Railroads focus on stabilizing workforce after strike is averted
President Biden signed a bill Friday restricting rail workers from striking, but the industry is still struggling with a big problem: having enough staff to handle customer demand.
The largest U.S. freight railroads have reported strong profits in recent years, helped by higher prices and steady business in transporting everything from automobiles to fertilizer. Export demand for coal and grain, stemming from disruptions in supply chains in Europe after Russia invaded Ukraine, bolstered freight volumes this year, railroads said.
The Wall Street Journal
COP15 faces conflicting ideology around combating biodiversity loss
The United Nations Biodiversity Conference, referred to as COP15, starts next week in Montreal, with governments from around the world coming together to agree, amongst other things, on a new set of goals and targets that will guide global action on nature through 2030. Acting to address biodiversity loss has never been more urgent. The planet is experiencing a dangerous decline in nature due to human activity. It is experiencing its most extensive loss of life since the dinosaurs. One million plant and animal species are now threatened with extinction.
The Maritime Executive
Border Force strikes: minister confirms army would be brought in but warns ‘there will be disruption’
The government will bring in the army to work at ports and airports if UK Border Force staff go on strike, a minister has confirmed
Last month Home Office staff – which includes the Border Force – voted nine to one in favour of strikes.
Announcing the ballot result, the PCS union said: “We are now in a position to call significant industrial action in support of our claim for a 10 per cent pay rise, pensions justice, job security and no cuts to redundancy terms.”
No dates for a walk-out have been announced.
The Independent
Ocean Terminal at Port of Savannah to be transformed into all-container operation
The Georgia Ports Authority Board has approved a plan to renovate and realign the docks at the Port of Savannah’s Ocean Terminal to better accommodate its expanding container operation.
“For nearly 40 years, Ocean Terminal has been handling a mix of container ships and breakbulk vessels,” said Griff Lynch, GPA executive director. “The realignment is part of a broader effort to transform the terminal into an all-container operation, shifting most breakbulk cargo to the Port of Brunswick.”
The 200-acre Ocean Terminal facility will be modified in two phases.
Splash 24/7
Charleston has deepest harbor on East Coast at 52 feet
Charleston Harbor is now the deepest harbor on the East Coast at 52 feet.
At 52 feet, the biggest ships calling the East Coast can access South Carolina Ports’ terminals any time, any tide. Ships filled with record imports and heavy exports can seamlessly sail through Charleston Harbor to SC Ports’ terminals.
This depth makes SC Ports more competitive, helping to attract new ship services, first-in-calls and more cargo to South Carolina.
AJOT
Korean shippers call for striking drivers to return to work
Trade associations representing South Korea’s shippers and carriers are calling on the striking truck drivers to return to work as the strike is poised to grow wider and more disruptive as it approaches the two-week mark. The government has strengthened its position saying it will expand its use of back-to-work orders and threats of jail while the Korean union organization has announced plans for nationwide demonstrations on Tuesday, December 6, in support of the striking drivers.
The Maritime Executive
Provisional ETS agreement welcomed by European shipowners
European shipowners have welcomed the outcome of trilogue negotiation and the provisional agreement on the EU ETS maritime. The Parliament and the Council have embraced the calls of the industry stakeholders to earmark EU ETS revenues back to the maritime sector to support its energy transition. At least 20 million ETS allowances, which correspond to 1.5 billion Euro under the current ETS carbon price, will be allocated to maritime projects under the Innovation Fund. The provisional agreement on shipping is subject to an overall agreement on the ETS revision in late December.
The Maritime Executive
