In the morning on April 23, 2012 the port of Odessa visited the liner Discovery (the length of 168 m, flag Bahamas). There were 600 passengers onboard, mostly British, Australian, Americans and New Zealanders. Odessa met the guests with music of municipal brass band and sun whether, perfectly suitable for familiarization tour. At 11 in the morning, when foreign visitors went for sight-seeing tours, the bus with inmates of boarding school №87 for visually impaired children approached the board of the ship.. According to information of ship’s captain Alexandr Tkachuk, British cruise company Voyages of Discovery supports few relief funds for diseased children in different countries, including well-known House Without Steps (Philippines), International Wheelchair-bound Children Fund and others. Thus, the charterer was kindly disposed towards the offer of the captain to accept the children onboard the ship. By force of crew members was organized familiarization tour and lection about the geography of navigation of the liner. After that the children were pleased by the concert. In addition the children were feed with lunch and presented with souvenirs. The pleasant impressions were mutual and possibly, the event may occur again during the second call of the liner to the port of Odessa (on October 2012).
Odessa Commercial Sea Port
THE Panama Canal Authority (ACP) plans to modify the canal's pricing structure to "align toll charges with the value the route provides".
The ACP said in a statement that the proposal aims to increase the number of segments from eight to eleven vessel types. It establishes a new segment for container/breakbulk vessels. In addition, it also breaks down the tanker segment into three distinct segments and incorporates the roll-on/roll-off vessels into the vehicle carrier segment.
If approved, the Panama Canal market segmentation scheme will include the following segments: full container, reefer, dry bulk, passenger, vehicle carrier and ro-ro, tanker, chemical tanker, LPG, general cargo and others.
The authority plans to introduce the new charges in July. Under the proposal, the ACP aims to increase the tolls for the following segments: general cargo, container/break bulk (new segment), dry bulk, tanker (redefined segment), chemical tanker (new segment), LPG (new segment), vehicle carrier and ro-ro (merged segment), and the segment known as others. The remaining segments will not be adjusted at this time. Additionally, there will be changes to tolls applicable to small vessels based on vessel length, to incorporate adjustments not previously considered.
"This proposal continues to align the Panama Canal tolls to the value, benefit and quality the route provides, and maintains the competitiveness of the Panama Canal," said ACP chief executive Alberto Aleman Zubieta.
As part of the tolls adjustment process, the ACP has established a consultation period from April 20 - May 21, during which the ACP will receive formal written comments, opinions and written requests from interested parties to participate in the public hearing, which will be held in Panama City, Panama, on May 23.
"The ACP will continue its dialogue with the industry to develop a pricing structure that meets the needs of our customers - one that benefits them and Panama," Mr Aleman Zubieta said.
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
DUBAI's Emirates Shipping has announced it will impose a general rate increase (GRI) of US$250 per TEU on cargo from the Far East and south east Asia to east Africa from May 1.
This is the second GRI on the same trade lane announced by Emirates Shipping, registered in Dubai and commercially run from Hong Kong, in April. The world's 59th largest carrier recently increased the rate at the same level of $250 per TEU on April 15.
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
ANTI-PIRACY security measures are proving more effective with 20 per cent fewer successful attacks in 2011 year on year, but ransoms demanded have increased 77 per cent from 2010, according to the Willis Marine Market Review.
London shipbroker Willis Group's review said cargo insurance buyers continue to enjoy the benefits of a soft market, achieving reductions in premium and deductibles, as well as increases in limits, at little or no additional cost.
"Despite ever-dwindling returns to insurers, competition for business remains fierce with a flurry of new entrants creating excess capacity," the review said.
"These are difficult times for the maritime industry. World shipping is in recession, the economic turmoil continues to dampen demand, pirates are seizing property and crew and increased sanctions demand further resources and attention," said Willis Global Marine CEO Alistair Rivers.
"For many, the year began badly with the loss of the Costa Concordia cruise liner [off Italy in January with 32 dead]. It was a timely reminder that 100 years on from the loss of the Titanic, disasters on this scale are still possible. The liability aspects of this loss will be of far greater significance to insurers as matters evolve throughout the year," he said.
