SOUTHEASTERN Fujian province spent CNY9.14 billion (US$1.45 billion) on traffic infrastructure during the first two months of this year, the largest sum among eastern China provinces and the third in China, Xinhua reports.
The province spent CNY3.5 billion on road projects, taking up 18 per cent of the annual schedule, up 11 per cent year on year. As of end of February, there are 78 road projects totalling 1,037 kilometres under construction, accounting for 58 per cent of the annual target.
The CNY1.15 billion was invested on port and shipping projects. More than CNY1.03 billion was spent on terminals and CNY110 million was spent on navigational channels. Fifteen major projects, including the berth No 8 to No 10 at port of Xiamen's Zhaoyin port will cost CNY380 million.
Source Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
PORT of Qinzhou, in southwest China's Guangxi Autonomous Region, lifted 66,000 TEU in January and February, 15.8 per cent more than in the same period a year ago, Xinhua reports.
In the same period, the port recorded a foreign trade value of US$420 million, up 21.5 per cent year on year.
Source Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
SOUTHWEST Guangxi Autonomous Region plans to spend CNY14 billion (US$2.21 billion) on waterway traffic projects this year with Beibu Gulf port capacity to be increased to 160 million tonnes, while Xijiang River's cargo capacity to rise 100 million tonnes, Xinhua reports.
This year, Guangxi plans to build the No 403 to No 407 berth at the port of Fangcheng and the No 3 and No 4 berth in the Beihai's Tieshan port area. Meanwhile, Guangxi will also accelerate construction at the port of Qinzhou's Jingujiang River navigational channel and the No 1 to No 3 berth at Dalanping port area.
Fangcheng port's berth project will take up 41 per cent of the total investment. Beihai port's berth project will take up 78 per cent. Qinzhou's Jingujiang river navigational channel will account for 8.5 per cent. Dalanping port area's berth project will take up 3.9 per cent.
In the meanwhile, Guangxi plans to complete the construction of Xijiang River's distribution network, port Nanning's Niuwan operation area phase 1 of the project and the port of Laibin's Bingang operation area in phase 2 of the project this year.
Source Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
DUBAI's DP World has announced that its global portfolio of marine terminals in 2011 delivered a better than expected profit of US$751 million, an increase of 67 per cent year on year, the company reported.
"This improvement in profitability is a reflection of our strategy, which sees us focus on the faster growing emerging markets and more profitable origin and destination (O&D) and gateway cargo," said DP World chairman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem.
The company said in a statement posted on its website that profit attributable to shareholders was $683 million as strong profit growth from operations was supplemented with a one-off gain, including the profit on the monetisation of 75 per cent of its Australian terminals.
Before separately disclosed items of $459 million, 2011 profit amounted to $532 million, up 18 per cent compared to a profit of $450 million in 2010.
Consolidated volumes for the 12 months ending December 31, 2011 amounted to 27.5 million TEU, up an underlying nine per cent year on year, on an underlying 14 per cent revenue growth to $2,978 million. Underlying EBITDA growth was 19 per cent compared to the previous year at $1,307 million, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 43.9 per cent.
"During 2011, DP World benefited from the improvement in global container volumes whilst retaining a very clear focus on generating additional revenue, driving productivity and managing costs," the company said.
Each of the group's three regions delivered a superior performance when compared with the prior year. In the Middle East, Europe and Africa region, EBITDA grew nine per cent year on year to $861 million. In the Asia Pacific and Indian subcontinent, EBITDA increased by 26 per cent to $322 million.
The Americas and Australia region delivered EBITDA of $203 million or, excluding the deconsolidation of the five Australia terminals, on an underlying basis, delivered an EBITDA growth of 37 per cent.
Source Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
FRENCH container shipping group CMA CGM has been recognised for its ongoing commitment towards providing quality services and innovation after receiving two awards.
The company was named "International Carrier of the Year" for the second year running by one of its major customers, ASDA, an British subsidiary of the American retail giant Walmart.
It has also been named the Best Partner of the Year 2012 by the Samsung group.
