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).

DRONAMICS, the leading middle-mile cargo drone developer and operator and the global full-service provider Hellmann Worldwide Logistics have entered a strategic partnership to develop and offer a pioneering new transport service for the cross-border transportation of time-critical goods. As part of the cooperation, Hellmann plans to offer the first routes with unmanned cargo drones from DRONAMICS as early as next year. This partnership will provide customers seeking an on-demand solution for shipping goods with an integrated service, with DRONAMICS’ next-generation middle-mile service offering a speedy delivery at a competitive cost. The two companies will work together to develop the initial routes that they will be piloting for customers early next year. The first geography of interest will be Europe, where the regulatory environment permits operations across the European Union.

International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) and the International Cargo Handling Coordination Association (ICHCA) have renewed their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to reinforce collaboration between the two organizations. FIATA represents the freight forwarding industry by advocating trade facilitation policies and promoting best practices in the supply chain to speak with a unified voice in support of freight forwarding associations and logistics companies. ICHCA is dedicated to improving the safety, security, sustainability, productivity and efficiency of cargo handling and goods movement by all modes and through all phases of national and international supply chains. The MoU facilitates close coordination between FIATA and ICHCA to help them pursue their respective organizational goals and further mutual understanding. The MoU also creates the framework for cooperation that will enable both organizations to benefit from agreed actions and initiatives to achieve common objectives.

IAG Cargo and Air France KLM Martinair Cargo (AFKLMP Cargo) have partnered with more freight forwarders on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) flights. IAG Cargo has partnered with Kuehne+Nagel (K+N) to complete its first net zero charter chain, comprised of 16 flights, using SAF. Operated between Stuttgart and Atlanta and partially powered with SAF, the charters marked the first time ever that passenger-freighter flights were operated with net-zero carbon emissions. K+N explained in a statement: “As SAF still produces some CO2 emissions, complete carbon neutrality was achieved by substituting each litre of jet fuel kerosene used with 1.25 litres of SAF.” The forwarder added that it is expanding its sustainable services offering to its customers with “innovative and easily customised shipping options”. “The overall commitment so far of 12.7m litres of SAF allows [our] customers to benefit from immediately available alternative fuel solutions to reduce CO2 emissions of their air freight globally,” the company said.

The world’s largest cargo airline will provide forwarders in Europe with real-time pricing, capacity, and eBookings via WebCargo. Qatar Airways Cargo announced that WebCargo by Freightos will be introduced across the European region* effective 30 June 2021. Forwarders will be able to conduct eBookings with access to live rates and available capacity on the WebCargo platform. With the implementation of WebCargo across Europe, the total count of countries in the airline’s network on the platform will increase to 32. This will allow customers to further digitalise their experience with the airline in the region, resulting in more process efficiencies and faster market responses. Qatar Airways Chief Officer Cargo, Mr. Guillaume Halleux, said: “We are glad to further roll out the third-party eBooking platform, WebCargo throughout Europe, as we aim to provide digital connectivity for our customers and extend digitalisation across our operations. This will bring in more efficiencies in the supply chain and provide multiple benefits for our customers. Our aim is to gradually roll out WebCargo throughout our global network during the year, providing convenience and transparency to our customers.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has dealt a major blow to the aviation industry, severely impacting passenger volumes, as well as revenues. Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (KIAB/ BLR Airport), which managed a record 32.3 million passengers in FY2019-20, witnessed an unprecedented 66% decline in traffic during FY2020-21. During this period, BLR Airport welcomed only 10.91 million passengers since domestic air travel resumed in India on May 25, 2020, following a two-month suspension. 10.45 million passengers flew domestic routes, recording a 63% drop, as compared to 27 million in FY2019-20. International routes witnessed 4 million passengers in 2019-20 – the passenger footfall, however, declined substantially to 0.46m in FY2020-21, a decline of 90%. This is mainly attributed to the continued suspension of international flights and COVID-19 restrictions across the globe. After showing signs of recovery during the middle of the fiscal year, the traffic dropped significantly due to the rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in India, beginning February 2021.

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.