MSC creates Mobile Game to raise awareness on sustainability in Shipping

GENEVA: MSC is pleased to announce the launch of a first-of-its-kind shipping game: The Sea Rider, said a recent release from the company.

Available on the Apple Store (for iOS) or Google Play (for Android) for everybody, the game provides fun, engaging entertainment for the users, who can navigate a giant container ship, collect coins and gather points.

While featuring MSC’s green fleet including some of the World’s Largest Container Ships and the actual MSC Global Network of some 200 ocean services worldwide, the game also provides insights into MSC’s environmental performance and sustainability approach.

Users will not only learn about some of the company’s activities around preserving the environment, but practically they will have to sling the ship from one port to another while minimising the environmental impact. This might include adapting the vessel speed, or avoiding whales.

Conducting shipping operations in a sustainable, ethical way MSC is a responsible company with a longstanding nautical heritage and passion for the sea. As an active member of the United Nations Global Compact, and supporter of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, MSC is pleased to introduce The Sea Rider game as a way to raise awareness on the importance 

of conducting container shipping operations in a sustainable way.

Recently, the company published its 2018 MSC’s Sustainability Report highlighting some key achievements from various companies in the MSC Group. To download a copy, please go to msc.com/sustainability.

 

FreightBro becomes the first Indian Logistics Startup to join Digital Hub Logistics Hamburg

MUMBAI: FreightBro, India’s first freight forwarder facing digital platform that digitizes operations for Freight Forwarders, became the first Indian startup to join the Digital Hub Logistics Hamburg in an exclusive event titled ‘Digital Hub Logistics Hamburg Roadshow - An Indo-German Logistics Startups Connect.’ Organised by FreightBro, the event focused on the importance and the success of building a digital logistics ecosystem in Germany and the potential of replicating similar ecosystem based models in India.

 

Johannes Berg, Managing Director, Digital Hub Logistics Hamburg, was of the opinion that, “There is immense potential for partnership and expansion opportunities for Indian startups in Germany. We have collaborated with an Indian startup for the first time and introduced FreightBro to one of our hub partners, DAKOSY who are keen on working on Indo-German synergies. We eagerly look forward to further connect Indian startups to hub partners in Germany and connect German startups with the Indian market. We are grateful to FreightBro for organizing a unique event for us in India and enable us to connect with startups which has been immensely satisfying.”

 

Mohammed Zakkiria A, Co-Founder, FreightBro, said, “Joining hands with Digital Hub is a strategically sound decision for us  and is the perfect platform for us to connect with the right partners in Germany and plan future expansion in the European market.” After the recently established partnership with Port of Wilhelmshaven, this collaboration with Digital Hub Logistics, Hamburg comes as a significant step ahead in strengthening FreightBro’s Indo-German ties and establishing a footprint in the European logistics hub, said a release.

Threat to growth in Global Container Port throughput at highest level ever says a report

LONDON: Container terminal operators are facing higher risks than at any time in the industry’s history, according to a new report.

And Container Terminals: Paths to Profitability suggests future investment by operators and investors will need to be more carefully considered than ever before.

The report by industry veterans Remco Stenvert and Andrew Penfold says many of the risks the industry faces are “beyond the control of operators”.

“The container port and terminal business faces greater uncertainties now than at any time since the container revolution started in the late 1970s,” it says.

 

“These represent systemic and intrinsic risks that could dramatically impact the outlook for port demand, profitability and investment in the next 10 years. “All investments need to take a clear view on these risks, the days when expanding container demand could be relied upon to save marginal projects have passed,” the authors write.

 

The study outlines a range of external factors – the retreat of globalisation in the face of rising protectionism; the growing financial instability since 2009, with most growth since the financial crisis funded by mounting levels of debt; a structural change in the nature of demand with many developed economies now effectively reaching peak container throughput; the challenge of near-sourcing strategies; the technological challenges posed by blockchain and 3D printing; and mounting environmental – that port operators have no control over, but yet need to take into account when planning new projects.

 

But there is also a long list of factors internal to the shipping and terminal industry with which many are already acquainted – shipping overcapacity and under-utilisation; alliance instability, which increases in terms of risk as volume growth slows; shipping line terminal investment, which is increasingly in the minds of terminal operators independent of carrier involvement; the pressure of ever large vessel sizes; terminal overcapacity in some regions; and finally the potential for the industry to be disrupted by new operators altogether.

Drewry: Shipping Container prices drop in challenging market October 25 , 2019

LONDON: Prices for new and second hand shipping containers as well as lease rates fell in the third quarter of 2019 as factory stocks continued to build up and prospects for container shipping cooled, according to shipping consultancy Drewry.

Container shipping remains challenged by rising geopolitical uncertainty and a slowdown in the global economy. In response, Drewry recently cut its forecast for global container port throughput in 2019 from 3% to 2.6%. Add to this the growing number of boxes stockpiled in depots around China, estimated to be over one million TEU, and “it’s no surprise that the container manufacturing and leasing sectors posted disappointing results” in the quarter.

