HONG KONG's Cathay Pacific has appointed Chitty Cheung as its new director of corporate affairs, taking over from Quince Chong over the summer as Ms Chong is leaving the airline to take up a position in another industry.
Ms Cheung has been the general manager, sales, Pearl River Delta and Hong Kong since August 2009. She joined the company as a management trainee in 1987 and has since served in a number of key management positions in Hong Kong covering commercial, planning and cargo aspects, as well as in Cathay's overseas offices in Penang, Los Angeles and London, where she was regional general manager Europe.
Chief executive John Slosar said: "Chitty brings a remarkable breadth and depth of experience to the senior leadership team at Cathay Pacific. Her extensive background in the industry both in Hong Kong and overseas and her network of contacts within the community will be a real asset as we pursue our exciting growth plans."
Ms Cheung graduated from the University of Hong Kong with a bachelor's in social sciences, She is also a member of the 2012 HKSAR Government Chief Executive Election Committee (Tourism Sector), member of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), chairman of Marketing and Business Development Committee of HKTB, director of Abacus Distribution Systems (HK) Ltd, director of Cathay Holidays Limited, and member of Executive Committee, Board of Airline Representatives (BAR), Hong Kong.
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
DURING the first quarter of this year, Chongqing posted a year-on-year increase of 29.5 per cent in its air cargo throughput to 67,900 tonnes, Xinhua reports.
Outbound cargo jumped 54.5 per cent up to 35,400 tonnes. Chongqing airport operated 361 international cargo flights in this period, surging 257 per cent. Imports and exports increased 158.4 per cent to 25,100 tonnes.
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
2012-05-16
The National Tourism Zone "Avaza" in Turkmenistan, on coast of the Caspian Sea, will host the 3rd International Turkmenistan Gas Congress - TGC 2012, 23-24 May 2012. The organizers of the congress are National Gas Company of Turkmenistan TurkmenGas, Chamber of Commerce of Turkmenistan, and Summit Trade Events (London).
TGC 2012 will be attended by about 500 delegates from 150 companies and organizations from 32 countries worldwide. Among the participants of the Congress are senior management, specialists of the Turkmenistan Oil & Gas industry, foreign VIP guests, diplomats accredited in Turkmenistan, and representatives of local and foreign press. 36 foreign specialized publications will provide information support for the event.
Among the participants are 45 speakers and 50 dignitaries from foreign ministries and national companies. Among them are the representatives of the European Commission, U.S. Department of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Kingdom, Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of the Republic of Korea, Ministry of Economy and Knowledge of the Republic of Korea, the Russian Ministry of Energy, Foreign & Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom, and representatives from national oil companies from Azerbaijan, China, Iran, Russia, Malaysia and Indonesia.
The extensive program of the Congress will address the current issues of development of gas industry of Turkmenistan and the opportunities for investment in the sector.
Organising committee
In the first three months of 2012 the Port of Hamburg achieved total throughput of 32.6 million tons (+ 3.8 percent). At 2.2 million TEU (20-ft standard containers), throughput on the container handling that predominates in Hamburg as a universal port was 5.2 percent higher than in the first quarter of 2011. Compared to the main ports further West, Hamburg thus gained additional market share and strengthened its position as the Northern European hub for container traffic; Rotterdam’s throughput was down by 3.9 percent, while Antwerp’s increase was comparatively minimal at 0.7 percent.
In the first quarter of 2012 total seaborne cargo throughput in Germany’s largest universal port reached a volume of 32.6 million tons (+ 3.8 percent). The Port of Hamburg performed especially strongly on general cargo throughput and managed a positive result on overall throughput despite some downturns in the bulk goods area.
By comparison with the first quarter of 2011, on general cargo throughput the Port of Hamburg achieved a 7.9 percent advance to 23.1 million tons. Growth here was primarily powered by the strong trend in exports of containerized general cargoes. Here the Port of Hamburg handled export volume of 11.4 million tons in the first three months of the year, representing an increase of 11.1 percent. Europe‘s second largest container port also performed well on imports of containerized general cargoes, with volume of 11.2 million tons representing 5.5 percent growth.
