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
THAILAND's Regional Container Lines (RCL) has posted a first quarter net loss of THB494 million (US$15.74 million), drawn on revenues of THB2.91 billion, down nine per cent year on year.
The disappointing performance was attributed to over-capacity and rising fuel costs, resulting in an operating loss of THB530 million, reported London's Containerisation International. Yet it marked an improvement over last year's quarterly loss of THB714 million.
RCL shipper-owned container lifting volume dropped seven per cent to 268,403 TEU in the first quarter year on year. Carrier-owned container liftings fell 17 per cent year on year to 265,579 TEU, resulting in an overall decline of 12 per cent to 533,982 TEU.
As for the future, RCL said: "Despite the successful implementation of freight rate increase in March, container carriers still face the challenges of uncertain demand, rate volatility, bunker costs and potential vessels' impairment if the charter hire rates continue to decline."
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
SOUTH Korea's Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) has begun construction of its first largest vessel of 20 on a US$3.6 billion order from Danish shipping giant Maersk with delivery expected second half 2013.
The 18,000-TEU containership will boast a deck wide enough for four football fields at 50 metres wide, and a length of 400 metres, said a report from Korea's Chosun news agency.
Its construction start date at DSME's Okpo shipyard in South Gyeongsang province was marked in a ceremony attended by Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik and his wife Mary, in Korea to coincide with the opening of the 2012 Yeosu Expo.
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
EREHOT checkpoint, the largest railway checkpoint on the Sino-Mongolian border, handled 2.58 million tonnes of imports and exports in the first quarter, an increase of 27.3 per cent compared to the same period in 2011, Xinhua reports.
Import grew 31.6 per cent to 2.07 million tonnes. Export grew 12.5 per cent to 509,100 tonnes.
Value of these cargos increased 17.8 per cent to US$921 million tonnes. Import value grew three per cent to $633 million. Export value surged 72.2 per cent to $288 million.
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
NEW ZEALAND's north island Port of Tauranga has ordered two Liebherr super post panamax ship-to-shore cranes to be delivered in 2013 and 2014, bringing the number of quay cranes to seven.
Box volumes were up 17.1 per cent at Tauranga to 344,081 TEU over a six-month period, an increase attributed to strikes at the rival Ports of Auckland.
Tauranga recently announced half-year record profits, noted UK's Port Technology International, adding that Auckland also lost contracts when Maersk and New Zealand's big dairy producer, Fonterra, which shifted away from troubled Auckland.
The new cranes have an outreach of 48 metres with a lift height of 32 metres. They have a 60-tonne capacity with a hoist speed of 70-175 metres per minute and a trolley speed of 220 metres per minute as well as a crane travel speed of 45 metres per minute.
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
THE container shipping industry in Asia is expected to break-even after the second quarter, according to UBS Investment Research, reported the Taipei Times.
After posting heavy first quarter losses, and facing difficulties in raising freight rates, UBS analyst Richard said: "Earnings recovery from the second quarter could still support the industry's sentiment."
The recent increase in spot rates, broken by a renewed decline, and growth in US container imports may be major factors leading to the sector's recovery, Mr Wei said.
The Asia-Europe forward rate last week dropped below US$1,800 per TEU, its lowest level since February, the report said, citing Shanghai Shipping Exchange data.
Compared with demand from Europe, inbound trade on the west coast of the US grew faster, which may offer some support to transpacific rates, UBS said.
The stronger growth in US container import demand has seen global container shipping firms redistribute their shipping.
Evergreen Marine, Taiwan's largest container shipping firm, said it would launch a new all-water service to the US with MOL, the biggest container shipping line in Japan.
The service, linking major Asian ports to key destinations on the US east coast via the Suez Canal, would begin next month, Evergreen said in a statement.
The Green Alliance, formerly known as the CKYH alliance, also announced on Thursday that it would restructure five loops between Asia and the east coast of the US run by its members as of this month.
The move would enhance its comprehensive service network between Asia and the US by providing more competitive sailing frequencies, shortened transit times and enlarged service coverage, the alliance said in a note.
The alliance, formed in March 2002, is made up of Taiwan's Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp, Cosco, "K" Line and Hanjin.
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
Future bright, says Maersk, despite slowdown in Cambodian exports to Europe
THE Cambodia representative for the world's largest shipping company said exports from Cambodia to Europe grew by more than 60 per cent during 2011, but have since weakened, reports the Phnom Penh Post.
