Involved in protracted negotiations with government, community and industry over the proposed $300 million dollar purchase of the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway Company (EJ&E), the Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian National Railway Company has warned that Canadian National may simply walk away if too many complications ensue.

Speaking during a second quarter financial results conference call, Hunter Harrison indicated that Canadian National wasn’t beholden to the EJ&E to carry on their business, remarking that "We could run this railroad without the EJ&E. We could run it a lot more efficiently with it. But if it gets to the point where the mitigation costs or the timing of the issue is going to drag out for so long. … We’re very good at turning our backs and walking the other way and figuring out another way to skin the cat."

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Startup Italian cargo airline, Alis Aerolinee Italiane, announced recently that the airline has signed a memorandum of understanding regarding the acquisition of Airbus Aircraft for the new cargo carrier.

Five Airbus A330-200 Freighter aircraft have been chosen for the carrier with an option to acquire three more of the type.  According to Airbus, the A330-200F can carry up to 64 metric tonnes over 4,000 nautical miles in its standard version.  Airbus also noting that when selecting the optional payload mode operators can carry 69 metric tonnes up to 3,200 nautical miles in the twin-engine widebody aircraft.

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The two major Canadian rail freight operators, Canadian Pacific and Canadian National, announced yesterday that the Deltaport Division of a jointly owned rail subsidiary will now manage rail switching operations for both Canadian National and Canadian Pacific  trains at the Deltaport marine container terminal at Roberts Bank, south of Vancouver.

The move is intended to increase efficiencies for both companies as they move rail freight to Roberts Bank terminal, this in addition to developing further the two company’s directional running zone in the Fraser Canyon and Co-Production operating agreements in the greater Vancouver area.

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Swedish aviation firm, Nord-Flyg has announced the the company has contracted Cascade Aerospace to convert two of the company’s Bombardier Q400 aircraft, to the Q400-PF, "Package Freighter" variant.

To be converted at the Cascade Aerospace, heavy maintenance and modification facility in Abbotsford, British Columbia,  the two aircraft post modification will be capable of of carrying up to 40 standard EuroPallets in the 85 cubic metre interior.

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Puerto Cortes, the largest and deepest port in Central America located on Honduras’ Caribbean coast has reported this week that it is the only port in the Western Hemisphere to scan one-hundred percent of inbound and outbound shipments for radioactive substances.

Ranked 29th in the world in volume of shipments to the United States, Puerto Cortes  is a partner to the U.S. Government’s Container Security, Megaports, and Secure Freight Initiatives.  Indeed the port hosts both U.S. and Honduran customs officials as well as enabling Department of Homeland Security Officers back in the United States, to view real time imagery from security scanning activities at the port.

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CEVA Logistics, the Dutch based company formed by the merger of merger of the former TNT Logistics with EGL Eagle Global Logistics in 2007, has announced that the company is to significantly restructure its logistics and freight business.

According to a statement released to the press, CEVA  will restructure it business initially by having four Regional Presidents  who will be responsible for running the integrated businesses in Contract Logistics (CL) and Freight Management (FM).

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Australian airline and freight carrier Qantas has announced that the company intends to take on shipments of high level nuclear waste in order to boost the airlines profits in the wake of rising oil prices .

To be carried in the belly space on Qantas passenger aircraft, the high level nuclear waste will be shipped from France, via Australia, before returning to the United Kingdom for reprocessing.

Speaking to the decision to carry nuclear waste, an informed Qantas source said that in today’s economic climate it was not in the company’s interest to refuse to carry nuclear waste, instead as profit margins fall, Qantas sees the carriage of Nuclear Waste as meeting the demand of potential clients and getting the most value for Qantas shareholders.

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Integrated aviation company AerCap Holdings N.V. (Aercap) has announced an intention to convert thirty of its older Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft from passenger to freighter versions, to capitalise on the expected demand for freighter aircraft.

The Dutch firm has contracted the EADS subsidiary Airbus Freighter  Conversions to perform the required works, with the aircraft, post conversion becoming the first Airbus A320/A321 "P2F" or Passenger to Freight  aircraft.

The Chief Executive Officer of AerCap, Klaus Heinemann, described the launch of the A320/A321 freighter conversion program as a "great opportunity for AerCap to position itself as a leasing company in the cargo market."

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The first flight of the Boeing triple seven freighter aircraft took place today, the aircraft completing an initial series of tests during a flight lasting more than three-and-a-half hours.

Officials from Boeing hailed the maiden flight as a step towards the aircraft becoming the pre-eminent long range twin engine freighter, with the aircrafts range and capability to translate into savings for operators with numerous benefits such as fewer stops, less congestion at transfer hubs, lower cargo handling costs and shorter cargo delivery times.

The Vice President of Flight Operations at Boeing, Dennis O’Donoghue remarked that "The 777 Freighter completed the scheduled three-hour inaugural flight with no airplane performance-related issues."

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Some three weeks since truckers first reported to authorities that their rigs had been hit by by a what appears to be shots from a high powered rifle on a stretch of Interstate 95, in St Johns County Florida, authorities continue with their investigation into the shootings.

Communicating with Freightscene.com, Sergeant Chuck Mulligan from the St John’s County Sheriff’s Office said that there had been several interviews conducted as a result of information received in the case, however at present, according to Sergeant Mulligan, there is not enough evidence to name a suspect in the case.

Freightscene.com also understands that investigators continue to follow up on any information that is received regarding the shootings.  Once again,  any person with information relevant to the Interstate 95 shootings should call the St Johns County Sheriff’s Office on 904-824-8304.

Source: St Johns County Sheriff’s Office                                                        With thanks to Sergeant Chuck Mulligan