“We are delighted that with a 5.2 percent rise in container throughput in the first quarter, the Port of Hamburg is markedly ahead of the 2.4 percent average growth for the four major ports in the North Range,” comments Claudia Roller, CEO of Port of Hamburg Marketing: “The excellent result in this segment is what triggered the Port of Hamburg’s overall growth in the first quarter of 2012. For the remainder of the year we are reckoning on a further increase in total throughput.”
“We are headed in the right direction and have gained notable market shares. This is indicative for competitiveness of the Port of Hamburg”, stresses Jens Meier, HPA managing director. “Considering container handling figures and the market shares in the northern European Ports range the Port of Hamburg even surpasses forecasts of the 2010 ISL potential analysis.”
In the first quarter of 2012 altogether 1.2 million TEU (- 5.0 percent) were handled in seaborne container traffic with Asia. The Port of Hamburg’s marketing organization assumes that the trend in container volumes in the Asia trade has primarily been influenced since the beginning of the year by reductions in capacity and the cessation of some liner services. “Downturns in the Asia trade are a momentary phenomenon caused by restructuring of various liner services. However, we are expecting new East Asia container liner services in the Port of Hamburg in the course of the first half year,” says Claudia Roller.
The trend in container throughput with the Baltic area in the first quarter of 2012 was very positive. Increases were also achieved in the Europe and America trades. Container traffic with the Baltic region achieved a noteworthy increase of 19.6 percent and reached 531,000 TEU. As the easternmost seaport in the North Range, the Port of Hamburg is the most significant foreign trade hub for foreign trade with the Baltic region: a high proportion of the cargoes exchanged between the countries of Northern & Eastern Europe and overseas is routed in the transhipment trade by feedership via the Port of Hamburg. In the Baltic region, Russia and Finland are the Port of Hamburg’s most significant trading partners for seaborne container transport. With around 151 sailings per week, Hamburg continues to offer the densest network anywhere in Northern Europe of feeder links with the entire Baltic region. In addition, new feeder service to the United Kingdom and the Scandinavian countries produced a distinct advance with 41,000 TEU (+ 37.6 percent) and 232,000 TEU (+ 8.1 percent), respectively. Altogether, in the first quarter the Port of Hamburg‘s European container trades grew by 18.4 percent to 694,000 TEU.
With 279,000 TEU, in the first three months the America trade as a whole achieved distinct growth of 33.3 percent. The primary reasons for this were new and extended liner services from Canada via the USA and on to South America. These produced growth in container throughput for the Port of Hamburg. At 55,000 TEU (- 6.2 percent) and 8,000 TEU (- 9.7 percent), respectively, in the first quarter totals for the Africa and Australia/Pacific container trades were both lower.
Bulk cargo throughput in the first quarter of 2012 at 9.5 million tons (- 4.8 percent) was below the previous year‘s. Whereas grab cargo throughput in the first three months of 2012 at 4.8 million tons was 5.0 percent up on 2011, throughput of both liquid and suction cargoes was down. Among grab cargoes, the Port of Hamburg performed especially strongly on ore imports, which were 27 percent higher at 2.3 million tons. First-quarter throughput of liquid cargoes at 3.1 million tons was down by 14.8 percent on the previous year. Downturns in crude oil imports and in both exports and imports of oil products could not be offset by an 11.9 percent advance in throughput of other liquid cargoes on the import side. In the first quarter of 2012 suction cargo throughput at 1.5 million tons remained 9.7 percent below the comparable figure in the previous year. The main reason for this was the lower volume of grain and oil fruit imports, which caused a 10.4 percent downturn in the total quantity imported to 877,000 tons. The remaining suction goods products, mainly feedstuffs, although producing an excellent result with 33 percent growth, did not suffice with total throughput of 60,000 tons to offset the reduced imports of grain and oil fruits. At 637,000 tons, exports of grain and all other suction cargoes were down by 8.7 percent in the first three months.
