Japan Sets Guidelines for Radiation Measurements at Container Ports - Universal Cargo https://www.universalcargo.com Freight Forwarding Company Thu, 23 Jun 2022 15:48:27 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.9.9 https://www.universalcargo.com/wp-content/uploads/favicon-32x32.png Japan Sets Guidelines for Radiation Measurements at Container Ports - Universal Cargo https://www.universalcargo.com 32 32 Japan Sets Guidelines for Radiation Measurements at Container Ports https://www.universalcargo.com/japan-sets-guidelines-for-radiation-measurements-at-container-ports/ https://www.universalcargo.com/japan-sets-guidelines-for-radiation-measurements-at-container-ports/#respond Tue, 10 May 2011 13:49:00 +0000 https://www.universalcargo.com/japan-sets-guidelines-for-radiation-measurements-at-container-ports/ The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) of Japan provides guidelines for measuring the amount of radiation on export containers and ships. Since the catastrophic events of the Great East Japan Earthquake and following tsunami, concerns of radiation on containers and ships have increased. To help relieve some of the concerns, guidelines were […]

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The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) of Japan provides guidelines for measuring the amount of radiation on export containers and ships. Since the catastrophic events of the Great East Japan Earthquake and following tsunami, concerns of radiation on containers and ships have increased. To help relieve some of the concerns, guidelines were developed to help port authorities access the radiation levels in the most accurate way.

Below is an outline of the radiation measurement on containers and ships in ports.

Radiation Measurements at Container Ports

Radiation Measurements at Container Ports

All port authorities are advised to use these guidelines as a reference when conducting the measurements at the port. Detailed guidelines can be found here.

Not only shipping containers and ships are being inspected for safe levels of radiation, but the atmosphere around the ports and seawaters are also being monitored. With these guidelines set in place, customers should now feel safer when exporting cargo from Japan.

For any other additional information regarding this issue, please visit here.

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Source: Global

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Shanghai Truckers’ Strike Diminishes as Authorities Respond https://www.universalcargo.com/shanghai-truckers-strike-diminishes-as-authorities-respond/ https://www.universalcargo.com/shanghai-truckers-strike-diminishes-as-authorities-respond/#respond Tue, 26 Apr 2011 14:22:00 +0000 https://www.universalcargo.com/shanghai-truckers-strike-diminishes-as-authorities-respond/ Strikes led by truckers that were angry at the rising fuel prices and low wages begin to dwindle as the Shanghai authorities propose some relief to the situation. The strike that began on Wednesday, April 20th caused chaos and container traffic to the world’s busiest container port, Shanghai. Over the weekend, Shanghai authorities offered “a […]

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truckers strike Port of Los Angeles Long BeachStrikes led by truckers that were angry at the rising fuel prices and low wages begin to dwindle as the Shanghai authorities propose some relief to the situation.

The strike that began on Wednesday, April 20th caused chaos and container traffic to the world’s busiest container port, Shanghai.

Over the weekend, Shanghai authorities offered “a package of fee rollbacks related to moving containers” as a way to encourage the strikers to go back to work. Additionally, the authorities offered “pledges to eliminate charges deemed abusive” to help ease the pain of the truckers that were on strike.

Shanghai authorities went as far as to dispatching a top local official at one of the strike locations for the truckers to write down any complaints or grievances that they may have.

The authorities’ minor compromise did allow for the traffic at the Shanghai port to return to normal; however, few were satisfied from the effort to relieve their frustrations.

It shows that the Shanghai Trucker Strike never extended past certain container-handling terminals. It also did not show a great threat to the city’s overall logistics system since many truckers continued to work throughout the region and vessels were operating normally throughout last week’s strike.

As of Monday, police presence in the area around Shanghai CIMC Vehicles Logistics Equipment Company offices, where the strike began, had been reduced and container truck traffic returned to normal.