"Samsung expressed its recognition of the important role played by the group towards improving management of its supply chain and supporting its global expansion," a statement from the shipping line said.
On behalf of ASDA UK, logistics manager Lee Hodgkin said: "The CMA CGM group has given us valuable assistance with its innovative solutions. Of note is that their unwavering support has led to the provision of a rail service, unique to us, from Southampton to the north east England, speeding up transport services."
Source Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
NOL Group, the Singapore-based shipping and logistics company, named Olivier Lim, chief investment officer at Singapore's CapitaLand, to its board of directors from April 12.
"We are pleased to add an executive with the skill of Olivier Lim to the board," said NOL chairman Cheng Wai Keung.
Said NOL director Kwa Chong Seng: "We will benefit greatly from his experience as a leader in business and finance."
Mr Lim spent six years as CapitaLand's CFO before becoming chief investment officer in early 2012. Before that, he led the Real Estate Unit in Corporate Banking at Citibank in Singapore.
Said Mr Lim: "NOL is a company with worldwide reach in transportation and logistics. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with the board and management team to help guide it into the future."
Mr Lim is the non-executive chairman of Australand Holdings Limited, and a non-executive Director of CapitaMalls Asia Limited, CapitaMall Trust Management Limited, CapitaCommercial Trust Management Limited and Raffles Medical Group Ltd. Mr Lim also serves as a board member of Sentosa Development Corporation, and as the non-executive chairman of its subsidiary, Mount Faber Leisure Group Pte Ltd.
Source Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
JAPANESE shipping major NYK was recently selected for the UK-based FTSE Group's FTSE4Good Index, a major socially responsible investment (SRI) index that has included NYK for many years.
The FTSE4Good Index is one of the two leading indexes used by investors concerned about corporate social responsibility criteria meeting investment standards of ethical activities. The other major index is the Dow Jones Sustainability Index.
Selection in the FTSE4Good Index is based on independent international standards of corporate environmental sustainability and social responsibility covering areas of environmental management, human rights, supply chain labour standards, bribery prevention and climate change. NYK has repeatedly received a top rating in the "Environmental management" category.
Earlier this year, NYK was recognised as one of the 2012 World's Most Ethical Companies for the fifth consecutive year. NYK will continue to take an active role in social issues, including the conservation of the environment, to contribute to the achievement of a better global society, said a company statement.
FTSE Group is jointly owned by London's Financial Times and the London Stock Exchange. The FTSE4Good Index is compiled and managed by the FTSE Group, which undertakes related operations involving stocks, bonds, and real estate, on a global scale. The group has offices in London, New York, Tokyo, and nine other major cities, providing services for clients in 77 countries.
Source Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
INTERNATIONAL provider of insurance and related risk management services, TT Club, has called on operators to save costs by tightening procedures to minimise accidents, breakdowns, delays and other risks.
Speaking at the freight industry forum, TOC Container Supply Chain Asia in Hong Kong recently, TT Club's director of global risk assessment, Laurence Jones, said that based on an extensive analysis of the company's claims, valued in excess of US$120 million, nearly 80 per cent of incidents resulting in a claim were avoidable and the vast majority involve human error.
In urging operators to heed lessons of TT's analysis, Mr Jones said: "We found that the adoption of proven operational procedures and available safety technology could prevent many of the incidents. Relatively small investments in training, and maintenance could bring significant commercial benefits through less disruption to operations, lower insurance premiums and more satisfied customers."
In terms of causal effect the analysis showed that 63 per cent of the total cost (as opposed to the number) of claims were due to operational factors, with maintenance (or lack of it) accounting for a further third; leaving those lacking human intervention, mainly weather related incidents contributing only four per cent of the cost.
When it comes to the movement of freight around the world, TT Club's concludes that the prevention of many claims lies in efficient and well constructed processes and the analysis presented by Jones reinforced this belief. Forty-three per cent of the cost of claims from operational factors resulted from errors or faults in an operator's systems or processes.