At 528,000 tons, throughput of non-containerized general cargoes was 6.1 percent lower than in the previous year. One cause of this was the downturn in imports of conventionally stowed citrus fruits (- 39.7 percent) to 74,000 tons. Progressive containerization of general cargo throughput in the Port of Hamburg is the reason for this trend: nowadays a high proportion of the citrus fruit handled here reaches the port in reefer containers. It was primarily vehicle exports that ensured a positive trend in the general cargo area. At 133,000 tons, throughput of these climbed by an impressive 21 percent. With heavy cargoes and project shipments, in the first quarter of 2012 the Port of Hamburg remains on a growth curve, with exports up by 21.8 percent at 142,000 tons and imports 13.6 percent higher at 38,000 tons.
Source Port of Hamburg
A number of challenges lie in front of the roll-on/roll-off industry, but how well equipped are businesses to cope with the European Commission’s new environmental regulations? That’s just one of the areas that will be discussed at this year’s RORO event, which is being held in Gothenburg, Sweden, from 22-24 May.
The European Commission’s (EC) announcement that operators will be forced to cut shipping fuel sulphur content on short sea routes in northern European waters to 0.1% from 2015, has received mixed reaction from some of the biggest ro-ro providers.
The debate as to whether it’s a positive or negative move is likely to go on for some time, with some seeing it as a threat that will lower competitiveness against other modes, whilst others see the positives in terms of the environmental benefits. However, one thing is clear, it is unlikely that the EC will backtrack on the proposals that it passed last year.
Over the coming years, ro-ro operators across Europe will have to embrace new, innovative ways of working in order to meet the EC’s environmental regulations. Shipping lines will be looking at innovative ways of reducing sulphur emissions and fuel consumption, whilst other stakeholders will be examining their own operations. Which is why this year’s RORO event, held in Gothenburg, Sweden, couldn’t come at a better time.
Sophie Ahmed, Event Director of RORO, commented: “There is plenty of scope for innovation and originality in the ro-ro industry and these are the exact issues and topics we will be focusing on at RORO this year. The regulation changes present a huge challenge to the sector and I’m looking forward to the conference sessions which will create a dialogue on how sustainability can be improved, both through existing means and those that are around the corner. I am also expecting the exhibition to be extremely busy this year, with operators searching for the latest innovations that will help reduce emissions and improve efficiency.”
Debating the way forward
However, the environment is not the only item on the agenda at this year’s RORO. For the first time in its history, RORO will feature free-to-attend conference sessions throughout the three-day event, covering the most important issues affecting the industry.
Running on the exhibition floor, visitors including car manufacturers, shippers, port and terminal operators and shipping lines, will be able to hear from a host of leading experts working within the ro-ro industry.
Mike Garratt, Managing Director of MDS Transmodal, who is regarded as one of the most informed observers of the rail, shipping and ports industries in the UK, will kick-off the new-look RORO conference sessions on 22 May. During his presentation, he will offer visitors a unique insight into the global ro-ro industry and examine future trends, opportunities and threats.
Following Mr Garratt’s presentation, key territories, including the Mediterranean, Asia, North Sea, UK and Ireland, will be analysed in detail. Experts from each region will present their views on the current state of their market and offer insights into what the future holds.
Port infrastructure is also on the agenda for day one at RORO. As the shipping industry changes, ports will be challenged to improve their operations, with operators looking for the best and most efficient services. Two important figures in the ro-ro industry, Dr Gernot Tesch, Managing Director of Scandlines Deutschland, and Lennart Scensson, Executive Vice-President – Port and Logistics at TTS Group ASA, will explain what rolling cargo shipping lines currently require from terminals and how their demands might change in the future. The sessions will be essential for ports looking to secure their long-term futures.
As part of a special ‘green ro-ro’ session on day two, Sara Sköld, an environmental specialist at the Clean Shipping Project – which was founded in order to increase focus on the environmental issues of shipping – will speak about the latest ‘green’ initiatives being rolled out across Europe. She will be joined by Åsa Wilske, an Environment Manager at the Port of Gothenburg, who will discuss a range of topics, including onshore power supply, and explain the terminal’s latest ‘green’ practices.
On day three of RORO, a special conference session will run throughout the morning, devoted to the ro-ro industry in the Baltic states. Organised by the Baltic Transport Journal, visitors will be able to hear from a number of experts based in the region, who will discuss the most important issues facing the operators over the next few years.
