Category Archives: Shipping

In a landmark achievement, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) handled 5.68 Million TEUs during FY 2021-22 against 4.68 Million TEUs in 2020-21, a 21.55 percent increase. This performance is the highest ever at Jawaharlal Nehru Port for any financial year compared to 5.13TEUs in 2018-19. The total traffic handled at JNPA during the April-2021 to March-2022 of the FY 2021-22 is 76 million tonnes, which is 17.26 percent higher as against 64.81 million tonnes for the same period of last year. During FY 2021-22, JNPA handled 6,278 container rakes and 1,007,667 TEUs as compared to 6,092 rakes and 921,512 TEUs in previous year.

In a major milestone, the Paradip Port Authority has achieved the highest record of handling 116.13 million tonnes of cargo in the 2021-22 financial year, surpassing the previous record of 114.55 million tonnes in the 2020-21 fiscal. Officials said that despite a 30 per cent drop in iron ore traffic due to international market conditions and poor demand, they managed to improve their cargo handling by focusing on other commodities.

Keku Bomi Gazder, CEO of AAI Cargo Logistics & Allied Services Co. Ltd., has almost three decades of experience in the Middle East and India in the aviation sector, holding key roles in firms such as Air France-KLM Cargo, Martinair Cargo, and Saudi Arabian Airlines, among others. He has been with AAI Cargo Logistics and Allied Services Company Limited since June 2017, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Airports Authority of India, which is part of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India. He oversees cargo and logistics operations at over 90 AAI airports, identifying business opportunities across the company’s many verticals for future growth and developing business strategies to stay ahead of the competition in the cargo market. AAI Cargo Logistics and Allied Services Company Limited has begun managing the In-line Hold Baggage Screening System at AAI-managed airports. He works closely with the Ministry of Civil Aviation on a variety of initiatives. Gazder is a part of the following initiatives and committees: the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s Krishi Udaan initiative; the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s Defence Convergence Committee; the Governing Council of the Logistics Skill Council (LSC), established under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship; the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s Investment Clearance Cell; the Air Cargo Forum of India (ACFI); and the Confederation of Indian Industries’ National Committee on Civil Aviation.

Shailender Anand, Managing Director (India) & Director (Dubai) of Pronk Multiservice India Pvt. Ltd., began his career in sales after graduating with honours from Punjab University, Chandigarh. Anand’s career in the forwarding sector began with Airfreight Ltd, and he then relocated to Dubai to work in the same industry. After 10 amazing years in Dubai, visiting about 60 countries and learning about the global industry, he chose to return to India to pursue better future opportunities. After nearly two decades in the forwarding industry, Anand joined Logistics & Supply Chain in 2011 to work in value-added services, specifically industrial packaging. In 2011, he joined Pronk as a partner and launched Pronk in India. Anand’s adventure at Pronk has spanned over 11 years, and it continues in the industrial packaging and solutions market. Pronk India was approached by Bharat Electronics Ltd., Bengaluru, to develop a solution and boxes to pack 30,000 ventilators for COVID-19 patients in 2020. When India was trying to deal with the pandemic, the Pronk India team, led by Shailender Anand, was working full-time at all of Pronk’s plants across the country, with special clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs to operate from all of their locations in India.

Softlink Global was founded by Amit Maheshwari, who also serves as its CEO. Having begun his career as a freight forwarder and customs broker, the logistics technology guru, Maheshwari, founded Softlink Global with the objective of providing a single platform software to integrate and automate the entire logistics operation of the company. An engineer by education, he is a technology evangelist well-known in the logistics business for his thought leadership and game-changing ideas. His attention to detail, technical and creative skills and commercial awareness enabled Softlink to achieve success with each software product created. Maheshwari’s knowledge and experience include strategic planning, information management, financial resource management, product development, and marketing. He is in charge of Softlink’s worldwide operations, which comprise all regional business operations as well as corporate activities including marketing, product development, quality, and technology.

Viraj Vohra is the Director of Continental Group, a global supply chain management company. He has consistently maintained an innovative approach to the company’s growth, being persistent, devoted, and meticulous, as well as a dedicated and enthusiastic leader. He has directed the group’s expansion into numerous areas by taking an innovative approach to business and people. Vohra, an international business leader, has been instrumental in forging significant alliances with partners from over 60 countries and increasing the group’s global reach. He has extensive experience collaborating with global leaders of supply chain organisations from around the world. Vohra completed the Port of Antwerp’s Certified PA3 Experiential Training Programme for Breakbulk Handling and Port Operations, which assisted the group’s diversification initiatives.

The India Cargo Awards will commence tonight. The event will be commemorated by celebrating true leaders and recognising their hard work, passion, and dedication to the cargo industry. The event will be attended by Amrit Lal Meena, Special Secretary (Logistics), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Department of Commerce, Government of India, as the Chief Guest, and Piyush Shrivastava, IES, Sr. Economic Advisor for the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India, as the Guest of Honour.