"Rice exports grew a lot during 2011 and a lot of it went to Poland and France," said Ben Wilson of Maersk (Cambodia) Ltd, which carries more cargo out of Cambodia than any other company. Europe received about 35,000 TEU from Cambodia during 2011, much of it coming from the garment and footwear factories here."
The jump in exports is credited to the Everything But Arms (EBA) initiative by the European Union under which all imports from Least Developed Countries (LDCs) are duty free and quota free, with the exception of armaments. Growth of transpacific shipments from Cambodia grew at about three per cent during 2011.
"There were no changes in the US so the growth stayed about the same," Mr Wilson said. Despite a big jump in 2011 exports to Europe, the European market has since weakened," said Mr Wilson. "We are seeing quite a weak market in Europe and the growth is not going to be as strong as it was last year."
While the North American market remains Cambodia's biggest, Mr Wilson predicts growth of about five per cent for that market.
"The intra-Asia trade looks like it will continue to grow. The Asian economies are not suffering as much as Europe and there's more investment from Japan, for example, in Cambodia. We may see more rice shipment growth in the region. We've seen a lot of rice to Malaysia and there's a lot of talk about rice to China."
Mr Wilson said one reason shipping out of Cambodia is expensive is because the volume is smaller, which prevents the economies of scale enjoyed by larger markets in Vietnam or Thailand. He said an efficiency study of Cambodia's ports by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) recommended private involvement in ports.
"That's something we'd like to see the government look at seriously," he said. "They've done it with airports. They could also do it with seaports. Based on our experience in other countries we've seen how privatisation of ports can increase efficiency and reduce costs. That is something we would encourage the government to consider."
Mr Wilson said he was sure the new Phnom Penh River Port, scheduled to be operational later this year, would be successful, adding that he sees a lot of potential for agriculture in Cambodia's future. "There is a lot of potential for production of the more expensive fruit like mangoes and bananas that could be sold in the overseas market."
Shipments to North America totalled about 50,000 TEU during 2011, with 60 per cent of going out of the Sihanoukville port and 40 per cent going down the Mekong to the Cai Mep port in Vietnam from the Phnom Penh River Port. That contrasts with the European shipments, 90 per cent of which depart from Sihanoukville.
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
THE Cambodia representative for the world's largest shipping company said exports from Cambodia to Europe grew by more than 60 per cent during 2011, but have since weakened, reports the Phnom Penh Post.
"Rice exports grew a lot during 2011 and a lot of it went to Poland and France," said Ben Wilson of Maersk (Cambodia) Ltd, which carries more cargo out of Cambodia than any other company. Europe received about 35,000 TEU from Cambodia during 2011, much of it coming from the garment and footwear factories here."
The jump in exports is credited to the Everything But Arms (EBA) initiative by the European Union under which all imports from Least Developed Countries (LDCs) are duty free and quota free, with the exception of armaments. Growth of transpacific shipments from Cambodia grew at about three per cent during 2011.
"There were no changes in the US so the growth stayed about the same," Mr Wilson said. Despite a big jump in 2011 exports to Europe, the European market has since weakened," said Mr Wilson. "We are seeing quite a weak market in Europe and the growth is not going to be as strong as it was last year."
While the North American market remains Cambodia's biggest, Mr Wilson predicts growth of about five per cent for that market.
"The intra-Asia trade looks like it will continue to grow. The Asian economies are not suffering as much as Europe and there's more investment from Japan, for example, in Cambodia. We may see more rice shipment growth in the region. We've seen a lot of rice to Malaysia and there's a lot of talk about rice to China."
Mr Wilson said one reason shipping out of Cambodia is expensive is because the volume is smaller, which prevents the economies of scale enjoyed by larger markets in Vietnam or Thailand. He said an efficiency study of Cambodia's ports by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) recommended private involvement in ports.
"That's something we'd like to see the government look at seriously," he said. "They've done it with airports. They could also do it with seaports. Based on our experience in other countries we've seen how privatisation of ports can increase efficiency and reduce costs. That is something we would encourage the government to consider."
Mr Wilson said he was sure the new Phnom Penh River Port, scheduled to be operational later this year, would be successful, adding that he sees a lot of potential for agriculture in Cambodia's future. "There is a lot of potential for production of the more expensive fruit like mangoes and bananas that could be sold in the overseas market."
Shipments to North America totalled about 50,000 TEU during 2011, with 60 per cent of going out of the Sihanoukville port and 40 per cent going down the Mekong to the Cai Mep port in Vietnam from the Phnom Penh River Port. That contrasts with the European shipments, 90 per cent of which depart from Sihanoukville.
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
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