Source: Economy

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China Shipping Reveals Expansion Project at Port of Los Angeles https://www.universalcargo.com/china-shipping-reveals-expansion-project-at-port-of-los-angeles/ https://www.universalcargo.com/china-shipping-reveals-expansion-project-at-port-of-los-angeles/#respond Tue, 19 Apr 2011 18:17:00 +0000 https://www.universalcargo.com/china-shipping-reveals-expansion-project-at-port-of-los-angeles/ China Shipping Holding Company recently revealed parts of a $206.5 million expansion project at the Port of Los Angeles. Only $47.6 million worth of improvements were recently unveiled. These improvements include a new “925 foot section of wharf, 18 additional acres of backland and four container cranes” that will serve to increase the amount of […]

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international shipping,container,ocean,port

China Shipping Holding Company recently revealed parts of a $206.5 million expansion project at the Port of Los Angeles. Only $47.6 million worth of improvements were recently unveiled. These improvements include a new “925 foot section of wharf, 18 additional acres of backland and four container cranes” that will serve to increase the amount of cargo processing at the shipping terminal. An access bridge that will connect the China Shipping and Yang Ming terminals to allow for better access for truckers between the two terminals was also built.

The entire project is predicted to be completed in 2014 and includes “building 2,500 feet of new wharf and doubling the entire terminal’s size to 142 acres.” Once completed, the port is expected to handle up to 1.5 million cargo containers each year producing 8,400 jobs throughout the area. Not only will the expansion project increase overall size and efficiency of the terminal, it is also expected to reduce smog-informing nitrogen oxides by 52 percent and sulfur oxides by 95%.

China Shipping, founded in 1997, is a fast growing global business that has made a large investment in Los Angeles to improve business by using the cleanest technology available. Headquartered in Shanghai, China Shipping operates five ship fleets of more than 430 vessels that include various types of ships such as container ships and specialized cargo ships.

The Port of Los Angeles is American’s leading seaport in terms of shipping container volume and cargo value. It generates approximately 919,000 regional jobs and $39.1 billion in annual wages and tax revenues. This expansion project will allow the port to continue to grow efficiently while simultaneously generating an increase in job opportunities for the surrounding community.

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Source: Container

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Japanese Cargo Ships Monitored for Radiation https://www.universalcargo.com/japanese-cargo-ships-monitored-for-radiation/ https://www.universalcargo.com/japanese-cargo-ships-monitored-for-radiation/#respond Thu, 14 Apr 2011 18:44:00 +0000 https://www.universalcargo.com/japanese-cargo-ships-monitored-for-radiation/ Concerns continue to spread over the radiation leak that occurred at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan. Governments all around the world are implementing ways to monitor and screen ships and aircrafts that are coming from Japan. This extra screening could potentially cause delays at shipping ports. Recent Japanese cargo vessel was turned […]

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Concerns continue to spread over the radiation leak that occurred at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan. Governments all around the world are implementing ways to monitor and screen ships and aircrafts that are coming from Japan.

This extra screening could potentially cause delays at shipping ports. Recent Japanese cargo vessel was turned away a few weeks ago by the inspection bureau in Xiamen, China after authorities had detected radioactive traces on the vessel.

shipping, container, global, international, Japan Radiation Crisis  

Actions that countries are taking to monitor the cargo from Japan:

  • The marine department of Hong Kong is watching the vessels that have been within 30 kilometers of Fukushima and are examining those that reach Hong Kong.
  • Local inspection authorities in inland China were asked to increase the monitoring for nuclear and radioactive materials. Qingdao Port is screening every batch of cargo that has originated from Japan since March 11.
  • Indonesian authorities have started screening some ships from Japan at the Jakarta port by using wipe tests.
  • Port Klang and Port Tanjun Pelepas have maintained their radiation monitoring as before the March 11 earthquake and nuclear leak in Japan.
  • Containers arriving in the Dutch port of Rotterdam are automatically checked for radiation. This system has been in effect since 2001. Since Japan’s nuclear crisis, they have further gone to set up crews to track containers that have visited Japan or that might contain cargo originating from Japan.

Many shipping companies have opted to decrease their business in or near Japan as a precaution to the nuclear crisis.

  • Hapag-Lloyd has stopped operations out of Sendai, Tokyo, and Yokohama. However, services are still operating from Kobe and Nagoya.
  • Maersk Line of Denmark has decided to suspend its services to and from ports of Sendai, Hacinohe and Onahama. All other ports in the country are operating as normal.

Airlines have also made a few changes to operations since Japan’s incident.


