Kolkata Port Trust on track to surpass FY19 cargo throughput: Chairman November 19 , 2019

KOLKATA: The Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) is on track to better last year's cargo handling volume during the 2019-20 fiscal, Chairman Vinit Kumar said recently.

 

The Port Authority has so far handled 45 million tonne of cargo, a rise of 4-4.5 per cent over the corresponding period last fiscal, he said.

"We are hopeful of surpassing last year's cargo handling volume at the Kolkata port and Haldia dock this fiscal. So far, KoPT has handled 45 million tonne of cargo," he said at the CII Logistics Colloquium here.

 

In the 2018-19 financial year, KoPT handled 63 million tonne of cargo and 8.3 lakh containers, he said, adding, "We are working towards making KoPT a million-container port".

 

Since the Kolkata Port is a riverine port, he said there is a big challenge for evacuation of cargo for which an extended port gate is 

proposed at Balagarh.

 

"The detailed project report (DPR) is getting finalised following which tenders will be invited," Kumar said.

For the Haldia dock, the volume of evacuation by rail is being increased three times from two rakes to six rakes.

He said since the Kolkata Port is situated on the National Waterways 2 (NW-II), trial shipments from the city to Varanasi and to the North East has already started.

Vizag, Ranong Ports to embark on Joint Ventures November 19 , 2019

VISAKHAPATNAM: A Joint Working Group will be formed by the ports of Visakhapatnam and Ranong in Thailand to explore business opportunities of mutual benefit.

Separate memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were signed between the Port Authority of Thailand (PAT) and the Ports of Visakhapatnam, Kolkata and Chennai to increase export and import trade through cargo handling. The Indian ports will also be allowed the use of Ranong, which is located on the Western side of Thailand and is closer to India as compared to Thailand’s leading ports Bangkok and Laem Chabang.

Visakhapatnam Port Chairman K. Rama Mohan Rao recently said that the MoUs were inked at the just concluded Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sector Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) here to strengthen bilateral ties between India and Thailand.

Ranong is a port on the Kraburi river peninsula near Myanmar. It is near the Indian Ocean coast and the Port Authority of Thailand has decided to develop it as a world-class port.

 

India wants to develop its ports as a strategic gateway to South East Asia. Nepal is using Kolkata and Visakhapatnam Ports as gateways for its export-import trade. Untapped areas During the recent visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Thailand, the broad contours of bilateral trade and the need to improve cooperation between various ports was discussed with Thailand Prime Minister General (Retd) Prayut Chan-o-cha.

 

Elaborating on the MoU signed with Port of Ranong, VPT Deputy Chairman P.L. Haranadh said that they were planning to explore Coastal Shipping in a big way besides tapping the huge trade potential in the Bay of Bengal countries and land-locked countries like Nepal.

Govt. working on policy to push MSME exports: Nitin Gadkari November 19 , 2019

NAGPUR: The Government is working on two policies to increase micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) exports and bring down imports by encouraging local production, Union MSME and Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said recently.

While addressing a gathering during the Small Micro Enterprise (SME) conference at Nagpur, Mr. Gadkari said the MSME sector contributes 29% to the country’s growth and 48% of exports are done through MSMEs. Similarly, around 10 to 11 crore jobs have been created in MSMEs.

 

“The Government is working on two policies. Firstly, in terms of how to support and increase exports in industries which are into the export business,” the Minister said.

 

The leather industry has a total turnover of Rs. 1,40,000 crore, of which Rs. 80,000 crore to Rs. 90,000 crore is domestic and Rs. 45,000 to Rs. 50,000 crore is from export.

 

He further said the Government is also working on a policy to increase indigenous production of products that are being imported.

“Products that are being imported should be manufactured in the Country itself. We are in talks with the Commerce Ministry on these two policies and it is in the final stages,” Mr. Gadkari said.

 

Mr. Gadkari emphasised on three important factors — reducing capital cost, power cost and logistic cost — to become competitive in the international market, which have also been discussed while making the new policy, he said.

Evergreen Marine and BlueX Trade partner to revolutionize integrated ocean logistics

TAIWAN: Evergreen Marine Corporation and BlueX Trade, have established a partnership to bring customers digitalized integrated logistics. Through the launch, customers can easily search online for thousands of routes and book within minutes directly with Evergreen. 

In addition to providing a white-label digital booking platform, BlueX is also building a trade-matching network that integrates the logistics ecosystem required to move a shipment from door to door. In the future, Evergreen will leverage the ecosystem to offer services such as freight financing, trucking, and insurance.

 

“Evergreen Marine decided to partner with BlueX and will launch with the platform because the solution has the potential to be the most effective monetization channel for all of our space, globally,” says Eric Wang, EVP of Marketing at Evergreen Marine Corporation.

