International News Notes

By Staff -- Logistics Management, 5/1/1999

Ocean Shipping--Sweden's Wallenius Lines and Wilhelmsen Lines of Norway have established a joint operating company that will be the world's largest supplier of vehicle and roll-on/roll-off services. The new company will operate more than 70 specialized vessels and has an additional 10 vessels on order. Crowley Marine Services has launched a weekly "Mercosur" feeder barge service between Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Asunción, and other ports along the Paraná, Paraguay, and Uruguay river system. Australia-New Zealand Direct Line will replace most of its containerships with larger, faster vessels that boast enhanced reefer and breakbulk capacity.

Logistics Services--Emery Worldwide has opened a multi-user logistics center in Sydney, Australia. The facility will offer receiving, shipping, inventory-control, and order-picking and -packing services. To accommodate growth of nearly 100 percent in its European operations, UPS Worldwide Logistics has opened a 78,850 square-foot addition to its European Distribution Center in Roermond, the Netherlands. PBB Global Logistics has acquired Seven Seas Freight Forwarders of Miami to strengthen the company's ability to serve South American and Caribbean markets. WorldPoint Logistics has acquired majority ownership of customs broker/freight forwarder Alpha International and NVOCC President Container Line.

Airfreight--Consolidators International and Australian Freight Services have formed a joint venture to provide wholesale airfreight service between the United States and Australia. Danzas now offers twice-weekly charter air service using DC-8 freighters between Newark, N.J., and San Juan, P.R. CF PrimeTime Air has opened a European division based in Zurich, Switzerland, to offer expedited air and ground transportation service throughout Europe.