Visakhapatnam Port to emerge as a Transhipment hub November 29 , 2019

VISAKHAPATNAM: With all-out efforts being under way to elevate its ranking to third position among Major Ports after Kandla and Paradip, the Visakhapatnam Port Trust (VPT) has set in motion an exercise to emerge as a transhipment hub.

 

The VPT, which ranked fourth by handling a cargo of 65.30 million tonne during 2018-19, has already received 3.8 million tonne more than the corresponding period last year witnessing the highest growth rate among Major Ports in the Country. 

 

“We are expecting to handle a throughput of 70 million tonne to take over third position during the  current fiscal,” VPT Chairman 

K. Ramamohan Rao has told.

 

As a preparation to become transhipment hub to handle mainland vessels with an overall length (LOA) of 397 metres to carry 15,000 to 

16,000 containers from the present 320 LOA containing 6,000 to 7,000 containers, the VPT conducted simulation studies at FORCE Technology, Singapore, sometime ago which proved the scope for handling bigger size vessels technically viable.

 

Three pilots have been deputed to Singapore for training. Another batch of three pilots from the port will be sent to Singapore in the first week of December. “We will also introduce pilot position unit, a software system, to monitor by the pilots shortly,” VPT Deputy Chairman P.L. Haranadh has said.

He said training the pilots and introduction of the new system would be continued simultaneously. On the other hand, the Container Terminal-2 will increase the quay length from 450 metres to 1km. The construction of the new terminal has been undertaken under DBFOT route at an estimated cost of Rs. 633 crore.

 

According to Mr. Haranadh, steps are also being taken to modernise the crane and other equipment and navigation infrastructure as the Terminal-2 will be operational by March, 2021.

 

Discount offer

The VPT is also contemplating tying up with the Kolkata Port for fixed window movement to give priority berthing to cargo meant for transshipment. Visakhapatnam has a deep-drafted container terminal, said to be the deepest in the Country with a draft of 14.5 metres. The VPT is offering 10% extra discount on vessel related charges for handling 240 containers. VPT is also offering 40% discount on vessel related and handling charges for Coastal Shipping.

 

Ports are stronger together feels Port of Antwerp

ANTWERP: In 2019 Port of Antwerp signed MoUs (Memoranda of Understanding) with ports all over the world. Various project teams from the different ports are working towards wider partnership aimed at facing the challenges of the future together and achieving higher levels of performance. 

 

The first MoU of the year was signed with Montreal Port Authority. This was an extension and broadening of another agreement signed in 2016. Under the new MoU a project plan is being set up focusing on solutions for mobility, energy transition, sustainability and security.  

This was followed by MoUs with Port of Buenos Aires, Port of New York New Jersey and the French umbrella organisation Hauts-de-France.

 

These smaller agreements concerned shared promotion activities and more intensive collaboration. They included agreements on sharing logistics information, exchanging new findings on innovation and digitisation, and generating new trade flows. But in all cases the wider aim was to develop together as ports of the future.  

 

"We found that there are great similarities between our long-term vision and those of our partners," explains Wim Dillen, International Development Manager at Port of Antwerp. "We hope to learn from one another by sharing best practices in innovation, digitisation, promotion and business development. By so doing we will develop together in a sustainable way and improve our services for international shippers, forwarders and shipping lines."

 

Collaboration for sustainable transport

The collaboration extends not only to ports. An MoU was signed on 18 September with the Moravia-Silesia region of the Czech Republic and the Czech rail company SŽDC for development of a new rail container terminal, with the aim of setting up a rail link between Antwerp and the Mošnov industrial zone. In this way products from the Czech heartland will be able to reach Antwerp and vice-versa easily in a sustainable way, said an Antwerp Port statement.

JNPT observes 70th Constitution Day

NAVI MUMBAI: Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), India’s premier Container Port celebrated Samvidhan Divas to commemorate the adoption of Constitution of India on Tuesday, November 26, 2019 with great enthusiasm and participation of all the officials and staff of JNPT. 

The Preamble of the Constitution of India was read out by Shri Sanjay Sethi, IAS, Chairman, JNPT in the presence of Head of Departments, Officers and staff of JNPT.

 

“On this day, we celebrate the spirit of freedom and democracy of this great Country. Today we pay our homage to the father of Indian constitution, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar for capturing the true spirit to make India a Sovereign, Secular, Socialist, Democratic and Republic Nation. The right to life and the freedom of speech empower citizens to lead a life according to their choice. 

 

JNPT is proud of its contribution to the nation and of upholding the constitutional values,” said Shri Sethi.

