Saravanan's Blog

Source:  http://www.sagarsandesh.com/news/atulya-misra-assures-to-address-woes-of-granite-exporters-handling-agents/ Mr. Atulya Misra, Chairman, Chennai Port Trust, has assured the granite block exporters and handling agents that their grievances would be appropriately dealt with at the right time. Replying to queries raised by the granite block exporters and handling agents during a ‘Trade Facilitation Meet’, organized by the Chennai Port Trust management in its premises on May 24, as part of the port’s direct interaction with port users, he instilled hope and confidence in their mind that they need not worry about the weighment bridge issue, as the port would take immediate steps to put up one such facility for granite block export and handling. He also announced that a proposal to create one full rake common user siding at black yard has been put on a fast-track mode and once the facility is in place, it will help the port to attract more and more GB exporters to Chennai P...

Source: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/2-child-limit-muslims-parts-myanmar YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — Authorities in Myanmar's western Rakhine state have imposed a two-child limit for Muslim Rohingya families, a policy that does not apply to Buddhists in the area and comes amid accusations of ethnic cleansing in the aftermath of sectarian violence . Local officials said Saturday that the new measure would be applied to two Rakhine townships that border Bangladesh and have the highest Muslim populations in the state. The townships, Buthidaung and Maundaw, are about 95 percent Muslim. The unusual order makes Myanmar perhaps the only country in the world to impose such a restriction on a religious group, and is likely to fuel further criticism that Muslims are being discriminated against in the Buddhist-majority country. China has a one-child policy, but it is not based on religion and exceptions apply to minority ethnic groups. India briefly practiced forced sterilization of ...

Source:  http://www.sagarsandesh.com/news/gmb-gearing-up-for-biggest-ever-dredging-activity/ Undertaking the biggest-ever dredging activity in its 30-year history of the Board, the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) has begun preparations to implement the Ro-Ro Ferry project connecting Gogha in Bhavnagar with Dahej, located on the opposite side of Gulf of Khambhat in Bharuch district. According to GMB sources, o ver three million cubic metres of dredging may be required to make the Board’s ambitious project a success. Tenders for the project, worth Rs. 115 crores, has already been floated as part of the Rs. 400-crore ferry project that attempts to provide cheaper, f aster and convenient transportation between Saurashtra and south Gujarat regions. GMB, the nodal agency for all maritime activities in Gujarat, plans to attract national and international dredging companies in the project. The Board has planned to hold a special seminar in Mumbai on June 5, to promote the dredging p...

Source: http://www.sagarsandesh.com/news/denmark-pitches-for-seat-in-imo/ As part of its growth plan,  Denmark officially presented the Danish candidature for the Council of the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (the IMO Council) for the period 2014-2015 in the first week of May. According to a Media statement released by the  Danish Maritime Authority , the effort falls in line with the “Growth Plan for the Blue Denmark,” stating that Denmark  will continue to be active in the international cooperation performed in the IMO. Ms. Anne Hedensted Steffensen, the Danish Ambassador in London, officially presented the Danish candidature for the Council for the period 2014-2015. The Danish candidature was well received by IMO Secretary General Koji Sekimizu, who expressed his recognition of the work made by Denmark in the IMO. Mr. Sekimizu said that he look forward to having yet another contested election for the IMO Council. The experience gained i...

Source:  http://www.sagarsandesh.com/news/chennai-ennore-ports-miss-the-bus-on-new-box-terminals/ With Chennai Port formally rejecting the lone bid for its ambitious Rs. 3686-crore mega container terminal and Ennore Port delaying the process for its first container terminal, EXIM fraternity in South India feels that both the Union-Government-run ports in the State have missed their opportunity to capitalize on the burgeoning box handling market . Besides, the EXIM fraternity also pessimistically noted that even if they (both the ports) ultimately come out with their mega terminals in another four years time, there will not be any captive cargo (for the new terminals) by that time, as four existing container terminals – DP World-Chennai , PSA Chennai (both located inside Chennai Port), Kattupalli International Container Terminal (promoted by L & T Shipping at Kattupalli) and Krishnapatnam Port Container Termina l (Nellore, Andhra Pradesh) would be ruling the trade . ...

