APS Stevedoring LLC, a new auto and general/breakbulk cargo stevedoring company headquartered in Long Beach, California, began its first operations at the end of October in the Port of Richmond.

Cargotec has appointed Tom Svennevig as Vice President responsible for the company's advanced load-handling business line as of 24 October 2011.

IHC Merwede, the leading global maritime, engineering and manufacturing group, has appointed Denis Welch as its CEO for South East Asia.

A contract between NYKCool and Kloosterboer Vlissingen which was signed last week means that Vlissingen can now call itself the largest dedicated reefer port of the Netherlands for the import and export cargo of potato, vegetables and fruit products.

The Port of Seattle Commission passed its 2012 Budget and Draft Plan of Finance, which invests in business operations, and generating and sustaining family-wage jobs. The budget also plans for the port's future obligations in crucial transportation infrastructure projects like Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Project and the South Park Bridge.

The largest single shipment of Genie® lifts to move through the Port of Tacoma is scheduled to arrive Friday in Panama.

In the Port of Antwerp the Flemish Minister for Mobility and Public Works, Hilde Crevits, European Investment Bank (EIB) President Philippe Maystadt and Chairman of the Antwerp Port Authority's Board of Directors and Alderman for the Port Marc Van Peel gave the official starting signal on 21 November 2011 for the construction of the second lock on the Left Bank.

Martin Zumtobel, Chairman of Identec Group, is pleased to announce the appointment of Brian Neil Robertson as CEO of Identic Solutions.

Mr Li Shenglin, the Minister of Transport of the People's Republic of China has visited the Port of Felixstowe, the UK's largest container port. Whilst at the port Mr Li met with Hutchison Port executives and toured the port's new Berths 8&9.

Please login to read the answers to our brain teasers below which appeared in our latest newsletter.

1) What is the word for the fear of heights?
a)      Vertigo                         b) Acrophobia                   c) Impetigo

2) Which was the busiest airport in the world in 2009 (based on the number of passengers)?

3) Last but not least - we came across the following invention. Maybe something for the next generation terminal paving?
Paving slab takes a step toward reducing carbon emissions.
One of the latest inventions is a paving slab made of recycled polymer concrete whose surface is made from recycled truck tires. The slab not only reduces carbon emissions but generates electricity as well. "Every time someone walks on the slab, it converts the kinetic energy from the footstep into electricity, so it is an off-grid power solution within urban spaces and transport infrastructure," explains Laurence Kemball-Cook, the British engineer who developed the product.