Source: Global

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More UPDATE on Shipping During Japan Radiation Crisis https://www.universalcargo.com/more-update-on-shipping-during-japan-radiation-crisis/ https://www.universalcargo.com/more-update-on-shipping-during-japan-radiation-crisis/#respond Tue, 12 Apr 2011 14:25:00 +0000 https://www.universalcargo.com/more-update-on-shipping-during-japan-radiation-crisis/ As Japan is recuperating from last months tragic events, shipping lines are providing minimal services and operating with caution to transport goods. Hyundai Shipping Line is the only shipping line that specifically mentions restrictions concerning food items. They will continue to accept frozen cargo to Yokohama and Tokyo and ports in southern Japan. However, due […]

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As Japan is recuperating from last months tragic events, shipping lines are providing minimal services and operating with caution to transport goods.

Hyundai Shipping Line is the only shipping line that specifically mentions restrictions concerning food items.

  • They will continue to accept frozen cargo to Yokohama and Tokyo and ports in southern Japan.
  • However, due to power outages and risks to refrigerated cargo, they are accepting bookigns of chilled cargo to Yokohama and Tokyo only with Letters of indemnity (LOI).
  • Also, due to power blackouts, they will not accept chilled cargo to Niigata under any conditions (LOI or otherwise).

K Line is the only shipping line to accept relief supplies for containerships from overseas for Free of Ocean Freight. For more related information on this, please click here.

APL Shipping Line provides answers to the most frequently asked questions about the conditions in Japan.Japan Radiation Crisis

 
Q: What is the status of your operations in Japan?

A:  NOL’s employees are all safe and accounted for.  Our offices, marine terminals and other facilities, and vessels are safe and in operation.  

Q: Are you evacuating offices or locations?

A: No.  We are open for business and there has been no dislocation.  We are monitoring the situation closely in Japan.  The authorities have advised that there is no indication of a health threat in the areas where we are located at this time. 

Q: Are you diverting vessels from Japan?

A:  No.  We are in regular communication with our vessels to update them on conditions and to advise them on routings that avoid areas of radiation risk.   We are tracking reports on weather and radiation levels hourly and can adjust routings quickly if conditions change.

Q: Are vessels expressing concern about radiation?

A: We are in regular communication with our vessels to update them on conditions and to advise them on routings that avoid areas of radiation risk.  We are tracking reports on weather and radiation levels hourly and can adjust routings quickly if conditions change.

Q:  Have you declared an exclusion zone around the damaged nuclear reactors?

A:  We are directing vessels at sea to remain 200 nautical miles from the area.  We are not transporting cargo into or out of the area surrounding the nuclear reactors.

Q:  Is it safe for your employees to be working in Japan?

A:  We are monitoring the situation closely in Japan.  The authorities advise there has been no indication of a health threat in the areas where we are located. 

Q:  Are you accepting cargo bookings to Japan?

A:  Yes, with exceptions.  We are temporarily suspending bookings to the following locations because operational facilities are inaccessible or unavailable due to earthquake or tsunami damage:

Ø      Hitachinaka and Kashima in Ibaraki prefecture;

Ø      Ishinomaki, Ofunato, Shiogama and Sendai in Miyagi prefecture;

Ø      Onahama and Shirakawa in Fukushima prefecture;

Ø      Hachinohe in Aomori.

Q:  Have your operations been disrupted by the disaster?

A:  Cargo operations were disrupted for a day at our marine terminal in Yokohama due to a power failure.  But we have been operational since then.  We are declining bookings to a number of locations in Japan because operational facilities are inaccessible or unavailable due to earthquake or tsunami damage.  We are currently unable to move or deliver cargo to many locations in Japan according to original delivery schedules.  This is due to interrupted rail and road networks in northeastern Japan.  We are notifying customers in those circumstances.

Q:  What effect will the disaster have on cargo volume?

A:  It’s too soon to say.

Q:  How big is your business in Japan?

A:  We have an office in Tokyo with 51 employees and another 31 employees in Yokohama.  We operate marine terminals at Kobe and Yokohama.  We do not break out revenue or volume by country.

Q:  How can you assure that my cargo and your containers are not contaminated by nuclear radiation?

A:  APL is closely monitoring and following the directives provided by Japanese authorities. The authorities have imposed a safety zone with a 30 kilometer perimeter around the affected nuclear plants at Fukushima, and have advised that radiation levels outside that perimeter are safe and pose no health hazard.  APL is not receiving equipment from or dispatching equipment to locations within the safety zone.  Moreover we are informed, based on the bulletins provided by the Japanese authorities that containers arriving from other regions throughout Japan are safe to handle and transport.  We will continue to keep our customers advised of developments. We will provide updates as needed on www.apl.com

Q: Are you testing vessels and containers for radiation?

