CMA CGM is pushing forward in order to stay at the forefront of green shipping. The French shipping line has been ranked as part of the top 1% most responsible companies in its sector and top 5% across all sectors by sustainability rater Ecovadis.

CMA CGM is pushing towards a goal of 30% reduction of CO2 per TEU by 2025.

In 2017, CMA CGM reported reducing CO2 emissions per container transported per kilometre by 10% and says it is implementing several actions to achieve this objective. These include a decision to equip nine future 22,000TEU ships with LNG-powered engines.

CMA CGM is also adopting technological innovations for its fleet to reduce its carbon footprint, such as electronic injection engines, which cut fuel consumption by a reported average of 3% and Becker twisted fins which are said to result in a 4% reduction in CO2 emissions.

The company is set to update the market on its emissions reductions for 2018 during its upcoming corporate social responsibility report, which should be published later in the year.

By choosing LNG, the CMA CGM Group says it is going beyond current and future regulations. “LNG is indeed a real technological breakthrough that will yield significant benefits compared to heavy fuel oil, reducing CO2 emissions up to 25%,” the company said in a statement. “The choice of LNG is thus an integral part of the CMA CGM Group’s strategy to reduce its carbon footprint and, more broadly, to act as an industry leader in the protection of the environment and the energy transition.”

CMA CGM says it is on the way to overcoming a lack of global LNG bunkering sites, saying its decision to power its future 22,000 TEU containerships with LNG paved the way for the development of LNG as a marine fuel. “The group is now actively collaborating with ports and LNG suppliers to build a new supply chain that will be efficient for ports and our customers while ensuring optimal safety,” the company said in a statement.

Earlier this month on 4 March 2019, Australia and Indonesia signed the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA). This agreement opens a new chapter in economic relations between Australia and Indonesia, with agriculture expected to be a big winner from the agreement.

Indonesia is a growing market for Australian goods and services exporters. In 2017-18, total two-way trade in goods and services with Indonesia was worth $16.8 billion, making Indonesia our 13th largest trading partner. Indonesia is Australia’s fourth largest agricultural export market, worth $3.35 billion in 2017. Australia's top exports to Indonesia in 2017 were wheat ($1.3 billion), live cattle ($602 million), sugar ($328 million) and beef and veal ($284 million). In the same year, agriculture, fisheries and forestries totalled $54 billion in export earnings and Australia imported $833 million of agricultural commodities from Indonesia.

IA-CEPA will allow 99% of Australia's goods exports to enter Indonesia duty free or with significantly improved preferential arrangements. Also, all Indonesia's goods exports will enter Australia duty free. Furthermore, Indonesia will guarantee automatic issue of import permits for key products such as live cattle, frozen beef, sheep meat, feed grains, rolled steel coil, citrus products, carrots and potatoes. This gives farmers more options and creates competition for Australian produce.

IA-CEPA will provide Australian and Indonesian businesses opportunities to expand the economic partnership and build on commitments under our existing free trade agreement, the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) across goods, services and investment.

French startup Agricool launched in 2015 to create urban farms in recycled containers. With its unique agricultural model, the company's goal is to produce fruit and vegetables of exceptional taste, no pesticides, 100% GMO free and picked and sold on the same day. Several containers are currently being tested.

In Paris, Agricool grows strawberries by saving 90% of water and nutrients compared to classic agricultural methods and only uses renewable energy. These strawberries contain an average of 20% more sugar and 30% more vitamin C than retail store strawberries.

In 2018, shipping conglomerate the CMA CGM Group provided its first concrete support to Agricool by offering technical and logistical support for the delivery and installation of a ‘cooltainer’ in Dubai. In December 2018, Agricool completed a €25 million fundraising campaign to finance the industrialisation of its innovative project. On this occasion, CMA CGM acquired an equity stake in the company through its investment fund, CMA CGM Ventures.

Similarly, CMA CGM wants to support Agricool’s development by providing it with its industrial and logistics expertise. The group thus becomes the main supplier of containers and the primary logistics and supply partner of this young company.

