International News Notes

By Staff -- Logistics Management, 9/1/1998

Airfreight--BAX Global has acquired Air Transport International, which has been operating jet freighters for BAX Global in North America. TNT has launched express operations in Israel and has opened a larger depot in Tallinn, Estonia. Alitalia now has weekly B747 freighter service from Milan, Italy, to Atlanta, bringing the number of weekly freighters between the United States and Italy to seven.

Ocean Freight--Yellow Corp. has formed a new ocean freight subsidiary, YCS International. YCS will expand Yellow's geographic coverage, increase pickup and delivery options in the United States, and add new freight forwarder and carrier partners. COSCO, "K" Line, and Yang Ming Line will launch a joint trans-Atlantic service between the U.S. East Coast and Gulf to North Europe next month. Sea-Barge Line in November will replace its tug-barge operations with fast, weekly Ro/Ro and container service between Jacksonville, Fla., and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Blue Star Line now offers direct, all-water service from the U.S. and Canadian East and West Coasts to Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands.

Freight Forwarders--Associated Global Systems has opened a station in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to serve the island's growing electronics and pharmaceuticals industries. MSAS Global Logistics has acquired domestic U.S. freight forwarder Skyking Freight Systems. Skyking, which posts annual revenues of $38 million, has 14 regional offices serving 6,000 customers. Union-Transport has purchased freight forwarder Kenney Transport USA, which specializes in U.S.-Korea trade. Air Express International has acquired Gulf Coast Drawback Services, the largest provider of specialized duty-drawback services in the United States. Gulf Coast in 1996 received the "Hammer" award from Vice President Gore for helping to revise federal duty-drawback regulations.