Archives: March 2008 cargo news
The News stories below are cargo / freight related stories which made the headlines in March 2008 (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.
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31/03/08 - Open skies deal comes into effect
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)The long-awaited "open skies" agreement between the US and European Union is coming into effect, aiming to open up trans-Atlantic air travel.
The deal ends limits on which airlines can fly between the US and EU, and it is expected to lead to a large rise in the number of carriers on the routes.
However, changes at big airports such as Heathrow will be minimised by the limited availability of take-off slots.
New trans-Atlantic services are likely to use smaller airports instead.
Irish low-cost airline Ryanair has already declared an interest in flying to North America. ukimports.org
28/03/08 - BA cancels 34 flights from new T5
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)British Airways has cancelled 34 more flights from Heathrow's Terminal 5 the day after it opened but says passengers will be able to check in hold luggage.
Hold luggage services were suspended as a result of a baggage backlog and 34 flights were cancelled at the £4.3bn T5 on its first day of operation.
Some stranded travellers spent the night on the floor of the new building.
BA, which has sole use of T5, said: "We sincerely apologise to those customers who have suffered disrupted journeys."
Chief executive Willie Walsh said: "I am very sorry that the problems have meant that some of our customers did not experience the true potential of this amazing new building.
The airline advised customers to check its website, www.ba.com, for service updates.
A spokesman stressed that Friday's cancelled flights were all to short-haul destinations, which would be served by other flights during the day. In all, BA will be operating 80% of its planned flights in and out of Terminal 5, including all scheduled long-haul flights. ukimports.org
26/03/08 - Heathrow fingerprint plan on hold
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Plans to fingerprint passengers travelling from Heathrow's new Terminal 5 have been suspended, less than 24 hours before it is due to open.
Airport operator BAA claims the measure is needed to distinguish domestic passengers from international ones.
But the data protection watchdog said the plan may breach British law.
The BBC's Tom Symonds said talks were now under way between the Information Commissioner and BAA, which insists it wants to bring in checks in the future. ukimports.org
26/03/08 - Green light for port's expansion
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Plans for a major expansion of the Port of Felixstowe which would increase capacity by 25% have been backed.
The Felixstowe South Reconfiguration includes a rail connection and terminal, dredging to deepen berths, and the creation of about 600 jobs.
The government granted planning permission in 2006 but changes to the scheme have taken place. ukimports.org
26/03/08 - Approval for mobiles on aircraft
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)The use of mobiles on planes flying in European airspace has been given approval by UK regulator Ofcom.
It has issued plans that will allow airlines to offer mobile services on UK-registered aircraft.
The decision means that mobiles could be used once a plane has reached an altitude of 3,000m or more.
But airlines keen to offer the services must still satisfy other regulators about how the hardware will be used. ukimports.org
26/03/08 - Rescuers find bodies in HK wreck
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Divers have recovered two bodies from a ship that sank off the coast of Hong Kong after colliding with a Chinese cargo vessel.
Eighteen Ukrainian sailors were trapped inside the Naftogaz 67 tug when it sank late on Saturday.
Divers would continue to search for the missing men, officials said. The tug is resting upside-down on the sea floor.
Seven crew members were rescued after the collision, the cause of which is not known. ukimports.org
26/03/08 - Singapore grounds a second A380
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Singapore Airlines has grounded a second Airbus A380 super-jumbo because of a fuel pump problem.
The carrier said the move delayed passengers bound for Sydney on Monday who had to switch to smaller planes.
It added that the A380 in question was now back in service. A similar fuel pump problem grounded another of the airline's A380s back in February.
Singapore Airlines is currently the first and only carrier to enter the A380 into commercial service. ukimports.org
25/03/08 - BA pioneer to land first T5 plane
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)British Airways' first female pilot has been selected to fly the first plane to land at Heathrow's new Terminal 5.
Capt Lynn Barton, 51, became BA's first woman pilot in 1987. She will be the flight commander on BA026 from Hong Kong, landing at 0450 GMT on Thursday.
"I was incredibly proud to have been British Airways' first ever woman pilot and now I have another first to my name," Capt Barton said.
The £4.3bn terminal offers extra passenger capacity.
It will not mean extra flights. ukimports.org
25/03/08 - City route shut after derailment
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Train services into Birmingham Moor Street will be severely disrupted until Thursday morning after a freight train hit a wall and derailed.
Four freight train wagons came off the tracks outside the station earlier.
The line south-east of Birmingham will be closed so that engineers can remove debris from the tracks, Chiltern Railways and London Midlands said.