In conjunction with the launch, BlueX is announcing its CarrierX Initiative. As part of the initiative, BlueX has created a white-label solution for carriers to enable smart booking, combined with a trade-services network. The CarrierX Initiative strives to deliver an integrated container logistics solution, to bring enterprise shippers a seamless experience across the supply chain. In an effort to create a digital ecosystem in the ocean logistics economy, carriers will get the most effective monetization channel for their container distribution, including rate and inventory management, carrier EDI/API, and AI/Machine learning.

 

“We believe carriers open to connecting the industry through technology have the potential to unlock huge value from their existing network. By joining the CarrierX Initiative, carriers get the latest technology solution along with the ability to monetize their container volume with new revenue sources,” says Sean O’Malley, CEO of BlueX Trade.

HMM wins Lloyd’s List “Global Freight Award” 2019

SEOUL: HMM is pleased to announce that the company is honoured as the winner of the ‘Environmental Award’ in the Global Freight Award 2019. The award ceremony was hosted at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London on 14 November 2019. A total of six companies were shortlisted as a finalist in the environment category.

HMM’s continued effort to reduce emissions played an important role in the prize. A panel of judges recognised the HMM for its long standing commitment to emission calculation and reduction with tangible results.

“On behalf of HMM, the prestigious environmental award is a great honor for our company“, says Peter Livey, Managing Director UK of HMM. “Climate change is our collective challenge. For a zero emission future, for which no carbon neutral fuels or technology currently exist, we more than ever need to strive to improve, innovate, and collaborate on minimizing the potentially severe problems climate change could bring for future generations”, Peter Livey added.

 

Lloyd’s List Global Freight Award 2019:

Global Freight Award 2019 is the industry’s flagship award programme that recognises and rewards excellence across the supply chain community. The event is now in its 23rd year.

 

The Awards have a range of categories suitable for any successful organisation to increase their profile and benchmark themselves against their peers; from large private and public companies through to thriving entrepreneurial business, promising start-ups and established small and medium-sized (SME) enterprises.

Gateway Distriparks approves sale of Chandra CFS to Team Global Logistics

MUMBAI: Gateway Distriparks Limited (GDL) has entered into a Share Purchase Agreement to sell its second CFS in Chennai, held in its wholly owned subsidiary - Chandra CFS & Terminal Operators Private Limited (Chandra CFS) - to Team Global Logistics Private Limited (TeamGlobal), for a consideration of INR 47 crores and an amount equal to earnings before depreciation and amortization for a period of April 1st 2019 to Closing Date. Further, TeamGlobal will also be placing Rs. 2 crores in an escrow account as a commitment fee, which will be adjusted as part of the purchase consideration on closing. The transaction is expected to close in 45 days.

 

Chandra CFS is a Container freight station strategically located between Chennai & Ennore Ports. For FY 2018-19, Chandra handled around 12,000 TEUs last year. The company posted a Total Income of INR 9.0 crores, EBITDA of INR 1.33 crores and Loss Before Tax of INR 0.62 crores. 

 

GDL will continue to operate its first CFS in Chennai where it handled over 87,000 TEUs last year.

 

Prem Kishan Gupta, Chairman and Managing Director of Gateway, commented "Gateway Distriparks is looking to consolidate its position in Chennai by working out of a single facility, and the net proceeds from this sale will go entirely towards reduction of debt."

SCI Ship Urja performs rescue operation at Arabian Sea November 07 , 2019

MUMBAI: SCI Urja, the Offshore Supply Vessel of the Shipping Corporation of India has rescued 18 fishermen at Arabian Sea alongwith the Indian Navy vessel, INS Teg on 26th Oct 2019. 

 

The incident took place in Arabian Sea at around 0924hrs on 26.10.2019, when SCI Urja was carrying out production duty under Armada sterling-1(FPSO). The SCI vessel was instructed to proceed to D-1D platform for assisting distressed trawler (fishing boat) titled "Vaishnav devi mata". Our vessel SCI Urja reached the location at around 1030hrs and found the fishing boat half flooded with sea water and 

18 nos fishermen desperately awaiting assistance for their survival. 

 

As the severe tropical storm "KYARR" was passing by, all vessels were experiencing gale force wind and very high/rough seas. One of the fisherman succeeded in climbing onto the platform D-1D with the help of scramble net but others (17 nos) stayed back on the boat, awaiting for assistance from SCI Urja. SCI Urja towed the distressed craft along with 17 fishermen to safe location outside the oilfield and handed it over to Indian Navy vessel "INS Teg". 

 

Due to quick and effective assistance rendered by SCI Urja in such challenging circumstances, life of all 18 fishermen could be saved and that too without any reported major injury. 

 

Mrs. H K Joshi, CMD of SCI appreciated the Master of SCI Urja & other ship staff on board the vessel for carrying out such rescue operation effectively, In the past also, SCI has rendered its services for the rescue operations in Nation’s interest.