The review reported February's insurance renewals were "disproportionately confrontational and protracted" as shipowners operating in one of the worst economic environments for a generation contested even inflationary increases. "On average, rate increases of four per cent were achieved," the review said.
Excess capacity in the Asian marine insurance market is putting pressure on rates as local and foreign insurers compete for market share. Asia is now home to half of the insurance world's merchant fleet, 14 of the top 20 ports and three of the largest ship building nations, said the review.
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
CHONGQING-Xinjiang-Europe (Chongqing) Logistics Company Limited, the operator of Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe Railway, has been officially established, Xinhua reports.
The company has been jointly established by the railway departments of China, Kazakhstan, Russia and Germany and Chongqing Transportation Holdings (Group) Co Ltd and offers station-to-station transport between Chongqing and Europe.
Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe Railway's frequency will be enhanced to three Europe-bound runs and one Chongqing-bound run per week by the end of this year. A single journey lasts about 14 days.
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
THE US International Trade Commission has approved anti-dumping duties on optical brightening agents from China and Taiwan after rejecting duties on steel wheels from China and refrigerators from South Korea and Mexico, Reuters reports.
North Carolina-based Clariant Corporation brought the case against mainland and Taiwan imports of brightening agents, used in detergents and cosmetics. The US imports US$39 million worth of brighteners from China last year and $19 million from Taiwan.
The commission also approved duties on steel nails from the United Arab Emirates on, voting 6-0 in both cases that US producers had been materially injured or threatened by the imports.
The steel nail ruling was brought about by the Mid Continent Nail Corporporation of Missouri, the largest supplier of fasteners to the US wooden pallet and crating industry.
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
CHILE's major ocean carrier CSAV will impose a US$200 per TEU and a $300 per FEU general rate increase from May 1 on westbound cargo from the Indian subcontinent to north Europe and the Mediterranean.
"To continue offering our wide portfolio of services and high level of reliability, it will be necessary for us to implement a general rate increase," said a CSAV India statement.
Hamburg Sud earlier said it would apply a $200 per TEU rate increase on trades from the subcontinent to Europe, South America and the Caribbean from May 1.
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
THE Port of Prince Rupert, nearly 500 miles north of Vancouver, posted a 120 per cent volume increase in March to 52,283 TEU year on year with the addition of two new services last year.
Imports increased 138 per cent and exports were up 100 per cent, the port authority. Prince Rupert's year-to-date volume increased 95 per cent with imports increasing 98 per cent and exports up 92 per cent against 2011 first quarter results.
Box volumes also increased at Vancouver, with container throughput up 10.5 per cent year to date. Imports increased 11 per cent and exports were up 9.6 per cent over the same period against 2011 first quarter results.
Prince Rupert attracted weekly services in May 2011 by China Ocean Shipping Co. and Hanjin Shipping, which doubled the weekly transpacific services calling at Prince Rupert to four.
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
DURING the first quarter of this year, Chongqing posted a 28.7 per cent year-on-year increase in waterborne container volume of 146,000 TEU, reports Xinhua.
Overall waterborne cargo movement went up 10 per cent up to 26.15 million tonnes. Passenger transportation volume fell 12.1 per cent to 3.03 million. Turnover dropped 1.1 per cent to 208 million persons per kilometre.
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
TAIWAN's Evergreen Line is to add West Africa connections through slots on the Algeciras-West Africa relay service operated by Hanjin, MOL and UASC, reports Alphaliner.
The service will also be used by Hapag-Lloyd as a slot buyer with Evergreen offering connections from the Hanjin terminal at Algeciras to Tema, Lagos-Apapaand Abidjan.
The service also calls at Tangier and Cotonou, although these two ports are not advertised by Evergreen, said Alphaliner. At Algeciras, the service connects with a revamped CKYH Alliance Asia-north Europe (NE 6) service, on which Evergreen has slots as part of the widened CKYH-Evergreen arrangement on the Far East-north Europe trade.
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
NANHAI (Danzao) Logistics Centre, together with Guangzhou-Zhuhai Railway Foshan freight station as its core facility, has broken ground in becoming the largest railway cargo logistics facility in Guangdong's Foshan city, Xinhua reports.
