TIANJIN Port Group (TPG) and Singapore's PSA International (PSA) have signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement to develop Tianjin Port, Xinhua reports.
So far, PSA has invested in two of the port's container terminals, namely Tianjin Port Pacific International Container Terminal (TPCT) and Tianjin Port Alliance International Container Terminal (TACT).
These two facilities have a total of 10 berths that can handle the biggest containerships. This makes "Tianjin Port one of the preferred ports of call for mega containerships in the northeast Asia region," said the joint statement.
Said TPG president Tian Chang Song: "Both organisations recognise the tremendous potential of Tianjin Port as a major container hub in the Bohai Rim to support the further development of industries and hinterland investments in northeast China. Together, TPG and PSA aim to ensure that Tianjin Port will be a world class facility for global container shipping."
Said PSA chief executive Tan Chong Meng: "PSA is committed to give its best expertise and resources to help develop Tianjin Port into a resounding success."
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
ZHEJIANG Provincial Transportation Department and government of Yiwu city have issued the province's first road cargo transportation rate index after one year's trial operation, to provide reference for the making of logistics industry policies, Xinhua reports.
The Yiwu road freight rate index is comprised of indicators of rate and industry prosperity. Statistics are collected from transportation routes from Yiwu, a manufacturing base of the Yangtze River Delta.
The index released in April was 103.14 points, down 0.5 points compared to March, but still in the prosperity section. Container rate index was 106.74.
Besides providing reference for policy makers, the index can also help to lead market competition onto an orderly and healthy track, experts said.
Experts from the industry said Yiwu's products has lower prices and profit, which makes buyers or suppliers of these product care more about the cost of transportation. This situation has resulted in destructive price undercutting competition of carriers.
With launch of the index, freight rate has become steady. Difference has narrowed between the rates of the cargo on the same route and of the same weight. Customers are shifting their focus to efficiency and service quality.
Zhejiang Provincial Transportation Department deputy director Zheng Liming said the government plans to widen the adoption of freight rate index to other cities in the province like Hangzhou and Ningbo.
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
China Shipping (Group) Co, the parent company of China Shipping Container Lines Co Ltd., announced that it issued CNY2 billion (US$316.1 million) worth of unsecured medium-term notes with a maturity of three years on May 22, Xinhua reports.
The company said in a statement that the notes will be issued at face value, and the coupon rate be determined during the process of book-building. Both value date and payment due date was May 24, and the to-be-issued notes tradable on May 25.
China Cheng Xin International Credit Rating Co. Ltd. has rated the issuer and notes AAA and AAA, respectively.
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
THE increase of Nigerian port container throughput has increased in the first quarter by 5.7 per cent to 210,057 TEU laden due to investments by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and terminal operators, said the NPA general manager Michael Ajayi.
Vessel traffic surged by 42 per cent to 63,992 units compared to previous year's 45,077 while empty container throughput rose by 18.9 per cent to 161,107 TEU year on year.
According to NPA. the concession programme starting in 2006 led to a massive marine rehabilitation of port infrastructure which involved laying of channel marker buoys, maintenance dredging and the removal of 24 wrecks along the Lagos Channels.
"These efforts have attracted more vessels as safe and secure navigation has been guaranteed," said NPA managing director Omar Suleiman, reported Nigeria's Business Hallmark, and will continue to attract larger vessels.
Investment from terminal operators include the Port and Terminal Multiservice Limited (PTML) of US$100 million in infrastructure development and APM Terminals invested about $200 million in upgrading and modernising the Apapa Container Terminal in the last six years.
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
SAFMARINE has taken delivery of the 'Safmarine Chachai,' a new 4,500 TEU, WAFMAX containership.
The newbuilding joins her sister-ships, the Safmarine Chilka and Safmarine Chambal, in the A.P Moller-Maersk fleet.
The vessels were built by Hyundai Heavy Industries and are fitted with super long-stroke main engines and a waste heat recovery system to reduce emissions and save fuel.
"Not only has this modern new vessel been purpose-built for the growing trade with Africa, but it is yet another example of the A.P. Moller-Maersk Group's commitment to investing in modern, more environmentally-friendly vessels," said Safmarine CEO, Grant Daly, in a company statement.
Damco air cargo soars with NTS purchase, revenues rise, but profits flat
DAMCO, the standalone forwarder of the AP Moller-Maersk Group, has posted a flat first quarter operating profit at US$7 million, drawn on revenues of $738 million, up eight per cent.
First quarter sea freight volumes increased six per cent, while Damco's air freight more than doubled, bucking a global financial ebb tide in the industry. This was attributed to acquisition of China air forwarder NTS. But even excluding the NTS purchase, air freight volume increased 37 per cent.
In the supply chain management segment, new customer contracts signed in the first three months are expected to lift the flat first quarter performance as the year progresses, starting in the second quarter.
"I am pleased to see that we are making good progress under difficult market conditions. Our growth bears testament to the resonance our supply chain services are finding with customers," said Damco CEO Rolf Habben-Jansen.