No Chiltern services and only London Midland lines which do not pass through Moor Street will run into the city.
Local and national services to Birmingham New Street are unaffected. ukimports.org
25/03/08 - BAA raises funds in property sale
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Airports operator BAA, which is owned by Spain's Ferrovial, has agreed to sell 33 properties owned by a joint venture with Morley Fund Management.
The sale raised £265m, which will be split between BAA and Morley.
The sale is part of Ferrovial's programme of non-core sales to help pay off the debt it took on to buy BAA.
It comes as the group, which owns Heathrow and Gatwick airports, faces calls for a break-up amid growing criticism of its dominance. ukimports.org
24/03/08 - Ukrainian sailors missing off HK
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Hopes are fading for 18 Ukrainian sailors trapped underwater since their boat sank off Hong Kong after colliding with a Chinese cargo ship on Saturday.
Hong Kong officials said the seamen could be alive if they had found an air pocket inside the upturned vessel.
But divers who knocked on the hull of the tug, the Naftogaz 67, did not get a response, they said.
Rescuers are working to stabilise and then move the vessel to allow divers better access.
Seven people were rescued after the vessel sank, but the remaining 18 are thought to have been trapped in the ship's engine room and cabins. ukimports.org
23/03/08 - Heathrow fingerprint plan probed
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Plans to fingerprint passengers at Heathrow's new Terminal 5 are being probed by the data protection watchdog.
The Information Commissioner's Office warned airport operator BAA it may be in breach of the Data Protection Act.
Under the plans, prints will be checked at the gate to try to ensure the person who checked in is the same as the person who is boarding the aircraft.
BAA said the data was encrypted straight away and destroyed within 24 hours, in line with the act.
The investigation would not delay the opening for business of the £4.3bn terminal on Thursday, the airport operator added. ukimports.org
20/03/08 - Jobs hope from airport expansion
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Airport bosses are promising up to 3,500 jobs with the planned development of a huge business park.
The £110m Skylink International Business Park has been earmarked for a 250 acre brown field site at Durham Tees Valley Airport, near Darlington.
The park will provide about two million sq ft of space to airport-related businesses and freight firms.
Airport managing director Hugh Laing said the project could massively boost the economy of the North East. ukimports.org
20/03/08 - Easyjet starts new Jersey flights
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Low-cost airline Easyjet has started operating services to and from Jersey.
The airline has replaced Thomsonfly on the island's Luton route. It is also due to begin a Liverpool service later in the year.
The airline company expects 200,000 passengers to fly on the new services within its first 12 months in Jersey. ukimports.org
20/03/08 - Customs office is to be reviewed
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)There is to be a review of Jersey's Customs and Immigration Department to see if it has enough resources.
Politicians who monitor government policy are worried the department does not have enough money to run properly.
The service is responsible for about 10% of the States' income as it collects duties on imported goods. ukimports.org
18/03/08 - US oil spill ship pilot charged
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)The pilot of a ship that spilt 58,000 gallons of oil into San Francisco Bay after crashing into the Bay Bridge has been charged with criminal negligence.
John Cota, who was also charged with breaking environmental laws, faces 18 months in jail and up to $100,000 in fines if convicted.
The Cosco Busan container ship he was piloting ruptured when it ran into the bridge in fog last 7 November.
Mr Cota's lawyer said the criminal charges were premature.
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger had declared a state of emergency after the oil spill, which killed an estimated 2,000 birds - including endangered brown pelicans - and caused the closure of nearly two dozen beaches. ukimports.org
18/03/08 - A380 to make UK commercial debut
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)The Airbus A380 "super-jumbo" is due to make its European commercial debut when a flight from Singapore lands at London's Heathrow airport on Tuesday.
Singapore Airlines is the first carrier to operate the new double-decker aircraft on revenue-earning services.
Flight SQ308 is due to arrive at Heathrow at 1505GMT.
British Airways has ordered 12 of the airliners, due to be delivered from 2012, while Virgin Atlantic has ordered six, to arrive from 2013.
The Singapore Airlines flight is expected to have up to 470 passengers on board, each of whom will receive a personalised certificate to commemorate the historic first flight to the UK.
The carrier has three A380s in service, with 16 more on order, and has been using them on flights between Singapore and Sydney, Australia, since October 2007. ukimports.org
17/03/08 - UK Customs announce Tariff updates
- Courtesy of HM Revenue & Customs (www.hmrc.gov.uk)Please note the following amendments to Volume 2 of the printed Tariff and CHIEF, Chapters 03, 26, 27, 44, 72 and 97.
