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16 SEPTEMBER 2014 • FOOD LOGISTICS www.foodlogistics.com L O G I S T I C S T R E N D S I N O U R I N D U S T R Y FOOD ON THE MOVE L O G I S T I C S T R E N D S I N O U R I N D U S T R Y FOOD ON THE MOVE gen fuel cell power solution, combining: Gen- Drive fuel cell units; GenFuel infrastructure construction and hydrogen fuel supply; and GenCare on-site maintenance service. In February 2014, Plug Power received a GenKey order from Walmart to roll out 1,783 GenDrive fuel cells in the forklift fleets at six sites across North America. The first of these sites, in Pottsville, Pa., was brought successful- ly on line during the second quarter of 2014. Plug Power deployed almost 300 GenDrive fuel cell units in Walmart's class-2 and class-3 electric lift trucks. U.S. Approves Chilean Carrier Merger With Hapag-Lloyd U.S. authorities have approved the merger of the container shipping business of Chilean ocean carrier Compañía Sud Americana de Vapores with German container line Hapag- Lloyd, according to Port Technology Interna- tional. The merger will reportedly create the world's fourth largest carrier. Clearance for the merger was granted recently by the U.S. Depart- ment of Jus- tice and the Federal Trade Commission. The move forms part of the consulta- tion process to regulatory authorities that both companies are carrying out in order to merge their con- tainer businesses. DP World Vancouver Stops Accepting U.S. Bound Cargo DP World Vancouver will stop accepting U.S.-bound containers intended for direct transfer to rail, citing a lack of railcars to handle the surge of cargo headed across the border, according to Journal of Commerce. The operator of the Centerm Terminal will continue to handle U.S.-bound cargo moving by truck either to the regional market or to a nearby container yard. Since the beginning of the month, the Dubai-based terminal opera- tor has waived demurrage for rail containers diverted to truck transport and moved from its terminal, according to a letter sent to DP customers and obtained by JOC.com from a port customer who suggested that other ter- minals could soon follow DP World Vancou- ver with a similar policy. Nicaragua Prepares Inter-Oceanic Canal The inter-oceanic canal project in Nicara- gua is expected to begin soon, according to Nicaraguan radio station La Primerisima. It will be between 230 and 530 meters wide and 26 to 30 meters in depth. Chinese entrepreneur Wang Jing, owner of HKND Group, whose firm holds the conces- sion to build the Nicaragua Grand Canal, recently visited the country to lead a delega- tion that will announce the chosen canal route and other project details. According to La Primerisima, "The canal could be par- tially ready by 2019 and able to handle the transportation of up to 416 million metric tons, repre- senting 3.9 percent of the world's mari- time cargo. The route of the Nicaragua inter-oceanic canal will cross through the mouth of the Brito River, south of Rivas, north Tule River and the entry of Punta Gorda River. This route will cross the country from east to the west with a total length of 278 kilometers, including a stretch of 105 kilometers in the Cocibolca Lake." Diamond State Port Corp. And Chiquita Sign Lease Agreement The Diamond State Port Corp. (DSPC) and Chiquita Brands have recently reached an agreement by which Chiquita will con- tinue to use the Port of Wilmington as its mid-Atlantic distribution hub for the next five years. Also, this agreement includes two 5-year lease renewal options which will extend Chiquita's relationship with Wilmington until 2029. With the retention of Chiquita's business, the Port will continue to handle more bananas than any other port in North America. In 1988, Chiquita consolidated its mid- Atlantic supply chain operations at the Port of Wilmington, now its largest port operation in North America. It leases 28.7 acres at the port and its vessels make approximately 52 port calls annually. Chiquita operates a fully containerized service between Central America and Wilmington discharging bananas, pine- apples and other tropical fruit and vegetables, and loading back forest products, used auto- mobiles and general cargo. "We are extremely pleased that Chiquita has decided to sign a new lease with the port and continue our long and 'fruitful' relation- ship," said Gene Bailey, executive director of the DSPC. "Chiquita is a most important customer and responsible for hundreds of jobs and the resultant and significant economic impact to our port, state and region. We are grateful to the governor and the General Assembly for the support which has allowed us to make those capital equipment acquisi- tions and infrastructure improvements needed to retain Chiquita's business despite a very competitive environment," Bailey added. "The Port of Wilmington is an important destination for Chiquita and our customers," said Mario Pacheco, Chiquita's senior vice president, global logistics. "We are pleased that we have reached an agreement that will enable us to continue to call Wilmington home for many years to come. Wilmington is a great partner for Chiquita and we look forward to growing our business together in the years ahead." Willow Run Foods Adds Cadec Software To Run CNG Vehicles Willow Run Foods has added Cadec's PowerVue software to its compressed natural gas (CNG) fleet of vehicles. Willow Run Foods specializes in food distribution for fast food chains throughout the Northeast. As part of the company's alternative transporta-