Saravanan's Blog

Source: http://www.portwings.in/articlesinterviews/chennai-port-stares-at-uncertain-future/ Port Wings News Network: Chennai Port, one of the oldest ports in the country and regarded as the “Gateway of East Coast,” is now at a crossroads. Situated in the Coromandel Coast in South-East India, the Port of Chennai has more than 100 years of tradition. Activities at the Chennai Port, which was lull for decades, turned hyperactive when the port began handling Coal in 1970s for the use of Tamil Nadu Electricity Board to meet the power requirements of the state. After the globalization, when the containerized trade started picking up,  Chennai Port was the first to have a container terminal and became a true Gateway of East Coast India with facilities for handling containers, breakbulk and liquid bulk cargoes . Besides, the port has also played its important role in securing energy security for the whole region by facilitating import of crude and coal for a refi...

Source: http://www.portwings.in/editorial/withdraw-the-illogical-dgft-notification-on-apple-import/ Editorial/ Port Wings Sept 30, 2015: Without assigning any reason to the sudden action, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade has notified that apples to the country with 1.2 billion mouths can be imported via only one port, which is located on the west coast of India. It is worth mentioning here that India, which has over 7500 kms of coastline, have 12 major ports and about 190 non-major ports (also known as minor ports) dotted along the shoreline. Until the notification, apples were being imported via many major ports, including Chennai, which serves as a major centre for imported apple trade in South India. I n India, apples are mainly grown in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. These apples fulfill about 30-40 percent of domestic market in the country, and imported apples fill the remaining gap. For Southern states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhr...

Source:  http://www.portwings.in/general/pakistani-hacks-chennai-customs-website/ Port Wings News Network: The official website of Chennai Customs Commissionerate, ( www.chennaicustoms.gov.in )   has been hacked by an anonymous person believed to be a Pakistani . According to information available and published on a Pakistan-based portal, a Pakistani hacker named  Faisal 1337  hacked and defaced the official website of Chennai Customs and displayed a warning “Hacked Pak Cyber Attackers”.  Besides, the hacker also put the slogan “ Pakistan Zindabad ” on the main page of the site, which is viewed by hundreds of people linked to exim trade from the region everyday. Though the report claimed that the Customs Website was hacked on Sept 22, it is unclear when the site went down. Meanwhile, the website is still not accessible even on Sept 25. It may be noted that in the month July, the same hacker hacked and defaced the official website of National...

Source: http://www.portwings.in/ports/chennai-trade-decry-dgfts-ban-on-apple-imports/ Port Wings News Network: The importers of most popular fruit apple via Chennai Port have appealed to the Union Commerce Minister Ms Nirmala Sitharaman to amend the latest DGFT Notification that restricted the import of apples to Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) Nhava Sheva, Mumbai, alone. In the Notification No.21/2015-2020, issued by the DGFT under the Ministry of Commerce in the Government of India, apples are allowed to be imported only through JNPT Nhava Sheva alone. With a view to prevail upon the Commerce Ministry’s “Illogical decision,” the Tamil Chamber of Commerce (TCC) has sent a memorandum seeking amendment to the notification that banned import of apples through Chennai Port as well as other ports in the country. Speaking to Port Wings, Mr Chozha Naachiar Rajasekar, President, TCC, said, “On behalf of the importers of apples at Chennai Port and members of Tami...

Source:http://www.portwings.in/editorial/the-death-that-changed-the-face-of-refugees-forever/ Editorial in Port Wings, September 16,2015: Image Credit: AFP/Getty Images The image of 3-year-old Syrian boy Aylan Kurdi washed up dead on a beach in Bodrum, Turkey, along with his mother and brother while trying to escape their country’s civil war last week has not only shocked the entire globe, but also forced the rich European countries to do some soul-search on what lies ahead on the impending humanitarian crisis. As anticipated, social media, which usually reflects the daily developments with varied perspective, erupted in one voice and hashtag like #Humanitywashedashore and #Aylankurdi recorded flow of lakhs of messages symbolizing the urgent need for action on growing refugee crisis. Well, Aylan Kurdi is not alone in reaching the heaven through watery grave while setting out on a perilous journey to avoid internal conflicts back in their homelands. Since Aylan Kurdi’s...

Visit http://www.portwings.in/e-paper/pw-sept-02-2015/ for Port Wings Maritime Exim Weekly's First Anniversary Special.

Source:  http://www.portwings.in/logistics/indias-economic-growth-is-directly-proportional-to-logistics-efficiency-ashok-shrivastava/ Port Wings News Network: India’s economic growth is directly proportional to its logistics efficiency,  Capt. Ashok Shrivastava, CEO, Allcargo Shipping , has said. In an  exclusive interview to Port Wings , Capt Shrivastava said, “The more connected, seamless, time efficient it is, the more the economy will benefit from it.” “To realize the true potential of India as one of the largest economies, it needs to be supported by similar path breaking infrastructures, such as ports, especially road – rail – coastal shipping connectivity to ports,” he added. Excerpts… Q. Tell us about the potential of Coastal Shipping in India? Capt. Ashok Shrivastava : “For a country like India, rising as the second fastest developing economy in the world after China and with a more robust government at the center under the leadership ...