Contact us if you require more information. ukimports.org
16/03/08 - Councils oppose airport expansion
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Councils representing millions of people in the East of England have joined together to oppose plans to double the size of Stansted Airport.
Six local authorities in Essex, Suffolk and Hertfordshire are to campaign to stop a second runway being built at the UK's third busiest airport.
Airport owner BAA announced its latest plans for the Essex airport last week - saying it would boost the economy.
But opponents believe the proposals would be environmentally disastrous. ukimports.org
13/03/08 - Man arrested over Heathrow alert
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)A major security alert has taken place at Heathrow airport as a man with a rucksack scaled the perimeter fence and ran into the path of an aircraft.
Eyewitnesses told the BBC armed police surrounded the man on the north runway.
Police said a man was arrested and a controlled explosion of a bag found nothing suspicious. They later said the incident was not terrorism-related.
The alert, which delayed some flights, comes a day before the Queen will open Heathrow's new Terminal 5 building. ukimports.org
12/03/08 - Indian airport workers on strike
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Thousands of Indian airport workers, including baggage handlers and ground staff, have gone on strike in protest at the privatisation of two airports.
So far, there has been no major disruption, but some cancellations and delays are expected later in the day.
Private airports are due to replace government facilities in the southern cities of Bangalore and Hyderabad soon.
Workers say some staff will lose their jobs, while others will have to move to other cities for work.
The new airports have been built by private companies and under the agreement with the builders, the existing facilities have to be closed down before the new ones become operational.
The civil aviation ministry has rejected demands to keep the old facilities open.
Two of the country's busiest airports, New Delhi and Mumbai, are privately run and were not affected by the strike. ukimports.org
11/03/08 - Valuation - revised procedures
- Courtesy of HM Revenue & Customs (www.hmrc.gov.uk)HMRC Reference: JCCC CIP (08) 19
Valuation - revised procedures. Forms C105A, C105B, C109A and C109B.
From 1 April 2008, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) intend to apply the waiver provisions of Article 179 of Commission Regulation 2454/93 more flexibily to relieve importers of the burden of routinely providing information about their importations. This approach is similar to the current waiver allowed in the UK for importers making their customs entries using the Customs Freight Simplified Procedures (CFSP). ukimports.org
11/03/08 - Airports landing fees 'to rise'
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Air passengers are expected to face a rise in ticket prices of about £2 after new landing charges for Heathrow and Gatwick airports are announced later.
The Civil Aviation Authority is said to ready to levy higher fees to allow cash to be raised to improve facilities.
BAA, which operates the airports, wanted a larger rise to pay for increased security.
In a separate development, BAA will publish its controversial application to build a second runway at Stansted. ukimports.org
10/03/08 - Storms cause UK transport woes
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Storms affecting parts of the UK have hit transport systems, including road, rail, sea and air services.
British Airways had to cancel a number of short-haul flights at Heathrow and Gatwick airports and has advised passengers to check before travelling.
High winds meant speed restrictions were put in place on some rail lines, while flooding caused lane closures on the M25 in Surrey.
Ferry services to France, Spain and the Irish Republic have also been hit. ukimports.org
09/03/08 - M20 chaos ends after Stack lifted
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Drivers using the M20 have been given a temporary reprieve with the lifting of Operation Stack, which involves lorries queuing to cross the Channel.
Coastbound lanes in Kent were partly closed for six days due to an ongoing strike by SeaFrance ferry workers.
The M20 between junctions eight and nine was reopened after the backlog of lorries heading to France was cleared.
However, police warn the closure could be reinstated amid fears the forecasted stormy weather could shut Dover port.
The strike by SeaFrance workers has now entered its 11th day, with further action planned this week. ukimports.org
07/03/08 - Weather hampers Riverdance move
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Weather conditions have continued to hinder the salvage operation to refloat the Riverdance ferry stricken on the beach at Blackpool.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said her position, coupled with high tides, had hampered efforts to move the ferry, which ran aground in January.
Salvors been repairing damage to the hull to stop water getting in. ukimports.org
07/03/08 - Raising awareness of the availability for email submissions of Customs declarations
- Courtesy of HM Revenue & Customs (www.hmrc.gov.uk)HMRC Reference: JCCC CIP (08) 18
Direct email facility for the submission of customs declarations.
Many traders currently submit customs import/export declarations by fax to the NCH. This facility still remains.
