New Cargo Airport for India July 29, 2011
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A new international cargo airport is being planned at Jaipur on the Delhi–Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) in India. The airport will be located in Neemrana on the Jaipur–Delhi highway and will be linked up to a high–speed train service running between Alwar and Delhi.
Sunil Arora, chairman of Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment (RIICO), said that the investment in infrastructure would propel Alwar forward as a major business hub of India.
http://www.aircargonews.net/News/New-cargo-airport-for-India.aspx
source: CIFFA
CFIA Statistics: Wood Packaging Non-Compliance, April, 2011 – Reminder to Members July 14, 2011
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The CFIA has provided the following statistics on wood packaging non-compliance for the month of April, 2011. They inspected 337 shipments with wood packaging material (WPM) and 187 shipments with no solid wood packaging material for a total of 524 inspected shipments.
For the 355 shipments with WPM Compliant
310 shipments had the IPPC mark with no pests or signs of pests, one shipment had a Phyto with no pests or signs of pests and one shipment was exempt (United State: No IPPC No Phyto).
Total compliant shipments 312 or 92.6% percent
There were 6 shipments with no certification and live insects or signs of live pests. Also there were 19 shipments with no certification and no live insects or signs of live pests. The total of non-compliant shipments was 25. Shipments with no certification and no signs of pests included:
China 7
France 1
Germany 2
Hong Kong 1
Morocco 1
Philippines 1
Spain 2
Switzerland 2
United Kingdom 2
There were no shipments with fraudulent Phytosanitary Certificates. Out of the grand total of inspected shipments that had WPM (337) 7.4% were non compliant.
We would like to remind CIFFA members that In terms of non-compliance actions, shipments that are found to be infested will be fumigated to mitigate any immediate risk of pest escape and ordered removed from Canada. Shipments that are found to be not compliant but are not infested are ordered removed from Canada. In both cases the entire container is refused entry due the co-mingling of non-compliant wood. Also on shipments that are non-compliant as to markings or documentation, again in this case the shipment is refused entry and ordered removed from Canada.
source: CIFFA
Pirates Ramped-Up Attacks 36 Percent in First Half of 2011 July 14, 2011
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The Journal of Commerce reports that international pirate attacks have increased by 36 percent in the first half of 2011 compared to the same period in 2010, but Somali pirates’ hijacking success has fallen. Pirate attacks on the world’s oceans totaled 266 in the first six months of 2011, from 196 attacks in the same period last year, according to a report released Wednesday by the International Maritime Bureau’s (IMB) Piracy Reporting Centre. Somali pirates were responsible more than 60 percent of the attacks, a majority of which were in the Arabian Sea area, according to the latest report, “Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships”. As of June 30, Somali pirates were holding 20 vessels and 420 crew and demanding ransoms of millions of dollars.
Although Somali pirates are more active this year, mounting 163 attacks this year compared to 100 in the first six months of 2010, they managed to hijack fewer ships, just 21 in the first half of 2011 compared with 27 in the same period last year. This, the report says, is due to the increased hardening of ships’ defenses and the actions of international naval forces to disrupt pirate groups off the east coast of Africa. In the first six months of 2011, many of the attacks have occurred east and northeast of the Gulf of Aden, an area navigated by crude oil tankers sailing from the Arabian Gulf, as well as other ships sailing into the Gulf of Aden. Somali pirates took 361 sailors hostage and kidnapped 13 in the first six months of 2011. Worldwide, 495 seafarers were taken hostage. Ninety-nine vessels were boarded, 76 fired upon and 62 thwarted attacks were reported. Ships, including oil and chemical tankers, are increasingly being attacked with automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenade launchers. Whereas five years ago pirates were just as likely to brandish a knife as a gun, guns were used in 160 attacks and knives in 35 attacks this year.
source: CIFFA
Implementation of the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement (CCOFTA) July 13, 2011
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The Government of Canada has announced that the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement (CCOFTA) will be implemented on August 15, 2011. With the exception of a few agricultural goods, the CCOFTA will essentially eliminate the duties on all related imports, either immediately upon implementation of the agreement or through a tariff phase-out. The free trade agreement was signed on November 21, 2008, and the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (the Act) received Royal Assent on June 29, 2010.
source: CIFFA
EU Extends Sanctions to Six Libyan Ports July 11, 2011
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The European Union (EU) will be reinforcing sanctions against Libya by blocking six key Libyan ports. According to local media reports, the sanctions intend to block any attempts to export fuel and import finished goods, especially refined fuel. The Libyan ports affected by EU sanctions include the ports of Tripoli, Zuara, Zawiyah, Al-Khoms, Ras Lanuf and the oil terminal of Brega. The EU is hoping that the sanctions will increase economic isolation for the regime. Previous EU sanctions have hit numerous Libyan corporations, especially in the oil sector, and various personalities linked to the Gaddafi regime. The sanctions will become operations once officially published in the EU official gazette.
