Atulya Misra assures to address woes of granite exporters, handling agents

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 Port.

Over a dozen big players from the sector, who had attended the open meeting, listed out their grievances, related to export of granite blocks, in crystal clear terms and appealed to the port management to look into their genuine demands to make the trade sustainable and profitable.

Initiating the interactive session with exporters and agents, Mr. P. C. Parida, Deputy Chairman, Chennai Port Trust, spoke about the facilities the port has for moving granite blocks (GB). He also explained the port’s flexible tariff for granites by comparing it with the neighbouring ports, where the stones are handled for export.

It may be noted here that the port had suffered a steep decline of GB exports via Chennai over the past few years as its rival ports located at Krishnapatnam and Kakinada had garnered them by giving huge discounts on different charges.

Airing his grievance at the interaction, a representative of a prominent exporter from Chennai said the port should have a dedicated common rail-siding for handling granite blocks and it was one of the main reasons for many such exporters to shift their activities to other ports in the vicinity.

Besides, he also noted that the procedure of disallowing direct entry of GB-laden trucks into the port premises and forced stacking of the blocks in a warehouse on the outskirts of Chennai, which increased handling cost, forced many players in the trade to opt for other nearby ports to export their stones.

Apart from rail-siding and direct entry of GB trucks, the issue related to weighment bridge was also raised during the interaction.

During the interaction, Mr. N.Vaiyapuri, Traffic Manager, Chennai Port Trust, made a brief presentation on the port’s facilities available for granite block export and handling. He informed the trade about the various concessions offered to them like exemption from heavy lift charges, weighment exemption and introduction of half shift gang for commencing vessels.

Mr. Vaiyapuri also announced that the port management is proposing to introduce half shift gang for finishing vessels and a trade notice to the effect would be issued shortly.

2-child limit for Muslims in parts of Myanmar

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 men in a bid to control the population in the mid-1970s when civil liberties were suspended during a period of emergency rule, but a nationwide outcry quickly shut down the program.

Rakhine state spokesman Win Myaing said the new program was meant to stem rapid population growth in the Muslim community, which a government-appointed commission identified as one of the causes of the sectarian violence.

Although Muslims are the majority in the two townships in which the new policy applies, they account for only about 4 percent of Myanmar's roughly 60 million people.

The measure was enacted a week ago after the commission recommended family planning programs to stem population growth among Muslims, Win Myaing said. The commission also recommended doubling the number of security forces in the volatile region.

"The population growth of Rohingya Muslims is 10 times higher than that of the Rakhine (Buddhists)," Win Myaing said. "Overpopulation is one of the causes of tension."

Sectarian violence in Myanmar first flared nearly a year ago in Rakhine state between the region's Rakhine Buddhists and Muslim Rohingya. Mobs of Buddhists armed with machetes razed thousands of Muslim homes, leaving hundreds of people dead and forcing 125,000 to flee, mostly Muslims.

Witnesses and human rights groups say riot police stood by as crowds attacked Muslims and burned their villages.

New York-based Human Rights Watch has accused authorities in Rakhine of fomenting an organized campaign of "ethnic cleansing" against the Rohingya.

Since the violence, religious unrest has morphed into a campaign against the country's Muslim communities in other regions.

Containing the strife has posed a serious challenge to President Thein Sein's reformist government as it attempts to institute political and economic liberalization after nearly half a century of harsh military rule. It has also tarnished the image of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been criticized for failing to speak out strongly in defense of the country's embattled Muslim community.

Win Myaing said authorities had not yet determined how the measures — which include a ban on polygamy — will be enforced. The policy will not apply yet to other parts of Rakhine state, which have smaller Muslim populations.

In its report issued last month, the government-appointed commission wrote: "One factor that has fueled tensions between the Rakhine public and (Rohingya) populations relates to the sense of insecurity among many Rakhines stemming from the rapid population growth of the (Rohingya), which they view as a serious threat."

Predominantly Buddhist Myanmar does not include the Rohingya as one of its 135 recognized ethnicities. It considers them to be illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and denies them citizenship. Bangladesh says the Rohingya have been living in Myanmar for centuries and should be recognized there as citizens.

China has been carrying out a planned birth policy since the late 1970s, generally limiting one child to urban couples and no more than two to rural families, to stem rapid population growth that Beijing believes is not sustainable economically and environmentally.

___

Associated Press writer Didi Tang in Beijing contributed to this report

Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) gearing up for biggest-ever dredging activity

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, over 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, faster 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 project.

The GMB’s dredging project entails creation of new “channels” in the Gulf of Khambhat that will be about 100 metres in width. The channel’s length will be about 4,300 metres at Ghogha and 6,000 metres in Dahej and the channels would have a draft of about five metres. The vessels that will use these channels are designed to carry passengers and vehicles of all types with special attention to trucks and cars.

Vessels that will have a carrying capacity of 500 passengers and 100-150 vehicles are expected to ply on this route, GMB officials told Sagar Sandesh.

These vessels would need a maximum draft of 4.5 metres and can move at a speed of 22 knots (40 km/hour).

Denmark pitches for seat in International Maritime Organization (IMO Council)

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 in 2011 shows that the 20 seats in the group for which Denmark is standing are much sought for. The election as such will take place at the Assembly to be held in November 2013.

Since 2001, Denmark has held a seat in the IMO Council, which is the highest IMO body. The Council has 40 members, distributed on three groups, and debates maritime subjects of a strategic and political nature.

Denmark’s support for and interest in the work of the IMO is also based on the Government’s “Growth Plan for the Blue Denmark.”  Under the “Blue Denmark” plan, the Danish Government plans to work internationally for quality shipping.

