Weekly Logistics Briefing Key logistics updates for the week (Week 5 of July 2024)

On the morning of July 25, Frankfurt Airport (FRA) temporarily suspended flights due to protests against the use of fossil fuels. All runways have resumed operation since 7:50 a.m., but about 140 flights have been canceled so far. Also, more delays and cancellations are expected throughout the day.

Ground staff workers of the FO (The Workers' Force) union are scheduled to strike at three major airports (CDG, ORY, LBG) in Paris from 05:00 on July 26 to 07:00 on July 27, during the Paris Olympics. The FO labor union demands an increase in wages and bonuses for its members. Major confusion is not expected because other unions such as CGT, CFDT, and UNSA did not join the FO's strike.

As of July 21, anti-government protests in Bangladesh are likely to continue for weeks. The rally, which involved thousands of protesters, concentrated in urban areas, especially Dhaka. More than 130 people were killed and thousands injured in last week's protests. All travel to Bangladesh or non-essential travel is prohibited until further notice in several countries, including Australia, Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. In some areas, railway and highway blockades continue to occur sporadically, causing disruptions to traffic on major routes, including the capital. There is a possibility that additional flights will be suspended at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (DAC) in Dhaka due to security problems and reduced demand. Some airlines, including Emirates (EK), have suspended flights to Dhaka, while others, including Flydubai (FZ), have changed their flight schedules

A total of eight freighters ran aground along the coast of Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Pingtung County when Typhoon Gaemi hit Taiwan. As of 8 00 a.m. Sunday, the coast guards had rescued 59 people from six ships, while 29 individuals on the other two freighters, who have not yet been rescued, are safe and waiting for further arrangements. Improved weather conditions have allowed drones to monitor for drifting containers and oil spills. Additionally, the Tanzanian freighter "FU SHUN" sunk off Kaohsiung, with one confirmed death, four rescued, and four missing.

The Philippine Coast Guard reported the sinking of a oil tanker, the MTKR Jason Bradley, off Bataan province. The tanker was not carrying any cargo, but it was carrying fuel to operate the ship. Three coast guard vessels went to the accident site and confirmed sunken vessel's presence, and sealed off the area. Salvage operations are expected to begin soon. Meanwhile, efforts are underway to seal a leaking valve on another tanker that sank off Limay town last Thursday.

French railway company SNCF said on Saturday it has made progress in partially restoring high speed train services after acts of sabotage disrupted three major lines. SNCF agents worked through the night in adverse weather conditions to improve the TGV traffic from the north, east and west to Paris. As of Saturday morning, normal service had resumed on the Eastern high speed line. Trains on the North, Brittany, and South-West lines are running with delays of one to two hours. Despite disruptions, SNCFS said all transportation for Olympic teams will be maintained as planned.

Thousands of Boeing workers in Seattle have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike if wage negotiations fail by September. The union IAM-District 751, representing over 30,000 employees, organized the vote in a stadium, with 99.9% in favor of the strike. Union leaders are pushing for better wages and criticizing Boeing's management for compromising safety and production quality. Negotiations with Boeing began in March, aiming to replace a 16-year-old collective agreement expiring on September 12.

The Indian Coast Guard is engaged in intense firefighting efforts on the MV Maersk Frankfurt, a merchant ship that caught fire off the coast of Karwar, Karnataka. Despite battling extreme weather conditions, the Coast Guard has maintained operations for the sixth consecutive day to ensure the safety of the vessel and its crew, and to prevent marine pollution. The firefighting involves multiple ships and aerial support, with significant challenges posed by the ongoing South West monsoon.

Heavy rainfall in Maharashtra has prompted the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a red for Mumbai and Pune, warning of extremely heavy rainfall. In Pune, heavy rains have led to significant waterlogging, and the fire department has rescued people from stranded areas. Nearly 400 individuals have been evacuated, and the continuous downpour has necessitated the discharge of water from the Khadakwasla Dam at an increased rate. Rescue operations are underway in various affected areas, with teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) on

Concerns are growing that risks are increasing as Houthi rebels expand attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea. Huthi rebels attacked Tel Aviv on Friday, killing one person and wounding at least 10 others. In response, Israeli forces attacked Yemen's Hodeida port, killing three people and injuring more than 90 others. During the weekend, Lobbia of CMA CGM and Pumba of SeaLead were attacked, but neither ship suffered serious damage. It is not known how the Houthi rebels successfully hit Tel Aviv with drones, but this suggests that it could also pose a threat to shipping in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Shipping companies believe that it is more economical to bypass Africa due to crew bonuses, war risk insurance, and Suez Canal tolls