Deutsche Post DHL Group closes the acquisition of J.F. Hillebrand Group AG (Hillebrand) and its subsidiaries at an equity value of €1.5 billion. After obtaining all necessary regulatory approvals from the required antitrust authorities, the takeover has been consummated. The companies had already signed the purchase agreement in August 2021. Accordingly, Hillebrand now belongs 100 percent to the DHL division Global Forwarding, Freight. “Hillebrand’s expertise in the logistics of beverages, beer, wine, and spirits is an excellent addition to our portfolio. In line with our Group Strategy 2025, we can further strengthen the core of our logistics and benefit our shareholders with profitable, long-term growth”, says Frank Appel, CEO of Deutsche Post DHL Group. “This bolt-on acquisition is a great opportunity for us to add a number of services to our high-quality ocean freight service portfolio, which will strengthen earnings and longstanding client relationships from the start.” Hillebrand is now part of DHL Global Forwarding, Freight under the leadership of Tim Scharwath, who will also head the combined businesses of Hillebrand and Gori as its CEO. Cees van Gent, who has successfully managed Hillebrand since 2017, has decided to step down as its CEO and Chairman of the Board and will leave the group. Hillebrand and Gori will work closely together, leveraging synergies from the extensive experience of both providers, especially in the logistics of beverages, beer, wine, and spirits. Gori, the wine and spirits sector specialist, has already been part of DHL Global Forwarding, Freight since 1998. The integrated business will operate under the new brand name “Hillebrand Gori – a DHL company”. The successful closing of the transaction will strengthen the group’s position in the dynamic ocean freight …

FedEx Express today revealed the findings of its ‘Future is Now’ study among Gen Z (18–24 years old). As the fastest growing economy today, India is home to a fifth of the world’s youth, with half of its 1.3 billion population below the age of 25. The study offers valuable insights into the priorities of the younger generation in the country. With the future becoming more dynamic than ever, there is a substantial shift in the way generations are embracing ‘what’s next’, with new technologies and an interest in sustainability impacting both business and individual lifestyles. This is particularly true for Gen Z. According to the ‘Future is Now’ study, 38% of Gen Z respondents associated the phrase ‘Future is Now’ with technology advances in business, healthcare, education, and transportation, 33% to sustainable development; 13% to the rise in the use of robotics and artificial intelligence; 10% to living on Mars; and a mere 6% to expecting everything to be personalised for them. “The results of this study, particularly the responses of the younger population, reinforce our commitment to experimenting with sustainable technologies that benefit and align with our customers’ goals. As an industry leader, we have a responsibility towards the next generations and take bold actions by constantly innovating to meet future expectations,” said Mohamad Sayegh, Vice President of Operations for FedEx Express in India. “FedEx is a vocal advocate for modernising technologies that enhance the next generation of transportation vehicles and devices. Globally, we are testing Roxo, the autonomous FedEx SameDay Bot for last-mile deliveries, which is designed to reduce carbon emissions, traffic congestion, and noise pollution,” added Sayegh. The study also highlights what Gen Z considers when …

Easterly Asset Management’s Maritime Logistics Equity Partners (MLEP), formed last year to invest in critical maritime shipping assets, announced today that it has acquired three additional vessels through MLEP I, its first chemical tanker investment tranche. The newly purchased vessels are all 24,000 dwt coated chemical tankers, larger than the four J19 stainless steel chemical tankers previously acquired by MLEP I. “The new acquisitions through MLEP I show the appeal of our focus on benefitting from the substantial dislocations and opportunities in international shipping markets by acquiring and making available for hire pre-owned chemical tankers,” said Darrell Crate, Managing Principal of Easterly Asset Management and MLEP’s Chief Executive Officer. “We’ve seen that the demand for such tankers has the potential to generate a high level of income for investors, and we continue to seek new investment opportunities in the shipping sector.” Launched in September 2021, MLEP is taking advantage of the limited supply and growing demand for chemical tankers, a low future orderbook for new ship construction, and increases in trade. In addition to the four J19 stainless steel chemical tankers previously purchased, MLEP has acquired three coated tankers: Easterly Hawk (built in 2008) Easterly Osprey (built in 2009) Easterly Falcon (built in 2009) In November 2021, Easterly launched MLEP II, which has a goal of raising $150-250 million of equity. It plans to acquire all sizes of chemical tankers, including both stainless and coated MRs and handysize tankers, with the target of acquiring 15–25 vessels. Both of MLEP’s investment tranches capitalise on shortages in tanker capacity brought about by growing global demand for the transport of bulk liquids such as palm oil, molasses, feedstock, and other commodities and the limited construction of vessels …