Transport News
Airbus’ near-term emissions reduction targets have been independently approved
Airbus, the Europe-based global major aerospace and defence group, reported on Thursday that its near-term greenhouse-gas emission reduction targets had been approved by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi). The SBTi was created in 2015 to help companies to set emissions reduction targets that could be independently and properly measured, reported and verified. Last year Airbus committed itself to defining science-based reduction targets for all of its greenhouse gas emissions. It submitted its near-term targets to the SBTi for assessment and validation.
Isuzu retains top truck selling position for tenth year, looks to expand diesel alternatives Isuzu Trucks revenue generation senior VP Craig Uren gives insight into the company’s future plans. Video and editing: Shadwyn Dickinson.
Commercial vehicle manufacturer Isuzu Truck, which is celebrating a tenth consecutive year as the truck market leader, is advancing with strategies to present newer and more eco-friendly truck drivetrain options. According to the latest report by naamsa|The Automotive Business Council, Isuzu Truck taped sales of 30 153 units of business lorries (consisting of buses and vans) in 2022– a boost of 11.4% year-on-year, with Isuzu’s development at 4.7%.
Lubricant oil range and reach extended
Furthering its endeavour to innovate and redefine the vehicle lubes product sector, India-based maker Assurance International Limited revealed its new series of lube oils last month and extended its distribution in the South Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand markets. Assurance is the official licensee of worldwide tyre corporation Goodyear Tire & & Rubber Company for Goodyear Lubricants.
S Africa needs smarter ports
For South Africa’s eight ports to keep up with the changes in global shipping, and safeguard trade that is vital to the economy, it is incredibly important that Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies be welcomed to allow wise ports, states network technology company Axis Communications Africa sales manager Marcel Bruyns. “All markets are looking for smarter, more competitive and efficient methods to do organization. Global organisations prefer to purchase and partner with corporations and countries where their financial investments will be most efficient. Having access to an efficient port helps accelerate the transportation of deliveries in and out of a country, helping with a profitable trading environment.”
Boeing ramps up its acquisition of sustainable aviation fuels
Giant US aerospace and defence giant Boeing has revealed that it is to increases its sustainable air travel fuel (SAF) purchases by more than 100% this year, in contrast with last year. The SAF, which will amount to 21.2-million litres, will be a SAF/conventional jet fuel blend produced by the world’s leading SAF manufacturer, Neste. The blended fuel will be supplied to Boeing through EPIC Fuels, Signature Aviation and Avfuel. It will be utilized to support the operations of the Boeing Commercial Airplanes company.
Mindset change a must for effective PSP
Effective public-sector involvement (PSP) in the funding, management, operation and upkeep of South Africa’s depreciating road, rail and port facilities needs a mindset change by those in power, says industry body South African Institution of Civil Engineering president Steven Kaplan. “The principal aspects influencing the deterioration of our facilities are poor to inefficient planning, deficient execution, second-rate operational and life-cycle upkeep, and criminality leading to corruption and infrastructure theft.”
Substantial stock moved through largest branch
Lubricants manufacturer FUCHS Lubricants South Africa reports that almost 1 000 different products moved through its Durban, KwaZulu-Natal branch last year. The Durban branch, the largest in the FUCHS group, spans more than 1 450 m2 and has 15 staff members comprising permanent and contract workers.
The preliminaries for the relocation of the SA Navy’s Kwazulu-Natal base are going well
South Africa’s nationwide port infrastructure and marine services company, Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), has actually provided the guarantee that the preliminaries for the task to establish a brand-new base for the South African Navy (SA Navy) at Richards Bay are advancing well. In return for the new base, the SA Navy will move its current Naval Station Durban, located on Sailsbury Island in Durban harbour, to TNPA. The moving job will involve an investment of more than R9-billion. It was formally revealed on Tuesday in an address by Chief of the SA Navy Vice Admiral Monde Lobese. TNPA will utilize the marine station website (which long earlier ceased to be an island) to broaden the facilities of Durban port, which is the country’s biggest and busiest port.
UJ launches two electric buses to cut its emissions
The University of Johannesburg (UJ) this week presented 2 electrical buses, which have already begun carrying students throughout its schools. The buses are part of the university’s strategies to lower its carbon emissions. The job began more than 18 months back, described Special Projects Advisor Professor André Nel.
Ramaphosa’s investment czar says South African infrastructure in dire state
The head of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s infrastructure and investment office warned that the nation’s power, rail and water reticulation systems are in a dire state and that fixing them will take years even if immediate action is taken. In a paper entitled South Africa’s Infrastructure Emergency: An Urgent and Collaborative Intervention, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa gave the country’s infrastructure a D rating. Ports, freight-rail lines, power plants, metropolitan roads, state schools and waste collection were all deteriorating, he said. Public hospitals were also assessed to be in a poor state.
