Archives: March 2010 cargo news
The News stories below are cargo / freight related stories which made the headlines in March 2010 (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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30/03/10 - Lorries banned from overtaking on A20 near Dover
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Lorries weighing more than 7.5 tonnes have been banned from overtaking on a stretch of the A20 in Kent.
The year-long trial, which aims to ease congestion and reduce accidents, affects a two-mile stretch of the dual carriageway leaving the Port of Dover.
Lorries will be directed to the inside lane of the road, leaving the outside lane free for faster traffic.
Signs have been erected, informing divers where the lane restriction starts and finishes. ukimports.org
27/03/10 - BA strike: Second walk-out causes more disruption
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)British Airways (BA) has cancelled almost a hundred flights from Heathrow during the first day of a second weekend of strike action by cabin crew.
But BA hopes to fly three-quarters of its passengers through the four-day strike, which began on Saturday.
In an online message, boss Willie Walsh said BA was doing "everything possible" to achieve that and was "absolutely committed to resolving this dispute".
The Unite union has warned industrial action could continue after Easter. ukimports.org
26/03/10 - Heathrow third runway opponents win court challenge
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Campaigners have won a High Court battle over plans for a third runway at Heathrow Airport.
Councils, residents and green groups had said the government's plan was at odds with climate change targets.
Lord Justice Carnwath said the public consultation process used was invalid as it was based on out-of-date figures.
The decision does not rule out a third runway but calls for government policy to be reviewed. Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the runway was still needed. ukimports.org
25/03/10 - Half of calls to HM Revenue and Customs 'not answered'
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)More than 40% of calls to HM Revenue and Customs last year were not answered despite a drive to get taxpayers to use the telephone, a report has found.
Of the 100 million calls to the main HMRC helplines from 2008 to 2009, 40 million did not get through, parliament's spending watchdog found.
The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee (PAC) condemned the taxman's call-handling operation as "poor".
Revenue and Customs said that, by next year, it aimed to answer 90% of calls. ukimports.org
25/03/10 - New Open Skies air deal to bring bigger EU-US stakes
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)A new agreement between the EU and the US to further liberalise trans-Atlantic air travel paves the way for foreigners to take major stakes in US airlines.
EU airlines will allow US investors to take majority stakes in themselves.
Foreign control of US carriers is currently capped at 25% - US airlines could gain ownership of EU carriers above the current 49.9%.
The deal has been hailed as a "major step forwards" in the so-called Open Skies liberalisation process.
The first, most important stage, allowed unlimited access to and from European and US cities for carriers and was agreed three years ago.
Services began in March 2008. ukimports.org
25/03/10 - Smugglers jailed over £62m flower box cannabis plot
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)A gang of 12 men who smuggled skunk cannabis worth £62m into the UK from Holland, hiding it in flower boxes have been jailed at Southwark Crown Court.
The ringleader Terrence Bowler, 40, of Kingston, was jailed for 16 years. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import controlled drugs and money laundering.
The drugs were smuggled through ports in Essex and Hull and stored in garages in south-west London and Surrey.
The gang made £20m profit bringing in 88 shipments of cannabis. ukimports.org
24/03/10 - DP World profits slump by a half
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)DP World, the container port business owned by troubled investment group Dubai World, has reported a slump in profits of almost a half.
Net profits came in at $333m (£222m) for the full year 2009, 46% lower than the previous year.
However, the company said it saw signs of recovery for the coming year.
Separately, reports suggest that state-owned Dubai World will unveil plans to restructure its $26bn worth of debt later this week.
Global stock markets were rocked at the end of last year when the company asked for a six-month delay on repaying its debts. ukimports.org
24/03/10 - Dover to Zeebrugge ferry service returns
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)A ferry service from the port of Dover to Zeebrugge in Belgium has been revived eight years after it was shelved by P&O.
The freight-only vessel, European Endeavour, will run a return trip each day from 7 April.
The ship, which can carry up to 100 articulated lorries, will complete each crossing in four-and-a-half hours.
Freight director Ronny Daelman said: "We believe a market for the service has come back."
He added: "We will provide the ship so long as there is demand." ukimports.org
23/03/10 - Men 'hid drugs in flower lorries' from Holland
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Tonnes of cannabis were smuggled into the UK hidden inside lorries carrying flowers from Holland, a court heard.
A Wiltshire Police investigation into the gang led to the discovery of 10 tonnes of skunk at a farm near Swindon, Bristol Crown Court was told.
The prosecution claims David Barnes, 41, of Hungerford, Berkshire, led the gang and his right hand man was Michael Woodage, 52, of Whitchurch, Hampshire.
They and two other men deny conspiracy to supply class B drugs.
