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MSC and CMA CGM Unveil New Vessel Sharing Deal
Swiss shipping company Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) is joining forces with its French counterpart CMA CGM in a new vessel sharing agreement on the route linking Europe, the Indian Ocean and Australia.
Starting during the month of September 2019, a new partnership will see the two companies operate a joint service linking the North West Continent and the Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean and Australia on the southbound leg and Australia to Southeast Asia, India Subcontinent and Europe on the northbound leg.
The upgraded MSC’s Australia Express/CMA CGM’s NEMO service will operate with a fleet of fourteen 9,500 TEU ships of which nine will be provided by MSC and five by CMA CGM.
CMA CGM said that the new offer will feature an upgraded fleet and provide expanded port coverage through better utilization of six hubs offering dedicated feeder services. The first sailing is expected in mid-September 2019, according to CMA CGM.
Vietnam listed in the top 10 countries according to agility emerging markets logistics index 2019
Top 10 countries in the list include: Vietnam, China, India, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Indonesia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Qatar and Turkey – The 11th country is Thailand.
This is an important ranking that measures the comprehensive competitiveness based on logistics power and business platforms. Accordingly, 50 countries were ranked based on their business environment, regulatory frameworks, logistics services, infrastructure, delivery time, and domestic & international logistics opportunities, etc.
China and India dominate the 2019 Agility Emerging Markets Logistics Index, ranking 1st overall and topping the domestic and international logistics opportunity rankings.
Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia have been selected as emerging markets with the most potential progress based on their favorable business conditions along with total value of production and supply chains. In addition, 56% of those surveyed said that the China & US trade war could benefit Southeast Asian countries because these have been containing very good conditions for alternatives to let enterprises move businesses out of China.
The report also showed that e-commerce industry has been promoting logistics opportunities in emerging markets. In fact, 60% of executives in the logistics industry said that they have been expecting that retailers would outsource their services to deliver products to buyers; 47.4% of those surveyed forecasted an increase in outsourcing for completing e-transactions in e-commerce activities.
Sai Gon Newport Corporation receives Labour Order
National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan lauded efforts and achievements by the Sai Gon Newport Corporation (SNP) over the past three decades when attending its 30th traditional day on March 15.
A defence-security enterprise of the Vietnam People’s Navy, the corporation has contributed to implementing the Vietnam Maritime Strategy, fulfilled its role of serving as a logistics base and military port, and built military facilities in border and island areas. Notably, in March 2018, it put into operation the Cam Ranh International Port – the largest logistics and technical services supply centre for aircraft carriers and military ships in Southeast Asia, Ngan noted.
She said that the corporation is a model State enterprise in terms of international integration and effective business, forming a network of 28 ports and warehouses in major economic zones, and providing jobs for nearly 20,000 people with relatively high incomes.
The top legislator affirmed that the SNP has become a bright spot in the combination of economic development with defence security ensuring.
In the context of the complicated regional and world developments, she requested the Defence Ministry and the Vietnam People’s Navy to direct the corporation to continue abiding by the Party’s policies and the State’s laws, and exert efforts to fulfill all assigned tasks, thus helping create a motivation for Vietnam’s maritime economic development and increase the country’s brand in the fields of maritime economy and logistics services.
She also asked ministries, sectors, Ho Chi Minh City and other localities to create favourable conditions for the corporation to expand operation and well implement its military, production and business missions.
On behalf of the Party and State leaders, Ngan presented the Labour Order, first class, to the Sai Gon Newport Corporation.
According to SNP General Director Colonel Ngo Minh Thuan, since its establishment on March 15, 1989, the SNP served over 76,000 ships, with a total container goods volume of nearly 900 million tonnes.
It has become the biggest container terminal operator and logistics services supplier in Vietnam, which accounts for 91 percent of the import-export container market shares in Ho Chi Minh City, and 50 percent nationwide.
On this occasion, the SNP launched a fund-raising campaign among its staff, collecting 4.2 billion VND (181,000 USD) in support of the poor people.
MSC Zoe Aftermath: Millions of Plastic Granules Washed Up on Beaches
Researchers have estimated that well over 24 million of plastic granules have washed up in the eastern Wadden area following the MSC Zoe container spill in early January.
According to a research from the University of Groningen (UG), the North Sea beach of Dutch island Schiermonnikoog seems to be the hotspot for plastic granules that have washed ashore, with the highest concentration of granules – about 268 granules per square metre on average.
Schiermonnikoog is closely followed by the Groningen Wadden coast and the beaches of the uninhabited islands of Rottumeroog and Rottumerplaat.
The University of Groningen informed that the clean-up operation on Schiermonnikoog was scheduled to start this week.
MSC Zoe lost up to 345 containers while battling heavy weather in the North Sea on January 2. At the time, the ultra large container vessel, owned by Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), was on its way to Bremerhaven, Germany.
Following the incident, a lot of litter washed ashore on Schiermonnikoog, Ameland, Terschelling, Vlieland and the Frisian/Groningen coast. While the larger items could be disposed of relatively easily and quickly, there are still many small plastic polystyrene and HDPE granules at the high water mark, the University of Groningen said.
Source: World Maritime News, Vietnam Insider, Vietnam Plus
