Logistics News

Kernel, Ukraine suspends port operations following Russian attacks

Kernel Holding, a Ukrainian agricultural group, announced on Monday that it had halted?operations? at its port infrastructure?in Chornomorsk following the significant damage caused by Russian missiles and drones. The company said that the attacks from July 10 to 12, damaged the grain, sunflower oil, and meal storage, and the infrastructure for transshipment. It added that the timing of restoring operations was uncertain. The Russian defense ministry announced on Monday that its forces had struck infrastructure at the Chornomorsk Port, claiming?that it was being used to handle military cargo by the Ukrainian armed force. Kernel, in a regulatory filing described the
Oil Pipeline

Unimot, a Polish company, has announced that it will supply crude oil to Schwedt Refinery in Germany.
Bousso: Cheap drones are a weak point for the global economy.

Drones are cheap, mass-produced and have revolutionized modern warfare. They expose critical energy infrastructure to be the Achilles heel of modern economies. Unmanned aircraft have proven to be able to evade air defences on the battlefields in Ukraine, Russia, and?the Middle East. This has made oil refineries and power stations as well as export terminals, pipelines, and even power plants, prime targets. The implications for the energy sector are huge. Drones that cost a few hundred dollars or a few thousand dollars each can threaten facilities that have taken decades to build and billions to invest in. This shifts the
North America

Maguire: Mid-year checkup of the US power system vital signs
Australia's Regis gives up on Vault battle and Genesis' $3.9billion offer

On Monday, Australia's Regis Resources said it would not match an offer from a rival to purchase Vault Minerals. This cleared the way for Genesis Minerals A$5.6 Billion ($3.88 Billion) bid. The recent surge in gold prices has led to a consolidation of mid-tier mines. Genesis' offer, which Vault considered superior last week was at a premium of 15.7% to Vault's close price when the offer was made. It also came in nearly 6% higher than Regis' bid for all stock from May. Genesis-Vault would become one of the largest gold producers in Australia with a combined market value of
Passenger Ground & Sea Transportation

Traders say that the price of Middle East oil rivals has risen as China's teapots have turned to Middle East supplies.

Iranian oil at sea is rising as Tehran increased exports in the interim peace agreement with the United States. However, sales are slow because China's independent refining companies have switched to cheaper crudes from Iraq, UAE, and Qatar. This week, the return of U.S. sanctions could leave Tehran with a surplus of cargoes that are looking for buyers. This week's sanctions could leave Tehran with more cargoes looking for buyers, just as shipments from?Asia arrive. In recent weeks, independent Chinese oil refiners in the eastern oil hub Shandong (also known as teapots) bought between 16 and 20.5 million barrels from
The son of a Belgian victim of wildfire disputes Spanish officials' accounts of warnings

Poland and Baltics look to protect energy assets after undersea cable cuts

The Baltic states are working with Poland to protect the energy facilities they need as they decouple their power grids from Russia, Lithuania's energy minister told Reuters, following damage to undersea cable televisions in the area. Polish and baltic state-run power grid operators are working on an arrangement to guarantee the smooth running of the decoupled system, and how to repair it if needed, Zygimantas Vaiciunas said in an interview...

Transport Infrastructure

Maguire: The next big thing in climate adaptation isn't going to be solar panels, but asphalt.

The latest heatwave in Europe was a painful reminder that climate change is not just about cutting emissions. Temperatures in western Europe soared to over 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). Roads buckled, rails warped, traffic signals malfunctioned, and transport operators implemented speed limits or cancelled services. According to the U.N. Economic Commission for Europe, transport infrastructure in the region is more exposed to thermal stress and deformation of rails as heat extremes increase. Since years, Europe’s infrastructure spending has been dominated?decarbonisation. Investors have focused on windmills, solar panels and electric vehicles. A?different story? of infrastructure is emerging as it...

Taiwan's migrating Crab population returns thanks to safer road crossings

Bamboo bridges and road?closures helped protect Taiwan's biggest terrestrial crab species when they returned to the sea during breeding season. Taijiang National Park, located in southern Taiwan's city of Tainan, is home to the largest number of mangrove land crabs on the island. During the breeding season from July to September, female crabs descend to 'the sea' to release their eggs. However, because their migration route crosses roads, they are vulnerable to being hit by cars. Taijiang National Park 'Director Chen Junshan said that the road closures, bamboo bridges and other measures have reduced roadkill -and helped increase crab numbers...

BHP iron ore employees vote to strike at Port Hedland on July 16,

BHP workers in Western Australia's Port Hedland operations gave notice of an eight-hour stoppage on July 16. This is expected to affect daily revenues of A$120,000,000 ($83.16 Million) for iron ore. After six months of unsuccessful negotiations, the unions called for action. A union statement said that employees from the port operations and maintenance staff of the company represented by Combined Ports Unions would participate in the strike. Adam Woodage, Secretary of the Electrical Trades Union WA, said: "This is not everyone's preferred solution, but if it is our one and only option, we will accept it." I hope that...

Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific defend proposed $85 Billion Merger

Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern have told an U.S. government agency that they are willing to sell?stakes? in smaller railroads, as part of the $85 billion proposed?merger. The deal will create the first U.S. coast to coast?freight railroad?operator. Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern have said that they will not be able to control the Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis, Kansas City Terminal Railway or TTX Company following the merger. The railroads, which are owned jointly with other major carriers, are operated by independent management. Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern have said that they will divest their ownership in these...

Sources say that the discount for Urals crude in India has risen to $10 or more per barrel.

Three sources claim that discounts for Russian Urals crude have increased to more than $10 per barrel in Indian ports due to a weaker refinery demand and a large supply of alternative products. Between March and June, Urals traded at a higher price than Brent on its two main markets of India and China. This was due to supply disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict. Sources said that the support for Russian crude has waned, as Middle East producers and Iran have resumed exports. This leaves Asian refiners with a variety of options, as well a cooling in demand....

Graffiti artist accused for scaling Australian bridge tower to paint giant cartoon bird

The Australian police arrested an Australian man on Tuesday for allegedly climbing a tower of a cantilever bridge that is 460 feet high and painting a cartoon bird. Instagram footage posted from Bolte bridge, near the city's business district, shows a man hanging his legs off the top of the tower. In subsequent posts he requested lower taxes in Australia, and that a?peanut butter sandwich delivered by drone be sent to him before he came down. The police were unable to comply with the demand, and a lane was closed on the bridge. This caused commuters' traffic to be disrupted....

Passenger Transportation Services

European shares end four-week winning streak due to tech selling off, US-Iran War

European shares shook off a four-week streak of gains on Friday. The oil market was rattled by a 'unwinding in tech stocks' and the resurgence of tensions?in the Middle East. Investors lowered their hopes for a quick relief from the energy shock, and the?pan-European?STOXX600 fell 1.8% this week. Brent futures rose 5% this week after the U.S. and Iran exchanged strikes. Washington also reimposed sanctions against Iranian oil. The NATO summit in Turkey added a layer to the uncertainty, as U.S. president Donald Trump called Spain "a terrible partner" and threatened halting trade with that country. He later softened his...