Last week’s top stories on CARGO INFO

Maersk Alabama cook files law suit Maersk Line is now facing more than just attacks from pirates after a crew member instituted legal action following the attack on the Maersk Alabama. The Associated Press reported that Richard Hicks, the chief cook on board the vessel, had filed a law suit against the shipping company claiming at least $75000 in damages after the vessel he was on board was hijacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia earlier this month. Another line sees profits plunge The Chinese shipping line Cosco Holdings – the world’s largest bulk operator and sixth largest liner business – saw net profit plunge 40% during 2008, the company has announced. First Chevrolets arrive in PE The first shipment of Chevrolet's new mid-size sedan, the Cruze, recently arrived in Port Elizabeth for final testing and validation before this latest addition to GM’s product range is launched in South Africa later this year, according to the PE Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry. K+N earnings fall The German-based multi-national forwarding operation, Kuehne + Nagel (KN) – which has a full-scale SA subsidiary – proved unable to escape the global transport recession in the first quarter. International Freighting Weekly (IFW) reports that K+N’s net earnings fell by 16.9% yearon- year to the equivalent of just over R969-million. WHO raises swine flu alert The World Health Organisation has raised a global alert warning international travellers, importers and exporters of an outbreak of swine flu.