IMO Council elections are held every second year. Denmark presented its candidature for the first time in 2001 and has, since then, been re-elected.

Details of current Members of IMO Council for the 2012-2013 biennium:

-  Category (a) 10 States with the largest interest in providing international shipping services: China, Greece, Italy, Japan, Norway, Panama, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, United Kingdom and United States.

-  Category (b) 10 States with the largest interest in international seaborne trade: Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Netherlands, Spain and Sweden.

-  Category (c) 20 States not elected under (a) or (b), which have special interests in maritime transport or navigation and whose election to the Council will ensure the representation of all major geographic areas of the world: Australia, Bahamas, Belgium, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Liberia, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand and Turkey.

The Council is the executive organ of IMO and is responsible, under the Assembly, for supervising the work of the Organization. Between sessions of the Assembly, the Council performs all the functions of the Assembly, except that of making recommendations to Governments on maritime safety and pollution prevention.

Chennai, Ennore Ports miss the bus on new box terminals

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 Terminal (Nellore, Andhra Pradesh) would be ruling the trade.

It may be noted here that all the four private terminals are competing with each other for boxes from the region and are located in the close vicinity of Ennore and Chennai Ports.

After several months of delays and negotiations, Chennai Port Trust’s Board last week formally decided to reject the lone bid received from Essar Ports as it offered only a 5.25 per cent revenue share.

The whole bidding process was mired in controversy as the only other bidder, Adani Ports failed to secure the necessary security clearance from Centre. Since the port was desperate to move forward in the mega project to capture the flourishing container trade, it opened the bid received from Essar Ports, which had received security clearance within a few months time and offered about 5 per cent revenue share.

“With the rejection of a lone bid and planning to go for a fresh tender to finalise the project by Chennai Port it would eventually lead to further delay of not less than two years. This is not a good sign for the port’s ambition of becoming a major player in box trade from east India,” sources in the know-how of cumbersome process told Sagar Sandesh.

On the other hand, Ennore Port, located near Chennai Port, also suffered a huge set-back in mid-2012 when its first attempt to set up a container terminal failed to take off at the eleventh hour.

After showing initial signs of the project being on the right track, Bay of Bengal Container Terminal consortium, which got the orders from Ennore Port for the box terminal in 2010, struggled with financial commitment later. The consortium’s failure to comply with financial closures ultimately made the Ennore Port management to terminate it in October last.

Since its first attempt to have box terminal failed miserably, Ennore Port tread cautiously in its second attempt that started in February this year and over 10 companies showed expression of interest (EoI) to the project.

However, next rounds of procedures like RFQ and RFP could take a few more months and if everything goes well as per plan, Ennore Port may be able to award the project to a successful bidder by December this year.

According to EXIM players, even if the project gets awarded in December, it will take a minimum of three years to acquire final shape and the terminal would be available for commercial activities only by 2016-end.

“So, both the new container terminals at Chennai and Ennore Ports are expected to be available only after 2016 and it has to be seen how the new facilities would throw a challenge to the existing four terminals, which have a combined capacity of handling over six million TEUS annually and yet to touch their capacity,” a senior port analyst told Sagar Sandesh.

Peru could become a global supplier of apples, cherries and walnuts

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 that 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 major exporters in the Southern Hemisphere.

"We can also grow walnuts. The basis for what I am saying is that these species produce very well in Peru, which has limited hours of cold," he said.

"Before, we were doomed to produce deciduous with a very poor quality because there was a direct relationship between the fruit's quality and the cold hours. Now there are varieties of all the species of deciduous fruit that have an excellent quality and a low requirement of cold. We have varieties that would do very well with the very little cold conditions," he said.

In the case of apples, he said that Peru is developing the Gala variety, one of the most cultivated around the world since 1970. However, he noted that it hasn't been produced extensively so far.

"This variety produces very well even under the central coast's conditions and much better in the Andean Valley's conditions, like in Huancayo," he said, and added that other varieties that could be grown are the Fuji and the Pink Lady. The latter is a patented variety and, according to experts, is the one that will have the most demand in the future.

Finally, he added that the installation of the external market-oriented orchards would increase in Peru. In this regard, he urged producers not to dismiss the domestic market that has around 30 million consumers with a growing purchasing power.

Source: http://agraria.pe/

Hapag-Lloyd improves it ground in first quarter

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, the 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 tangible pressure since April, especially on the important East-West routes, and competition is also becoming tougher on Latin America trades.”
“It is important that rates soon return to a sensible, profitable level. This is absolutely essential and in the interests of everyone who relies on a functioning, reliable maritime shipping industry – from shipping lines to shippers. We cannot afford a repeat of last year’s non-existent peak season.”
In addition, the transport volume edged up slightly to around 1.33 million TEU against the last year’s figure of 1.32 million TEU in the same period.
Hapag-Lloyd generated a positive EBITDA of EUR 24.0 million in the first quarter, which represents a considerable improvement on last year’s Q1 figure (EUR -21.1 million). The adjusted EBIT came to EUR -53.2 million. This meant that the Company almost halved its loss as against the first quarter of 2012 (EUR -99.5 million).
The result is in line with expectations for Q1, which is traditionally the weakest season for liner shipping because of the Chinese New Year celebrations, said the release.
The most important time of the year for the liner shipping industry is the peak season during the third quarter, when goods are shipped from Asia to Europe and North America for the run-up to Christmas.
During the first quarter of 2013, the Group net result improved by almost EUR 40 million compared to the prior year period, standing at EUR -93.6 million (prior year period: EUR -132.4 million).