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Cara Fascione named vice president at TradePoint

TradePoint Systems LLC has announced that Director of Sales Cara J. Fascione, has been made a vice president of TradePoint’s USA operations.

“Cara works tirelessly to ensure that our sales team produces the results that give us stability and reliability as a company”, said Chris Crane, President & CEO of TradePoint Systems.  “I am proud to have Cara as a member of our executive management staff.”

Fascione has been with TradePoint for more than 16 years and has held a range of job functions.  She has been a Support analyst, trainer, communication products manager, an account manager and director of sales.  Cara has a B.S. in Mathematics from the University of Massachusetts and a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Massachusetts.

 “TradePoint has provided me with the opportunity of parlaying my technical knowledge into a challenging business career,” said Fascione.  "I have been very fortunate throughout my tenure to be on the same team with so many industry and business experts and have had the privilege to network with some wonderful people within this industry throughout the years.  I am grateful for the experience as well as the guidance I have received from all.  I look forward to continuing to meet the challenges that we all face in a consistently changing trade market.”

For more than 30 years TradePoint Systems has been the most experienced software provider to the international trade community on both sides of the Atlantic.  TradePoint specializes in providing software solutions and training, along with consultancy services, for the compliance, documentation, clearance and tracking of goods and services moving internationally.

Quality assured by Famous Pacifica in Indonesia

Nov. 24 -- P.T. Internusa Hasta Buana (IHB), the Indonesian partner of the Asia Pacific-based NVOCC and freight services group, Famous Pacific Shipping, has confirmed its determination to meet the highest international service standards.

The company has obtained a renewal of its ISO 9001:2000 certification from Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance (LRQA) just one year after the company first gained accreditation.

"This puts us at the forefront of the Indonesian freight forwarding scene," said Iskandar Zulkarnain, managing director of IHB, "and demonstrates that we provide genuine quality services through our nine offices across Indonesia.

"Now we have the continuing quality accreditation to show our customers that whatever service they want from us -- be it sea or airfreight forwarding, NVOCC operations, logistics, warehousing, project cargo shipping or regular courier express operations -- we operate to internationally accepted standards within the Famous Pacific Shipping Network."

Zulkarnain said that IHB now employs over 200 staff and is planning a new branch at Batam Island, one of Indonesia's most important manufacturing centers.

The company operates a 5,000-square-meter distribution centre at Tanjung Priok, Jakarta's main port, and is continually upgrading services as it handles increasing volumes of both import and export traffic.

"Traditionally, our strength has been in the Asian markets such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, Korea and Japan, although we are making inroads in to Indonesian trade with North America and Europe," he added. "Over the past year we have developed our supply chain management capability, with a large amount of cargo being routed through Singapore."

Panalpina’s 500,000th container for P&O Nedlloyd

HAMBURG, Nov. 21 -- Barry Williams, Executive Director of P&O Nedlloyd, and Thomas Eisenblätter, Managing Director of Panalpina Inhouse Carrier ASB-Sea, celebrated the loading of the 500,000th TEU of Panalpina cargo on a P&O Nedlloyd vessel.

The container was loaded onto the P&O Nedlloyd Torres at Hamburg before she set sail for Asia.

Award for APM's Jamica terminal

MADISON, N.J. and KINGSTON, Jamaica, Nov. 18 -- The Caribbean Shipping Association (CSA) recently announced that Kingston Container Terminal has been named Best Container Port as a result of voting by the ocean carriers that call CSA member ports. APM Terminals (Jamaica) Limited, is operator and manager of Kingston Container Terminal in the Port of Kingston.

The award was presented by Jamaica’s Minister of Transport and Works, Hon. Robert Pickersgill to Hon. Noel Hylton, Chairman of the Port Authority of Jamaica, at the Association’s 33rd Annual Conference on October 14, 2003 in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

This award recognizes efficiency and dependability of member seaports in the Caribbean, the United States, Central America, and South America. Key factors were the port’s exceptional productivity and far-reaching expansion and improvement programs.

“APM Terminals assumed the management of the Kingston Container Terminal on February 1, 2002 and immediately began to introduce best practices and new innovations to enhance
productivity and service to terminal customers. Our organization is proud to receive this industry recognition as we focus on raising the bar higher”, remarked Jorgen E. Palmbak,
General Manager, APM Terminals (Jamaica) Limited.