A:  No.  Equipment is not available in Japan to conduct testing.  We are aware of no other carrier conducting radiation tests in Japan.  We are taking full precautions to avoid radiation exposure for our people, assets and customers’ cargo. Our ships at sea remain 200 nautical miles from the area where heightened levels of radiation have been detected.  Our staff is being kept far outside the area of heightened exposure risk identified by Japanese authorities.  We are not accepting bookings into or out of that area.

Q:  Are you banning the transport of agricultural exports from Japan?

A:   We obey the regulations of trading nations that ban commodities and expect our customers to do the same.

Q:  Why are we still operating at Yokohama if other carriers are pulling out?

A:  We continue to monitor official advisories on conditions in Japan on an hourly basis and take full precautions to ensure the safety of our people, assets and customers’ cargo.  Japanese authorities have identified no health risks in the areas where we operate.  This includes the ports where our ships call.  Almost all carriers are continuing to call at the ports of Kobe and Yokohama where we have operations.

Q:  Are your ships being refused entry to foreign ports if they’ve been to Japan?

A:  No APL vessel has been denied entry.  Our first vessels from post-earthquake Japan have reached the U.S. and discharged cargo that was cleared by U.S. Customs and Border Protection after a radiation scan.

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Source: Container

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The Green Standard Part II: Is a Company Green Enough? https://www.universalcargo.com/the-green-standard-part-ii-is-a-company-green-enough/ https://www.universalcargo.com/the-green-standard-part-ii-is-a-company-green-enough/#respond Wed, 02 Mar 2011 17:00:00 +0000 https://www.universalcargo.com/the-green-standard-part-ii-is-a-company-green-enough/ The Green Standard Part I: Ocean Shipping Lines on the Global 100 List How do we determine if a company is green enough? Thanks to 11 sustainability benchmarks (Universal KPIs) below created by The Global Sustainability Research Alliance, we can analyze if a company maximizes profit from using less earth resources while honoring social responsibility. […]

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The Green Standard Part I: Ocean Shipping Lines on the Global 100 List

How do we determine if a company is green enough? Thanks to 11 sustainability benchmarks (Universal KPIs) below created by The Global Sustainability Research Alliance, we can analyze if a company maximizes profit from using less earth resources while honoring social responsibility.

Keep in mind that the Universal KPIs indicates more than a snapshot (a number) in a time but reveals the direction a company moves forwards or backwards on its social and environmental issues.

6 of the 11 Universal KPI’s (i.e. first generation metrics) reflect heavily on how a company’s products & services impacts on our planet & communities. They are energy productivity, carbon productivity, water productivity, waste productivity, safety productivity and sustainability pay link.

shipping,environment,economy,green

However, not all of these data (to determine KPI’s) are accessible on a company’s balance sheet or annual report, as the benchmark report repeatedly stresses, it partially relies on a company voluntarily disclosure.

shipping,environment,economy,green

Key Takeaway- GREEN is not the marketing buzz; it’s the trend towards a sustainable future. Our previous blog on China (the world’s 2nd largest economy) reports on how the country is beginning to feel the pollution pain and its plans towards a green country. How do we know if China is on the right track of developing a sustainable economy? These universal KPI’s will shed light on its progress now and in the future.

Brian Chan

brian@universalcargo.com


Source: Economy

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The Green Standard Part I: Ocean Shipping Lines on the Global 100 List https://www.universalcargo.com/the-green-standard-part-i-ocean-shipping-lines-on-the-global-100-list/ https://www.universalcargo.com/the-green-standard-part-i-ocean-shipping-lines-on-the-global-100-list/#respond Tue, 22 Feb 2011 16:00:00 +0000 https://www.universalcargo.com/the-green-standard-part-i-ocean-shipping-lines-on-the-global-100-list/ On the latest Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World, Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) & Nippon Yusen Kaisha Line (NYK) are selected as the greenest ocean shipping lines from its competitors. MOL is the newcomer in the Global 100 list, while NYK is selected fifth consecutive year in a row since 2007. (The table […]

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On the latest Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World, Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) & Nippon Yusen Kaisha Line (NYK) are selected as the greenest ocean shipping lines from its competitors.

