Weekly Logistics Briefing Key logistics updates for the week (Week 3 of Dec 2024)

8,626 TEU YM UNICORN of Yangming ran aground in front of a lighthouse just before midnight of 11. december local time at keelung port. It immediately dispatched three tugs to help the ship leave the area and another four tugs were sent to provide further help. The pilot discovered that the forepeak tank on YM Unicorn was damaged, it was successfully berthed at Keelung West No. 19 pier at 4.35 am local time. The cause of the accident is being investigated and Yang Ming will handle all other related matters pertaining to the repairs, compensation and any shipping delays.

“The approval of the competent authority is accorded to implement the BWNC settlement dated 27 September, arrived at between the management of major port authorities and six major federations of port and dock workers before the regional labour commissioner, Mumbai, in all major ports and dock labour boards,” the Ministry of Shipping said in a missive. “All the 12 major port authorities have now been instructed to implement the updated BWNC contract,” one union source told The Loadstar. The union leadership is expected to make an official announcement on the withdrawal of the strike notice soon.

CMA CGM, a French container shipping company, has announced the implementation of a Panama Canal Transit surcharge due to increased operational costs stemming from the Panama Canal Authority's new Long-Term Slot Allocation (LoTSA) system, effective January 1, 2025. This surcharge, approximately US$40 per TEU, will apply to cargo transported from the Far East—including China, Hong Kong & Macau SAR, North East Asia, and South East Asia (excluding Taiwan)—via the Panama Canal to the US East Coast and the US Gulf. The affected services include Chesapeake Bay Express (CBX), Gulf of Mexico Express (GMXP), Manhattan Bridge (MANB), Pacific Express 3 (PEX3), South Atlantic Express (SAX), Taiwan Strait (TWS), Vespucci Service (VESPUCCI), and Pacific Express 2 (PEX2). This move aims to offset the additional costs while maintaining reliable services transiting through the Panama Canal.

An IT issue at Edinburgh Airport led to the grounding of all flights on Sunday afternoon, causing significant disruptions for travelers. The problem began around 4:15 p.m. local time, affecting both incoming and outgoing flights. Engineers worked to resolve the issue, and normal operations resumed by approximately 7:00 p.m. Passengers were advised to check with their airlines for the latest flight information.

An American Airlines flight from New York's LaGuardia Airport to Charlotte, North Carolina, experienced engine failure shortly after takeoff due to a bird strike. The incident, which occurred on Thursday night, forced the aircraft to make an emergency landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport. All 190 passengers and six crew members were unharmed. Passengers were provided with hotel accommodations and rebooked on a Friday morning flight. Bird strikes are a common hazard in aviation, with over 19,000 wildlife strikes reported in 2023.

On December 13, Qantas line maintenance engineers initiated a 24-hour strike across major Australian airports, excluding Canberra and Darwin, demanding better pay and working conditions. The industrial action coincided with one of the busiest travel days of the year, marking the start of school holidays in several states. Despite the strike, Qantas implemented contingency plans, including rostering approximately 160 Aircraft Maintenance Engineers and deploying additional aircraft and crews, to ensure minimal disruption. The airline reported that 97% of flights departed on time during the morning peak, indicating the strike had little impact on passengers.

Workers belonging to Unione Sindacale di Base (USB) are scheduled to go on a general strike across Italy on December 13. The purpose of this strike is to denounce the government's labor policy and demanding better working conditions. Union railway transport workers are scheduled to strike nationwide from December 12 21:00 to December 13 20:59. Public transportation and taxi workers are scheduled to go on strike at 00:01-23:59 on December 13. Container terminals PSA Genoa Pra and PSA Sech Terminals have indicated that there may be an undefined impact on operations.

Aircraft handling personnel who joined the FeSMC-UGT union went on strike from 12/10 to 12/14 at Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD). The purpose of this strike is to protest against the absence of collective agreements and reduction of vacation-related labor rights. The union expected 1,500 to 2,000 flights to be canceled and affected more than 5,000 flights, but the operation has been carried out normally so far.

The railway unions denounce the reform of the national railway operator SNCF's cargo business and are scheduled to go on a nationwide strike indefinitely from 7 p.m. on December 11. As of December 6, the UNSA-Ferrovaire and CFDT-Cheminots unions have called off the strike, but the CGT and Sud-Rail unions, which have the largest number of members, plan to go on strike. The scope of railway strike is not accurate, but the strike will likely result in significant rail transport disruptions nationwide.

Port workers associated with the General Confederation of Labour (Confederation Generale du Travail, CGT) union have canceled a strike over pension reforms planned for December 9 to 10. But, further strikes planned for January 7, 9, 13, 15, and 17 are expected to continue as planned.