Relo NewsBits

Photo: ZPMC cranes installed at the Port of Seattle (Michael Adams, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)

Is potential CCP spying on U.S. ports tip of the iceberg?

NEWS UPDATE
03/13/2024

Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, Rep. Mark Green, raised serious concerns in a letter to Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co. (ZPMC), the world's top ship-to-shore gantry crane producer. Nearly 80% of U.S. ports use ZPMC cranes. The letter accuses ZPMC of secretly installing communication devices in cranes bound for the U.S., posing spying and remote control risks. The accusations stem from a congressional investigation into strategic competition with the Chinese Communist Party, initiated in June 2023. The suspicions of CCP leveraging maritime infrastructure for spying date back to 2021. Recent arrests of a U.S. Navy officer and an army intelligence analyst, highlight concerns about Chinese espionage involving U.S. ports, as well as, national defense and U.S. military plans. (More at: FreightWaves, “Is China spying on American ports?” John Paul Hampstead, 3/13/2024

Photo: MV Rubymar sinks in the Red Sea on 2 March 2024 after Houthi attack (courtesy - U.S. Central Command)

Despite sunken ship, potential easing of disruptions

NEWS UPDATE
03/06/2024

In recent months, the Red Sea has transformed from a major maritime passage to a battleground, with Houthis rebel attacks on cargo vessels threatening global commerce and regional stability. The sinking of the Rubymar on March 2, the first vessel lost to Houthi attacks since November 2023, has caused environmental hazards and raised concerns about the security of this vital trade route. While Houthi attacks have introduced complexity and risk, their impact on commerce may be diminishing. Although sustained elevated container spot rates impose costs on shippers and consumers, benefiting container lines, the Drewry World Container Index Global Composite price has dropped more than 10% since late January, suggesting a potential easing of trade disruptions. (See FreightWaves, “The Houthis sank a ship. But their attacks may be less disruptive for now” Joe Antoshak, 3/5/2024)

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Photo: U.S. Customs and Border Protection check trucks inbound to the United States from Mexico traveling over the Rio Grande Valley River at the World Trade Crossing International Bridge in Laredo, Texas. (U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

$798 Billion in US-Mexico cross-border 2023 trade

POINT OF INTEREST
02/27/2024

Mexico largest trading partner with U.S.

- Canada No.2 at $773 Billion

- China No.3 at $575 Billion

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Photo: Port container gantry cranes manufactured by China’s ZPMC (Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co. Ltd.) (GeorgHH, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

U.S. Coast Guard exposes potential spy threat via port container cranes

02/22/2024

The U.S. Coast Guard is implementing new cyber-risk management requirements for owners and operators of over 200 Chinese-made container cranes at U.S. ports. This move aims to mitigate the risk of China spying on America's domestic supply chains. China-manufactured STS gantry cranes constitute almost 80% of such cranes at U.S. ports and can be controlled, serviced, and programmed remotely, making them susceptible to exploitation. The Coast Guard emphasizes the need for additional measures to prevent security incidents in the national transportation system, considering the prevalence of these cranes, intelligence on China's interest in disrupting U.S. critical infrastructure, and the inherent vulnerabilities for remote access and control. (See FreightWaves,“ US targets Chinese-made container cranes in spy crackdown” by John Gallagher, 2/21/2024)

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Photo: Pacific Side Entrance of the Panama Canal. In the foreground part of Panama City is visible together with the Bridge of the Americas. In the background (right) Miraflores Locks are also visible. (Camilo Molina derivative work: MrPanyGoff, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Dry season at Panama Canal – run rate estimated 23% down

UPDATE #3
02/13/2024

Despite concerns about the dry season in Panama impacting trade through the Panama Canal, the situation isn't as grim as initially feared. Following a wetter-than-expected November, daily transits increased in January, with 24 transits forecasted, up from the previous estimate of 20. In fiscal year 2023, 12,638 vessels crossed the canal, averaging 34 oceangoing vessels daily. However, for the current fiscal year 2024, 3,233 transits occurred so far, mainly Panamax vessels, indicating a run rate of 9,700 vessels for this year, 23% lower than the throughput in fiscal year 2023. (See more at FreightWaves, “Water level projections threaten future Panama Canal transits” Tony Mulvey, 2/8/2024)

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(Photo: 123RF.com)

Mobilitas acquires Santa Fe

BREAKING NEWS
02/07/2024

MOBILITAS Group announced today that it has acquired 100% of the British group Santa Fe Holdings Limited, headquartered in London, parent Company of Santa Fe Relocation and Sanelo. Samuel Mergui, a member of the MOBILITAS Group Management Board, will take over as CEO of Santa Fe Holding Limited. (See full Press Release at Read More)

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Photo: Ocean sailing container ship (123RF.com)

Even as Red Sea tensions continue rates decline

NEWS UPDATE
02/07/2024

Recent U.S. and British strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen have intensified concerns about container shipping in the Red Sea. The crisis has prompted shippers to seek alternative routes, leading to a 90% decline in container ship volumes passing through the Suez Canal. China-Europe rates surged by 260% since the start of 2024, with Drewry World Container Index indicating a nearly 200% spike in rates from Shanghai to Rotterdam. Despite the rising tensions and military actions, rates are starting to decline, with the Drewry Maritime Financial Research team anticipating oversupply to pull freight rates below breakeven, highlighting the uncertain and volatile nature of Red Sea shipping. (See FreightWaves, “Red Sea turmoil drives Chinese exporters to rail …” Michael Rudolph, 2/5/2024)

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INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT

ReloPricing™ & PRISMgmt™ Technologies

ReloPricing ™   - A Pricing/Distribution/Booking Management System for International and Domestic HHG shipments

PRISMgmt ™   - A Move Management, Audit and Billing System to accelerate data efficiency and accuracy

ReloPricing and PRISMgmt, whether combined or on their own, provide feature-rich solutions to long-standing friction points in the HHG industry. This technology improves the digital experience for the RMC and supplier network, providing greater service delivery to the relocation client and their employee.

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WHITE PAPERS & RELOINSIGHTS

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press releases

April 19, 2023

Parsifal 2023 Achievement – New Positions & Retirement

February 15, 2023

Parsifal Team Maintains Impressive Tenure in 2022

May 4, 2022

Parsifal Introduces ecolegIT, A Technology for Relocation CO2 Offset

February 24, 2022

2021 Employee Team Achieves Outstanding Tenure at Parsifal

February 1, 2022

Parsifal Presents New Technology-ReloPricing™ and PRISMgmt™

March 23, 2021

Parsifal 40 Year Anniversary

November 12, 2020

SurvAi ™ Unveiled by Parsifal Corporation

November 14, 2019

Parsifal Launches New Website

October 10, 2019

Parsifal Exhibiting ERC 2019

September 24, 2019

Parsifal Moves Data Center

June 19, 2019

Parsifal Exhibiting - SHRM19 Las Vegas

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