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The adjustment of global ports to handle larger containerships is well underway, but the first objective in many cases is well shy of the trend of the order book. While attention is focused on the new fleet of 18,000 teu vessels, the upgrades contemplate ships just over half that size.

That is certainly so in the Americas, where the Panama Canal is being enlarged to accommodate up to 13,000 teu, not the larger ships, and collateral ports up and down the East Coast are planning on the services of the 10,000-teu variety.

The 18,000+ teu ultra large container ship (ULCS) is being built for the Asia–Europe market, and their usage may be locked in there, due to its dependency on accompanying investments in deep ports and inland distribution capabilities, and access to major cargo markets.

Meanwhile, ports eager to achieve a place in the container sun have purchased larger container cranes and are committing to a $1bn port upgrade that has become ubiquitous.

Ports up and down the U. S. East Coast have been dredging and upgrading to adjust to the future sizing of the Panama Canal, which is now being pushed back to 2016.

Last week, U.S. House and the Senate conferees agreed to end a torturous legislative deadlock and permit ports to pay the cost of deepening harbors and then seek reimbursement from the government once the project is authorized. The last dredging legislation was passed seven years ago.

If finally approved, this would clear the way for various projects, starting with the deepening of the Sabine-Neches Waterway that connects the oil-refining hub of Beaumont and Port Arthur, Texas to the Gulf of Mexico. Another would permit the start of dredging the 30-mile run to the Port of Savannah so as to accommodate larger ships transiting an expanded Panama Canal.

A new entrant has joined the Panama expansion parade. In Cuba, that island is extolling the virtues of its newly opened port at Mariel, outside of Havana. The $1bn Brazil-sponsored port, designed to handle up to 1 million teu, is deemed a keystone in the eventual lifting of the US trade embargo.

In Angola, the port has installed new cranes and reduced cargo unloading time as the government reviews a plan to build Africa's biggest shipping terminal to challenge the current leader at Durban. The port would handle ships up to 13,000 teu, according to its backers, but funding has not been arranged.


*NEWS SOURCE

HONG KONG's Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) has announced a US$250 per TEU increase in freight rates for cargo from Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan and Hong Kong bound for New Zealand starting July 1

Rates will also be increased US$150 per TEU at the same time for cargo from Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam bound for New Zealand.

OOCL said the increase has been introduced to "ensure the continued provision of quality services and sufficient capacity to cater to customer requirements".

*NEWS SOURCE

China’s commerce ministry said it was confident the country could achieve its target of 7.5 percent growth in total trade this year.

“We are confident of achieving the annual trade growth target this year after making arduous efforts,” ministry spokesman Shen Danyang told reporters at a regular briefing.

“Generally speaking, we keep a cautiously optimistic view on the trade performance this year.”

The comments came after China announced on Thursday it was increasing its support for the trade sector with a raft of new measures, including giving more tax breaks, credit insurance and currency hedging options to exporters.

*NEWS SOURCE

FM is happy to announce that SOBA LOGISTICS LTD. has joined Freight Midpoint from TAIWAN recently.

Today please join us to welcome them to FM Family !

SOBA LOGISTICS LTD._TAIWAN
ADDRESS : 4 fl., no 81,Chang An E Rd Sec 2, Taipei, Taiwan
CONTACT : Aaron Suen
TEL : +886 2 2518 0428
FAX : +886 2 2516 4778
WEB : www.sobalogistics.com

DHL Supply Chain has its unveiled its latest investment in Southeast Asia at a ground breaking ceremony at Singapore's Tampines LogisPark. The new DHL Supply Chain Advanced Regional Centre is an integrated build-to-suit (BTS) logistics warehouse facility worth more than €90 million. The total amount is a combined investment of approximately €23 million from DHL and over €70 million from Cache Logistics Trust, the appointed logistics real estate solutions provider.

