Category Archives: Shipping

S.A. Consultants and Forwarders has extended its reach in southern India with the opening of a new branch office in Bengaluru. Having strong presence in Cochin and Chennai, the company steps into the IT hub of the country. The new office is strategically located in the proximity to Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru providing excellent connectivity to the customers. The company has invested in its Bengaluru office to offer all kind of import and export shipments via both air and sea. The team is fully capable to handle temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals/perishables shipment, dangerous goods and general cargo. The Bengaluru team has even successfully handled RAP 4 containers and Class 9 Dangerous Goods shipments in no time at all. Says Ashish Asaf, Managing Director, S.A Consultants & Forwarders, “The new office will allow us to continue expand our capabilities in support of our customers’ growth in southern India complementing our air, ocean and warehousing services. Our aim is to empower emerging airfreight forwarders by proposing them competitive prices and pan-India presence. We believe in gaining customer loyalty by practicing the general act of openness and securing our customers’ business. Transparency is a critical part of our company’s growth and we make sure that our customers’ business is totally protected with us.”

The first container block train from Finland to India is on its way carrying 32 containers loaded with paper-based products of a Swedish company. It is the first such service linking Europe and India using the western wing of a new transport corridor that seeks to cut transit time and cost of transportation. The train will pass through the Russian Federation and the Republic of Azerbaijan. The estimated travel time by rail from Vuosaari to Astara station in Azerbaijan is eight days. From Astara, the containers will be transported by road to the port of Bandar Abbas in Iran and then hauled by a ship to Jawaharlal Nehru Port, the state-owned container gateway near Mumbai. The transit time from Vuosaari to Jawaharlal Nehru Port is around 25 days, about half that it takes to go via the Suez Canal, said a spokesperson for Nurminen Logistics Services Oy.

On the occasion of Day of the Seafarer, DP World, UAE Region reaffirmed its support for the seafarer community through the Jebel Ali International Seafarers Centre, located in Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza). The Jebel Ali International Seafarers Centre has been a breakout zone for crew members of vessels calling at the Jebel Ali Port and the crew of vessels at other ports in the UAE. Since the relaunch of the Jebel Ali Seafarers Centre in 2016, the entity has supported over 20,000 seafarers through various initiatives. As part of its sustainability initiatives, DP World, UAE Region will be carrying out several activities including medical screening (vital signs, ophthalmology, dental, etc.) and distribution of food packs/meals and giveaways packs to support the seafarers. The smart trade enabler will also host awareness sessions on ocean protection topics.

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has accorded high priority to building greater synergies between the Major Ports and Non-Major Ports in order to promote coastal trade and to provide sustainable, cost-effective and efficient Intermodal & Multimodal customer solutions. By doing so, the Ministry aims to provide seaborne connectivity to the trade and industries in the hinterland, reduce congestion on the road and rail besides bringing down logistics cost. As a step in this direction, the Union Minister of State (I/C) for Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sri Mansukh Mandaviya today inaugurated the loading operation on the maiden voyage of Coastal Shipping Service “Green Freight Corridor-2” from Cochin Port to Beypore and Azhikkhal Ports. Green Freight Corridor Service is operated by Round The Coast Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, a JM Baxi Group Company. This service will connect Kochi-Beypore-Azhikkal, and later Kollam port will be added to this service. M/s JM Baxi is the general agent for the service.

Global port operator D P World Ltd will close the deal on July 1 to buy three units of Dubai-based Transworld Group promoted by Indian businessman Ramesh Ramakrishnan, ten months after it was announced in August last year. The acquisition will help the Dubai government owned firm bolster its Indian and global logistics play as part of a strategy to transform from a pure play container terminal operator into an integrated supply chain solutions provider. The transaction was cleared by the Competition Commission of India on June 7. D P World’s majority-owned subsidiary Unifeeder ISC FZCO has acquired 100 per cent of Avana Logistek Limited (including its subsidiary Avana Global FZCO) and Transworld Feeders Private Ltd (the containerized Indian coastal and EXIM feeder shipping operations of Mumbai-listed Shreyas Shipping & Logistics Ltd, excluding its container vessels and bulk ship operations).