MOL is the newcomer in the Global 100 list, while NYK is selected fifth consecutive year in a row since 2007. (The table below shows only 2011 & 2010 because of insufficient data available on 2007, 2008 & 2009 lists.)

international shipping, ocean shipping lines, green

I feel Maersk Line should also be included as another shipping line (if not on Global 100) as Maersk is the forerunner of applying latest technology to further lower carbon & sulfur emission. To try to get a clearer insight about Maersk not being included in the Global 100, I already inquired Global 100 officials and hope to receive a reply soon.


Key Takeaway

Key Takeaway– Ocean shipping lines are becoming more eco-friendly all around the world. As technology continues to advance, we should see more ocean shipping lines in the Global 100 list for the upcoming years and container shipping will be more favorable to those who are concerned about the effects of the shipping industry on the environment.

 

 

Brian Chan

brian@universalcargo.com


Source: Green

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U.S. Export Shipping Partner Going Green – The New Economy of China https://www.universalcargo.com/u-s-export-shipping-partner-going-green-the-new-economy-of-china/ https://www.universalcargo.com/u-s-export-shipping-partner-going-green-the-new-economy-of-china/#respond Fri, 18 Feb 2011 15:33:00 +0000 https://www.universalcargo.com/u-s-export-shipping-partner-going-green-the-new-economy-of-china/ China has long been the worst example of going green, as they are now a much larger pollutant to the environment than the U.S. as they plunge headlong into the future with the aggressive goal of becoming the world’s greatest economic superpower and they are succeeding.  Back in ’05 China ranked 133rd out of 146 […]

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China has long been the worst example of going green, as they are now a much larger pollutant to the environment than the U.S. as they plunge headlong into the future with the aggressive goal of becoming the world’s greatest economic superpower and they are succeeding.  Back in ’05 China ranked 133rd out of 146 countries in environmental performance in air, water, deforestation, desertification, extinction and, of course, over population (although now they have too many males, so they are encouraging the people to have a daughter in many provinces along with a son in their “one child policy”). However, they are now improving with great strides.

China is ripe for American clean tech products and services right now. China’s environmental agencies have focused on these issues and are targeting along with air, land, and water pollution, they are now focusing on the whole water shortage problem, the encroaching desert from the north, the rape of the land for industry, environmental accidents, energy inefficiency, and greenhouse gas emissions.

For example in Jiaxing, there are 4 million citizens that are experiencing very strong economic growth, although this market is generally overlooked by the USA business communities. These same citizens were reported recently blocked all garbage trucks trying to deliver toxic waste from a plant because the odor was so unbearable to the surrounding communities. So this has instigated the local government officials to start campaigning against this and drafting laws that will only be enforced if either not enough RMB changes hands or there happens to be some honest officials there.  But as this is a microcosm of what is happening all over China now, this is indeed happening.

China as a whole is sitting on a whole lot of cash with a horrible living environment. They want America’s cutting edge technology for cleaning everything up. Otherwise, we will see massive deaths in the years to come as they are forced to drink toxic water, and eat toxic foods and breathe toxic air. Can you imagine what would happen if 4 million people in America had these same living conditions? in California ?  I remember Los Angeles in the ‘70’s when there used to be a brown pancake that floated above the city almost every day, but now thanks to the tree huggers and people like me who drive Prius’s and don’t use AIRCON, we live in a relatively healthy environment (of course I live by the beach).

So if entrepreneurs in this country who can see the writing on the GREAT WALL, where our export shipping will be more and more attractive as the RMB gets revalued sometime this year and of course, the Fed does their part and keeps printing up worthless money and increasing our National debt (way to keep your promise Barack), we will see a China that not only desperately needs our technology, but will be able to afford it big time.  (Did you know there is now 600,000,000 middle class in China right now? That is double the U.S. population.  STAGGERING STATISTIC.

 

Key Takeaway – THINK GREEN CHINA and be prepared to market your innovative product there.  You will be helping the environment (the West coast gets something like 11% of its smog from China now by the way) and you will be hedging your business for the coming decade.

Request rates to and from China

Devin Burke
devin@universalcargo.com


Source: Green

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Warnings from the Future Part II https://www.universalcargo.com/warnings-from-the-future-part-ii/ https://www.universalcargo.com/warnings-from-the-future-part-ii/#respond Thu, 03 Feb 2011 17:52:00 +0000 https://www.universalcargo.com/warnings-from-the-future-part-ii/ Warnings from the Future Part I Price of Oil – the Price of Life  “Price of oil through the roof. $5.00 plus – if I can get it” was true. But what does that mean? How does that affect me and you? It’s the oil traders, the Wall Street bankers, villains through and through. $120, […]

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Warnings from the Future Part I

Price of Oil – the Price of Life 

oil crisis, economy, gas

“Price of oil through the roof. $5.00 plus – if I can get it” was true.