MPs to Transnet: Fix this mess you are creating for the ANC government
African National Congress (ANC) and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) MPs tore into Transnet Group CEO Portia Derby on Wednesday, implicating her of "" not doing anything " to detain the company’s slide into dysfunction and reprimanding her for privatising parts of its operations, which they said was not federal government policy. The attack on Derby follows that on Eskom CEO André de Ruyter a week back by the exact same MPs in the general public Enterprises Portfolio Committee and comes as the ANC starts to fear the consequences of stopping working State-owned business at the ballot box..
TFR resumes limited service on North East Corridor branch lines
State-owned Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) has resumed limited train services, primarily on the North East Corridor branch lines in Witbank, Belfast, Lydenburg and Steelpoort, following a massive service disruption caused by floods during the past week. Operations started in earnest on February 13 across the corridor branchline network, with TFR teams continuing to work on clearing staged trains and the backlog on the Witbank to Richards Bay corridor, a channel for exporting coal, chrome and ferrochrome.
TFR employee arrested for theft
State-owned Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) has actually applauded the speedy efforts from internal TFR detectives and police authorities in the arrest of a worker connected to the illegal sale of freight containers owned by Transnet. Management at TFR’s Polokwane depot got a complaint from an anonymous caller that containers are supposedly being offered by a Transnet staff member for R40 000 each.
TFR resumes limited service on North East branch lines
State-owned Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) has actually resumed restricted train services, primarily on the North East Corridor branch lines in Witbank, Belfast, Lydenburg and Steelpoort, following an enormous service interruption brought on by floods throughout the past week. Operations started in earnest on February 13 across the passage branchline network, with TFR teams continuing to deal with clearing staged trains and the backlog on the Witbank to Richards Bay corridor, a channel for exporting coal, ferrochrome and chrome.
Total air cargo demand last year significantly below ‘extraordinary 2021’ – IATA
International air cargo demand for the whole of 2022 was significantly down from its whole-of-2021 levels, but only a little below its levels for 2019 (the last full year before the Covid-19 pandemic), the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has reported. (IATA was the representative body of the global airline industry.) Total demand in 2022 was 8% below that for 2021, but only 1.6% down on that in 2019. International demand last year was 8.2% down on the figure for 2021, and again only 1.6% less than in 2109. Total air cargo capacity in 2022 was, however, 3% higher than in 2021, but still 8.2% below 2019 levels. International air cargo capacity increased 4.5% last year, in relation to 2021, but was still 9% less than the figure for 2019.
Freight association calls for urgent reform at TFR
National association the South African Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF) has actually averred that South Africa requires a practical, functional and sustainable public– personal partnership to get rid of “mayhem” at Transnet Freight Rail (TFR). In his State of the Nation Address in 2015, President Cyril Ramaphosa specified that Transnet would begin the procedure of offering third-party access to its freight rail network from April 2022 by making slots available on the container passage between Durban and City Deep in Gauteng.
Air Cargo Africa to be held for the first time since 2019
The organisers of premier exhibition and conference Air Cargo Africa, Messe Muenchen India, have announced the event will be hosted at Emperors Palace, in Kempton Park, from February 21 to 23, after last being hosted in 2019. Air cargo and logistics industry stakeholders will have the opportunity to reflect on the impact of Covid-19 on air cargo in Africa and to debate the future of digital technologies in the sector.
Maritime Chamber wants to contribute more to South Africa’s economic recovery
Industry organisation the Maritime Business Chamber has written an open letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa seeking to advise government on how the maritime sector can contribute to the country’s economic recovery. Chairperson Unathi Sonti writes that South Africa has, since 2013, been working on a strategy for the sector, including an integrated maritime development framework and industrialisation programme for the country, which includes Operations Phakisa and the current process of the Oceans Economy Master Plan.
Transnet to shrink rail network
State-owned logistics company Transnet plans to diminish the 20 000 km freight rail network it runs by a minimum of 35% as it concentrates on providing more rewarding freight loads. Transnet, which likewise runs the country’s primary ports and pipelines, has been hobbled by a scarcity of locomotive parts, the theft of cable televisions used to run its electrical trains and inadequacies that have emerged due to it being a monopoly. The issues have impacted the primary line that takes coal from mines in the eastern Mpumalanga province to port.
Embraer and Air New Zealand to cooperate in the development of sustainable aviation
Brazilian significant aerospace group Embraer and New Zealand flag provider Air New Zealand have actually signed a contract to cooperate in the advancement of sustainable aviation for the low-carbon energy future. In regards to the agreement, Air New Zealand signs up with Embraer’s Energia job as a member of the Energia Advisory Group, and Embraer joins the airline company’s Mission Next Gen Aircraft effort. The Energia Advisory Group is composed of producers, airlines, renting business and others with aviation proficiency. Its purpose is to advise the airframer regarding its Energia task, which aims to establish sustainable business aircraft. Objective Next Gen Aircraft is planned to stimulate the development of zero-carbon emissions local aircraft for operation by the airline company in New Zealand. Its domestic network links 20 different regions in its homeland, supplying both traveler and cargo services.