Senior vice president of the container logistics department of the CMA CGM Group Joël Gentil said: “With this partnership, the CMA CGM Group confirms its commitment to support the development of start-ups that innovate in a relevant way. In line with our commitment to sustainable development, this solution allows us to recycle containers and give them a second life.”

A look inside one of the Agricool containers.

A man has been sentenced to five years in prison for smuggling more than six million cigarettes into Australia, hidden within sophisticated concealments. The cigarettes originated from Malaysia with a total alleged duty evasion of more than $4 million.

On 10 August 2017, three Malaysian nationals were located in two factories unpacking the tobacco. All three were subsequently arrested and charged under the Customs Act 1901, with possession of tobacco products, knowing that the goods were imported with the intention of defrauding revenue. They were convicted and sentenced to between 16–24 months imprisonment for their involvement in the importations.

On 13 August 2017, the two syndicate organisers were intercepted trying to leave Australia. Both were arrested and charged with organising the import of the six million smuggled cigarettes. One of the organisers pleaded guilty in the Melbourne County Court, and on 20 February 2019 was sentenced to five years in prison with a non-parole period of three years. Following his release from prison the individual will be removed from Australia. The second organiser has also pleaded guilty and will face sentencing in April.

In the last financial year, the ABF also made more than 110,000 detections of illicit tobacco at the border including almost 240 million cigarettes and 217 tonnes of tobacco, worth more than $356 million in evaded duty.

A joint multi-national investigation into an organised crime syndicate has resulted in the arrest of four men and the seizure of 1.3 tonnes of the drug precursor ephedrine in Melbourne.

Last month, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) arrested a 53-year-old Wheeler’s Hill man, a 55-year-old Box Hill man and two Chinese nationals, both aged 26 years old, following an operation between Australian and Chinese authorities. The men from Wheeler’s Hill man and Box Hill were charged with importing commercial quantities of border controlled precursors, with the maximum penalty for this offence being 25 years imprisonment. All four men were each charged with attempt to possess controlled precursors with the maximum penalty for this offence being two years imprisonment and/or a fine of $84,000.

The AFP received intelligence from the Chinese National Narcotics Control Commission (NNCC) about a syndicate suspected to be importing commercial quantities of border controlled precursors into Melbourne. As a result of the information, the AFP commenced an investigation to identify the Australian-based members of the syndicate who were allegedly planning to receive the shipment.

In mid-February, Australian Border Force (ABF) officers intercepted a container arriving from China, labelled as ceramic tiles and glue. ABF officers from the Melbourne Container Examination Facility examined the suspicious consignment to reveal 65 boxes, containing 260 bags of a white powder. Presumptive testing returned a positive result for ephedrine, with a gross weight of 1,300 kilograms. It is estimated 1.3 tonnes of ephedrine has the potential to make 922 kilograms of methamphetamine, with an estimated street value of approximately $691.5 million. This equates to more than 9.2 million street deals of methamphetamine.

The drugs were seized by the AFP and replaced with an inert substance, and a controlled delivery took place. The consignment was delivered to a residence in Box Hill North.

The Wheeler’s Hill man was arrested at Melbourne International Airport as he attempted to board a flight to China late last month, while the Box Hill man was arrested near a local shopping centre. It will be alleged in court that these men were facilitators for the syndicate responsible for the ephedrine importation.The two Chinese nation als were arrested at the Box Hill North residence where the consignment was delivered. It will be alleged in court their role was to assist the two facilitators and the syndicate in this importation.

ABF Victoria Regional Commander, Craig Palmer, said that the significant seizure and arrests once again highlighted the outcomes that can be achieved working with law enforcement partners both internationally and within Australia. “The ABF is committed to detecting and disrupting illegal drugs at the border before they cause harm on the Australian community. International criminal networks attempting to import these dangerous substances need to understand that we work closely with partner agencies to identify their illicit activities.” Regional Commander Palmer said.

We can't guarantee that these jokes are funny but we hope they'll ease you into the weekend!

Who’s there?
Interrupting cow.
Interrupting c–
MOO!

What did the fish say when he swam into a wall?
Dam

What is Forrest Gump’s email password?
1forrest1

What’s red and bad for your teeth?
A brick

Why don't dinosaurs talk?
Because they're dead

What did the buffalo say when his son left?
Bison