The company said the investment will further enhance DHL Supply Chain's market leadership across key aerospace, healthcare and technology industries, and grow its business in the region's emerging markets. The investment in the DHL Supply Chain Advanced Regional Centre will increase DHL's warehouse capacity in Singapore by 40 per cent and will enable its regional customers in the aerospace, healthcare and technology sectors to benefit from the advanced technology and automation solutions.

The Centre forms part of DHL's growth strategy for the South East Asia region, where the company plans to expand its capacity by 50 per cent from 2015 to 2018 in anticipation of the region's increasing market opportunities. The company's investments will focus on building new facilities, advancing IT solutions, expanding transportation and bolstering staff strength and training.

Additionally, DHL said its Supply Chain Advanced Regional Centre will enhance Singapore's position as a regional supply chain hub to multinational corporations (MNCs) which value the application of integrated technologies to achieve greater productivity, cost savings and operational efficiency in their supply chains. Construction of the new facility is expected to be completed by the second half of 2015. DHL's Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa (APMEA) regional office and Singapore country office will then be re-located to the premises.

*NEWS SOURCE

Steel to Canada, Mexico, Venezuela, China and Brazil showed strong growth

U.S. steel exports expanded significantly in March to reach more than 1 million tons, though they remained below the levels of a year earlier.

Total steel exports in March 2014 were 1.04 million tons compared with 904 thousand tons in February 2014, a 15 percent increase, but a 5.5 percent percent decrease compared to March 2013. Year-to-date figures still lag those of the previous year: Exports decreased 9.5 percent from 3.214 million tons in 2013 to 2.907 million tons in 2014.

Following a dip in February, when many parts of the United States were still suffering the impact of a harsh winter, exports responded well to the milder weather that followed, surging 15 percent in March, the American Institute for International Steel said in a statement.

Canada, which receives more than half of all U.S. steel exports, boosted its total by more than 17 percent compared with February, while Mexico, which accounts for about one-third of the nation’s steel exports, brought in nearly 14 percent more than it did the previous month. Exports to EU countries grew by more than 12 percent during the month, but represent less than 3 percent of the total.

Total steel exports were 5.5 percent less than they were a year ago. AIIS attributed the figure to smaller trading partners, including  a nearly 25 percent year-over-year decline for EU nations.

However, the U.S. is seeing strong growth in exports to Venezuela, China and Brazil compared with 2013. While those nations account for just 3.6 percent of the country’s exports, that percentage is 2.5 times larger than it was a year ago.

The strong recovery in steel exports to Canada and Mexico in March bodes well for the next several months, as it indicates that the slow start to the year had much to do with snow-related logistical problems. Further, growth of exports to major developing countries could indicate that U.S. steel is becoming more of a factor outside North America. This trend could accelerate if the situation in Ukraine leads to tighter sanctions on Russia, AIIS said.

*NEWS SOURCE

Dignitaries from the Ministry of Defense of Oman joined senior Damen management at a ceremony at Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding, Vlissingen on May 8 to mark the naming of the Royal Navy of Oman’s new flagship, the Sail Training Clipper Shabab Oman II.

The 87-meter-long steel-hulled vessel is a three-mast, full square rigger built to design principles set for the iconic tea clippers of the 19th century, benefiting from 21st century technology and comfort.

Featuring a fully unfurled sail area of 2,700 square meters, the vessel can accommodate 34 navy recruits plus a 58-strong crew.

Shabab Oman II will replace a vessel of the same name, fulfilling its training role while acting as a roving emissary promoting Oman’s long maritime tradition to the peoples of the world.

“This is a clipper with an Arabic touch. Our design partners toured Oman seeking inspiration for its interiors and furnishing,” Damen project manager Arnoud Both said. “Finishing touches include hand-carved teak at the bow, teak palm leaves at the stern, and gilded interior wood work from Hertel.”

Shabab Oman’s main sail will also catch the eye undefined a khanjar dagger in a sheath superimposed upon two crossed swords motif is the emblem of Oman.