"While theft accounted for 29 per cent of operational claims, poor processes and systems were the biggest culprits," Mr Jones said. "A whole range of substandard practices were in evidence, such as bad stowage and handling; customs fines due to incorrect or late paperwork; poor instruction on management of refrigeration equipment; and wrong release of cargo. All such claims could have been avoided with tighter procedures."
The other major contributor to damage and cost was found to be fire destroying property, equipment and cargo. Most building damage came from electrical faults; for lifting equipment, a lack of sufficient, regular maintenance checks was the main cause and fire in container cargo was mainly due to poor stowage or mis-declaration of the goods. Each factor, Mr Jones said, could be mitigated by adequate attention by either operators or shippers.
Source Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
PERUVIAN containerised mango exports have fallen 36 per cent a week overall year on year because of bad weather and illegal mining, reports Fresh Plaza, the fruit shippers' news portal.
Overall Peruvian mango export volume posted a 50 per cent drop year on year because of climate factors, according to Juan Carlos Rivera, manager of the Peruvian Association of Mango Producers and Exporters (APEM).
The main destinations for Peruvian fruit are the Netherlands (43 per cent), the United States (37 per cent) and the UK (seven per cent).
Mr Rivera estimated that during the production of April 2011 - March 2012 some 63 tons will be exported, which represents a decrease of 52 per cent compared to 130,000 tons exported in the period of April 2010 - March 2011.
Source Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
KOREAN AIR and Hanjin Group chairman YH Cho has been named the 2012 Asian Business Leader of the Year by the Asia Society of Southern California (ASSC) for his leadership and investment in Southern California, and his redevelopment of the heart of downtown Los Angeles.
Also honoured was ASSC University of Southern California president CL Max Nikias for the school's commitment to advancing the internationalisation of education in the US, especially in its outreach to students from Asia/Pacific. Mr Cho is also on that university's board of trustees.
"As Asia Society Southern California marks its 27 years of serving our diverse communities in the Southland, we are humbled by these leaders' sheer determination and commitment to enhancing the strong ties between the people of Southern California and Asia/Pacific," said Thomas McLain, chairman of Asia Society Southern California.
Source Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
FRANKFURT Airport and Fraport Cargo Services have received the 2012 Air Cargo Excellence (ACE) Award as Best Cargo Airport in Europe in the one million tonne plus category.
Established in 2005, the ACE Survey is conducted annually by US-based Air Cargo World, a leading international trade magazine.
Since European airports were added to the survey in 2006, FRA has won the ACE Award four times (2006, 2007, 2009, and now again in 2012) and took second place three times (2008, 2010, 2011), said the Fraport statement.
Fraport vice president Roland Weil and Fraport Cargo Services managing director Winfried Hartmann accepted the honour at the recent ACE ceremony in Kuala Lumpur. Handling more than 2.2 million tonnes in 2011, Frankfurt Airport ranks among the world's 10 busiest hubs.
For the ACE Survey, airports are grouped by regional location and sub-grouped by annual tonnage handled. The survey is based upon a rating system that measures four criteria to identify above or below average performance during the previous 12 months with 100 representing the average.
Ahead of the other large European hubs in 2012, Frankfurt scored top marks from airlines by receiving 111 points for performance, 108 for value, 107 for facilities, and 109 for operations.
Source Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
HONG Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl), the major ground handler in Hong Kong, has announced a restructuring of its senior management team.
Tan Chee Hong, formerly Hactl executive director of Information Services and the director of Hactl Solutions Limited becomes chief operating officer, a new position. In his new post he will be responsible for the entire Super Terminal 1 operation, and will report directly to Hactl managing director Mark Whitehead, a company statement said.
Mr Tan has worked for Hactl for four years. His previous career included senior positions at multi-national automotive giant Jardine Cycle & Carriage Group based in Singapore.
Kenneth Chan, executive director of engineering services, and three general managers (CH Chan, cargo terminal services; Simon Fu, customer representation; and Cindy Ng, information cervices) will all report to Mr Tan in future.
Vincent Lau (former Hactl executive director of service delivery) and Jimmy Chan (former managing director of Hacis, Hactl's subsidiary specialising in trucking in the Pearl River Delta) have taken up posts as advisors to Hactl management.