Stephen Docking, 45, from Kent, and Christopher Wills, 30, from Bracknell, Berkshire, are claimed to have acted as couriers for the gang. ukimports.org
23/03/10 - French national strike disrupts transport
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)French public sector workers are holding a day-long, nationwide strike to protest against the government's social and economic policies.
Tens of thousands of people rallied in Paris and other cities.
Transport, schools and other services were disrupted by the strike, which was supported by all the major unions. ukimports.org
23/03/10 - BA resuming normal flights service after strike
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)British Airways is trying to resume normal services following the end of a three-day strike by cabin crew.
The airline says it has reinstated a number of flights over the next four days that were previously cancelled.
BA is reviewing its schedule for a strike between 27 and 30 March which is again about pay and condition changes.
No further talks to resolve the dispute are planned ahead of the next walkout, but unions have challenged BA chief Willie Walsh to return to negotiations. ukimports.org
23/03/10 - Cyclist killed in collision with lorry in Southampton
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)A cyclist has been killed in a collision with a lorry in Southampton.
The crash happened at the junction of Northam Road and Prince's Street, near the Northam Bridge, just after 1130 GMT. ukimports.org
22/03/10 - British Airways facing busiest day of strike
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Airways passengers are facing disruption to their journeys as the cabin crew strike enters its third and busiest day.
The Unite union says only 300 of the 2,200 cabin crew scheduled to work during the weekend turned up.
But BA says nearly 98% of staff reported for work at Gatwick and more than half showed up at Heathrow.
Cabin crew are striking over staffing and pay changes. They also plan to walk out for four days from 27 March. ukimports.org
21/03/10 - Some Gatwick flights grounded on day two of strike
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Some short-haul flights remain grounded at Gatwick Airport despite staff working during day two of the British Airways (BA) strike.
BA said 97% of cabin crew due to work at Gatwick on Saturday had turned up, compared to half at Heathrow Airport.
But Unite said that 80% of staff took action over pay freezes and job cuts.
The airport has requested passengers check if their flight has been cancelled and, if so, not to travel to the airport. ukimports.org
21/03/10 - BA say more crews report for work at Heathrow
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)British Airways has claimed enough cabin crews have reported for work at Heathrow to enable more long-haul flights to operate from Terminal 5.
"We have added additional flights into our schedule at both Heathrow and Gatwick and customers can now book on to these flights," the company said.
The Unite union has maintained aircraft are stacking up at the airport as a result of its industrial action.
It said BA was running out of stands at Terminal 5. ukimports.org
16/03/10 - Lydd Airport plans delayed by environmental concerns
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Plans to extend the runway and build a new terminal at Lydd Airport in Kent could be referred to the government.
Natural England is concerned the environmental impact has not been properly considered and has asked for the plans to be "called in".
The Government Office for the South East (GOSE) will now consider the plans and decide whether the decision should be referred to the Secretary of State.
Shepway District Council has already granted planning permission. ukimports.org
15/03/10 - BA to fly 60% of its flights during planned strike
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)British Airways has announced contingency plans that will allow it to fly 60% of its customers during the first planned strike by cabin crew.
The airline said it aimed to fly about 45,000 passengers a day during the first three-day strike, due to begin on 20 March.
Thousands more affected passengers will be offered alternative BA flights or seats on other airlines.
Plans for the second strike period from 27 March have not been finalised. ukimports.org
15/03/10 - Strike-hit BA to reveal flights affected by dispute
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)British Airways is expected to announce which of its flights may be cancelled because of a strike planned by cabin crew for next weekend.
The dispute is over reduced staffing levels and pay at the airline, with the first strike due to start on 20 March.
Meanwhile, a Downing St source refused to confirm whether Gordon Brown has spoken to the Unite union.
The Guardian reports the PM called Unite's general secretary to discuss potential solutions to the dispute.
The strike is due to last for three days, with a second four-day walkout due to begin on 27 March. ukimports.org
15/03/10 - Road travel 'needs big overhaul' to avoid gridlock
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)There needs to be a "radical overhaul" of road travel in the UK to avoid future gridlock, the CBI business organisation has warned.
It said measures that need to be explored include staggered work commutes, increased car sharing, and more working from home.
The CBI estimates road congestion now costs the UK economy up to £8bn a year.
It warned this could more than double by 2025 unless more action is taken to tackle the problem. ukimports.org
11/03/10 - British Airways 'terror plot' worker appears in court
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)A British Airways computer expert has appeared in court charged with planning suicide bombings.
Rajib Karim, 30, of Newcastle, faced three charges under counter terrorism legislation when he appeared at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court.
He is accused of two counts of planning suicide bombings and his own martyrdom and also of fundraising for the purposes of terrorism.
