ITJ 05 / 2025
Emotional and in motion
Italy’s been making many of the big headlines since Easter Monday. Well, the Italian capital Rome, actually, to be more precise. Well, Vatican City, actually, to be pin-point precise – the smallest state in the world.
The death of Pope Francis triggered some very special logistics processes in every corner of the world. First, heads of state and government set off to attend the funeral ceremonies for the deceased head of the Roman Catholic church; and then the ecclesiastical heavyweights of the College of Cardinals gathered to elect his successor. Exciting events, but by definition the ITJ – nomen est omen – doesn’t report on them.
We’ve nevertheless also focused on Italy this week. In our separate Italy Special supplement we’ve taken a look at the ongoing logistics developments between South Tyrol and Sicily. There where the focus isn’t on setting the course of a global church, but on the concrete details of everyday commerce – investment, timetables, efficient handling, and new paths for heavy transport.
Which brings me to the second Special supplement published with this issue. It’s also about strength and coordination – but on the roads, the rail and waterways. Transporting huge wind power components, handling huge turbines, investment in multimodal ports – this isn’t about speculation, this is about getting things moving.
In the main issue, in turn, we focus on other key issues in the transport world – on the Swiss Shippers’ Forum 2025, for example, which sought solutions to current market distortions. On developments in Pacific maritime transport, where empty runs are increasing. To airfreight, where a surprise was sprung with a new nonstop connection between Singapore and the USA. On creative concepts for the logistics of space travel.
Everyday life in logistics is sometimes more surprising than many a geopolitical decision – and of as great a systemic importance.
Here’s to an insightful read!
Andreas Haug
Editor-in-chief
Read our Italy Special in English here.
Leggete qui il nostro Speciale sull’Italia in italiano.