Mr Habben-Jansen said the company faced unusual costs in first three months. "We will absorb additional cost in the first two quarters because of the restructuring of our European region into East and West. This is the right thing to do to position us for the years to come. When the changes are all implemented at the end of Q2, Damco will be in a stronger position to address the very different needs of these diverse markets," he said.
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
EVERGREEN announced plans to inaugurate a new service named SGE from South India to Persian Gulf in June.
Evergreen will deploy two 2,000-TEU ships on the weekly service. Port rotation is Cochin, Colombo, Jebel Ali and back to Cochin. The maiden sailing is to set off on June 5 from Colombo.
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
THE UK's rail regulator has set forward a proposal to set new rail freight charges to cover iron ore, potential biomass and other coal types despite risks of a 10 per cent loss in traffic in 2014, according to the UK's Freight Transport Association.
Proposed charges would send a "negative signal" and make other sectors, such as retailers, who will think again about making a shift to from truck rail, because rail is more expensive than trucking, said FTA policy manager Chris MacRae reports the UK's Transport Intelligence.
"It only works if rail costs and efficiencies can continue on a downward trajectory to compete with road," said Mr MacRae.
The introduction of a marginal price for operators by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) would pay for the maintenance of the network and involve a freight-specific charge for certain industrial sectors, currently only charged to ESI coal for power generation and spent nuclear fuel industries.
By using "variable usage charges" it risks alienating the modal shift from road to rail, said Mr MacRae, who has implemented a campaign called Mode Shift to encourage shippers of goods to freight to use less-polluting means. It has seen the elimination of an equivalent of 6.7 million road journeys and CO2 emissions by 70 per cent compared to trucks.
The consultation period will end August 10 with an industry workshop from ORR to all stakeholders on July 5, registration can be found at www.rail-reg.gov.uk/pr13.
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
SINGAPORE Changi Airport handled 148,200 tonnes of cargo during April, 4.9 per cent less cargo than during the same month a year earlier, owing to a nine per cent decrease in exports.
On a rolling 12-month basis, Changi moved 1.86 million tonnes of cargo, a growth of 1.3 per cent year on year, a statement from airport authorities said.
During the month, the airport managed 4.21 million passenger movements, 12.7 per cent higher than the same month last year. Aircraft movements increased by 8.8 per cent to 26,400 movements.
Passenger traffic in April improved across all regions with routes to and from the Middle East, South Asia, northeast Asia and southeast Asia achieving strong results. Among Changi's key markets, China, India and Japan registered the greatest growth.
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
THAILAND's budget Business Air will start a direct flights from central China's major city of Wuhan to Bangkok on June 27, Xinhua reports.
Business Air becomes the first foreign low-cost carrier to launch service from Wuhan. With the new service, Wuhan's travellers to Bangkok no longer have to transit via Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xian, Xiamen or Changsha.
The new service offers three flights per week on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, using Boeing 767 aircraft.
According to statistics from Wuhan's tourism department, 22,900 people visited Thailand last year, making it one of the most popular tourism destinations of the local people.
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
AUSTRALIA's Qantas Airlines is to be restructured with its international and domestic services to be run as two distinct businesses starting July 1.
The Qantas Group also announced that changes are to be made to its executive team as it enters the next phase of the five-year transformation plan launched in August 2011.
After being restructured over the coming months, Qantas International and Qantas Domestic - currently combined as 'Qantas Airlines' - will be formally managed as two distinct businesses. Each will have its own CEO and its own operational and commercial functions. Their financial results will also be reported separately. This change will enable a greater focus on the priorities of turning around the Qantas International business and enhancing the strong Qantas Domestic business, as part of the overall group strategy.
A number of changes will be made to the Qantas group's executive management under chief executive officer Alan Joyce.
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
Global port operator will hand over property in return for long-term partnership to take on Hampton Roads operations
PORTSMOUTH, Va. – APM Terminals of Portsmouth, Va., has submitted a proposal to the Commonwealth of Virginia for a strategic partnership with the Port of Virginia.
APM Terminals is offering to be responsible for the operation of all Port of Virginia facilities in Hampton Roads and related inland locations. APM Terminals will bring efficient operations through global knowledge, experience and management expertise in order to optimize the flow of cargo through the Commonwealth. Operation of the Port of Virginia by APM Terminals will result in an efficient, integrated and modern complex.
Under the terms of the proposal, APM Terminals will transfer ownership of its facility in Portsmouth to the Commonwealth of Virginia. The total financial value to the Commonwealth over the term of the partnership is estimated to be between $3 and $4 billion (in today’s dollars) through initial payments, fixed concession payments, revenue sharing, capital investments, and tax benefits, transferring market risk from the Commonwealth to the private sector.
APM Terminals is committed to Hampton Roads through its significant investments and is a trusted partner to ports worldwide. APM Terminals successfully designed, built, and implemented the leading U.S terminal, one of the largest public port investments in U.S. history, right here in Portsmouth.
