If you are concerned about the environmental impact of your move, take the following into consideration. If you are not pressed for time, downsizing by either donating unwanted items or having a garage sale can be both beneficial to your pocketbook and to the environment. Using old newspapers, towels or other cloth items to wrap delicate items in transit is also an option. Used cardboard boxes or reusable plastic containers (Crown Crates) can also make your move greener. Finally, when cleaning your new home or your old home there are many green cleaning products on the market that are as effective as traditional cleaning products, but are safer for the environment.

During the World Ports Sustainability Program on March 22, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations were embraced by almost one thousand ports and related companies. “Ports all over the world are aiming for a future built around sustainable economic models,” Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO of Antwerp Port Authority and also the host and keynote speaker at the event, pointed out.

Full Story

(World Maritime News)

The European Community Shipowners’ Association says, “Current complex, repetitive and duplicative reporting requirements not only result in productivity losses for maritime carriers and their customers but also create unnecessary workload and stress for ship crews.” The World Shipping Council agrees. They both call for a more consistent set of data and processes in all EU ports.

Full Story

(World Maritime News)

Moving into a new house can be an exciting time. We have some expert unpacking and moving tips that will help you get settled quickly.

Call your new utility companies to set up services the day before you expect to move in. The first few days in your new home will be much more comfortable if you have electricity, water and heating or air conditioning!

Develop a plan for where you would like to have your furniture placed in the home, even if it’s a simple drawing. This will save you the trouble of moving furniture by yourself after your movers depart.

Start with a fresh palette by cleaning your new home before the movers arrive.

Be prepared to pay your driver for the moving services. Depending on the company you hire, accepted forms of payment could include cash, traveler’s check, money order, cashier’s check or even pre-payment via credit card.

If you can, have two people in the new home on move-in day. One person can make sure everything from your inventory list is unloaded and the other can tell the movers where you would like the items placed.

Check items off the inventory list as they are unloaded from the truck. If you discover that anything is missing, contact a customer service representative at the moving company right away.

Consider hiring a babysitter if you have small children in the house and put pets somewhere where they will be safe and out of the way.

Keep in mind that many moving companies will offer additional services for a separate charge, including electronics installation and unpacking.

(source: United Van Lines)

Mr. Greenstein, Vice President of Watson Internet of Things (IoT), Consumer Offerings, IBM, believes that “Digitizing the shipping industry enables supply chains and businesses to be more efficient, cost-effective, and transparent.” This transformation will include AI. The idea is to have IoT-enabled sensors gather data (tides and currents, temperature, wind speed and direction, water levels, berth availability and visibility), analyze with AI and provide it to operators thought one interface. There will be no one size fits all solution for all ports, but digitization should save shipping companies and ports allot of money through greater efficiency, so many ports are currently exploring their options.

Full Story

(World Maritime News)

In 2018, in an effort to reduce the pollution associated with shipping, the Chinese Maritime Safety Authority (MSA) will enforce compliance to MARPOL Annex VI on air emissions as well as the ballast water management (BWM) convention. Random fuel supply testing as well as engine room logbook inspections will be a part of this enforcement.

Crown has an extensive library of customs information and other resources on specific countries. We also offer complete settling-in services to include home finding, school search and area orientation for a fee. In addition to these extensive resources, general information on the destination country is available at both the CIA and U.S. State Department websites.

CIA: In the library you can find The World Factbook, which provides a wealth of information on all the countries of the world.

U.S. Department of State: This site is also a great resource. The Travel Information section is full of data on your destination.

“All Terminal D quay and yard cranes will be operated by remote control technology, making it the first terminal of its type in the world to fully install this technology,” says HPT.

This is a part of the Terminal D project which will almost double HPT’s TEU capacity. They are super post-panamax quay cranes and capable of handing the mega vessels currently in operation.

(World Maritime News)

Americans are moving westward, flocking to the Mountain and Pacific West, while the Northeast and Midwest continue to lose residents. In 2017, more residents moved out of Illinois than any other state with 63 percent of moves being outbound. Vermont had the highest percentage of inbound migration in 2017 with nearly 68 percent of moves to and from the state being inbound. Those are the results of the United Van Lines’ 41st Annual National Movers Study, which tracks customers’ state-to-state migration patterns over the past year.

Full Article

(United Van Lines)

The number of incidents in 2017 were lower than they have been in over 10 years. The most dangerous area continues to be the Gulf of Guinea near Nigeria which reported 36 separate incidents.

FULL STORY

(World Maritime News)