But what does that mean? How does that affect me and you?

It’s the oil traders, the Wall Street bankers, villains through and through. $120, $130, $140 – the price grew.  $5 at the pump – what must I do? The house I bought, budget squeezed at the margins – now those margins squeezing me – right into the street. Gas is $5.00 per gallon, new car payment, heating and air conditioning is $400 a month, food now through the roof. Oh, come on! Foreclosure, too.

Foreclosures started showing. Bankers said, “I saw your financials when your loan I approved. Now it’s time to refi –with increased fuels, I know you can’t afford it.” So, no refi for you.

Lending slowed and the “market” pulled back. Demand for homes slumped. The bubble is revealed and housing implodes.

But for President a man ran. “$4.00 plus per gallon is a good thing. I just think it got there too fast.”

“You make too much, you live too well, your houses are too large, you dream too big. American heads, too, swelled. Lock up the fuel, stop the exploration, make land “off limits”, shut down oil wells that are under construction. Make them go somewhere else! Do this so we can spend our money, make other nations rich, give away our wealth to live with limits and to find our “pain” that social justice might prevail.”

And yet we sit on 200 years worth of readily available, easily accessed energy in our country – generations of wealth, world changing affluence, lifetimes of freedom. “But it’s dirty, and crude – and I want you to ride a bike, travel less, dream less, live smaller, give in, give up – and give to me – your freedom for my glee.”

“No! It’s not true!” you say. Cars don’t run 38 times cleaner than 10 years ago. Coal can’t burn 300% – 400% cleaner and becoming a “clean fuel”.  No, the tests are wrong. Natural Gas – plentiful supply – cleanest of all fuels to burn and conversion nation wide in 5 years in duration, with hundreds of years of supply. “None of it is true, I say. It’s a fluke – we must REDUCE – for there is no more oil supply.”

No! I want “electric” with no power supply. “I want bio–fuels, renewable sources – take my food and make me fly!” For without a fuel revolution, how will I take your goods, your good life, your big dreams, your children’s inheritance, your family’s future? Unless I take it all away and give it back to you only as you pay, one day at a time in a life with no reason to live, but mine?

Oil crisis is coming, but not because of short supply, or even the myth of forestalling fossil fuel planetary destruction. You need to ask yourself the reason why.

 

Dave Stover

dave@universalcargo.com


Source: Economy

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In response to Ms. Benson’s comment on “Slow Steaming (SS) or Super Slow Steaming (SSS) for Container Shipping Part II” https://www.universalcargo.com/in-response-to-ms-bensons-comment-on-slow-steaming-ss-or-super-slow-steaming-sss-for-container-shipping-part-ii/ https://www.universalcargo.com/in-response-to-ms-bensons-comment-on-slow-steaming-ss-or-super-slow-steaming-sss-for-container-shipping-part-ii/#respond Tue, 25 Jan 2011 15:11:00 +0000 https://www.universalcargo.com/in-response-to-ms-bensons-comment-on-slow-steaming-ss-or-super-slow-steaming-sss-for-container-shipping-part-ii/ Part I Part II and Ms. Benson’s Comment It’s inevitable to cut conventional reefer ships because of the convenience of reefer containers loading, unloading & transporting among different modes of transportation. Yntze Buitenwerf, the managing director of Seatrade, the biggest reefer operator, based in Antwerp, said on Financial Times  that “In 10 years’ time the […]

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Part I

Part II and Ms. Benson’s Comment

It’s inevitable to cut conventional reefer ships because of the convenience of reefer containers loading, unloading & transporting among different modes of transportation. Yntze Buitenwerf, the managing director of Seatrade, the biggest reefer operator, based in Antwerp, said on Financial Times  that “In 10 years’ time the overall world (refrigerated) fleet might only be half of what it is today” but they will maintain a role of moving sensitive cargoes that containers cannot perfectly fit into.

If production of reefer containers cannot keep up with current demand, we may see delay retiring on conventional reefer ships.

From car revolution to ocean shipping revolution…

Just like the extreme high oil price in 2007 & 2008 speeding up the development of plug-in hybrid (Toyota Prius), electric cars (Nissan Leaf) & hydrogen cars (BMW Hydropower 7), the not-too-far $100 oil will no doubt trigger technological revolution on every single parts of logistics industry.

