to docks over tax rise
- Courtesy of The Southern Daily Echo (www.dailyecho.co.uk)PLANS to hit port firms in Southampton with a £3.6m back taxes bill may now be scrapped after a crucial House of Lords decision.
Just hours after it emerged the Government was to hike shipping taxes, peers threw beleaguered port firms a lifeline. They voted against backdating rates. ukimports.org
12/06/09 - Fire fighters rescue man trapped on ship
- Courtesy of The Thurrock Gazette (www.thurrockgazette.co.uk)FIRE crews were called to Purfleet this afternoon to rescue a man trapped on a container ship.
The service arrived at Purfleet Deep Wharf at 12.22 to free a 21-year-old man from South Ockendon who was trapped inside a transit van on board the ship.
The man, who works on the ship transporting new vehicles between Purfleet and Zebrugge, was moving a left hand drive Renault van up onto a loading ramp when he overshot the railings. ukimports.org
12/06/09 - Postal strike planned across London next Friday
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Communication Workers Union members have voted for a one-day postal strike across London next Friday.
Dave Ward, CWU deputy general secretary, said: “Royal Mail is blocking modernisation by refusing to negotiate change with the CWU.
“We have offered a moratorium on all strike action if Royal Mail will suspend executive action and enter into meaningful negotiations.
“Postal workers deliver a first class service but the current cuts and attitude of management threatens that and worsens services.
“Royal Mail can avert this strike action by pulling back from arbitrary cuts and negotiating modernisation with the CWU.” ukimports.org
12/06/09 - Lorry blaze at Ipswich docks
- Courtesy of The Ipswich Evening Star (www.eveningstar.co.uk)FIREFIGHTERS tackled a blaze at Cliff Quay in Ipswich in the early hours of this morning.
Two crews from the Princes Street fire station attended the scene at about 4.20am.
On arrival firefighters found one lorry alight, using one main jet to extinguish the blaze. ukimports.org
11/06/09 - Major US airlines chop capacity
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Two major US airlines have announced they will slash capacity this year as the global economic downturn continues to hit demand for air travel.
Delta Air Lines will cut international capacity by 15%, 5% more than its last estimate, while American Airlines will make overall cuts of 7.5%.
Analysts expect other US airlines to make similar reductions.
Meanwhile, aircraft firm Boeing has cut its global forecast for plane demand over the next 20 years by a third. ukimports.org
11/06/09 - End to 'deplorable' Tube strike
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Transport Secretary Lord Adonis said he "deplored" the Tube strike, as services slowly returned to normal following the 48-hour walkout.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) action ended at 1859 BST but Transport for London (TfL) said a full service would not resume until Friday morning.
Liberal Democrat Lord Bradshaw called the behaviour of RMT leader Bob Crow and strikers "utterly reprehensible".
The walkout followed a breakdown in pay talks with London Underground (LU). ukimports.org
11/06/09 - M1 reopens as man leaves gantry
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)The M1 in Hertfordshire has reopened after being closed when a man was seen on a gantry above the road.
Police were called to the scene between junction 6A and junction 7 on the northbound carriageway of the motorway.
The M1 between those junctions on the northbound carriageway were closed while two lanes of the southbound carriageway were also shut.
A police negotiator was on the scene and eventually the man was persuaded to come down. The road was then opened. ukimports.org
11/06/09 - TK Maxx to cut distribution jobs
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Discount store TK Maxx will cut up to 275 jobs with the closure of its Buckinghamshire distribution centre.
The company said it planned to close the warehouse at Mount Farm in Milton Keynes, next summer.
It said it intends to move the work which takes place at the Dawson Road warehouse to Poland. ukimports.org
11/06/09 - Two new cranes tower over docks
- Courtesy of The Southern Daily Echo (www.dailyecho.co.uk)TESTING is now under way on two new massive cranes which tower one and a half times the height of Nelson’s Column above Southampton docks and mark the latest phase in a major investment programme.
Despite the recession triggering a hefty slump in container volumes, bosses at the terminal have spent £10m on a further two “post-panamax cranes”, to go with the pair installed last year and bringing the total spent to £20m. ukimports.org
11/06/09 - Mersey docks boost after House of Lords vote on tax bill changes
- Courtesy of the Liverpool Echo (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)THOUSANDS of Merseyside docklands jobs could be saved after the House of Lords threw a lifeline to businesses hit by massive backdated government rates bills.
Peers voted in favour of an amendment to a bill that could pave the way for a government U-turn on its controversial tax system.
