Newsletter: February 15, 2022

OCEAN FREIGHT UPDATES

SM Line and 2M end transpacific partnership

splash247.com
South Korean carrier SM Line and 2M Alliance partners Maersk and Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) have ended their collaboration on routes from Asia to the west coast of the US.
MSC said in a customer advisory that the slot exchange deal would end with effect from May 8, 2022, consequently ending MSC’s slot agreement with SM Line commercialised as the “Rose” service. “Current services covered by MSC, and those of the 2M network, will offer alternative coverage,” the Geneva-headquartered liner added. Upon the end of the two-year partnership, SM Line will begin providing standalone container service, integrating three routes to the south of the US west coast. Read more here. 

Major changes at the top at APMM, led by Robert Maersk Uggla as new chairman

theloadstar.com
The board of AP Møller-Maersk has nominated Robert Mærsk Uggla (above) as its new chairman, after incumbent Jim Hagemann Snabe informed the board he won’t stand for re-election at the company’s AGM on 15 March.
However, Mr Snabe (below) will continue as an advisor to the new chairman and the board, said Maersk. Read more here. 

Scientists Call on Canada to Reject Vancouver’s Box Terminal Expansion

maritime-executive.com
A group of 12 scientists has asked Canada’s federal government to reject a plan to expand the Port of Vancouver’s Roberts Bank Terminal, citing research that suggests the new facility would harm salmon and killer whales. Read more here.

GROUND AND RAIL FREIGHT UPDATES

Market conditions for trucking carriers to remain strong through 2022

dcvelocity.com
Trucking carriers enjoyed better market conditions in December than they had for a seven-month span, thanks to falling diesel prices and greater freight volume, transportation analysis firm FTR said today.
FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index (TCI) for December rose to 14.45, improving from 10.0 in November, sending it to its highest peak since May. The all-time high was 16.8 just a month earlier, in April 2021. The index tracks changes in five conditions in the U.S. truck market: freight volumes, freight rates, fleet capacity, fuel price, and financing. Combined into a single score, the number represents good, optimistic conditions when positive and bad, pessimistic conditions when negative. Read more here.

CANADA BUSINESS- GOVERNMENT UPDATES

Border Update – February 14

ciffa.com
The CBSA advised yesterday of the following:
•    Coutts, Alberta – Temporarily closed as February 14, 05:14 MST
•    Emerson, Manitoba – Temporarily closed February 14, 06:14 CST
•    Ambassador Bridge, Windsor, Ontario – Open as of February 14, 07:14 EST
•    Pacific Highway, B.C. – The CBSA issued a notice advising of the following:
“The Pacific Highway port of entry is experiencing service disruption. While the port of entry remains open, travellers should use an alternative processing site due to protest activity in the area. The ports of Aldergrove and Abbotsford-Huntington