We already heard that:

1. Carbon dioxide based refrigerated container

Carrier Transicold introduces its newest container refrigeration unit design, NaturaLINE™, using carbon dioxide (CO2) instead of conventional synthetic hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants “which have higher global warming potential.”

2. L.N.G. & dual-fuel vessels

Wartsila, a Finnish manufacturer of large diesel and gas engines, has been developing with Samsung on “dual-fuel technology” that allows ships to operate on Liquefied Natural Gas (L.N.G.) as the primary energy to power engines in the future.

duel fuel vessel, container, shipping, export, import, green, eco-friendly

 

3. Green ports

The Port of Los Angeles installed solar panels to power cruise ships that are docked.  It estimated a 1-megawatt (MW) solar panel system will generate 1.2 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of clean solar electricity that can be used in place of the diesel generators typically run on ships while berthed.

They also started using world’s first hybrid electric tugboat (named Carolyn Dorothy) which proves to “reduce emissions of soot by about 73 percent, oxides of nitrogen (which help cause smog) by 51 percent, and carbon dioxide, which contributes to global warming, by 27 percent.”

All of these innovations (& many more not reported here) are aimed at reducing our dependency on oil, shifting to green-energy consumptions, and lowering green house gases emission.

Brian Chan

brian@universalcargo.com


Source: Economy

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Warnings from the Future Part I https://www.universalcargo.com/warnings-from-the-future-part-i/ https://www.universalcargo.com/warnings-from-the-future-part-i/#respond Mon, 24 Jan 2011 18:11:00 +0000 https://www.universalcargo.com/warnings-from-the-future-part-i/ Oil: Prices Rise -Constriction in the market or coming oil crisis. Things are not as they appear. -People concealing their intentions, hiding ideologies behind bamboozling hyperbole. -The game of fuel is made more important as it is the thread that holds together the value of your life – as you know it. Imagine with me […]

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oil, rise, economy, fuel, imports, exports, trading

Oil: Prices Rise

-Constriction in the market or coming oil crisis. Things are not as they appear.

-People concealing their intentions, hiding ideologies behind bamboozling hyperbole.

-The game of fuel is made more important as it is the thread that holds together the value of your life – as you know it.

Imagine with me – or better yet, remember back to just three short years ago. Gas was $5.00 per gallon and oil was $140 per barrel. Most food spiked as much as 30% over three months. What you spent on transportation doubled. Utilities increased at alarming rates – and outrage was the sound of the day.

The price of oil is again nearing $100 a barrel. The prices at the pump are beginning to climb. How much this time? How far will it go? How far will it force me to go? What must I leave behind, give up, surrender – and why? $100, $140, $180 and more, $190, $200, what more is in store?

In the 1970s, we were told the finite resource of oil would soon be no more. That by the turn of the century we would succumb to a near apocalyptic state, when the oil ran dry. And part of society also said, “No! Not here! –  Don’t ask me why. Don’t drill on the land and not in the sea. Don’t drill in the arctic, nor mine the shale.”

“But why – we’ve found many lifetimes more?”

“ No!  We can’t hear that – and oil & fossil fuel is in short supply! Didn’t you hear our bold face lie?”

“Oil is dirty, crude, rude (and cheap – Shhh). It’s too easy for you. Easy for you to live, to travel, see nature, go to work, visit family, eat good food, produce abundance, live in large houses, and dream big dreams. You’re small, insignificant, imprisoned to the ever-diminishing scope of our vision for the world. You have too much, enjoy too much, dream too much. Too much means too much wealth, too much freedom.”

Then, technology improved and we could yield more and more from the new wells that are drilled and the old ones, too. Yet over $100 a barrel of oil flew. Where it would end – no one knew.

“It’s the oil traders, the Wall Street bankers, villains through and through. $120, $130, $140 – the price grew.  $5 at the pump – what must I do? The house I bought, budget squeezed at the margins – now those margins squeezing me – right into the street. Gas is $5.00 per gallon, new car payment, heating and air conditioning is $400 a month, food now through the roof – Oh Come On! Foreclosure, too.

The Price of Oil is the price of life – Where were you then? Will you be there again? It’s planned, it’s purposed, this rise, this explosion in the price of life.  But is it your purpose, your plan to spend your life just to live.  This is what is planned for you – to just live, to barely exist. Yes – but how does that serve you? If not you – Who does it serve, and how?

