Coastal Shipping target increased to 230 MTPA by 2025 : Mansukah Mandaviya

NEW DELHI: The Minister of State for Shipping (I/C) and Chemicals & Fertilizers, Shri Mansukh Mandaviya has informed the House that the Government has raised the target of cargo movement through Coastal Shipping from 120 MTPA in the year 2018-19 to 230 MTPA by 2025 and has taken the below measures-Licensing relaxation under Section 406 and 407 of the Merchant Shipping Act has been extended for 5 years for specialized vessels such as RO-RO, RO-Pax, Hybrid RO-RO, Pure Car Carriers, Pure Car and Truck Carriers, LNG vessels, Over-Dimensional Cargo, project cargo vessels.
Also the same relaxation has been given to container vessels for carrying export-import containers and empty containers at transshipment ports for outbound transport; and to foreign flag vessels for carrying Agricultural, Fisheries, Horticultural and Animal Produce commodities subject to the condition that these commodities constitute at least 50% of the cargo on board the ship, while Fertilizers, subject to the condition that these commodities constitute 50% of the cargo taken on-board at the beginning of the coastal leg.
Shri Mandaviya further informed that the Coastal Berth Scheme has been extended up to March, 2020 and till date 39 projects worth Rs.1569 crore has been sanctioned. A discount of minimum 40% is offered by Major Ports on vessel and cargo related charges to vessels carrying coastal cargo. Priority berthing policy for coastal vessels has been notified to reduce turnaround time for coastal vessels and improve their utilization.
To develop a strategy and implementation roadmap for Coastal Shipping of coal and other commodities / product, Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) has been constituted under the Chairmanship of Chairman, Railway Board. In addition to this, a perspective plan has been prepared by Asian Development Bank for Coastal Shipping, the Minister added.
The Minister also shared various movement of major commodities, like coal & thermal coal, coking coal & other coal, iron ore, cement, Iron & Steel, Petroleum Oil & Lubricants (POL) etc. through Coastal Shipping during the last three years.

APM Terminals launches global customer alerts solution

In response to customer requests for real-time information about exceptional circumstances, or disruptions, affecting a terminal, APM Terminals, which has three container facilities in the Middle East and two more in India across the region, has launched a global customer alert system. The system enables customers to subscribe for terminal alerts via SMS or email.
Terminals will only use the alerts function for severe issues that have clear implications for customers, including labour shortages, bad weather warnings, congestion at the port or delays with customs clearance.
Where possible, the terminal will provide an estimated resolution time, links to further information sources, such as gate cameras or live vessel schedules, or when available, alternative solutions, such as extended free storage limits or longer gate opening times.
Customers who register for the service will be the first to know of any issues at the terminal, with emails and SMS messages being delivered to them directly, within a few minutes of the message being published on the website. This real-time information will give customers as much notice as possible to help them adjust their schedules or take any additional action.
According to a statement: “Registering for alerts via www.apmterminals.com/alerts takes just a couple of minutes. Customers can select from a number of options to ensure they only receive applicable alerts, such as gate, rail or vessel announcements, and choose between SMS message or email. Customers can also choose to receive alerts from one or multiple terminals.”

Kolkata facility breaks record

PSA’s Bharat Kolkata Container set a new monthly throughput record of 61,755 teu this October. During the month the facility also handled its 3 millionth teu since it started operations in November 2014.
PSA Kolkata has furthermore recently upgraded its equipment stock with the commissioning of eleven new reach stackers, both expanding its landside container handling fleet and replacing older equipment. In addition, PSA Kolkata will receive new and replacement tractor trailers by the end of the year. Trial mobile harbour crane operations have recently started at a berth previously only used for geared vessels, increasing both productivity and capacity at PSA Kolkata.
Mike Formoso, PSA India’s Managing Director, commented, “Despite global trade uncertainties and a uniquely challenging operating environment, we are pleased to continue to grow at PSA Kolkata, with the support of our stakeholders. We see strong potential for West Bengal, not only for growth as a cargo generating zone but also as a logistics gateway to neighbouring states and nations.”
PSA’s Bharat Kolkata Container Terminals is located in the riverine Kolkata Port with a 203km channel leading to the sea. The port is a gateway to the hinterland comprising eastern and north-eastern India, as well as two landlocked neighbouring countries, Nepal and Bhutan.