Dry box prices fell 5.5% over the quarter while reefer values remained stable. Drewry’s Dry Shipping Container Newbuild Price Index, which tracks values of new 40ft high cube containers, dropped four points in the quarter to a value of 82, representing an annual decline of 20%.

But the reefer price index, based on the prevailing value of new 40ft high cube reefer containers was unchanged at 89, having declined just 3% over the year. However, container resale prices remained broadly stable.

For the second quarter in succession transport operators purchased more reefers than lessors with Ocean Network Express and Hapag-Lloyd among those carriers taking delivery of a substantial amount of new equipment. Both lines are expanding their reefer services and needed the additional boxes to satisfy expected demand in the fourth quarter of 2019 and early 2020.

However, over the medium term Drewry still expects lessors to increase their share of the global container pool as shipping lines’ priorities lie elsewhere, notably in upgrading their IT systems and door-to-door service offering.

“A glut of newbuild dry box containers and falling values forced manufacturers to slash output which fell over 50% in the quarter, although reefer production remained stable,” Drewry said, adding that total shipping container production “will end the year having fallen 36% compared to 2018.”

ndia & Bangladesh stakeholders stress on Port Connectivity October 25 , 2019

GUWAHATI: Water resources management and port connectivity are critical in boosting commercial relationship between India and Bangladesh, stakeholders of the two countries asserted recently.

 

India and Bangladesh share a total of 54 rivers and historically, the two countries have shared riverine routes for trade, commerce and movement of people, speakers said at a session over ‘Port Use Agreements’ held on the concluding day of the India Bangladesh Stakeholders’ Meet here. The session was jointly coordinated by Bangladesh Ministry of Shipping Secretary Md Abdus Samad and Inland Waterways Authority of India Chairperson Dr Amita Prasad.

 

In recent times, India and its neighbours have realised the immense potential of rivers as trade-transport- connectivity routes, both within and across borders. Recent developments and policy thrust of the countries in the region show emphasis on re-harnessing that connectivity and enhancing trade contacts, the speakers said.

 

Coordinators of both the countries pointed out the developments in terms of maritime, coastal and inland waterways connecting the region, and said some of these relate to neighbouring Nepal and Bhutan as well. Prasad said the Indian Government has been putting increasing emphasis on better management and governance of water resources for trade, transport, tourism, domestic and industrial purposes.

As many as 106 new national waterways were declared in 2016 in addition to the five that already existed, she added.

Kolkata & Bengaluru to be included in World Bank's Doing Business report

NEW DELHI: The World Bank will now include Kolkata and Bengaluru, besides Delhi and Mumbai, for preparing Ease of Doing Business report to provide a holistic picture of business environment of the Country, an official has said.

 

"The Country of the size of India was not properly represented by just two cities, and now with the inclusion of Kolkata and Bengaluru, Indian ranking in the World Bank's report will present a much better picture," the official said.

 

The report ranks 190 nations based on ten parameters, which includes ease of starting a business, construction permits, getting electricity, getting credit, paying taxes, trade across borders, enforcing contracts and resolving insolvency.

The official added that the exercise to include these two new cities has already been initiated and would be included in the World Bank's ranking in the years to come.

DP World reports 1.1% gross like-for-like volume growth in 3Q 2019 October 25 , 2019

DUBAI: DP World PLC handled 17.7 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units) across its global portfolio of container terminals in 3Q2019, with gross container volumes growing by 1.1 % year-on-year on a like-for-like basis. On a nine-month basis, like-for-like gross container volumes grew by +0.7% year-on-a year to 53.5 million TEU.

 

Jebel Ali (UAE) handled 3.6 million TEU in 3Q2019, down -1.0% year-on-year, as volumes stabilised following a shift of low-margin cargo. Growth in Asia and India remains robust with strong growth in ATI (Philippines), Qingdao (China). Growth in India has been driven by Cochin, Mundra and NSIGT (Mumbai). Decline in reported volumes in Asia Pacific & Indian Subcontinent is due to discontinued operations in Surabaya (Indonesia) and Tianjin (China).

 

At a consolidated level, our terminals handled 10.3 million TEU during 3Q 2019, a +0.8% improvement year-on-year on a like-for-like basis. The strong reported growth of +93.7% in Americas and Australia region is due to the consolidation of Australia and acquisition of the two terminals in Chile.

 

Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem commented: “Our portfolio continues to deliver a steady volume performance which is encouraging given the challenging macro backdrop caused by the global trade dispute. However, despite this uncertainty, it is encouraging to see robust growth in key markets such as Asia Pacific and Indian Subcontinent, while growth in west coast of Americas remains solid. In Europe, London Gateway continues to deliver strong growth due to market share gains. While we have seen volumes stabilising in Jebel Ali (UAE), the outlook remains uncertain given the regional geopolitics and we remain focused on profitable origin & destination cargo.’’

 

“On our broader portfolio, we continue to make progress in strengthening our product offering, allowing us to connect directly with end customers to deliver a range of unique logistic solutions. We are seeing positive signs of progress in our new businesses that give us encouragement for the future. The near-term focus is on integrating our recent acquisitions, managing costs and disciplined investment to cement DP Worlds position as the logistics partner of choice. Overall, we remain well placed to deliver full year market expectations.’’