APM Terminals (Jamaica) Limited, based in Kingston, Jamaica, is part of APM Terminals, the global terminal operating arm of the A.P. Moller – Maersk Group, based in Copenhagen, Denmark. APM Terminals provides reliable and efficient service to all customers in the shipping industry, and has container handling operations in 30 terminals around the world. More information is available at http://www.apmterminals.com.

Canada gets ABS certifications

HOUSTON, Texas, Nov. 18 -- ABS has been authorized to conduct inspections and issue approvals and certificates to convention ships registered in Canada. ABS acts on behalf of over 100 administrations around the world to issue statutory certificates on their behalf.

Transport Canada's Marine Safety Executive branch issued the authorization under its Delegated Statutory Inspection Programme. According to ABS Regulatory Affairs Manager Gregory Shark the class society successfully documented and demonstrated its ability to address those unique aspects of Canadian national requirements which exceed ABS Rules and the International Conventions.

The authorization process called for an in-depth comparison matrix examining Transport Canada's requirements, SOLAS, MARPOL and ABS Rule requirements in order to develop supplementary check sheets for Canadian flagged vessels. For example, supplementary check sheets for construction and safety equipment from ABS address items such as additional specifications for firefighting equipment, structural fire protection and means of escape. Documents need to be written in French and English.

The first Canadian registered vessel surveyed by ABS under this delegation of authority is the 127,000 dwt offshore crude oil shuttle tanker "Mattea" owned by Penney Ugland Ltd. and managed by Canship Ugland Limited. The shuttle tanker is one of three that moves crude oil production to shore from the Hibernia and Terra Nova fields on the Grand Banks of Newfoundland.

Transport Canada's mission is to develop and administer policies, regulations and services for the safest and most secure and efficient as well as environmentally-friendly transportation system for Canada and Canadians.

Canship Ugland Limited, a Canadian ship management and crewing company, is a 1995 joint venture between Newfoundland and Norwegian interests, namely Canship Limited and the J.J. Ugland group of Norway.

Founded in 1862, ABS is a leading international classification society devoted to promoting the security of life, property and the marine environment through the development and verification of standards for the design, construction and operational maintenance of marine-related facilities.

Port of Long Beach honors OOCL's Tung

LONG BEACH, Calif., Nov. 18 -- The Port of Long Beach has presented its highest honor, the Honorary Port Pilot Award, to C. C. Tung, the chairman and chief executive of Hong Kong-based Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL), for his significant accomplishments in international trade.

Named to head OOCL in 1997, Tung has expanded the company’s services in China, introduced e-commerce technology and launched a new generation of mega-ships. OOCL was among the first carriers to deploy ships that carry the equivalent of 8,000 twenty-foot cargo containers, including the OOCL Long Beach, which called in Long Beach in July.

“I am particularly pleased to honor Mr. Tung because of our very long, and very special relationship with OOCL,” said Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners President John W. Hancock. “OOCL is one of the Port of Long Beach’s most valued customers. We have been fortunate to have OOCL vessels call in Long Beach since 1969.”
Tung, Long Beach’s 71st Port Pilot honoree, was presented the award at a luncheon Nov. 12 in Hong Kong.

The award is named for the port pilots who are entrusted to safely guide cargo ships in and out of the port. Since 1954, the port has honored individuals for their leadership and achievements in international trade. The port has presented the award to CEOs of leading corporations, prime ministers, ambassadors, members of Congress, Cabinet officials and presidents, including President Ronald Reagan.

Tung is widely regarded among his peers in the maritime industry. He has been president of the Hong Kong Shipowners’ Association. Earlier this month, he was elected as president of the Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO), the world’s largest shipping organization.

USCO Logistics promotes Brown

NAUGATUCK, Conn., Nov. 18 -- USCO Logistics has promoted Douglas S. Brown to Vice President, Operations Administration, with primary responsibility for real estate activities, major purchasing initiatives and contract and business administration for the company’s largest customer. He will also be involved with the coordination and facilitation of business negotiations to ensure organizational resources are aligned to drive growth and profitability.

Mr. Brown joined USCO Logistics in 1995 as corporate counsel. In 1999, he was named Director of Legal Services and was promoted to Director of Corporate Operations and Legal Affairs in 2002.

He has been in practice for 13 years. His legal career started in law school as a clerk with a small Bethesda, Md., firm in appellate practice and general litigation. After graduation he joined Tyler, Cooper & Alcorn in Stamford, maintaining a general practice in commercial transactions, real estate, banking, foreclosure and commercial litigation.