source: CIFFA
CSAV Suspends Another Service July 11, 2011
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Chilean liner carrier CSAV said last week it is suspending another ocean service, the third to be dropped by the line in recent weeks. This time, it’s the carrier’s NACSA service between Mexico and the U.S. West Coast, a loop the carrier created in January when it dropped out of a loop jointly operated with Hamburg Süd linking the West coasts of South and North America. The last sailing of the NACSA will depart Long Beach August 4. The service’s rotation has been Manzanillo, Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle, Vancouver, Oakland, Long Beach and Manzanillo, though CSAV advertises connections to the Caribbean and South America via both Mexican ports. The carrier said it was dropping the service “given the unfavorable economic environment affecting trade between North America West Coast and South America West Coast, Caribbean and Central America.”
source: CIFFA
Cargoitalia Cuts Atlanta Flights July 11, 2011
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Cargoitalia has discontinued its twice-weekly Atlanta (US) route following poor volumes. The Italian carrier is hopeful it will resume the service once business picks up, but following May’s four per cent airfreight market decline the Atlanta run remains uncertain. Cargoitalia launched its service to Atlanta on 3 February and only lasted until 18 April. The airline continues its links with the US with flights from Milan (Italy) to New York and Chicago.
source: CIFFA
YYC Breaks Ground on New Global Logistics Park July 11, 2011
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The Calgary Airport Authority hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for Phase 2 of the Airport’s YYC Global Logistics Parks last week. The ceremony celebrated the newest addition to YYC, which will connect commercial, airside and logistics businesses at Canada’s leading integrated, multimodal business parks. With easy access from Deerfoot Trail, and a direct link from Airport Trail NE, the park will be the Authority’s newest trade development, occupying over 330 acres of land. The property will offer businesses a unique location and the strategic advantage of connecting commercial, airside and logistics businesses, all in one location. The site will be a business centre for cargo handling, general aviation, operational support, and commercial activity. The Authority has also renewed their commitment in creating eco-friendly developments by implementing sustainable design components. Calgary International Airport (YYC) is Alberta’s premier international passenger and cargo gateway. Creating over $6 billion in economic activity, the Authority will invest approximately $2.4 billion over the next 10 years into YYC, in order to service the airport’s growing needs.
source: CIFFA
CBSA Reviews Montreal Container Examinations June 17, 2011
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Following our eBulletin earlier this week (June 14), the CBSA has advised that they were investigating the situation at their Montreal Operation regarding the delays in container examinations and have acknowledge some slight processing delays occurred in the month of May due to the April and May long weekends; however, the CBSA advises that regular operations processing times have now resumed. The CBSA is within the 24 hour examination service standard implemented on April 1, 2011. Also, the CBSA would like to note that the 5 day solution for the ventilation of problem containers has not warranted utilization in Montreal. CIFFA would like to thank the CBSA for the prompt response to our Members concerns.
source: CIFFA
CBSA New Procedure for Fumigant Testing and Examination of NOR (Reefer) Containers June 15, 2011
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CIFFA has received a notice from the CBSA regarding new procedures for testing these containers which are identified for inspection.
“Recently the CBSA has observed a greater influx of non-operating reefer (NOR) containers being used to import goods into Canada. Non-operating reefer containers present a problem to fumigant testing since normal drilling procedures cannot be utilized as they would cause significant damage to the internal workings of these specialized containers. To ensure the safety of our officers and negate any risk of exposure to harmful chemicals, the CBSA has developed new procedures for the fumigant testing and examination of non-operating reefer containers.
Since the CBSA cannot conduct drilling procedures to perform the necessary air quality testing, non-operational reefer containers will now be perceived much the same as a fumigant problem container. The new procedures will involve door-seal testing methods at the front of the non operating reefer containers with no fumigant testing performed at the rear of the container. Regardless of the chemical levels obtained from the front end of the container, since the rear end of the container cannot be tested the container will be ventilated for five days. When the container has ventilated for five days it will then follow the same procedures as a fumigant problem container.
These procedures are the result of CBSA’s ongoing commitment to health and safety. The CBSA remains confident that the incorporation of these new procedures when followed precisely will maintain health and safety standards. If you have any questions or concerns, contact the fumigant mailbox at: fumigant@cbsa_asfc.gc.ca “
As a result of these new CBSA procedures on containers identified for inspection, CIFFA Members are advised to notify their overseas agents that the use of NOR containers can bring additional delays if a container is targeted by Canadian Customs for examination. Regardless of the door reading during fumigant testing before examination, all NOR containers pulled for inspection will be subject to a 5 day ventilation process. When added to the normal delays, the result will likely be 10 days minimum delay for these containers.
source: CIFFA