“However, this is also a working training ship equipped to the most modern standards,” Both said. “Tall Ships capture the public imagination and win friends as they glide gracefully into port, but Shabab Oman is also key to the recruitment and training underlying the fleet expansion.”

The new clipper is the third example of Damen’s working relationship with Dykstra Naval Architects, following the delivery of Stad Amsterdam training ship and the Brazilian navy’s Cisne Branco. Its traditional profile houses cutting edge bridge systems from Imtech Marine/Alewijnse and controls from Johnson, Both said, describing an internal re-engineering to meet higher air AC demand.

Managed from Damen headquarters in Gorinchem, the clipper was principally constructed at Damen Shipyards Galati, Romania then towed to the Vlissingen yard where the 50-meter steel/aluminium masts, rigging and spars were installed and finishing works undertaken.

Damen Shipyards Group operates 40 ship- and repair yards, employing 8,000 people worldwide. Damen has delivered more than 5,000 vessels in more than 100 countries and delivers about 180 vessels annually to customers worldwide. Based on its unique, standardized ship-design concept Damen is able to guarantee consistent quality.

Damen’s focus on standardization, modular construction and keeping vessels in stock leads to short delivery times, low total cost of ownership, high resale value and reliable performance. Damen offers a wide range of products, including: tugs, workboats, naval and patrol vessels, high speed craft, cargo vessels, dredgers, vessels for the offshore industry, ferries, pontoons and super yachts

 *NEWS SOURCE

Iraq has approved two deals worth nearly US$1 billion to run operations at Rumaila, the country’s largest oil field.

UK-based Petrofac was awarded a US$538.5 million management contract for Rumaila field projects, while China Petroleum Engineering & Construction Corp. won a US$425 million engineering, procurement and construction contract to build a new power station. Rumaila is located in southern Iraq, about 32 kilometers from the Kuwaiti border.

The Iraqi government plans to triple oil production capacity from today’s 3 million barrels a day to 9 million. Production from Rumaila accounts for more than a third of the country’s total output. The oilfield is being developed by Britain’s BP and Chinese partner CNPC.

*NEWS SOURCE

Siemens and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries have formed a joint venture for the iron, steel and aluminum industry.

The new joint venture will integrate Mitsubishi-Hitachi Metals Machinery with Siemens Metals Technologies and employ about 9,000 workers.

“The bundling of competencies will result in a powerful joint venture that is better able to compensate for market fluctuations,” Siemens said in a statement.

In particular, the steel market has strongly shifted to Asia undefined over 50 percent of the world’s steel production now takes place in China undefined and competition has increased, Siemens said. Siemens brings its expertise in iron and steel production, casting, automation, environmental technologies and lifecycle services, while MHI’s technology competence is focused on hot and cold rolling, processing and production.

The company’s headquarters will be located in the UK. The joint venture includes supply agreements for Siemens’ Industry Automation and Drive Technologies Divisions.

According to the agreement, MHI will hold a 51-percent and Siemens a 49-percent stake in the joint venture. Subject to approval of the relevant authorities, the joint venture will start operations in January 2015.

*NEWS SOURCE

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has announced new proposals for flight recorders and underwater locating devices which aim at facilitating the recovery of an aircraft and of its flight recorders in the unfortunate eventuality of an accident.

The new EASA requirements include the extension of the transmission time of underwater locating devices (ULD) fitted on flight recorders from 30 days to 90 days. EASA also proposes to equip large aeroplanes overflying oceans with a new type of ULD that have longer locating range than the current flight recorders ULDs. Alternatively, aircraft may be equipped with a means to determine the location of an accident within 6 Nautical Miles accuracy. In addition, the minimum recording duration of Cockpit Voice Recorders installed on new large aeroplanes should be increased to 20 hours from two 2 hours today.

Patrick Ky, EASA Executive Director said: “The tragic flight of Malaysia Airlines MH370 demonstrates that safety can never be taken for granted. The proposed changes are expected to increase safety by facilitating the recovery of information by safety investigation authorities”.

*NEWS SOURCE