Mr. Brown has extensive experience leading professional associations. He is immediate past chair of the Corporate Counsel Section of the Connecticut Bar Association (CBA), is a founding member and vice chairman of the Emerging Leaders Council of the International Warehouse Logistics Association and serves on the Board of Governors for The Farms Country Club in Wallingford.

He graduated from Syracuse University School of Management with degrees in finance and managerial statistics. He received his J.D. cum laude from The American University, Washington College of Law. He is admitted to practice in Connecticut and New Jersey. He and his wife, Kerry, live with their three children in Cheshire.

USCO Logistics is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kuehne & Nagel International AG, Schindellegi, Switzerland, a leading global logistics provider, with 18,000 employees at 600 locations in 96 countries. Along with Kuehne & Nagel, USCO Logistics -- which includes among its customers Wal-Mart, JCPenney, Nortel Networks, Logitech, Hoffman-LaRoche and AstraZeneca -- operates 15 million square feet of shared and dedicated distribution centers space throughout North America. For more information, please visit www.usco.com.

Panalpina appoints Sharp VP of North American human resources

FOSTER CITY, Calif., Nov. 17 -- Panalpina, the global transport and logistic group, has appointed Mary Lee Sharp as Vice President of Human Resources for its North America Region.

Throughout her 15-year career in the human resources profession, Ms. Sharp has extensive experience in recruiting, labor relations, training and development management, succession planning, benefit and compensation administration, and organizational development. She most recently served as Corporate Director of Human Resources at Matson Navigation Company, a major San Francisco-based domestic ocean carrier with more than 1,000 employees nationwide. She also has served with major hospitality corporations as well as employment and labor relations law firms.

“Mary Lee’s extensive background in all areas of employee relations will provide the newly formed North America region of Panalpina with the dynamic leadership we require by recruiting the most ably qualified personnel in our industry,” said David I. Beatson, President and Chief Executive Officer for the region. “As we expand our presence throughout North America, we are seeking the most qualified personnel in all aspects of our operations. The qualities Mary Lee has established throughout her career in employee relations will be tremendous assets to the expansion of Panalpina in the United States and Canada.”

Ms. Sharp has a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Santa Clara School of Law. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science

and Public Affairs from the University of Denver, where she was an Honors Graduate and three-time recipient of Hornbeck Scholar Award. She holds a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) credential, and is a member of the Northern California Human Resources Association, the Society for Human Resource Management, and the California and Colorado state bars.

RMI launches ShipperConnect service

ATLANTA, Nov. 17 -- RMI, the largest independent provider of accurate, reliable, comprehensive and secure rail information services to the transportation industry, today announced the availability of its new, advanced ShipperConnect web-based service.

ShipperConnect provides rail shippers with an internet-based interface that enables them to manage a rail shipment at any point in time. With ShipperConnect, rail shippers have the ability to access and see all shipments en route and all railcars already spotted on the tracks.

RMI's ShipperConnect offers shippers a number of powerful management features to support real-time decision making, and to communicate switching instructions to the railroad all by simply clicking on a car and selecting the appropriate action code. Functions such as the ability to order cars in to the plant, release cars, weigh, turn, reject, hold or even bill cars can all be performed via the web-based service. The instructions that are submitted to the railroad through ShipperConnect automatically populate the work orders for the railroad crews, eliminating the cumbersome and error-prone handling of faxed instructions.

We are always listening to customers and know that railroads today still face a process ridden with time-intensive paperwork, resulting in errors and loss of productivity," said Paul Pascutti, Vice President Marketing for RMI. "We designed ShipperConnect to eliminate antiquated procedures and create an efficient process that takes advantage of today's technology."

For billing of loaded or empty railcars, the ShipperConnect e-BOL tool facilitates the origination of bills of lading that are submitted to the railroad in a standard EDI format. Additionally, combining ShipperConnect with RMI's Freight and Fleet Management Services (FMS) services for shipment tracking provides complete origin-to-destination visibility of inbound and outbound rail shipments.

ShipperConnect is available through RMI's RailConnect® Transportation Management Service (TMS), the company's flagship service. From yard and inventory control to train operations, work orders and detailed management reports, TMS provides railroad managers with operational control over their business.

Currently more than 200 railroads use RailConnect services to run their day-to-day operations. More than 75 percent of short line and regional railroads in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico utilize one or more of RMI's services.

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