District Judge Timothy Workman adjourned the case until 26 March. ukimports.org
11/03/10 - Dover Harbour Board accused of misleading ferry firms
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Three ferry companies have accused Dover Harbour Board of abusing its monopoly power and misleading them.
SeaFrance, P&O and Norfolkline claim £60m they provided to pay for a second terminal at Dover port is now earmarked to cover a pension fund deficit.
They have also protested at a proposed 35% rise in tariffs over the next three years and are threatening legal action.
Dover Harbour Board said it was "extremely surprised" at the claims it had abused its monopoly powers. ukimports.org
11/03/10 - Litres of illegal alcohol seized from Gillingham shops
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)More than 1,000 litres of illegal alcohol was seized in Kent after raids were made on two convenience shops.
Italian wine, totalling 670 litres and 475 litres of spirit were seized, with the potential duty evasion amounting to more than £4,600.
Officers from HM Revenue and Customs raided two Gillingham shops in a joint operation with Kent Police, the UK Boarder Agency and Medway Council.
No arrests were made but enquiries into the illegal alcohol are continuing. ukimports.org
11/03/10 - Airline industry recovering, says Iata trade body
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)The global airline industry will recover strongly this year, as both passenger and freight numbers improve, the industry's trade body has said.
The International Air Transport Association said the sector would still make a loss, but predicted this would be half its estimate in December.
Iata now expects the world's airlines to make a combined loss of $2.8bn (£1.9bn) in 2010, rather than $5.6bn.
But it warned that European and US airlines were still suffering the most. ukimports.org
10/03/10 - China's exports see sharp increase
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)China's exports jumped by 46% in February compared with a year ago, raising hopes of a strong recovery in global trade.
The increase was higher than analysts' expectations of a rise of between 35% and 40%.
It is likely to increase pressure on the Chinese government to raise the value of the yuan, which the US in particular complains is undervalued.
China's imports also rose strongly, increasing by 44.7% last month. ukimports.org
09/03/10 - Appeal to mayor over Thames Estuary airport 'confusion'
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Councillors in Medway are demanding a face-to-face meeting with the mayor of London about plans to build an airport in the middle of the Thames Estuary.
Last week a delegation from the council met Boris Johnson's deputy to ask for the plans to be abandoned.
They came away believing proposals were being expanded, but a few days later heard there were no plans in place.
In an open letter to the mayor, Councillor Rodney Chambers said the lack of clarity was "confusing". ukimports.org
07/03/10 - Crane topples over at Southampton docks
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)A crane has toppled over at Southampton docks but no-one has been seriously injured - the third collapse at the port in the past two years.
A worker said they heard a "humongous crash" when the crane, which was on a tug and thought to be about 200ft (60m) high, collapsed at about 1000 GMT.
Two men were assessed at the scene but no-one needed hospital treatment.
Two other cranes toppled over at the docks in 2008 and 2009. The Health and Safety Executive is investigating. ukimports.org
05/03/10 - Potential delays and disruption for passengers and applicants - Monday 8 and Tuesday 9 March
- Courtesy of The UK Border Agency (www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/)The travelling public could face potential disruption at UK ports owing to strike action by the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) on Monday 8 March and Tuesday 9 March, the UK Border Agency has warned.
The agency's Chief Executive, Lin Homer, has confirmed that contingency plans are in place to minimise potential disruption, and that UK border security will not be compromised by the industrial action. ukimports.org
05/03/10 - Gang smuggled £62m cannabis hidden in flower boxes
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)A gang of 12 men smuggled skunk cannabis worth £62m to the UK hidden in boxes of flowers from Holland.
The drugs were smuggled through ports in Essex and Hull and the haul was unpacked and stored in lock-up garages in south-west London and Surrey. ukimports.org
05/03/10 - London Mayor Boris Johnson has 'no plans' for airport
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Mayor of London Boris Johnson has said there are no plans to build an airport in the middle of the Thames Estuary.
The mayor included the proposal in his 2008 election manifesto but appeared to have altered his stance during an appearance on the BBC's Question Time.
During Thursday's broadcast Mr Johnson said: "I don't want to build an airport in the Thames Estuary."
But his office has since issued a statement saying he was referring to there being "no actual plans in place".
Mr Johnson has previously supported the £40bn facility, which he proposed should be built off the Isle of Sheppey, in Kent, and which has been dubbed "Boris Island". ukimports.org
04/03/10 - Cost of Operation Stack lorry park could rise to £75m
- Courtesy of The Kent Messenger (www.kentonline.co.uk)The costs of building a lorry park to cope with Operation Stack could be as much as £75million, it has emerged.
