CMA CGM container surcharge
French shipping company CMA CGM has announced surcharges for container shipping during the global peak season. Starting September 15, a surcharge of $250 per TEU and $500 per FEU for refrigerated containers will be applied to shipments from Northern European ports to the U.S. East Coast, U.S. Gulf Coast, Eastern Canada, Mexico, and inland destinations. Additionally, from October 1, a $1,000 surcharge per unit will be imposed on shipments from the Indian subcontinent, Middle East, Red Sea, and Egypt to the United States.
Trains halted in Rotterdam due to port blackout
At 10:00 AM on September 3, 2024, a power supply disruption in key areas of the Port of Rotterdam (Brielle, Oostvoorne, Hoek van Holland, and Europoort) not only suspended office activities but also blocked several freight trains. The blackout lasted until 1:00 PM. The electricity infrastructure operator, Stedin, has yet to specify the cause of the outage. The Port Authority stated that activities related to ships were not affected.
Fatal train-truck collision in the Netherlands
A young Dutch employee of DB Cargo, aged 25, lost his life due to the collision between a freight convoy and an industrial vehicle on August 28, 2024, at an unmanned level crossing in the Dutch town of Hooge Zwaluwe. Two other employees sustained minor injuries, while the truck driver was uninjured but arrested, deemed responsible for the accident. In the aftermath, rail traffic on the freight line between Lage Zwaluwe and the Oosterhout industrial area was suspended. Preliminary investigations suggest the incident occurred around 1:30 PM at an unmanned level crossing. The freight train, consisting of a DB Cargo shunting locomotive and five cars, was moving slowly before the collision, and the victim was likely on the locomotive's platform. The Dutch police and the Dutch Safety Board have launched an investigation into the incident.
Maersk electric truck for Skoda
In collaboration with Maersk, Skoda is testing electric trucks for container transport between the Maersk terminal and the Skoda plant in the Czech Republic. The trucks complete three round trips daily on a 96-kilometer route on a single charge. Skoda plans to use more electric trucks in the future as part of its commitment to reducing emissions in its internal logistics operations.
Mandatory truck disinfection in Bulgaria
Bulgaria has implemented mandatory disinfection measures for all vehicles entering from Turkey, Greece, Romania, Serbia, and North Macedonia in response to outbreaks of infectious diseases in neighboring countries. Initially introduced at the Turkish border on July 15, 2024, the disinfection measures were extended to other borders on August 5. As of September 1, 2024, a fee of 2 euros for private vehicles and 10 euros for trucks is required, payable in cash at the border. This measure applies uniformly across all affected crossings.