Adopting the latest technology with respect to security of infrastructure and other assets, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd., (GRSE), a Mini Ratna Category 1 Defence PSU and a leading warship building company has commenced today an Artificial Intelligence (AI) enabled high end CCTV network across its five units in Kolkata at a cost of Rs 12.95 Crore. The state-of-the-art technology will enable surveillance of 152.81 acre area of the shipyard to ensure 24×7 safety and security of all its premises. The AI enabled system will also prove to be a valuable tool during any investigation, detecting unauthorized intrusion or trespassing. The AI enabled CCTV system was set into operation at the Main Control room, GRSE Main Unit in the august presence of Rear Admiral VK Saxena, IN (Retd), Chairman & Managing Director, GRSE, Shri George Kuruvilla, CMD, BECIL, Cmde Sanjeev Nayyar, IN (Retd.), Director (Shipbuilding) and Shri. R.K. Dash, Director (Finance) and senior officials of GRSE and BECIL.

Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), India’s premier container port in a major technological push and with a vision to enhance the port’s efficacy, inaugurated 2 Mobile X-ray Scanners at NSICT & APMT. The mobile scanners were inaugurated by Sanjay Sethi, IAS, Chairman, JNPT, and Pr. Commissioner of Customs, U. Niranjan, JNCH, in the presence of the stakeholders and Trade representatives. Three Mobile Container Scanners one each for the three Terminals of JNPORT viz. JNPCT, DPWorld and APMT were procured through IPA and installed by Port at the total project cost of 101 Crores. Out of these three scanners, one Scanner was rolled out for operation on 30.03.2021. In addition to this, Port is also installing one Drive through Container Scanner for BMCTPL at the total cost of Rs. 46.25 Crores. Presently 75% work for this project is completed and same is expected to be operational by March, 2022.

Shippers hoping for some pricing respite from ocean carriers have been battered this week by further records falling. Drewry’s World Container Index, published yesterday, saw its steepest climb since its inception in 2012. Drewry’s composite World Container index rose a further 15.9% or $1,104 to reach $8,061.65 per feu, which is 332% higher than the same week in 2020. Rates from Shanghai to Los Angeles increased by more than a third in the space of week, from $6,358 per feu last week to $8,548 this week. Rates from Asia to US east coast also soared 39% to $11,180 per feu. “Drewry expects rates to remain on the higher side in the coming week,” the UK analysts stated yesterday.

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ), in its FY21 annual report, has revealed its plans to continue growing its cargo operations with a special focus on logistical services in an effort to emerge as the preferred logistics partner for exporters and businesses. As per the report, the company currently enjoys a 25% share of India’s Exim cargo and aims to almost double it to 40% in the next 4 years. “We intend to retain our position by achieving 500 million tonne cargo throughput by 2025 and will lead to enhancing our market share of the Indian market to 40%,” said the company. In FY21, APSEZ also showcased a growth of 11% from last year in terms of cargo handling volume, taking it to 247 million tonnes. This was against a 5 percent decline registered by all Indian ports. With a clear focus to take the company’s return on capital employed (ROCE) to over 20 percent by 2025, as per the annual report, the Gautam Adani-led company reported a ROCE of 12 percent in FY21. “Our maturing ports and newly acquired ports are growing in tandem as twin growth engines in enhancing free cash generation,” said the company.

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways had presented the draft Indian Ports Bill, 2021 which aims at abolishing the Indian Ports Act, 1908 and substituting it with a more relevant and contemporary act addressing present and future needs.The draft Indian Ports Bill, 2021 seeks to bolster structured growth and sustainable development of ports to garner enhanced investments in the port sector. It also seeks to optimise utilisation of the Indian coastline by effective administration and management of ports. Moreover, introduction of this statutory bill will help produce a refined and comprehensive regulatory blueprint for new ports and management of existing ones. If realised, these measures will further boost the investment prospects in Indian maritime and ports sector. The bill seeks to create a conducive environment for continued growth and sustained development of ports sector in India through the following methods: *Constitution of Maritime Port Regulatory Authority *Formulation of National Port Policy and National Port plan *Formulation of specialised Adjudicatory Tribunals namely Maritime Ports Tribunal and Maritime Ports Appellate Tribunal.