Kent County Council wants to build the lorry park on a 70-acre site off the London-bound stretch of the M20, at Aldington near Ashford.
Under the council's proposals, the park would be capable of holding up to 3,000 lorries, taking them off the motorway when Channel crossings are suspended because of industrial action or bad weather.
The estimated costs of building the lorry park have previously been put at between £35million and £40million. ukimports.org
04/03/10 - Shepway councillors approve Lydd Airport expansion plan
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Plans to expand a Kent airport have been backed by councillors despite fears of excessive noise and damage to the environment.
Shepway District Council approved Lydd Airport's plans to build a new terminal and extend its runway by almost 300m (328yds) after a seven-hour meeting.
Planning officers had recommended refusing the application but members voted 27 to 12 in favour on Wednesday.
The new terminal will be able to handle up to 500,000 passengers a years. ukimports.org
03/03/10 - Bid to stop dangerous goods at Felixstowe port
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Trading standards officers at a port in Suffolk have been given an extra £85,000 to help stop dangerous and unsafe products entering the country.
Consumer minister Kevin Brennan announced £300,000 would go to the ports of Felixstowe, Southampton and Gatwick and Heathrow airports.
It is estimated the move would save the country £4.8m by reducing consumers' injuries and losses.
It could also mean fewer product recalls for business. ukimports.org
03/03/10 - Man accused of endangering plane at Manchester Airport
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)A man has been charged with endangering an aircraft after a harmful chemical was found at Manchester Airport.
Joseph Lori, 38, of Cheetham Hill, Manchester, is also accused of failing to comply with regulations over the carrying of dangerous goods. ukimports.org
03/03/10 - BA worker quizzed in Newcastle terrorism inquiry
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)A British Airways worker is being questioned on suspicion of terrorist fund-raising after being arrested at the company's offices in Newcastle.
Searches were conducted at the premises and a residential address when the 30-year-old was arrested on 25 February, it has emerged.
Detectives have been given more time to interview him in London.
BA said it took security "extremely seriously" but would not comment further during the investigation. ukimports.org
02/03/10 - £3.7m drugs haul found on lorry at Dover
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Heroin, amphetamine sulphate, ecstasy and cannabis have been seized from a lorry stopped by customs officers at the Port of Dover.
UK Border Agency officers who stopped the British registered lorry found the drugs in oil drums.
Officials said the drugs had an estimated street value of £3.7m. ukimports.org
02/03/10 - Warrington MP warns over Omega business park delay
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Delays to the development of the Warrington's Omega business park could damage the economic future of the town, Warrington North MP Helen Jones says.
The former airbase, near the M62 motorway at Burtonwood, is largely untouched despite planning permission being granted almost five years ago.
Developers Miller said the delay was due to the recession.
Outline planning consent delays had also played a part, a spokesman for the company said. ukimports.org
02/03/10 - Tonne of tobacco found in lorry in Dover port
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Customs officials have discovered more than a tonne of tobacco in the back of a lorry at the Port of Dover.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) said the tobacco was found among boxes of foam insulation and was enough to make two million cigarettes.
The discovery was made at Dover's Eastern Docks on Sunday. The tax evaded is estimated to be about £125,000. ukimports.org
02/03/10 - Airlines '90% against new Thames Estuary airport'
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Nine out of 10 airlines using Heathrow Airport are opposed to Boris Johnson's plans to build a new airport in the Thames Estuary, a council has claimed.
The Mayor of London has given his backing to a scheme, thought to cost £40bn, to use an island off the south-east coast for a six-runway airport.
But Medway Council in Kent says 90% of airlines including British Airways, Air France and Virgin Atlantic are opposed.
A spokesman for the mayor said they would consider the findings. ukimports.org
01/03/10 - Haul of cocaine found inside yams at Kent airport
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Three kilograms (6.6lbs) of cocaine has been found inside yams which arrived on a flight at Kent International Airport (KIA) in Manston.
The fruit arrived from Ghana on Tuesday. No arrests have been made, but the UK Border Agency is investigating. ukimports.org
01/03/10 - Chinese immigrant deaths officer marks 10th anniversary
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)A senior police officer is visiting China 10 years after the bodies of 58 migrants were found in the back of a lorry at the Port of Dover.
Ch Supt Steve Corbishley, of Kent Police, is meeting Chinese officers he worked alongside while trying to identify those who died.
The migrants died in the back of a vehicle smuggling them into the country on a ferry from Zeebrugge, Belgium.
Dutch lorry driver Perry Wacker was convicted of 58 counts of manslaughter.
Customs officers discovered the 58 bodies - and two survivors - in a sealed lorry container at Dover's eastern docks just before midnight on 18 June 2000. ukimports.org
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