House approves imposing railroad labor deal, paid sick leave measure
The House approved a measure Wednesday to end a long-running railroad labor dispute while also backing a proposal to impose seven days of paid sick leave, as President Biden urged lawmakers to work quickly to head off a possible strike.
House lawmakers voted 290 to 137 on legislation that would force the adoption of a tentative labor agreement by rail workers, using the power of a 1926 law that allows Congress to intervene in railroad disputes that threaten to disrupt the U.S. economy. On paid leave, lawmakers voted 221-207 to approve the proposal, with Democrats in favor and almost all Republicans opposed.
The Wall Street Journal
PSA India links Mumbai with Southwestern India via rail
PSA India has launched a new direct southern rail connection linking PSA Mumbai to the city of Cochin in Southwestern India.
PSA said the new service provides a comprehensive suite of services for customers – from rail booking and the transportation of Direct Port Delivery (DPD) boxes from PSA Mumbai to Deshabhimani Publications’ factory in Cochin, returning the destuffed empty containers to PSA Mumbai before trucking to an empty container depot at Nhava Sheva.
Container News
LA port chief sees labor deal by February luring cargo from East
The chief of the busiest US West Coast port expects a new labor contract for dockworkers in the region to be reached by early February, removing uncertainty for importers and ramping up a campaign to lure back cargo lost to East and Gulf Coast.
“We’ll get through it in the early part of 2023,” either in January or definitely by early February, Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka said in an interview Monday, referring to a new deal for West Coast maritime employees. “And then it’s a matter of how much cargo shifts back because folks had that supply chain working and oiled the right way, and how much we’ve really got to go rustle back.”
AJOT
EU agrees preliminary ETS deal for shipping
EU institutions have hammered out a preliminary agreement to include shipping within the scope of the emissions trading system (ETS).
Under the deal struck late Tuesday evening, all ships of 5,000 gt and over within the EU will be required to pay for 100% of their emissions, while 50% of the emissions on voyages between EU and non-EU ports will be covered.
The percentage of emissions covered will increase over time, starting at 40% in 2024, moving to 70% in 2025, and reaching 100% by 2026. These figures still need to be confirmed by member states during the next negotiating round.
Splash 24/7
UK civil servants set first strike dates, while rail talks fail
Driving instructors across the UK will walk out from mid-December in a dispute over pay, pensions and job security, beginning a wave of action by civil servants that’s set to affect 124 government departments, disrupting everything from passport checks to unemployment support.
Employees of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, including instructors, will strike on a regional basis from Dec. 13 through Jan. 16, the Public and Commercial Services union said Tuesday. Staff at the Rural Payments Agency, which provides subsidies to farmers, will do so from Dec. 13 through Jan. 13.
“This is the first wave of the hardest-hitting industrial action the government will have faced in decades and will cause a massive amount of disruption,” PCS General Secretary Mark Serwotka said.
AJOT
SACP 3.0 next generation chassis pool one step closer to launch
The Ocean Carrier Equipment Management Association (OCEMA), Georgia Ports Authority (GPA), Jacksonville Port Authority (JaxPort), North Carolina State Ports Authority (NC Ports) and Consolidated Chassis Management LLC (CCM) are one step closer to launching the new South Atlantic Chassis Pool (SACP 3.0).
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) concluded its review of the proposed South Atlantic Multiport Chassis Pool Agreement this weekend. Under the law, the FMC has 45 days to consider a filed agreement and either reject it or allow it to go into effect. After rigorous scrutiny and oversight, which included a request for additional information from the Parties and an open public comment period, the FMC allowed the Agreement to go into effect on November 26, 2022. “The regulatory go-ahead is a major step for the joint effort by the Ports and carriers to transform chassis provisioning in the South Atlantic,” said Jeffrey Lawrence, OCEMA Executive Director. “This will benefit all stakeholders in the entire supply chain.”
AJOT
World’s first large-scale Battolyser plant to be located in Port of Rotterdam
The world’s first large scale Battolyser factory will be constructed in the port of Rotterdam to meet soaring demand for green hydrogen and electricity storage.
The 1 GW per annum Battolyser factory will be located in the M4H area, an industrial site in the heart of Rotterdam.
The cost of developing the 14,000 m² production site, complete with new office and laboratory facilities, is estimated to be approximately US$103 million.
Container News