Finally, as part of the all-encompassing programme, visitors will also be able to hear from a leading figure in the shipping industry on how operators can best combine passengers and freight.
See, show and discuss, one-to-one
In addition to being the place to learn more about the industry, RORO is recognised as the place to do business in the ro-ro industry. During the last edition of the event, visitors from more than 52 countries were present on the exhibition floor. This year, companies from across Europe will be displaying their latest products and services to buyers from car manufacturers, freight forwarders, terminal operators, shipping lines and road hauliers.
Two of the major ro-ro shipping lines, Wallenius Wilhelmsen and Stena RoRo, have confirmed their presence at the event, their involvement further establishes RORO as the industry’s most important meeting place.
In addition, TTS Marine AB, Wagenborg Shipping, Godby Shipping, Finnish Ro-Ro Owners, BLG Logistics Group, Seaports of Niedersachsen and Ockero Maritime Centre. Whilst, the Port of Gothenberg, Port Authority of Vigo, Port of Bilbao Authority, Port Of Hamina/Kotka, Port of Hanko and Port Of Helsinki will be present to highlight their plans for the future to visitors.
Getting more from RORO
To ensure that visitors get the most from their visit to RORO, the event’s organiser has announced that a special training zone will run on the exhibition floor on all three days. Visitors looking to develop their skills and knowledge will be able to discuss their requirements with leading training providers.
Networking opportunities at RORO have always been exceptional and this year’s show in Gothenburg will be no different. The event will once again feature a networking bar, where exhibitors, speakers and VIPs will be able to mingle for an extra hour after the event has closed to discuss ideas and opportunities.
Sophie Ahmed said: “Ro-ro short-sea shipping will play a hugely important role in future sustainable supply chains across Europe. Our aim, through the event and the blog, is to provide businesses with all the tools they need to plan for a successful future.
“We’re looking forward to this year’s RORO, which I’m sure will be one of the most informative in the event’s long history.”
For further information about RORO, please visit www.roroex.com.
2012-05-16
With the establishment of a Multi Cargo Consolidation gateway in Shanghai, Kuehne + Nagel has further strengthened its less-thancontainer- load (LCL) offerings in the Asia Pacific region and thus has also expanded the scope of services to Eastern Europe.
The new gateway complements Kuehne + Nagel’s existing direct services in Shanghai and serves as an alternative to the company’s other two gateways in Singapore and Sri Lanka. A total of 28 new gateway services have been operational from Shanghai with effect from May 1, 2012.
Especially for the Eastern Europe region, with growing volumes imported from Central and North China, the new gateway will optimize the transport chain, improving the service portfolio and at the same time reducing CO2 emissions. It will also ensure higher shipment frequency which increases the flexibility for the customers.
With the availability of domestic feeder and trucking services, LCL shipments from the northern and central Chinese ports of Dalian, Tianjin, Qingdao, Ningbo and Xiamen can be seamlessly connected with Kuehne + Nagel’s bonded warehouse facilities in Shanghai prior to their further deliveries to overseas markets.
The newly implemented routes are operated by Blue Anchor Line, Kuehne + Nagel’s in-house NVOCC. Customers can easily access their shipment status across the supply chain via KN Login, Kuehne + Nagel’s 24/7 webbased visibility and monitoring tool.
Source Kuehne + Nagel
Tajik carrier Tajik Air will initiate regular flights from the Tajik capital Dushanbe to the Pakistani capital Islamabad later this month, said the Tajik Ambassador to Pakistan on Monday, reported the Pakistani media.
"Tajik Air will operate two flights a week from June in the first place and will add Karachi and Lahore to its operation later on," said Tajik Ambassador Zubaydullo Zubaydov following a meeting with Pakistani trade officials.
The country’s administration will also open a visa office in its Karachi consulate to make it easier for Pakistani businessmen to visit Tajikistan.
At the consulate will also be a showcase to introduce Tajik products to Pakistani entrepreneurs in the hopes of spurring investment in the post-Soviet state.
Tajikistan is looking to improve trade relations with Pakistan, from which it is separated by a tiny sliver of Afghan territory.
