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Nghi Son International container port inaugurated in Thanh Hoa
An international deepwater container port was put into operation at Nghi Son International Port in the north central province of Thanh Hoa on Wednesday.
Addressing the event, Deputy Minister of Transport Le Dinh Tho appreciated CMA Group's decision to open a container port and selection of Nghi Son International Port for the construction.
The route will create favourable conditions for import-export enterprises in Thanh Hoa and neighbouring provinces, thus contributing to making Nghi Son Economic Zone and economic zones in Thanh Hoa well as other provinces in the region more attractive to domestic and foreign investors.
To tap the potential for Nghi Son Port to become a strong deep-sea port, Tho proposed Nghi Son International Port company modernise its production organisation and freight forwarding, and provide top services for ship owners and import and export firms.
He asked for efforts to effectively organise logistics service to cut shipping and logistics costs for businesses.
The ministry will work with provincial authorities in directing the implementation of some key projects such as the North-South expressway - the Ninh Binh - Thanh Hoa and Thanh Hoa – Bai Vot sections, the second phase of the national highway 217 project, a coastal road route and investing in port projects, Tho said.
On the same day, the port also welcomed its first container ship - Haiphong China Express.
Starting operation in October 2017, the Nghi Son International Port consists of four wharfs, nine multi-purpose shore cranes and modern equipment capable of handling 9 million tonnes of goods per year. It is fully capable of receiving bulk carriers, goods, liquid cargo ships and container ships.
Along with Nghi Son International Port, another container-dedicated port is being constructed in the locality with a container handling capacity of up to 600,000 TEU per year.
The port opening shows the potential of Thanh Hoa Province in making use of maximum geographical position to develop trade by sea and at the same time make an important contribution to reducing freight and logistics costs as well as reducing the load on the road system. — VNS
HICT Welcoming 12,000 Teu – 132,000 Dwt Vessel Routing Through Trans-Pacific To The West Coast Of Usa
On May 7th, 2019, HICT has successfully welcomed the call of mother vessel Wan Hai 805 with a capacity of 11,923 TEU, deadweight of 132,000 DWT, LOA of 330m operated by the consortium between Wan Hai Lines (Taiwan), Cosco Shipping Lines (China), Pacific International Lines (Singapore) on CP1/ SEA/ AC5 service with regular call at HICT, which provides direct service from the North of Vietnam to West coast of the USA. This service has HICT – Nansha – Hong Kong - Yantian – Long Beach – Oakland – Yantian rotation, cutting down the lead time from Haiphong to west coast of the USA from 25 days to 19 days in comparison to the previous route calling at overseas transshipment hubs.
This fact again affirms the capability of accommodating large mother vessels and HICT’s position in the field of container terminal operator in Haiphong. It sets a milestone for development of container transportation via Trans-Ocean direct service not only from HICT but also from North Vietnam to the US and European ports without transferring at transshipment hubs. The deployment of this new direct service makes a complete change to the picture of port operation and sea transportation in North Vietnam, which significantly contributes to remarkable logistics costs reduction, competitiveness enhancement of Vietnam and Vietnamese enterprises, as well as generating a driving force for investment attraction, especially FDI.
Currently, HICT is accommodating 6 regular services per week, including 2 Trans-Pacific direct services, 2 Indian services and and 2 Intra-Asia services. HICT always ensures high productivity and high quality service; well cooperates with functional authorities to clear goods quickly which is highly appreciated by shipping lines and customers.
Higher Volumes, Freight Rates Drive Hapag-Lloyd’s Earnings Up
German shipping major Hapag-Lloyd closed the first quarter of 2019 with a significantly higher operating profit.
The company said that earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) increased to EUR 214 million for the period, compared to EUR 51 million reported in the same quarter a year earlier.
The group net result was at EUR 96 million, against a net loss of EUR 34 million seen in the first quarter of 2018, while EBITDA surged to EUR 489 million from EUR 216 million reported in the previous year.
“Thanks to higher transport volumes, better freight rates and a stronger US dollar, we achieved a good result and got the year off to a very decent start,” said Rolf Habben Jansen, Chief Executive Officer of Hapag-Lloyd.
Revenues in the first quarter increased to EUR 3.1 billion, representing a change of by 17% compared to EUR 2.6 billion collected in the first quarter of 2018, while transport volume rose by 2% to 2,929 TTEU from last year’s 2,861 TTEU.
The average freight rate improved to 1,079 USD/TEU, and the result was also positively influenced by a stronger average exchange rate of 1.14 USD/EUR. In contrast, higher bunker prices of USD 425 per tonne, against USD 372 per tonne seen a year earlier, had a negative impact on the quarterly result.
“We are cautiously optimistic about 2019 despite slightly dampened forecasts for global economic growth and higher fuel prices. Q1 was in line with our expectations and we believe we can make further progress towards our strategic objectives throughout the rest of the year as we continue to roll-out and implement our Strategy 2023,” Jansen added.
In Depth: Interoperability Crucial for Container Shipping to Evolve, MSC Says
Interoperability will be a key element for the container shipping industry to transform and adapt to the digital era, according to Swiss-based shipping major Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC).
MSC is one of the four founders of the Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA) that was officially established in April this year.
Together with Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd and Ocean Network Express (ONE), MSC wants to create common information technology standards to make the industry more efficient.
World Maritime News spoke to Andre Simha, Chief Information Officer of MSC, on the container shipping industry’s response to DCSA since the partners first announced the cooperation on the matter.
“MSC has had extremely positive feedback from customers and vendors and DCSA itself has felt good vibes from a number of different carriers,” Simha revealed.
“The industry realizes that the initiative behind the DCSA is necessary in order to help all actors in the supply chain to become more efficient and improve interoperability.”
“Indeed, we predict that within a couple of years everyone will become more familiar with this word, which signifies such a crucial element of how we need to evolve as an industry: interoperability,”Simha, who is also the Chairman of DCSA, pointed out.
Specifically, the ultimate goals of the newly created association include simplification, efficiency for all and interoperability at various levels.
Speaking about the future of shipping and what the industry needs to change to get there, Simha said that the future “is really all about collaboration and simplification of some of the outdated processes in the industry.”
He added that standardizing the way in which we communicate with others in the industry is, in part, the way to achieve this.
Hapag-Lloyd: Yantian Express Likely to Leave Freeport by Mid-May
The fire-stricken containership Yantian Express is likely to depart from Freeport, Bahamas during the first half of May 2019, according to German shipping major Hapag-Lloyd.
The repairs on the vessel are nearing completion and accordingly declaration of seaworthiness is expected shortly.
The company said that the ship’s departure is dependent on final technical approval of vessel class and refitting of hatch covers, after which Yantian Express would leave Freeport with the remaining cargo onboard.
The 7,506 TEU containership will then proceed to Halifax, Nova Scotia to deliver the containers. The exact date is currently unknown and will be confirmed once the company concludes forward schedule and terminal arrangements.
Hapag-Lloyd has urged all cargo interests to immediately provide the requested general average and salvage security to allow the remaining containers to be delivered with the aim of assisting the progress of vessel operational proceedings and salvage company approval.
“In spite of the fact that the deadline for submission has long expired, current status indicates that General Average and Salvage security has still not been posted for about one third of containers concerned.
As World Maritime News earlier reported, Yantian Express suffered a fire while sailing in the North Atlantic, some 650 nautical miles off the Canadian coast, on January 4.
In February, the boxship berthed in Freeport, Bahamas, to undergo the evaluation process and prepare for cargo discharge. Around 200 containers have been identified as a total loss.
Forces seize nearly 120 kg of cocaine hidden in imported fish meal containers to Tien Giang, Vietnam
VCN - Nearly 120 kg of cocaine which was hidden in fish meal containers imported from Peru to Vietnam was seized by competent forces in Tien Giang.
According to National Steering Committee 389, on May 6, through grasping information, at Warehouse Lot 2, My Tho Industrial Park (located in Provincial Road 864, Binh Tao Hamlet, Trung An Commune, My Tho City, Tien Giang Province), Tien Giang Police coordinated with C04 - Ministry of Public Security, Anti-Smuggling Enforcement Team - Binh Duong Customs Department, Southern Anti-Drug Enforcement Team (Team 6) - Anti- Smuggling and Investigation Department - The General Department of Vietnam Customs to inspect a container numbered TCNU5869923 imported by an enterprise in Binh Duong, who opened a customs declaration. The competent force detected a large amount of drugs.
In the customs declaration, the enterprise declared the goods as Peruvian Steam Dried Fishmeal - raw material used to produce aquatic food. The whole shipment was transported to a separate warehouse by the enterprise at the location of Lot 2, My Tho Industrial Park, Provincial Road 864, Binh Tao Hamlet, Trung An Commune, TP.My Tho, Tien Giang Province for preservation and waiting for the quality inspection result in order to complete cargo clearance procedures in accordance with regulations.
However, when loading into the warehouse, the competent forces discovered in the container four unusual black bags, so they coordinated to inspect and detect 119 kg of cocaine.
Currently the case is investigated by PC04 - Tien Giang Public Security in collaboration with competent forces for clarification.
Source: World Maritime News, Vietnam Customs News, Vietnam News, HICT Website.
