Within the LI session of the OSJD Ministerial Conference held from June 18 to 20, 2024, a significant Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) was signed. The ceremony, marking this milestone, was opened by Mr. Miroslaw Antonowicz, Chairman of the OSJD Committee, who welcomed delegations to Warsaw and highlighted ongoing OSJD initiatives.
Ukrzaliznytsia, the state-owned railway of Ukraine, plans to introduce comprehensive transport services in Poland by 2025, following the issuance of a relevant license for its affiliate, Ukrainian Railways Cargo Poland. This move aims to streamline railfreight operations between Ukraine and Poland, avoiding the need for multiple contracts with different companies.
Contargo Beteiligungs GmbH has acquired a ten percent stake in Lille Dourges Conteneur Terminal SAS (LDCT) in France, which has operated the Dourges terminal since 2003. This strategic investment aims to broaden Contargo’s customer base, enhance service offerings for existing clients, and strengthen its foothold in the French market.
At the Altynkol station, an official ceremony was held to receive the first shunting diesel locomotives received ahead of schedule under an agreement with the Chinese company CRRC. This agreement was signed on October 17, 2023 during the visit of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to China.
The World Shipping Council (WSC) has published its 2024 report on containers lost at sea, revealing a significant drop to just 221 containers lost in 2023. This marks the lowest number since the survey’s inception in 2008. Despite this progress, the WSC emphasizes the necessity for ongoing stringent safety measures, as each lost container represents a substantial risk.
After several months of testing and validation, DSV, DM-Drogerie, Iveco and Plus are launching an autonomous driving pilot project in Germany.
Rhenus, Europe’s leading home goods delivery operator, has acquired a 15% stake in French logistics company C Chez Vous from Geopost. The deal, concluded on June 28, 2024, allows Rhenus to enter the French home delivery market for the first time. Geopost retained an 80% stake in the company and through this partnership, C Chez Vous will have access to the expertise of Rhenus, a leader in the home and lifestyle logistics market.
President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Chinese President Xi Jinping held negotiations with official delegations of the two countries. The discussion centered on the prospects for investment cooperation in areas such as e-commerce, production of automobiles and auto parts, logistics, energy, agriculture, finance and tourism.
This summer, Ukrzaliznytsia, together with Duisburger Hafen Aktiengesellschaft, plans to launch regular container and piggyback trains between Ukraine and the port of Duisburg. A corresponding memorandum was signed, opening up new opportunities for transporting goods by rail to EU countries.
Ship congestion and cargo delays at Singapore’s port have reached critical levels since the COVID-19 pandemic as container lines reroute around the Red Sea. The crisis is also affecting other Asian and European ports, leaving industries grappling with rising tariffs, the need to find alternate ports and a shortage of empty containers. Global port congestion has reached an 18-month high, with 60% of ships idled at anchorages in Asia, according to analyst firm Linerlytica.