Central Asian News Service, en.ca-news.org
Turkmenistan offers establishment of transport and trade corridors for the development of economies of CIS states, said President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov, CIS Chairperson-in-Office in 2012, during information meeting of CIS Heads of States on May 5.
Berdymuhamedov also said that Turkmenistan holds international forum dedicated to perspectives of development of transportation and transit to Central Asian and Caspian Basin states.
In this regards, the President offered to consider “promising ideas for formation of multi-variant transportation routes at CIS territory that will lead to large sectors of the global market. Transportation infrastructure of Turkmenistan could become main chain in those routes considering huge potential and projects North-South and East-West that are currently being implemented in Turkmenistan,” said the President and also offered to consider prospects of entering to Middle East, South and South East Asian markets.
Central Asian News Service, en.ca-news.org
Riga. The Supervisory Board of Latvian national airline airBaltic has approved Martin Sedlacky as the new Chief Operations Officer and Member of the executive Board.
Martin Gauss, Chief Executive Officer of airBaltic: “airBaltic has an excellent team in operations, who achieved outstanding efficiency and made airBaltic the most punctual regional airline in continental Europe in 2011. We are delighted to welcome Martin Sedlacky as a new Chief Operations Officer and a Member of the executive Board. I am confident that he will be a tremendous asset to airBaltic’s operations and continue to contribute to business restructuring programme airBaltic ReShape.”
In the past decade, Martin Sedlacky has had a strong focus on business restructurings, including airlines, across Central and Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, USA, Singapore, Malaysia. As part of Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Martin Sedlacky spent the past seven years working on business consultancy projects in transportation and other industries. In the past four months, Martin Sedlacky made a significant contribution as a BCG project leader focussing on airBaltic ReShape programme. He has received an Engineer degree and CEMS Master’s in International Management from the University of Economics in Prague and Helsinki School of Economics.
The executive board of airBaltic consists of three members. Chief Executive Officer Martin Gauss is the Chairman of the Board. The new Chief Operations Officer Martin Sedlacky will join Chief Finance Officer Vitolds Jakovļevs as a member of the Board.
airBaltic serves 60 destinations with direct flights from its home base in Riga, Latvia. From every one of these, airBaltic offers convenient connections via North Hub Riga to its network spanning Europe, Scandinavia, Russia, CIS and the Middle East.
Source AIR BALTIC CORPORATION
Ukraine started 2012 with a bounce in trade as it saw its exports grow by 14.5 percent in the first month of the year. The revival is a welcome sign for the country which, like many others, was hit hard by the world financial crisis. As part of its attempts to increase its trade, Ukraine is making overtures to its sea neighbor, Turkey. Said Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych last year: ‘‘We are entering a new stage of relations between Turkey and Ukraine as countries that have stable, predictable partnership relations". The two countries have a long history. Turkey forged good relations with Ukraine before it became part of the Soviet Union. It was also one of the first countries to recognize Ukraine when it became independent in 1991. While trade between the two is already strong, there are moves to increase that. The two countries created a high-level Strategic Council and announced the start of talks in December on introducing a free-trade area and visa exemption. ‘‘We consider it possible to increase bilateral trade to $20 billion by the end of 2015 and to $40 billion by 2020,’’ said Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In 2011, the two countries had a trade turnover of $5 billion, a drop from the high figure of $6.5 billion in 2008, but nevertheless a figure on the rise after the $3 billion low of 2009. Turkey is Ukraine’s sixth-biggest trade partner, receiving 3.2 percent of Ukrainian exports. Most of Ukraine’s exports go to the Commonwealth of Independent States, made up of 12 former Soviet states, and to the European Union. Representing a total population of 120 million, a free-trade area between the two countries would create a huge market. It would also give Ukraine better access to other markets through Turkey. ‘‘It is extremely advantageous for us to continue to develop trade and economic relations,’’ the Ukrainian ambassador to Turkey, Serhiy Korsunsky, said late last year". We have started negotiations on the agreement on a free-trade area. Turkey is an ideal bridge for us to the Middle East and Arab countries". The Middle East is an attractive market for Ukraine, with its exports of arms, steel, high-tech aviation and agricultural produce. Ukraine, meanwhile, is important as a transit point for Turkey to markets in northern Europe, Russia and Central Asia. Ukraine currently exports steel products, mineral fertilizers, and chemical and agricultural products to Turkey. Turkey is an important exporter to Ukraine, sending its food products — especially fruit and nuts — cars and clothes. Ukraine and Turkey have noticeably increased their diplomatic engagement. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kostyantyn Gryshchenko visited Turkey four times in 2011, and President Yanukovych made a one-day visit in December. The two countries have cooperated before, as both are part of the initiatives of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization. In May 2010, the two countries signed an action plan aimed at developing bilateral relations. The most recent move came in March, when Mykola Azarov, the Ukrainian prime minister, announced that Turkish companies investing in tourism would be exempt from taxes and that taxes on exports from Turkey would be reduced. ‘‘We are inviting Turkish investors to invest in Ukraine", said Azarov at a meeting in Istanbul. Taxes on Turkish imports have been reduced from 20 percent to 14 percent, he said. There are currently 128 Turkish projects in Ukraine and a total of about $1 billion in Turkish investment in the country, a figure that could be vastly increased if Turkey, a country that has far more experience in the tourism market, can be attracted to develop the sector in Ukraine. One other measure suggested by Ahmet Bulent Meric, the Turkish ambassador to Ukraine, is for a new ferry service between the two countries, linking the ports of Yalta in the Crimean peninsula and Sinop in northern Turkey. The two countries are also set to cooperate in energy, transportation and the defense industry. Energy cooperation was discussed at the Strategic Council in December, and Turkey is set to join the Ukrainian-Belarussian-Lithuanian train transportation project, which would grant it access to the markets in the Baltic Sea area. Turkey is also planning to use Ukraine’s well-known Dnipro space launchers for its satellites. In addition, there are possible plans for cooperation on a new tank, according to Nataliya Novakova, an analyst at the Penta Center of Applied Political Studies in Kyiv. ‘‘Ukraine will benefit in the long run by moving now to strengthen its strategic relations with Turkey," she wrote last year. New York Times All news
Odessa Commercial Sea Port
Samherji Hf has entered the Northeast Atlantic cod, haddock and herring fisheries for full assessment for Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification [1]. The fisheries will be assessed by independent certifier Food Certification International Ltd (FCI). If successful, over 22.440 MT of Atlantic cod, 4.680 MT of Atlantic haddock and 36.620 MT of Atlantic herring (2011) will be eligible to bear the MSC ecolabel.
The cod and haddock fleet comprises 13 fresh fish and freezer vessels, ranging from 40 to 70 meters long, using bottom trawl and longline. The herring fishery comprises 4 pelagic trawlers, ranging from 60 to 110 meters long, using mid-water trawl and seine nets. The fishery takes place year round in the North Atlantic Sea (FAO statistical area 27).
The fishery produces a variety of products such as fresh cod and haddock loins, individual quick frozen portions in costumers demand shapes and sizes as well as fillets. The herring fishery products are mainly whole frozen herring, fillets or flaps. A small part of the herring production goes for fishmeal and fish oil, mainly as by-product from filleting. Samherji’s main markets are within the EU and Eastern Europe, USA and Asia.
What Samherji says
Gustaf Baldvinsson, head of Samherji Sales says: “For the past few years we at Samherji, together with our group companies, have monitored the progress of the MSC program. MSC has yielded results in the certification of sustainable fishing in waters across the globe. Increasingly more companies have decided to seek independent certification of their fishing operations including Samherji’s daughter companies in the Faroe Islands and Germany, along with with our main competitors in Norway. We have found that our customers are very keen that our fishing in Iceland should to be certifiedto the MSC standard.. By seeking certification of our cod, haddock and herring from Iceland we are responding to those wishes. The MSC assessment – and, we hope, eventual certification - will confirm that our engagement in sustainable fishing meets our customers expectations.”
What the MSC says
Gisli Gislason, MSC’s Icelandic consultant says: “I welcome the cod, haddock and herring fisheries from Samherji into the MSC assessment process. The increasing participation of fisheries from Iceland in the MSC program shows that independent credible verification of sustainability matters, and that seafood markets increasingly ask for this. The independent transparent certification process required to achieve certification to the MSC standard adds credibility and weight to regional claims about responsible fisheries management. I wish Samherji a good assessment process, and eagerly look forward to hopefully positive outcomes early in 2013”.
