International Freight Risks from Piracy

admin — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 13:59:10 +0000

In the early years of western exploration and trade, men took to the seas where they could serve their kings in the navy or provide goods to colonies. Wars between France, the American Colonies, Spain, and other world powers made being a sailor a dangerous but lucrative profession. Eventually, the wars ended, overseas trade became the main income for many businesses, but that left all of those sailors without a king to protect or an army to transport. Where did all those sailors go once the work was gone?

They tore the king and colours from their backs and they made flags of black and white. When the wars were over, the down and out sailors took on piracy to make a living, putting the skills they learned in the navy to use against their own countries.

Today, piracy hasn’t changed much except that the boats are much larger and faster, and the pirates are meaner.

Transporting freight or cargo internationally, often requires that it leaves the docks and makes its way across the ocean on container ships. Once those ships meet open water, the chances that those ships get hijacked rises. Unfortunately, maritime law in many countries forbids the use of weapons on board, which leaves cargo ships vulnerable to attack, especially ships bound for the Atlantic that must pass through the seas close to war torns countries like Somalia.

Somalian pirates make hundreds of thousands of pounds a year by hijacking container ships, holding them for ransom, and/or selling the goods. Pirates may be the stuff of legend, but they are also a real threat to international freight companies.

Fortunately, road freight and transport companies do not have to deal with this kind of issue. There is a low risk using www.logintrans.ie freight exchange transport system – all carriers are checked for security and financial verifyed using TransRisk system.

Central Scotland Transport Corridor Studies

admin — Fri, 13 May 2011 10:33:16 +0000

The Scottish Executive has published its decisions following the successful completion of the Central Scotland Transport Corridor Studies (CSTCS). Full details of the decisions taken can be found here.

The Central Scotland Transport Corridor Studies were undertaken on behalf of the Scottish Executive by a consortium of consultants led by MVA Limited.. There were three corridors under consideration:

A80 Stepps to Haggs;

A8 Baillieston to Newhouse;

M74 Northern Extension from Fullarton Road to south of Kingston Bridge.

The origin of the studies lay with the result of the Executive’s comprehensive review of the strategic road network in Scotland in November 1999. The main report, “Travel Choices for Scotland – The Strategic Roads Review”, recognised that any improvements had to be consistent with the Executive’s five main transport objectives of environmental impact, safety, economy, accessibility and integration.

The over-riding aim of the studies was therefore to devise a plan of specific interventions in the three corridors that solve, or at least ameliorate, identified problems and meet the objectives of the studies. The studies have investigated problems on or with all modes of transport. Problems varied in terms of severity and the number of people affected and so the studies have addressed the most severe strategic transport problems rather than isolated local transport problems.

Disclaimer -Whilst every care has been taken in preparing the information made available on this web site, neither MVA nor the Scottish Executive can accept any responsibility for any loss or damage arising in respect of any statement contained within it. Information on this web site is drawn from many sources and does not necessarily represent the views of the consultants or the Scottish Executive.