http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=109148 Thanks to its climatic characteristics, Peru could become a world supplier of apples, cherries and walnuts, said Jorge Escobedo, specialist in fruit from the University Agraria La Molina (UNALM). "Fifteen years ago it would have been crazy to do this type of analysis. However, the global landscape has changed," he said, explaining tha t since the Peruvian coast isn't exposed to intense cold it can produce deciduous fruit such as pomegranates, grapes and cranberries for export. In that regard, he pointed out that the coast is also suitable for growing cherries, apples and walnuts, which are other species of the deciduous trees group. "We have the suitable climatic conditions," he reaffirmed. He said that Peru has the potential for exporting cherries in October and November, a commercial window that would allow Peruvian producers to enter the international market before Argentina and Chile, the ...

Pic courtesy: http://www.maritimedenmark.dk/?Id=16374 Although its operating environment has remained challenging, Hapag-Lloyd finished the first quarter of this year in a much better position than last year. According to a media release, t he company posted a loss in what is traditionally the weakest quarter of the year for the liner shipping sector . However, it halved its loss before interest and taxes compared with Q1 2012. Revenue came to EUR 1.65 billion in the first three months of 2013 – an increase of 3.1 percent on the same period of the previous year. It was mainly attributable to a rise in the average freight rate, which was 4.2 percent up on the previous year at USD 1,546/TEU, the statement said. Commenting on the published first quarter results, Mr Michael Behrendt, Chairman of the Executive Board of Hapag-Lloyd , said, “Liner shipping started 2013 on a higher level than in 2012. However, the competition remains extremely challenging. Rates have come under tang...

Source: http://www.sagarsandesh.com/news/dci-completes-dredging-of-kankesanthurai-kks-harbour-in-n-sri-lanka/                      View of   Kankesanthurai (KKS) Harbour. Courtesy www.google.com T he dredging of the Kankesanthurai (KKS) Harbour in Northern Sri Lanka by Dredging  Corporation of India (DCI) has been completed, a Press statement from Indian High  Commission in Colombo has said . Mr. Ashok K. Kantha, High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka, participated in a brief  ceremony on May 6 at Kankesanthurai (KKS) Harbour to mark the completion of the dredging  operation. The “Joint Post Dredging Survey” chart was formally handed over by the High Commissioner  to Capt. Nihal Keppetipola, Managing Director of Sri Lanka Port Authority (SLPA) . The  dredging work at the KKS Harbour has been undertaken by the DCI. Besides senior  officials from the Navy, Mr. V. Mahalingam, Consul Ge...

Source:  http://www.puthinamnews.com/?p=39538 இந்தப் பூமிப் பந்தில் மனித இனம் தோற்றம் பெற்று பலகோடி ஆண்டுகளாகின்ற போதிலும், தமிழர்கள் என்ற இனமும் இங்கே வசிக்கின்றதென்ற கருப்பொருள் உருவாகிய காலம் 1972ம் ஆண்டுதான். ஏனெனில் அதுவ ரை அடிமைப்பட்டுக் கிடந்த தமிழினத்தின் பெருமையை நிலைநாட்ட வல்வெட்டித்துறையிலிருந்து ஒரு சிறுவன் அன்றுதான் முகிழ்த்தெழுந்தான். தமிழர்களின் வரலாற்றை மட்டுமல்ல தமிழர்களின் வாழ்க்கை முறைகளையும் மாற்றியெழுதியவன் அந்தச் சிறுவன்தான். அவனின் பெயரை ஓரம்கட்டிவிட்டு தமிழர்களின் வரலாற்றை எழுதிவிட முடியாதளவிற்கு இன்று அந்தச் சிறுவன் வளர்ச்சி பெற்றுவிட்டான். அவனுக்கு பின்னர் தான் தமிழர் என்ற ஓர் இனம் இந்தப் பூமியில் வாழ்ந்தது, வாழ்கிறது என்று சர்வதேசம் உணர்ந்து கொண்டது. இன்று தமிழர்களின் பிரச்சினை உலகம் பூராகவும் வியாபித்து நிற்பதற்கு அந்தச் சிறுவன் தான் காரண கர்த்தா. அந்தச் சிறுவன் வேறு யாருமல்ல. அவன்தான் எமது தமிழீழத் தேசியத் தலைவர் மேதகு வே.பிரபாகரன். தமிழீழத் தேசியத் தலைவர் பிரபாகரன் 1972 ம் ஆண்டு தனது 17வது வயதில் புதிய தமிழ்ப் புலிகள் என்ற பெயரில் ஒரு க...