MSC
Kiel is expecting a total of seven cruise ships to make their first call this year
The cruise ship “Artania” of Phoenix Seereisen made its first call in Kiel today (May 15th) at the end of a short trip around Skagen. It was welcomed by a water fountain display from one of the port tugs. During an on-board reception Cathy Kietzer, president of the federal state capital of Schleswig-Holstein, officially welcomed the ship, passengers and crew, and presented the traditional First Call badge to Captain Jens Thorn. Cathy Kietzer: “A first call is always something very special. We are very pleased that the “Artania” is performing the first kick-off to a number of inaugural visits this year.” The “Artania” is the first of a total of seven cruise ships which will make their first call at Kiel this year. On June 3rd, Kiel is expecting the “MSC Magnifica”, while the “Columbus 2”, the “Hamburg” and the sailing ship “Star Flyer,” will be the new guests to the Kieler Woche (16th – 24th June). On July 24th, Cunard’s “Queen Elizabeth” will follow, forming the seasonal highlight, before the “Thomson Spirit” makes its first call in Kiel on August 24th.
Dr. Dirk Claus, managing director of the PORT OF KIEL (SEEHAFEN KIEL GmbH & Co. KG) said: “We are proud that Kiel is again among the base ports of Phoenix Seereisen. Kiel, with its modern terminals, first-class service and easy accessibility, is the ideal turnaround port, especially for German passengers.” The “Artania” was built as the “Royal Princess” in 1984, and measures 44,500 gross tons. She is 231 metres long and can accommodate up to 1,200 passengers. This year the ship is expected to visit the Ostseekai four times, in order to exchange passengers. Her final call during this year’s season will be on Friday, June 22nd, during the Kieler Woche. At around 7 p.m. tonight, the “Artania” will be heading for Riga, her first destination of a ten-day cruise to the “Pearls of the Baltic Sea.”
PORT OF KIEL
In April 2012, Latvian airline airBaltic operated 4,272 flights, or 13% less than in April 2011 when airBaltic operated 4,889 flights.
The airline carried 252,034 passengers in April. During the first four months of 2012, airBaltic transported a total of 841,146 passengers.
The airline’s load factor, which represents the number of passengers as a proportion of the number of available seats, in April 2012 was at a level of 71%.
The airline achieved a 3 percentage point improvement of load factor to 70% for the first four months of 2012, compared to the first four months in 2011.
The 15-minute flight punctuality indicator for airBaltic was at a level of 90.4% in April 2012. This means that 90 of every 100 airBaltic flights in April departed at the planned time or with a delay of no more than 15 minutes.
A/S Air Baltic Corporation
THE Mediterranean Shipping Company's 4,651-TEU MSC Idil has suffered an on board explosion that damaged the hull in the fuel and cargo areas, causing the ship to list after taking water.
No injuries were reported to the ship's 25-man as a result of the incident, which took place 60 nautical miles north of San Juan, Puerto Rico.
London's Containerisation International reported the explosion was caused by welding work. The report also said the crew was controlling the ship's stability by using onboard pumps to manage flooding.
The US Coast Guard has concluded that there is no immediate threat to the ship, which carries fuel oil and diesel when the explosion occurred.
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
JAPAN's NYK Line and Thailand's Regional Container Lines (RCL) have launched a new joint Thailand-Vietnam-Canton service (TVC/RBH).
The three-week TVC/RBH service runs with three 1,000-TEU ships, two of which from RCL and one from NYK. The first sailing was scheduled on May 13 from Bangkok by vessel Chana Bhum. The rotation includes Bangkok, Laem Chabang, Haiphong, Shenzhen-Shekou, Hong Kong, Haiphong, Hong Kong, Shenzhen-Shekou and back to Bangkok.
This new service, reported maritime analyst Alphaliner, replaces several port connections provided by NYK's Thailand-Vietnam-Singapore (TVS) service that is jointly operated with Vinalines and encompasses RCL's Shekou to Haiphong service (RSH).
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
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