Singapore to trial electric port ship concept
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) is pioneering efforts to test electronic charging concepts for ships in the region.
The move follows the MPA’s announcement in October last year that it was looking to accelerate the adoption of electric harborcraft (eHC) among harborcraft owners and operators in Singapore.
The MPA is considering introducing an estimated 50 eHCs and says the port shipping sector is an “integral part of the port ecosystem”.
Currently, MPA is partnering with Pyxis Energy, Pyxis Maritime, SP Mobility, Seatrium O&G, and yingson Electric on the ship charging concept, reports Port Technology.
The pilot will run from March 2024 to March 2026 and may be extended to other facilities pending results and findings.
The MPA says that from 2030 onwards, all new port vessels operating in the Port of Singapore must be fully electric, capable of running biofuels, or capable of running net-zero fuels such as hydrogen.
Uber Freight cuts jobs ‘to foster sustainable growth’
Uber Freight has announced a number of layoffs. The Chicago-based company is said to be cutting an estimated 50 jobs.
“In line with our continued commitment to driving sustainable growth, we have made strategic workforce adjustments. Unfortunately, this means some reductions in our workforce,” an Uber spokesperson said. a representative told Freightwave. “This decision will optimize our team, increasing operational efficiency and long-term success.”
The latest round of layoffs comes on the heels of previous layoffs at Uber Freight. The company’s digital securities division lost about 150 jobs in January 2023, and another 50 employees left last July.
“We deeply appreciate the contributions of all of our team members and are providing support to those affected,” the company said in a statement. “We remain focused on delivering excellence to our customers and creating lasting value for our stakeholders.”
KLM Martinair Cargo features SkyCell technology
Pharmaceutical cold supply chain technology specialist SkyCell has been selected by Air France KLM Martinair Cargo to provide real-time visibility into the airline’s unit load device (ULD) infrastructure.
ULDs are containers used to load baggage, cargo, and mail onto both wide-body and narrow-body aircraft.
The latest partnership will see SkyCell (whose system is called SkyMind) deploy cutting-edge solutions across the airline’s fleet, resulting in “significant operational and cost efficiencies,” the airline said.
The partnership comes at a time when there is a growing demand for cost-effective ULD solutions to replace traditional manual-intensive systems associated with track and trace, Air Cargo Week reports.
“SkyMind not only allows us to track our assets, but also significantly improves the quality of our operations,” says Adrian den Heijer, EVP Air France-KLM Cargo and Managing Director Martinair. states.
“This will enable us to address the issue of ULD loss and ensure seamless movement of cargo. Improved ULD management will allow us to optimize our operations and provide superior service to our partners in the air cargo industry. ”