Category Archives: Shipping

Allcargo Logistics Ltd is mulling a potential entry into container terminal operation business to explore opportunities with the container freight stations (CFS) and inland container depots (ICD) the firm runs across India, shared a top official. “Some of the strategic objectives that we could explore would be whether it would make sense to get into container terminal operations,” said Ravi Jakhar, Chief Strategy Officer, Allcargo Logistics. This, however, does not include greenfield port development as those are infrastructure projects. But if there happens to be any opportunities for container terminals, we could look at it, Jakhar said. “From a strategic point of view, container terminals could be a potential area of synergy with CFS/ICD business”, Jakhar explained. He, however, added that the firm “does not have active investment plans on the drawing board”.

Transworld Group, one of the leading Global Shipping & Logistics Conglomerate, has further strengthened its overall fleet by adding large size bulk carrier – TBC Praise (36,699 DWT) . With the latest addition, Transworld is making a strong presence in the bulk carrier business with the latest acquisition coming close on the heels of 2 acquisitions of Bulk carriers TBC Passion and TBC Prime, with all 3 acquisitions done in 2021. Ramesh S. Ramakrishnan, Chairman, Transworld Group highlighted that this new addition to the fleet will further enhance Transworld’s Global footprint of Ship Owning in the Dry Bulk/ Container segment and deployment, which is a result of strong fundamentals and confidence in the growth of Shipping and Logistics sector in the present and coming years.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) will sponsor a number of women from developing countries to follow a new maritime leadership programme, curated by Maritime SheEO , as part of the it’s ongoing work to support gender diversity in the maritime sector. In Maritime, as with other sectors, the higher you climb the fewer women leaders you see in leadership positions. You cannot be what you cannot see! We need more women leaders, more role models and more importantly – our industry needs more capable women in the Captain’s seat. Says Sanjam Sahi Gupta, Founder, Maritime SheEO, “with a strong belief that every woman in the workplace should have the opportunity to flourish and achieve her full potential in 2019 I embarked on this mission through Maritime SheEO to create an ecosystem that supports women to become the leaders they want to be and they deserve to be”. She further adds, “I am really very grateful to IMO for showing their confidence in Maritime SheEO through their support for this unique Maritime women’s empowerment initiative”.

UAE-based logistics major DP World is investing around INR 2,000 crore in a slew of projects in Tamil Nadu, including setting up of a new container terminal, cold storage and seafood processing zone among other units. Some of the other projects lined up include a free trade zone with an integrated rail siding, a minor port in the Eastern Coast of Tamil Nadu and inland container depots in Erode, Karur and Tirupur. “These projects may create employment for 4,500 people (1,500 direct and 3,000 indirect),” a government official said. DP World has signed a memorandum of understanding with the state government seeking facilitation support required for the projects.

The world’s third-largest container carrier said it’s capping spot rates for ocean freight for the next five months, yielding to pressure from some customers and regulators concerned that global trade disruptions have pushed the cost of shipping too high. “Although these market-driven rate increases are expected to continue in the coming months, the group has decided to put any further increases in spot freight rates on hold for all services operated under its brands,” CMA CGM SA said in a statement on its website. The decision, which will resonate throughout the industry, took effect Thursday and runs through Feb. 1. Based in Marseille, France, the company said it’s “prioritizing its long-term relationship with customers in the face of an unprecedented situation in the shipping industry.”

In its transition to a new operating model, Aramex has announced its plans of splitting its business in two: Aramex Express will cater to e-commerce and B2C; while Aramex Logistics will become the freight forwarding B2B arm. The company believes that this reshuffle will “enhance customer service levels and operating efficiencies, while capturing greater global market share”. Aramex Express, which includes international and domestic delivery, will serve the B2C customer base, including Shop & Ship, e-commerce, FMCG, SMEs and other customers needing “innovative last-mile solutions”. The company has been a strong player in e-commerce deliveries across the Middle East, with a marked presence in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Aramex Logistics, which includes air freight, sea freight, land freight and warehousing and distribution, will serve the B2B customer base across multiple industries including oil & gas, healthcare & pharmaceutical, aerospace and retail & fashion.

The Suez Canal Authority had to put up with with another ship running aground in the high-traffic waterway. The Coral Crystal, which measures 225 metres in length and 32 metres in width, was passing through the canal with 401 tonnes of cargo when it ran aground. However, the good news is that there was no global shipping traffic jam. Although it is yet to be ascertained why the bulk carrier ran aground, it has been reported that it was only stuck for short time. According to some international reports, the carrier only took 15 minutes. Fortunately, it was stuck in a double-lane section of the canal, so other vessels could keep going on their way in another lane. Earlier this year, the Ever Given blockage led to a global traffic jam. The 440-metre-long Ever Given was wedged in the canal for six days, creating a massive traffic jam and leading to international shipping delays as vessels were forced to go around Africa instead of passing through the canal.

GEODIS is offering its customers to benefit from alternative fuel solutions in the air and at sea, all around the world. The objective is to contribute to the reduction of the CO2 emissions of their shipments. “The development of biofuel is one of the strategic paths being pursued by GEODIS to meet the challenge of carbon neutrality. With these new solutions for air and sea freight, we offer our customers an additional way to decarbonize their entire supply chain,” says Marie-Christine Lombard, GEODIS Chief Executive Officer. The aviation (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) and maritime (Sustainable Marine Fuel) fuels, derived from non-fossil sources, are produced using food and agricultural waste (mainly cooking oil). Their use allows for a massive reduction in CO2 emissions over the cycle from production to fuel consumption; at least 80 percent for air and 90 percent for sea transport, along with a reduction in other pollutants.

A ray of hope for Indian exporters is expected in the current week as the Commerce Ministry in India has assured that they will announce short-term measures to ease the situation of acute container shortage and skyrocketing box prices caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. India’s Commerce Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam stated to the media that the Central government is brainstorming the options put across by the export body and private players to come up with a solution for the ongoing container crunch. Federation of Indian Exporters Organisation’s (FIEO) Director General and CEO Dr. Ajay Sahai said, “There are around 30,000 odd containers which are at different ports either because the importer has not taken the delivery or there is some dispute on customs duty or classification. We have suggested the government that these 30,000 containers be offloaded at various warehouses and can add them to the supply chain to help in exports.” Secondly, the export body has requested the government to regulate the export of empty boxes so that only filled containers move out of the country and the empties are put back in the system.

The inland container depot (ICD) project in Gazipur’s Dhirashram area is finally going to be implemented under the public-private partnership (PPP) model as the government is considering making Dubai-based terminal operator DP World a partner in the venture. Officials of the Public Private Partnership Authority Bangladesh said DP World has already agreed to work on the project. Now, discussion is going on to fix the terms and conditions of the final agreement. Dr Najmus Sayadat, director (investment promotion) of PPP Authority, said, “We are preparing a document for DP World, which may take six months. The investment of DP World will be finalised based on the document.” The ICD will be built on a 160-acre site near Dhirashram Railway Station in Joydevpur, Gazipur. According to Bangladesh Railway, the cost of the project could be up to $300 million. Once it is complete, the Kamalapur ICD will be relocated to Dhirashram. This is expected to help container transport by rail go up by as high as 30%.