Meanwhile, Kenneth Bell, formerly executive director of Hactl has taken over as managing director of Hacis, and will be responsible for new business projects.
Eugenia Ma is Hactl's new finance director, replacing Christopher Ip.
Lilian Chan continues as executive director of commercial and business development, and Cecilia Cheung continues as executive director of human resources, both reporting directly to Mark Whitehead.
Said managing director Mark Whitehead: "We have a huge pool of talent and experience within Hactl. This new structure is about exploiting that resource to the absolute optimum, and providing our people with the opportunity to grow and more fully utilise their impressive abilities. We expect real dividends both in enhanced service and productivity.
"With these changes to our management, we are also shaping up to explore opportunities beyond our current activities. The air cargo world is changing, and Hactl must evolve with it if we are to maintain our exceptional tradition of success."
Source Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
THE Global Air Cargo Advisory Group (GACAG) has launched a new website to offer updates on the industry advisory group's views and lobbying activities, which are intended for companies involved in the air freight supply chain and regulatory bodies.
The website, http://www.gacag.org/, provides information and updates on its four priority areas of security, e-commerce, customs and trade facilitation, and the sustainability of the global air cargo industry. The website also lists the focus areas for each of its four task forces and identifies the members of each group.
In addition to providing e-news updates for registered users, the site gives updates on the regulatory issues affecting the air cargo industry. It also profiles the role the industry plays in driving economic development.
Visitors to the site are invited to share their views on the major issues facing the air cargo industry, including new areas that they believe GACAG should be aware of or involved in. The website also provides links to global customs bodies and non-governmental organisations, as well as, a listing of industry events.
"GACAG has been involved in a great deal of activity since its formation, initially putting its own infrastructure in place and then identifying its focus areas and objectives and forming task forces," said GACAG chairman Michael Steen.
"More recently, we have started greater dialogue with other key groups and responded to issues that affect air cargo industry or offer the potential to improve the way we do business. The website provides an overview of our progress to date and will be continually updated as we move forwards. It also gives the industry the opportunity to talk to the group about area issues we need to be aware of."
GACAG was formed in November 2010 to provide the air cargo industry with a "stronger, unified voice" in its dealings with worldwide regulatory authorities and other bodies whose decisions directly impact on air cargo.
It was founded by the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA), the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the Global Shippers' Forum (GSF), and The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA).
It said it has also been developing closer ties with other global organisations such as the World Customs Organisation, World Trade Organisation, Universal Postal Union, International Civil Aviation Organisation, and the Airport Services Association.
Furthermore, GACAG has also had meetings over the past 12 months with the Transportation Security Administration of the US Department of Homeland Security and US Customs & Border Protection in Washington.
Source Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
- Birds Eye’s cod and haddock Fish Fingers land MSC stamp of approval
- Move will help 3.4 million British households to eat more fish from certified sustainable sources
London – Birds Eye, the UK’s leading frozen food brand, has today announced that across Europe, its entire Cod and Haddock Fish Finger range has achieved MSC certification. The move will switch 5,200 tonnes of fish products to sustainably certified produce in the UK market and increase the total weight of MSC labelled products sold by 20 per cent[i].
The UK consumes over 185 million[ii] Birds Eye Cod and Haddock Fish Fingers each year. Today’s news means that 62 million British mealtimes will now be made from certified, sustainably sourced produce.
The move comes at the beginning of the 15th year of the MSC which was co-founded by the Birds Eye brand, WWF and international conservation leaders, to create an independent certification and ecolabel programme for sustainable and well-managed fish. The MSC certification means the fishery has demonstrated that it is well managed and sustainable through a comprehensive, independent scientific assessment.
The switch to more MSC certified supply forms part of Iglo Group’s company-wide sustainability plan, Forever Food, which aims to certify 100% of its fish range to help protect global fish stocks.
Iglo Group, which owns Birds Eye, operates across eleven European markets and sells MSC certified fish in more countries than any other food brand. Birds Eye sells Cod and Haddock Fish Fingers to 3.4 million[iii] homes each year.