Under the plans, businesses have been hit with increased rates bills backdated for three years. ukimports.org
10/06/09 - Blow to port as Government raises shipping taxes
- Courtesy of The Southern Daily Echo (www.dailyecho.co.uk)SOUTHAMPTON docks is today reeling from news the Government has moved to hike shipping taxes despite fierce industry protests.
New Shipping minister Paul Clark announced today that light dues – levied to fund lighthouses, are to rise as high as 43p per ton, although it is feared the move would drive ships to rival ports on the continent. ukimports.org
10/06/09 - Airport sees 12.5% passenger drop
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)The number of passengers using Southampton Airport fell 12.5% in May compared to the same time in 2008.
The airport said the drop was not as big as at other airports, and added its destinations were growing in 2009.
The figures announced by BBA - which operates seven airports - showed an average drop of 7.3% in May from a year ago across its sites. ukimports.org
10/06/09 - A21 widening scheme due to begin
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)The process of widening a bottleneck on the main road between London and Hastings in East Sussex will officially begin later this year, a Kent MP said.
Greg Clark said he had received confirmation from transport secretary Lord Adonis that plans to dual part of the A21 would be published this year.
He said the move would also signal the start of the process to improve the A21 between Tonbridge and Pembury, in Kent.
Construction would begin in January 2012, the Tunbridge Wells MP added. ukimports.org
10/06/09 - Dock workers face new cutbacks
- Courtesy of Kent Messenger Online (www.kentonline.co.uk)Sheerness Docks' workers are being asked to take unpaid leave or work fewer hours to help cut costs.
The port, which handles large volumes of imported cars and steel, has been hit by the economic downturn and is now looking for at least 20 of its 250 employees to opt for unpaid leave of between three and 12 months.
It also wants more volunteers to choose to work 15 fewer hours per week for at least six months.
Managing director Paul Kavanagh denied jobs would be lost if there were not enough volunteers. ukimports.org
10/06/09 - Funeral of a shipping giant Donald Hamilton Tod
- Courtesy of the Liverpool Echo (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)THE life of a Liverpool shipping magnate will be celebrated at the city’s Anglican Cathedral today.
Donald Hamilton Tod helped to open up the city’s port to the world.
The champion sportsman, of Aigburth, beat polio and learned to walk again.
Among his many achievements were setting up a Nigerian shipping line and leading Kuwait Shipping. ukimports.org
10/06/09 - Travel chaos for Tube passengers
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Millions of people have been hit by travel disruption as they make their way around London during a 48-hour strike by Tube staff.
The strike began at 1859 on Tuesday after talks broke down between London Underground bosses and the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) Union.
There is a normal service on Jubilee, District and Northern lines, while eight other lines have been affected.
Docklands Light Railway and London Overground are operating.
However, some train stations have been inundated with extra passengers, with Clapham Junction severely overcrowded and hundreds of people queuing on to the street.
Extra traffic on London's roads has also seen gridlock in some parts, with buses struggling to stick to normal timetables. ukimports.org
09/06/09 - Airlines seek safe berth in storm
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)The global economic downturn, the spread of H1N1 and volatile oil prices make for an unpleasant mix that has hit the airline industry more than most.
These themes were clearly occupying the minds of many of the world's airline chiefs, more than 200 of whom gathered at the International Air Transport Association's annual meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, this week.
The atmosphere at the meeting was subdued, with many worried brows. Massive losses in the industry made even previously friendly chief executives, such as newly-installed Iata chairman Tony Tyler of Cathay Pacific, reluctant to speak to the journalists.
Iata is projecting a $9bn annual loss for the commercial airline industry this year and as the global airline body, it should know. It counts 230 airlines as members. ukimports.org
09/06/09 - Brazil's economy enters recession
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Brazil has gone into recession after its economy contracted by 0.8% in the first three months of 2009.
The figure from statistics agency IBGE was still better than expected and a big improvement on the 3.8% decline in the last three months of 2008.
Most economists define a recession as being two consecutive quarters of negative growth.
Also on Tuesday, Romania went into recession following a decline of 4.6% in the first three months of the year.
It had contracted 3.4% in the last three months of 2008, according to the statistics agency Ins. ukimports.org
08/06/09 - Talks break down over Tube strike
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Millions of commuters and visitors to London face travel chaos after talks aimed at averting a two-day strike by Tube workers broke down.
The announcement was made after 10-hour talks failed to produce a breakthrough in the dispute, over jobs and pay.