Landmark container shipment leaves Haldia

As part of the Indian government’s ongoing efforts aimed at improving connectivity to the North Eastern Region (NER), a landmark container cargo consignment sailed from Haldia Dock Complex (HDC) to the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) terminal at Pandu in Guwahati on 4th November this year.
MV Maheshwari transported a total of 53 teu of containers containing petrochemicals, edible oil and beverages. The 12-15 day long voyage included passages on the River Ganga, Sunderbans, the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) route and the River Brahmaputra. This was the first ever containerised cargo movement on this particular route, although an initial consignment of containerised cargo on National Waterway-1 (NW1) – the Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river system – took place in November last year, following the opening of the new Multi Modal Terminal at Varanasi.
Traffic on NW-1 has grown from 5.48 million tonnes in 2017-18 to 6.79 million tonnes in 2018-19. Of this approximately 3.15 million tonnes is export-import traffic moving between India and Bangladesh using the IBP routes.

MV Maheshwari transported a total of 53 teu of containers on its maiden voyage

Malaysia Prohibits Open-Loop Scrubbers in Its Waters

Malaysia has decided to ban the use of open-loop exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS) by vessels operating in the country’s waters.
“Malaysia prohibits the discharge of washwater from EGCS open-loop system whilst in Malaysian Water (12 nautical miles from the nearest land),” Marine Department Malaysia said in a shipping notice.

“Ships calling to the Malaysian Ports are advised to change over to compliance fuel oil or change over to close loop system (if hybrid system) before entering Malaysian Waters and Ports.”
The measure comes ahead of the entry into force of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) sulphur cap on January 1, 2020. Under the new regulation, the limit for sulphur in fuel oil used on board ships operating outside designated emission control areas will be reduced to 0.5% from 3.5%. This is expected to significantly reduce the amount of sulphur oxides emanating from ships.
In order to comply with the upcoming regulations, shipowners can install scrubbers or use compliant fuels. Many shipowners have opted for open-loop scrubbers that use sea water as the process fluid and discharge the treated water overboard.

Concerned about the negative impact of wash water discharges in areas with higher vessel traffic density, some ports such as the Port of Singapore and the Port of Fujairah have banned the use of open-loop scrubbers. In addition, China has prohibited the discharge of wash water from open-loop scrubbers in coastal waters.

Contrary to the above decisions, recent studies, including the one presented by the Clean Shipping Alliance 2020, have shown that scrubbers “are effective and safe for the environment.”
World Maritime News Staff

MSC Enters into Container Services Agreement with Mwani Qatar

Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and Mwani Qatar have signed a container services agreement that will see MSC use Hamad Port as a regional hub for transshipment.
As outlined, starting from January 2020, MSC will manage up to 150,000 TEUs per year at the port, growing to one million TEUs by 2023.

“The agreement between “Mwani Qatar” and MSC is part of the Ministry of Transport and Communications’ strategic plan to transform Qatar into a vibrant regional trading hub in the region,” Jassim Saif Ahmed Al Sulaiti, Minister of Transport and Communications and Board Chairman of Qatar Ports Management Company (Mwani Qatar), commented.

“The agreement also enhances the competitiveness of Qatar and Hamad Port on the regional and international maritime transport map, as it will help attract more trans-shipment containers as well as encourage more international shipping lines to add Hamad Port to their regional routes and sign similar agreements in the future.”

“The agreement also contributes to the utilization of the differential advantages of Qatar’s strategic location on international maritime trade routes and enhances Hamad’s position and role in the national economy in line with Qatar National Vision 2030,” Captain Abdullah Al Khanji, Mwani Qatar CEO, added.

Qatar Charters Two MSC Cruises Ships for FIFA World Cup 2022

Qatar has entered into an agreement with MSC Cruises for the charter of two cruise ships during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
Berthed at Doha Port, the cruise liners will offer a combined capacity of 4,000 cabins and act as floating hotels during the tournament.
Chartering cruise liners for fans has long been part of Qatar’s accommodation strategy, with the country keen to offer sustainable solutions for the month-long tournament, which will kick-off on November 21, 2022.
Under the terms of the agreement, the State of Qatar will charter MSC Cruises’ newbuild MSC Europa and the 2008-built MSC Poesia.
Scheduled for delivery in 2022, MSC Europa is currently under construction in Saint-Nazaire, France. As the first liquefied natural gas-powered ship in MSC Cruises’ fleet, she will run on this fuel while at berth in Doha.
“The Ministry of Transport and Communications has completed the development of Doha Port to accommodate multiple large passenger ships and enable the port’s capacity to receive the largest cruise ships in the world, serving fans and visitors who come to Qatar during the 2022 World Cup,” Jassim Saif Ahmed Al Sulaiti, Minister of Transports and Communications, commented.