Your midweek round-up of news from the world of heavy lift and project forwarding.

This week Evie heard from international sanctions lawyer Sarosh Zaiwalla, who has slammed the European Union's decision to restore sanctions on 32 of the 40 shipping companies that had sanctions annulled in January 2015.

Zaiwalla has called this decision, which coincided with the restoration of sanctions on Iran's Bank Tejarat, as "unfair" and "deeply unjust".

The EU reasoned that Bank Tejarat "provided significant support to the government of Iran by offering financial resources and financing services for oil and gas development projects." 

The restoring of the asset freeze on Iran's third largest bank comes after a brief period of hope for improved relations between Iran and the West, following successful negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme and sanctions relief.

Although confidence has been expressed by members of the P5+1 and Iran that an agreement will be reached, incidents such as this highlight the fact that this is still a contentious issue and the process will be no means be an easy and straightforward one.

 

In business

New agent for new line

Newly formed shipping company United Heavy Lift has appointed Lexicon Overseas as its exclusive agent in India.

Time up for Van Doosselaere & Achten

Van Doosselaere & Achten, one of Antwerp's oldest established private liner shipping agents, has ceased activities with immediate effect and filed for bankruptcy.

McAleese suspends shares

As the McAleese Group works out the financial impact of Atlas Iron's decision to shut down its iron ore mines, shares in the Australian transport contractor have been suspended from trade.

Final nail for Polet?

Russia's federal air transport agency, Rosaviatsiya, has cancelled Polet Airline's air operator's certificate (AOC).

Double-digit growth at ACS

Air Charter Service (ACS) arranged over 9,000 aircraft charter contracts in 2014, an increase of more than 20 percent compared with 2013.

 

Contractual obligations

TTS to supply Cosco cranes

TTS Group, through its new joint venture company TTS-SCM Marine and Offshore Machinery, signed an agreement with Shanghai Shipyard for the delivery of deck equipment for six vessels.

Erickson wins dam contract

Erickson has secured a contract with Cavedeal and AAOP to provide heavy lift aviation services in support of the Angat Dam project in Bulacan, the Philippines.

 

Capacity developments

Wagenborg fleet grows by two

Wagenborg Nedlift has invested in two new 110-tonne capacity Grove GMK5110 all-terrain cranes.

Integrated Logistics adds 10

Integrated Logistics Company (ILC) has purchased ten new 100-tonne capacity Grove GMK4100L cranes.

2015 season kicks off at Toledo

Spliethoff's vessel Floragracht has arrived at the Port of Toledo with a consignment of refinery equipment, marking the opening of the 2015 season for the Lake Erie port.

Hamilton welcomes first vessel of year

Pacific Huron, carrying a load of steel coils from Spain and Italy, has arrived at the Port of Hamilton signifying the beginning of the Canadian gateway's 2015 shipping season.

HAV receives Airlander funding

Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) has received a EUR2.5 million (USD2.7 million) EU grant, furthering its campaign to raise the required funds to bring its Airlander 10 airship to flight.

 

On the move

Hansa Meyer Global restructures sales

Hansa Meyer Global has recruited Monika Beckfeld from Bertling to concentrate on finding new customers among EPCs and companies active in the oil and gas sector.

Nurminen cfo resigns

Nurminen Logistics' chief financial officer and member of the executive board, Ari Viinikkala, has resigned from the company.

Danish expansion for GAC

GAC has opened a new office in the Danish port of Esbjerg.

Intermarine enters Turkey

Intermarine has established a presence in Turkey with the opening of a new office in Istanbul.

 

Notable shipment

The Halve Maen (Half Moon) - a full scale, operating replica of the Dutch exploration ship that Henry Hudson sailed in 1609 - has been loaded onboard BigLift Shipping's Traveller.