The facility will cover 300 hectares (741 acres), costing CNY6 billion (US$951.2 million). The first phase of the freight yard will cover 26 hectares and have an annual capacity of 600,000 tonnes. After the second phase is completed, its capacity will be raised to eight million tonnes.
The logistics centre will mainly focus on the processing, distribution and trading of steel and aims to become one of the major steel logistics facilities in China.
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
AMERICA'S eastern railway, CSX, has posted an 11 per cent increase in first quarter operating profit to US$449 million year on year, drawn on revenues of US$3 billion, up 13.7 per cent, the company announced.
The third largest railway in the US was able to gain on pricing despite a volume increase of only one per cent, reported American Shipper. Intermodal volumes increased 8.4 per cent alongside revenue growth per unit of 9.6 per cent, which was attributed to growth to robust chemical, auto and equipment freight, offsetting a decline in coal and agricultural shipments.
"Although utility coal-related headwinds are likely to be stronger in the second quarter, CSX remains on track to achieve year-over-year earnings growth in 2012," said CSX chief executive Michael Ward.
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
CANADA's second railway, the Canadian Pacific (CP), has posted a fourfold increase in first quarter profit to C$142 million (US$142.9 million) year on year, drawn on revenues of C$1.4 billion, a rise of 18.3 per cent.
The Calgary-based company also boosted operating profit 66 per cent to C$274 million in the same period.
All this was happened as CP management fended off a proxy battle with its largest shareholder, activist investor Bill Ackman, of Pershing Square Capital Management, who said profits were not high enough.
Said CP chief executive Fred Green: "Our record operating metrics are driving enhanced financial results, as evidenced by a strong first quarter performance. By aggressively executing on the Multi-Year Plan, CP delivered an increase in revenues of C$213 million.
"We have improved operating momentum, we are delivering excellent service and we have a stronger, more resilient rail network. This quarter, we generated an 18 per cent year-over-year increase in freight revenues. Looking ahead, we are confident we can continue to deliver improvements in our operating metrics and financial performance and further growth in shareholder value," said Mr Green.
But Mr Ackman, the rebel shareholder, argued that the railway isn't improving profitability fast enough. He is pushing a slate of seven directors and trying to replace Mr Green with E Hunter Harrison, former CEO of rival Canadian National Railway, the country's largest. The proxy vote is slated for May 17 at the annual shareholder meeting.
"Last year, when they put out their results they said, 'horrible winter, that's why we had a 90-plus per cent operating ratio'," Mr Ackman told Reuters. "This time, what they don't remind you is that this is one of the best winters in the last 100 years."
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
AMERICA's western railway, the Union Pacific, has posted a record 25 per cent year-on-year first quarter profit increase to US$863 million drawn on revenues of $5.1 billion.
During the first quarter revenue per carload rose 12 per cent year-over-year to $2,175 attributed to higher pricing and fuel surcharges.
Omaha-based Union Pacific, America's largest, experienced double digit revenue increases in four of its six business segment despite a decline in agricultural and coal volumes.
Intermodal volume increased one per cent year on year in the same period and double digit volume increase in automotive and industrial product.
Said UP chief executive Jack Koraleski: "We're clearly realising the benefits of our diverse franchise, despite current coal challenges."
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
FOOTWEAR tariffs on US imports must be lowered to promote trade and investment with member states of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), retailers told US trade representative Ron Kirk.
In a letter, the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) said less than one per cent of footwear sold in the US in domestically produced, and tariffs only represent costs and have no benefit for Americans.
"These tariffs make footwear more expensive and updating the rules for footwear in the TPP would help to lower costs for a basic necessity," said the RILA letter which asked for a quick reduction in duties and regulations.
RILA pressed its case during the TPP negotiations with nine Pacific Rim nations of US, Vietnam, Brunei, Chile, New Zealand, Singapore, Australia, Malaysia and Peru, said the letter.
Since autumn 2011, US legislators have asked to retain the status quo in the hope of retain the American footwear industry, which has been overwhelmed by imports from Vietnam, and now accounts for as much as eight per cent of shoes worn by Americans.
Mike Michaud, chairman of the US Congress House Trade Working Group, said in a letter to Mr Kirk last autumn: "Our trade negotiators need to make sure that this trade deal doesn't off-shore what's left of our shoe manufacturers."
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
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