 

It was on November 26, 1949 that the Constituent Assembly of India formally adopted the Constitution of India, which subsequently came into effect on January 26, 1950. Accordingly, November 26 is celebrated as the country’s Constitution Day every year to value and preserve the rich heritage and the composite culture of India. This year, JNPT will be holding year-long activities highlighting citizens' duties through talks, rallies and other activities as part of the awareness campaign, said a JNPT release.

Indian PSEs should boost Exports through High-Level Export Strategy Committee: CII

NEW DELHI: “Setting up a High-Level Export Strategy Committee will implement the five-point agenda set out by the Prime Minister for enhancing the competitiveness of Indian PSEs by 2022.
A short-term (5 years) and long-term (10 years) roadmap for the PSEs, clearly laying down exports and growth targets, is the order of the day to enhance their geo-strategic reach,” stressed Mr Chandrajit Banerjee, Director-General, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

CII Research has brought out a report ‘Can the Indian PSEs enhance their Geo-strategic reach’, which presents a roadmap to expand exports and geo-strategic reach of PSEs by 2022. It recommends that PSEs bid for international projects as a consortium, leveraging each other’s mutual competence, experiences and strengths. They should also leverage regional and bilateral trade agreements in sectors where they have a comparative advantage.

 

Most PSEs have been exporting and/or have an international presence. As per the CII report, they now have presence in over 80 countries across diverse regions with majority concentrated in the South Asian region. A number of them are moving away from their traditional markets to new markets, such as Africa and Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV).

 

The report points out several domestic and external barriers, which are inhibiting the PSEs’ ability to enhance exports. Lack of autonomy, multiple procedures, management gaps, and so on lead to loss of potential business opportunities.

The report further identifies that many PSEs do not even have a dedicated international desk or in-house teams which can support exports and international competitive bidding. There are wide variations in terms of support available from the Nodal Ministry/Reporting Ministries of the PSEs. CII suggested a well-defined process for sharing of information between the Indian Embassies, nodal Ministries, PSEs and their associations.

 

The CII report underscores that India’s Public Sector Enterprises can enhance their geo-strategic reach by 2022 with the actioning of the 15-point recommendations for the PSEs, Government and industry associations.

 

India may extend onion export ban to February to curb prices

MANCHAR: India may keep a ban on onion exports until February because domestic prices have risen after the harvest of summer-sown crops, which were expected to augment supplies, was delayed and damaged by untimely rains, a Government official said. 

The ban on overseas sales by India, the world's biggest exporter of the bulb, will keep prices elevated in Asia and require importers in Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to find other sources to fulfil their demand.

 

Despite the export ban enacted in September to keep domestic supply inside India, prices have surged after rain and floods during October and November limited onion supply, especially in Maharashtra, the Country's biggest producer.

 

"We will think about resuming exports once prices come down. 

 

Right now it is not possible," a senior Government official at the Indian Department of Consumer Affairs said recently.

Alliance Air starts flight operations on Ahmedabad-Kandla route November 21 , 2019

NEW DELHI: Alliance Air, a subsidiary of Air India, has started flight operations on Ahmedabad-Kandla route, making it the 228th route to be activated under Centre's regional connectivity scheme UDAN.

 

Flight operation in the route was started on 18th November. Kandla is Alliance Air's 55th destination under UDAN scheme. Alliance Air would operate flight on the Ahmedabad-Kandla route every weekday, according to a release by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MOCA).

"This also provides better connectivity for Kutch commercial hub Gandhidham and the Country's Major Port - Deendayal Port," the release said.

This is the third flight to operate from Kandla airport. Currently, Spicejet and Truejet operate a daily flight for Mumbai and Ahmedabad from Kandla.

India plans incentives for 324 firms to capitalize on Trade War

NEW DELHI: India is planning to offer 324 companies including Tesla Inc. and GlaxoSmithKline Plc incentives to set up factories in the South Asian nation in a bid to capitalize from the trade war between China and the U.S.

The Government proposes to provide the manufacturers land to set up a factory along with power, water and road access, according to draft of the document prepared by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade and Invest India. Other companies that officials will reach out to include Eli Lilly & Co., South Korea’s Hanwha Chemical Corp., and Taiwan’s Hon Hai Precision Industry Co.

While the trade war has benefited countries such as Vietnam and Malaysia, rigid land acquisition rules and labor laws have prompted investors to largely ignore India when looking for alternatives to China. The latest proposal may reduce red tape, and set the nation, which expanded at the slowest pace in six years last quarter, on a path to double its gross domestic product to $5 trillion by 2025 -- a goal set 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi.