Link Chain

APL Outlines Supply Chain Security Plan

On July 7, a supply chain security expert from global container carrier APL outlined practical steps that would help achieve an improvement in the safety of international trade at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Symposium. Focusing on the topic of Total Supply Chain Security, Earl Agron, Vice President of Security for APL, told the high-level audience of government, military and industry leaders in Singapore that the five key steps that would help improve supply chain security were: 1. A concentrated focus on public-private sector collaboration 2. More information for the effective targeting of suspect containers 3. An intelligent regulatory framework; balancing security with trade flow 4. Improved non-intrusive container inspection technology 5. Development of long-term security technology solutions through the collaboration of supply chain stakeholders. According to Agron, the public sector’s primary responsibility was to protect its citizens. However, the private sector owns and operates much of the supply chain infrastructure that could fall prey to terrorist attack. Agron pointed out that a balance must be struck between the need to secure the supply chain without bringing global trade to a halt. He also renewed his request for harmonized global regulations that could strengthen weak links in the supply chain.

Shipping Groups: A Need For Better Policing

The eight main shipping organizations said they have agreed the need to set up better self-policing and accident investigation procedures after the Erika pollution incident off France. A working group to review links in the chain of responsibility to prevent disasters like the Erika will be set up, the shipping organizations said. The 25 year old tanker Erika broke in two off France last December causing massive pollution to western French beaches after it spilled about 10

Port of Tacoma Submits Application for C-TPAT

The Port of Tacoma has submitted its application to become a member of the U.S. Customs' C-TPAT (Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism) program. C-TPAT is a joint government-business initiative designed to strengthen supply chain security and border security through cooperative relationships with members, which include air, rail and ocean carriers, brokers and manufacturers. Program membership was recently extended to terminal operators and port authorities.

FastShip And Schneider Partner Up

FastShip has come to an agreement for international transportation and logistics provider Schneider International to provide three major services to support the FastShip transportation network. The company is formulating a high-speed, transatlantic service linking the middle of Europe to the mid-U.S. The agreement calls for Schneider National, operating through logistics subsidiaries, to act as the North American third party logistics provider

Subsea Cables Demand Good News for Supply Sector

More than 1,100 new submarine electricity cable systems are planned from 2012 to 2020, according to a new market research report. The small and highly specialized high-voltage submarine cable market is expected to see significant growth in the coming years. National governments and regional organizations are accelerating efforts to build offshore renewable power generation facilities, link remote landmasses, and interconnect their national grids

Lankofirst Debuts Fiber Rope Connector for Deepwater Mooring

Lankhorst Ropes Offshore Division (LROD) announced the latest results of offshore trials of its Lankofirst synthetic fiber rope mooring connector on booth 1517 at OTC 2013. The trials have shown a significant reduction in mooring line deployment times and improvements in health and safety using the Lankofirst connector, compared with traditional mooring line plate links and thimbles. The Lankhorst booth will also feature the ultra-low creep HMPE mooring rope made with Dyneema for permanent

Maritime Security Initiative Launched

United States Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) announced their introduction of the GreenLane Maritime Cargo Security Act. Murray, a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, and Collins, Chairman of the full Senate Homeland Security Committee, co-authored the bill to improve the security of the millions of cargo containers that enter America's ports unchecked each year

GMATS Announces New Curriculum

GMATS to expand global supply chain and maritime security curriculum. The Global Maritime and Transportation School is introducing two additional courses, as follows:   Fundamentals of Importing and Exporting   As a foundation of the Global Maritime and Transportation School's expanding Global Supply Chain and Cargo Security curriculum, the Fundamentals of Importing and Exporting is an essential two-day course that will give the student a basic understanding of importing

Global Supply Chain Security

In this timely work, James Giermanski describes the advent and subsequent development of security operations in the global supply chain, outlining the respective contributions of governmental and nongovernmental stakeholders to this worldwide concern.   Global Supply Chain Security explores the potential impact of port-related catastrophic events in the United States and their effects worldwide, concentrating, in particular

POLB Named Best in N. America

The Port of Long Beach earned “Best Seaport in North America” honors at the 2013 Asian Freight and Supply Chain Awards in Beijing. The 2013 Asian Freight and Supply Chain Awards recently hosted in Beijing by the Cargonews Asia shipping trade publication, witnessed the 16th win in the past 18 years for Long Beach. The award recognizes the best ports as judged by importers, exporters, and logistics and supply chain professionals.