“We are excited about this potential next step in our relationship with the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Virginia Port Authority,” said Eric Sisco, APM Terminals Americas Region President. “Our proposal provides for the lowest cost, long term solution for future growth at this time of a stabilizing economy and the eventual expansion of global commerce.”
The proposal submitted under the guidelines of the Virginia Public-Private Transportation Act will undergo a detailed review in the coming months. The 50 page document has been submitted to the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Office of Transportation Public-Private Partnerships and can be obtained by going to: http://www.vappta.org/projects.asp
APM Terminals
2012-05-24
- Two strong brands join forces
- CeMAT to stage a major intralogistics showcase at transport logistic
Deutsche Messe and Messe München International have announced a new form of collaboration with regard to the staging of their world-leading (intra)logistics events, CeMAT and transport logistic. “We are committed to pooling our strengths: As of 2013 Deutsche Messe will be contributing its CeMAT expertise and leveraging its industry contacts for the staging of an intralogistics showcase within transport logistic in Munich, while our Munich partners will be mounting a display of transport logistic themes at CeMAT in Hannover. Thanks to our collaboration, each of the two trade shows can provide coverage of the entire logistics value chain. It will also give our respective exhibitor bases greater and more continuous market exposure and put them in touch with a significantly wider array of potential customers,” commented Dr. Andreas Gruchow, Member of the Managing Board at Deutsche Messe.
Dr. Wolf-Dietrich Müller, Senior Executive Director at Messe München GmbH, underscored Gruchow’s assessment by adding: “CeMAT and transport logistic complement each other perfectly. All around the globe, logistics is playing an ever more pivotal role, and this is leading to a major upswing in the demand for logistics equipment and solutions. Our cooperation means added value and new market opportunities for our customers. At the same time we will be helping Germany to increase its competitive edge in the international logistics marketplace.”
Intralogistics showcase within transport logistic
At the next staging of transport logistics (4 to 7 June 2013), CeMAT content will enhance the show’s coverage of intralogistics themes. At the next CeMAT (19 to 23 May 2014), the makers of transport logistics will reciprocate and round CeMAT off with full coverage of up- and downstream topics such as logistics, mobility, IT and supply chain management. The makers of both trade fairs are expecting the new cooperation to yield a great deal of long-term mutual benefit and enable them to reach out to new groups of potential exhibitors and visitors.
MESSE MÜNCHEN GMBH
JAPAN's largest carrier MOL has announced it will launch a new weekly China-Middle east service (CMS) departing Shanghai on June 8.
This MOL service complements the existing service run by Wan Hai Lines, Pacific International Lines and the "K" Line, said a company statement.
The 42-day CMS service is operated by a total of six vessels, in which MOL will provide one postpanamax ship, the 5,896-TEU MOL Solution.
Rotation of the CMS string includes Shanghai, Ningbo, Kaohsiung, Hong Kong, Shenzhen-Shekou, Singapore, Port Kelang, Jebel Ali, Karachi, Mundra, Port Kelang, Singapore, Hong Kong and back to Shanghai.
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
HAMBURG-based Hapag-Lloyd has announced it will impose a new round of rate increases for shipments from India and Pakistan to north Europe and the Mediterranean as well as from Japan to Arabian Gulf from June 1.
An increase of US$200 per TEU will be applied to services from India and Pakistan to north Europe and the Mediterranean, covering all shipments from India's west coast ports of Nhava Sheva (Jawaharlal Nehru) and Mundra to ports in north Europe, east and west Mediterranean, Black Sea and north Africa.
An increase of $500 per TEU will be imposed for service between Japan and the Arabian Gulf, comprising the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia (Dammam and Riyadh via Dammam).
The German carrier has also announced an "emergency fuel surcharge" of $150 per TEU on the same date for both dry and refrigerated cargo on service from India to north Europe and Mediterranean.
Hapag-Lloyd said the surcharge will be revised on a monthly basis in line with its bunker charge.
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
THE Port of Savannah, long the US east coast star for Asian imports, posted a 4.2 per cent decline in container volume in April year on year to 248,886 TEU, compared to 260,063 TEU the same period last year and 259,796 TEU in March.
Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) executive director Curtis Foltz said a "very fragile US economic recovery and on-going consumer uncertainty for the balance of 2012" were the main reasons of the contraction.
Conversely, roll-on and roll-off volumes at the GPA's Port of Brunswick grew 57.7 per cent year on year to a new high of 59,974 units. Mr Foltz said "the growing export market for vehicles and heavy equipment produced in Georgia and around the southeast" had driven the high volume boom.
The two ports handled a total of 2.3 million tons in April, the fourth highest recorded volumes, which were 75,000 tons lower than the all-time high marked in March.
Looking ahead, to cater for the growing heavy machinery exports, the GPA has appropriated $2.8 million to enhance the infrastructure at Colonel's Island in Brunswick for roads, bridges, staging areas and rail loading and offloading areas.
The authority has also accepted a recommendation by the US Army Corps of Engineers to deepen the Savannah Harbour to 47 feet for postpanamax container vessels.
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
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