Source:  http://www.sagarsandesh.com/news/mitsubishi-chengxi-shipyard-to-collaborate-in-ship-repair/ Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) and Chengxi Shipyard (Xinrong) Co., Ltd. in  China have agreed to collaborate in ship repair business through installation of ballast  water treatment systems (BWTS). According to a Media statement released from MHI on May 7, the two companies signed the  agreement on April 26. For some time MHI has been seeking to expand its engineering business in China, while  the Chinese shipyard has sought to strengthen its business by introducing advanced  technologies in the field . The aims of the two companies have thus meshed in reaching  the collaboration agreement. By combining MHI‘s advanced technologies accumulated from its abundant experience in  ship conversion work, including BWTS installation, and Chengxi Shipyard (Xinrong)‘s  ability to respond to ship conversion needs and its cost competi...

Source:  http://www.tamilwin.com/show-RUmryFTZNbns6.html விடுதலைப் புலிகளுக்கு எதிரான மூன்று தசாப்த காலப் போர் முடிவுக்கு வந்து எதிர்வரும் 19ம் திகதியுடன் நான்கு ஆண்டுகள் நிறைவடையப் போகின்றன. ஆண்டுதோறும் இந்த வெற்றியைக் கொண்டாடும் வகையில் அரசாங்கம் காலிமுகத் திடலில் பாரிய இராணுவ அணிவகுப்பையும் கொண்டாட்டங்களையும் நடத்தி வருகிறது. இந்த ஆண்டிலும் அதற்கான ஏற்பாடுகள் ஏற்கனவே தொடங்கிவிட்டன. போரில் பெற்ற வெற்றியை நினைவுபடுத்தி விழாக்களைக் கொண்டாடுவதில் தான் அரசாங்கத்தின் கவனம் இருக்கிறதேயன்றி அந்த வெற்றியை நிரந்தரமான அமைதியாக நிலைநாட்டிக் கொள்வதில் கவனம் செலுத்தப்படவில்லை என்ற குற்றச்சாட்டு தொடர்ந்து வருகிறது. அதாவது நிலையான அமைதிக்கு அவசியமான பொறுப்புக்கூறலையும் நல்லிணக்கத்தையும் ஏற்படுத்துவதற்கு அரசாங்கம் அக்கறை காண்பிக்கவில்லை. இதற்கான அழுத்தங்கள் சர்வதேச அளவில் கொடுக்கப்பட்டாலும், புதிய புதிய வடிவங்களில் இலங்கையில் சிங்கள - பௌத்த பேரினவாதம் தான் மேலோங்கி வருகிறது. போரின் போது எல்லா நாடுகளினதும் கவனம் இலங்கை மீது எவ்வாறு குவிந்திருந்ததோ அதுபோன்றே தற்போது முக்கியமான...

Source:  http://www.sagarsandesh.com/export-import/exim-trade-response-positive-to-chpts-half-shift-gang-system/ The efforts of increasing productivity at the wharfs by Chennai Port management seems to pay dividend, as good number of bulk vessels had opted for half shift gang system. Speaking to Sagar Sandesh, a senior Traffic Department official in Chennai Port Trust, said: “ Since April 4, when the system was rolled out on a trial basis for three months in our port, more than 10 bulk vessels had utilized the system, which was primarily aimed at reducing charges for stevedores and increasing productivity. ” Explaining why the system had been in place, the port official stated: “During discussions with stakeholders and trade unions for improving productivity, it came to our knowledge that the idle hours of break bulk and project cargo vessels were on the increase in the port. While conducting a study to ascertain the reasons for it, it emerged that non-working of the vess...