Logistics News

Ukraine reports that Russian oil refineries, terminals, and tankers have been hit.

Ukraine's General Staff?said Friday that it had hit refineries, an oil terminal, and a depot in?Russia as well as tankers on the Sea of Azov. Kyiv is showing no signs of easing up its campaign against the Russian energy industry. The Ilsky oil refinery, located in the Krasnodar region, is one of the biggest in Russia's southern regions. It was also hit by an explosion at the Ust-Luga complex, in the Leningrad area, according to the Telegram app. Both are frequent targets of Ukrainian airstrikes. According to a statement, an oil terminal and "an oil depot" in the Rostov Region
Freight Logistics

Sources say that the lower freight rates for Urals shipments from Russia to India are due to increased tanker availability.
Spanish wildfire victims burnt in cars after roads became death traps

Residents in rural Andalusian towns around Los Gallardos, southern Spain chose to flee as?flames approached and smoke filled the air. Some paid with their lives for this decision. Residents had to decide whether they wanted to take a chance by leaving or stay and shelter in place. Authorities advised some residents to evacuate above Los Gallardos and indicated a safe route. Later, it was deemed safer for those living in the densely forested Bedar hamlet to remain where they were due the proximity of the fire. Antonio Sanz said that in situations such as this, everyone must follow the route
Passenger Transportation Services

Wall St. steadies before South Korean chip behemoth SK Hynix debut
Traders say that the price of Middle East oil rivals has risen as China's teapots have turned to Middle East rival supplies.

Iranian oil at sea is rising as Tehran increased exports after the interim peace deal with the United States. However, sales are slow because China's independent refining companies have turned to cheaper crudes from Iraq, UAE, and Qatar. As shipments from Asia arrive, the return of U.S. sanctioned this week could leave?Tehran with a surplus of cargoes that are looking for buyers. According to traders, in recent weeks independent Chinese'refiners' based in the eastern oil hub Shandong (also known as teapots) bought between 16 and 20.5 million barrels from Qatar, Iraq, and the United Arab Emirates. This was their biggest
Transportation

US proposes deal with Keystone Pipeline owner regarding 2022 Kansas rupture

The U.S. Justice Department announced on Friday that it had filed a proposal settlement with the owner and operator of a 'Keystone' oil pipeline in order to resolve violations under the Clean Water Act relating to a rupture expected to occur in Kansas by 2022. Keystone is an important part of Canada's network for oil export, shipping Canadian crude from Alberta through the U.S. Midwest to the Gulf Coast. The pipeline ruptured in December 2022 and spilled 14,000 barrels into a stream in Washington County, Kansas. This was the largest U.S. oil spill in nine years. The pipeline ruptured because
Wall St. to open with mixed crowds ahead of SK Hynix's listing; Middle East is in focus

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

Apollo wins easyJet bid of $7.65 billion over Castlelake

EasyJet, the British budget airline, said that it had agreed to a takeover offer of PS5.7 billion ($7.65billion) from Apollo Global. This was a higher bid than a rival suitor Castlelake. Apollo's offer of around PS7.15 per easyJet shares is approximately 3.6% higher than Castlelake’s latest bid. This could be the beginning of a battle to takeover?the London listed carrier. EasyJet's board announced that it would no longer recommend Castlelake’s proposal of PS6.90 a share, which the two parties had agreed on in principle just days earlier. EasyJet and Apollo stated in a joint press release that the cash offer...