 

Dave Stover

dave@universalcargo.com


Source: Economy

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Shipping Containers have Multipurposes: Innovative Ways to Build, Decorate & Recycle https://www.universalcargo.com/shipping-containers-have-multipurposes-innovative-ways-to-build-decorate-recycle/ https://www.universalcargo.com/shipping-containers-have-multipurposes-innovative-ways-to-build-decorate-recycle/#respond Tue, 11 Jan 2011 02:17:00 +0000 https://www.universalcargo.com/shipping-containers-have-multipurposes-innovative-ways-to-build-decorate-recycle/ As logisticians, we coordinate and arrange containers’ deliveries every day from one point to another point around the world. However, containers can become a business store, our living shelters, regardless of rich or poor or even a playground. Will the next Universal Cargo Management’s office be built by containers?      Pictures reposted from dailygreen.com […]

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As logisticians, we coordinate and arrange containers’ deliveries every day from one point to another point around the world. However, containers can become a business store, our living shelters, regardless of rich or poor or even a playground.

Will the next Universal Cargo Management’s office be built by containers? 

 

 


Pictures reposted from dailygreen.com and inhabitat.com.

 

Brian Chan

brian@universalcargo.com


Source: Green

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Top Counterfeited Goods Seized at Container Ports https://www.universalcargo.com/top-counterfeited-goods-seized-at-container-ports/ https://www.universalcargo.com/top-counterfeited-goods-seized-at-container-ports/#respond Tue, 28 Dec 2010 18:59:00 +0000 https://www.universalcargo.com/top-counterfeited-goods-seized-at-container-ports/ Type of Commodity Seizure Value % of Total Seizures 10. Toys/Electronic Games 5.5 million 2% 9. Jewelry 10.5 million 4% 8. Pharmaceuticals 11.06 million 4% 7. Media 11.09 million 4% 6. Computers/Hardware 2.54 million 5% 5. Watches/Parts 15.53 million 6% 4. Apparel 21.46 million 8% 3. Handbags/Wallets/ Backpacks 21.50 million 8% 2. Consumer Electronics 31.77 […]

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Type of Commodity

Seizure Value

% of Total Seizures

10. Toys/Electronic Games 5.5 million 2%
9. Jewelry 10.5 million 4%
8. Pharmaceuticals 11.06 million 4%
7. Media 11.09 million 4%
6. Computers/Hardware 2.54 million 5%
5. Watches/Parts 15.53 million 6%
4. Apparel 21.46 million 8%
3. Handbags/Wallets/ Backpacks 21.50 million 8%
2. Consumer Electronics 31.77 million 12%
1. Footwear 99.78 million 38%

For many consecutive years, counterfeit footwear still remains as the top seized imported product with 38% of total seizures at container ports. Other common counterfeit imports that are seized include consumer electronics, apparel, pharmaceuticals, and toys. Jewelry serves as one of the newer top products on the list at only 4%.

counterfeit, fake, footwear, shoes, Jordans, imports

Importing counterfeit and pirated goods threaten the U.S. economy by reducing sales value of authentic goods. These fake products affect the U.S. indirectly by reducing employment, opportunities to participate in research and development and tax revenues. Moreover, these unauthentic goods can endanger the safety of the consumer and the security of the United States if these goods do not meet the quality of the actual products. For example, many fake fragrances contain harmful substances such as urine, bacteria and antifreeze that can be absorbed into the skin and cause irritation or possible fatal allergic reactions. Such products can be a great threat to the consumer’s health.

There were over 14,000 seizures of counterfeit and pirated goods with a total domestic value of over $250 million within the past year. China continues to serve as the number one source country for counterfeit goods that are seized and accounts for 79% of total seizure value. India comes in as number two with 9 percent. The United States Customs and Border Protection is continuing to improve their methods of targeting and searching shipments of counterfeit goods while still assisting with the flow of legitimate trade through the National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Coordination Center. IPR aims to focus on identifying businesses that are connected to importing counterfeit goods, auditing to remove counterfeiters of their profits and working with other international agencies to strengthen the IPR enforcement around the world.

For more information on the National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Coordination Center, please visit http://www.ice.gov/iprcenter/.

 

Hong Ho

hong@universalcargo.com


Source: Container

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