Martin Glenn, CEO of Iglo Group - Birds Eye’s parent company - said: “As Europe’s leading frozen fish manufacturer, we have an important role to play in working to ensure the long-term security of our oceans, but also in making it easier for consumers to eat in a more sustainable way.
The UK is the world’s second largest consumer of cod, a fish whose stocks were previously under serious threat. As part of our Forever Food programme, we have worked hard to protect and rejuvenate this species and I am proud to announce that both our Cod and Haddock Fish Fingers have been certified by MSC as sustainable.”
Birds Eye helped rejuvenate depleting cod stocks in 2007 with the introduction of the Alaska Pollock Omega 3 Fish Finger - a move which encouraged 78 percent[iv] of consumers to switch from cod to Alaska Pollock, resulting in a 3,000 tonne reduction[v] in its yearly cod catch.
The business has actively campaigned for reform of the EU Common Fisheries Policy, in particular, driving support for an end to the wasteful practice of discards and calling for a revised fisheries management framework such as regionalisation which would help fisheries manage resources better.
Birds Eye’s entire fish portfolio – from cod to salmon - is now in the MSC programme – either in assessment or already certified.
Rupert Howes, Chief Executive, MSC said: “The growth in engagement and support for the MSC programme over the past 15 years has been amazing. We are starting to see clear evidence that commitment to certification is fostering real and lasting change in the way the oceans are fished and we could not achieve that without the support and leadership of companies like Birds Eye.
By putting MSC certification at the heart of their procurement, and by adding the MSC ecolabel to their iconic fish fingers, Birds Eye have made a clear statement of intent that will help to pull new fisheries into the MSC programme. Some of those fisheries may have to make changes to the way they fish in order to achieve the standard. This is a phenomenal commitment that will make a significant difference in the UK market.
From September 2012, shoppers across the UK will be able to find the MSC ecolabel on packs of Birds Eye fish fingers. By making a positive decision to choose MSC certified sustainable fish, together, we can really change the way the oceans are fished by the choices we make.”
All Birds Eye Cod and Haddock Fish Fingers will carry the MSC ecolabel from September.
Source MSC
On 26 March 2012, the BBC KARAN was the first vessel in the new Europe-Asia service of the multi-purpose and heavy-lift cargo shipping company BBC Chartering to berth at C. Steinweg (Süd West Terminal) in the Port of Hamburg.
In Hamburg, the new “BBC Euro-Asia Express Line” service will be offering bi-weekly eastward sailings to Asia. Alongside Hamburg, export cargo for Asia will be loaded at the following European ports: Rauma, Kristiansand, Antwerp, Bilbao and Porto Maghera. The following ports of discharge are on the schedule in Asia: Port Kelang, Singapore, Batam, Ho Chi Minh City, Haiphong and Hong Kong in South East Asia as well as Shanghai, Masan, Busan, Kobe and Yokohama in the Far East.
The freight vessels deployed will be shipping cargo westward every three weeks from Asia to Europe. On this transport route, cargo will be loaded in Masan, Yokohama, Shanghai and Singapore and discharged in Mariupol, Genoa, Bilbao, Antwerp and Hamburg. The first vessel of the “BBC Euro-Asia Express Line” from Asia – the BBC BALTIC – is expected to arrive in Hamburg on 20 May.
Within the “BBC Euro-Asia Express Line”, mainly multi-purpose ships are deployed with dead weight tonnate of 7,200 each. Moreover, the units deployed also have ice class ratings, enabling them to sail all year. The BBC KARAN is 127 metres long, 20 metres wide and equipped with two on-board cranes that can lift 150 tons each or 300 tons in combination. Where necessary, BBC deploys heavy-lift tonnage with a combined lifting capacity of 800 tons.
The new heavy-lift cargo service underscores Hamburg's significance as a universal port. A total of approx. 1.4 million tons of conventional general cargo were exported via Hamburg in 2011. The lion’s share is accounted for by exports of heavy and pro-ject cargo with roughly 684,000 tons.
Source PORT OF HAMBURG
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