The walkout, which is expected to affect the entire Tube network, was triggered after a Rail, Maritime and Transport Union ballot last month.
The strike is due to begin at 1859 BST on Tuesday and end 48 hours later.
Normal services are expected to resume on Friday morning. ukimports.org
08/06/09 - Filipino seamen caught importing child porn into Liverpool docks
- Courtesy of the Liverpool Echo (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)FOUR Filipino seaman admitted bringing child pornography into the UK after their boat was raided in Liverpool.
Walter Famaran, 31, and Renato Jalipa, 24, were sentenced to seven days behind bars after they were caught with obscene images described as being in the Level 1 category. ukimports.org
08/06/09 - Ports 'face recession job losses'
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Coastal areas in the South East have been particularly badly hit during the recession, a new report has shown.
The latest regional economic report by the South East England Development Agency (Seeda) shows unemployment rates to be highest near ports.
Despite the region's 3% unemployment rate, some areas have 5% out of work.
The report said parts of Kent, Sussex and Hampshire where manufacturing, transport and logistics companies were based had been worst hit. ukimports.org
04/06/09 - Port Welcomes New Rail And Sea Services
- Courtesy of Felixstowe TV (www.felixstowetv.co.uk)The Port of Felixstowe has welcomed the first call of Maersk Line’s AE1 Asia-Europe service, and, with it, the 28th daily train service from the Suffolk port.
The 6,600 TEU (Twenty-foot container equivalent units) Sine Maersk arrived at the UK’s largest container port from Tanjung Pelepas in Malaysia and is one of 11 ships of between 6,600 and 8,600 TEU on the service.
A new daily rail freight service has been added to support the Asia-Europe service. Operated by Freightliner and dedicated to Maersk Line, the 24-wagon train provides a new daily scheduled connection to Birmingham International Freight Terminal at Birch Coppice. This increases the number of services Freightliner operates from the port to 21 per day and brings the number of inland rail terminals with a direct connection to Felixstowe to 13. ukimports.org
04/06/09 - Roadworks on Liverpool’s Strand to end after three years
- Courtesy of the Liverpool Echo (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)THREE years of traffic misery on one of Liverpool’s busiest routes will come to an end tomorrow.
The final traffic cones will be removed today and tomorrow to bring an end works on The Strand.
Council leader Warren Bradley praised Liverpool’s motorists for their patience and said the work had been vital to the city. ukimports.org
04/06/09 - Seacat service back on
- Courtesy of Kent Messenger Online (www.kentonline.co.uk)The launch of the new seacat service between Dover and Boulogne will take place this weekend after all.
It had been put back for a week because of a delay in certification. But a spokesman for LD Lines said all the documentation was now in place and the first crossing will be made from Dover on Saturday morning as planned. ukimports.org
03/06/09 - Vote on Heathrow Express strike
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Workers on the Heathrow Express are threatening a strike to reinstate a driver they say was unfairly dismissed.
Omono Edokpayi handed Heathrow Express his notice to start a new job - but when the role fell through they would not let him stay on, it is claimed.
Now the Rail Maritime and Transport union (RMT) is balloting its members for strike action to demand the reinstatement of the driver.
Heathrow Express said it is in discussions to find a solution. ukimports.org
01/06/09 - Councils opposed to Heathrow expansion demand powerful airport regulator
- Courtesy of Hounslow & Chiswick Guardian (www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk)Councils who opposed the Heathrow expansion are calling for a powerful regulator to enforce new environmental standards at the airport.
Ministers have just finished consulting on reforms which could require large airports to obtain a licence from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Under current proposals the CAA could impose fines for failure to achieve service standards but as yet there are no proposals for sanctions for breaches of air pollution and noise limits. ukimports.org
01/06/09 - London Thamesport - Road Haulier Identity System (RHIDES) begins
- Courtesy of London Thamesport (www.londonthamesport.co.uk)Following a successful phase in period during which the bulk of drivers using London Thamesport have been issued with RHIDES cards, we would like to remind all our customers that the RHIDES driver identity card system at the Port will be implemented with full effect from Monday 1st June 2009.
In order to minimise any unnecessary delays for hauliers, any drivers who have still not been issued with a RHIDES card, will have to obtain one via their haulage company registering the details on the RHIDES
website: www.rhides.com/register.
Reminders will be displayed around the Port and via this website.
If you require any further information on the use of RHIDES at London Thamesport, please contact Tony Gray Tel No 01634 273596. ukimports.org
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