The purpose of this paper is to make traders aware that there are also two dedicated email routes into the NCH. ukimports.org
06/03/08 - High winds close port terminals
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)High winds in the North Sea caused the closure of two out of three terminals at the region's main container port.
Quayside cranes at the Port of Felixstowe in Suffolk were unable to work safely in the high winds, a spokesman said.
Trinity and Landguard terminals were closed until the weather eases. ukimports.org
06/03/08 - Port road change to ease traffic
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)A contingency plan used when the Port of Felixstowe was closed, and which was criticised by drivers, is to change.
Operation Stack sees HGVs lining the A14 when the port can not be accessed.
High winds meant the Suffolk port closed in January and lorries queued along the road, leaving other users complaining of chaos on approach roads.
Following a review, the Highways Agency has said port traffic will now be told to wait on the old A45, which runs parallel to the A14. ukimports.org
05/03/08 - Customs seize 18m fake cigarettes
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)About 18 million counterfeit cigarettes have been seized by customs staff at a Suffolk container port.
The haul was found in two containers from Dubai, described as disposable plastic goods, and HM Revenue and Customs spokesman said.
It is thought the revenue generated from the sale of the cigarettes, seized in January at Felixstowe Port, would have been nearly £3m.
The duty evaded would have been about £4m. ukimports.org
03/03/08 - Arrangements for HMRC Consultative Forums
- Courtesy of HM Revenue & Customs (www.hmrc.gov.uk)Our forums provide an excellent opportunity for HMRC to consult with our customers on a wide range of issues and the newly published framework will ensure they maintain their effectiveness, customer focus and relevance.
In 2006 HMRC undertook a review of the arrangements for its consultative forums. It recommended a number of changes which were implemented from March 2007 alongside those contained in the Review of Links with Large Business. ukimports.org
02/03/08 - (Felixstowe) Port still closed after crane fall
- Courtesy of The Evening Star (www.eveningstar.co.uk)PART of the Port of Felixstowe remains closed today after cranes came crashing down in high winds.
It is not known when the Landguard terminal of the port will be able to reopen after a ship carrying new cranes broke its moorings in gale-force winds and crashed into older cranes on the quayside causing them to collapse.
The incident happened at about 1.30am yesterday when gusts of up to 60mph battered the county causing chaos.
A ship, the Zhen Hua 23, arrived at the port on Friday carrying three new high-rise quayside cranes for Britain's busiest container terminal, the first part of a consignment of £20million-plus of cranes arriving this year. ukimports.org
01/03/08 - Crane Crash Chaos
- Courtesy of Felixstowe TV (www.felixstowetv.co.uk)Gale force winds overnight have caused massive damage at the Port of Felixstowe, as the new quayside cranes which arrived yesterday from China crashed into existing cranes on Landguard Terminal.
The ship which carried the three new cranes for the Port of Felixstowe, as well as one for Hutchison Ports' Thamesport and one for the Port of Oxelösund in Sweden, arrived yesterday morning from Shanghai. The Zhen Hua 23 had berthed at Landguard Terminal by the viewing point due to the forecast bad weather, and was due to be moved across to the northern Trinity Terminal early next week, when Felixstowe's three ship-to-shore container cranes would be taken ashore.
However with the gale force winds, estimated to have been gusting over 60 mph, blowing against the tall cranes overnight, the ship's secure moorings were forced loose. The ship, still with the new cranes onboard, was forced south along the container quay, with her stern now laying against the beach by the viewing point. Shortly before 2 o'clock this morning, the new cranes on board collided with existing cranes which were parked at the south end of Landguard Terminal. ukimports.org
01/03/08 - Strike and wind disrupt crossings
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)SeaFrance crossings from Dover to Calais have been suspended for a third day as a strike by ferry officers in France over a pay dispute continues.
P&O Ferries between the Kent port and Calais are also severely delayed, along with the Norfolk Line from Dover to Dunkirk, due to high winds.
It has led to traffic backlogs in Kent and the M20 has been closed coastbound to allow lorries to park.
Phase two of Operation Stack is now in place between junctions eight and 12.
Non-freight traffic is being diverted on to the A20, causing traffic delays and Kent Police advised drivers to avoid the area where possible.
A spokeswoman said Operation Stack was expected to be in place for the rest of the weekend, with storm force winds possibly closing the Port of Dover. ukimports.org
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UKimports.org is not responsible for any content or advice given in any external site and we are not endorsing or promoting any product or company referred to on our site. ukimports.org
