Calcutta Port unions join hands to oppose the move to delink the Haldia Dock Complex from the Calcutta Port Trust in any form. A six-member steering committee has been constituted by the representatives of the different trade union organizations to chalk out the action plan to put off the delinking move. The joint resolution of the trade union bodies stated, "implication of such government order is a total neglect and disregard to the Major Port Trust Act undermining the board of trustees. The trade union leaders may go for for 'Industrial action' if the situation demands so.
A committee appointed by the Supreme Court made a visit at JNPT to investigate the toxic oil issue raised by the Green Peace, which has alleged last week that the port was holding containers of toxic oil under the guise of "furnace oil". The importers of oil have filed a petition in the Mumbai High Court demanding the release of the containers.
Government decides to allow used steel imports through selected ports - The ports which are likely to be designated for this purpose are Mumbai, Chennai and Calcutta through which all defective steel items would be routed. Government feels that this step is necessary because of the increase in the imports of defective steel products. Ministry of Steel has decided to settle down for regulation through ports and is also considering a differential pricing system for seconds and defectives as sought by the domestic steel producers.
MoST considers option to hive off non-core business functions of SCI - The study on Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) has identified LNG transportation as a priority area for SCI suggesting the company to spin-off the declining break-bulk business into a separate entity. The Ministry is looking at separating the function from the core business activity and has estimated a total requirement of 10 LNG ships to transport LNG provided all the proposed projects materialize.
In a separate development SCI has entered into a joint venture with Mitsui OSK Lines and Atlantic Commercial Finance to transport LNG to the Dabhol power project. It has become the first Indian shipping company to venture into this capital-intensive sector. SCI is likely to raise US $100 million from a consortium of foreign banks shortly to acquire crude tankers. It has already placed orders for eight vessels from Cochin shipyard and also planned to take advantage of the improved freight market worldwide for acquiring second-hand ships.
Meanwhile, SCI is considering to rationalize its services due to the crumple of the break bulk trade and bright prospects of the container trade. The present position of the break-bulk trade may require SCI to withdraw from break bulk operations in the next couple of years. To boost its container service, SCI has teamed up with Zim and Yang Ming Line.
SCI has also planned to launch Far East Container service by February 2001. The new service would call Colombo, Singapore, Chinese and Taiwanese ports after its commissioning. SCI is expecting to add a revenue of Rs.0.7 billion per annum to its turnover through this extended liner service.
Petronet LNG extends the last date for receipt of shipping bids for transporting LNG from Qatar to India by 15 days till November 30. It had invited bids for two LNG ships of 138,000 cubic meter capacity each with the option of having a third ship of the same capacity that would carry LNG to be supplied by Rasgas, a consortium of Qatar General Petroleum Corporation (QGPC) and Mobil. The Rs.20 billion tender was floated in March and has been extended for the third time. The extension of deadline would require the shipping companies to renegotiate the validity of the shipyard quotation, which may escalate.
IOC likely to sign contracts with shipping lines for crude transport - The Indian Oil Corporation Limited has finalized new contracts with seven domestic shipping lines for chartering of 19 vessels to transport petroleum products along the coast.
Meanwhile, the domestic shipping industry has been able to secure an increase of 8-18% in Dollar terms in charter rates and 12-22% in Rupee terms on an average depending on the technical specification of vessels over the time charter rates in last year's deal.
Container Corporation (Concor) all set to touch Rs.10 billion turnover by handling containers of more than 1.0 million TEUs during the current fiscal. The company has planned target sales of Rs.11.72 billion up from the Rs.8.31 billion last year. The company's profit before tax is expected to reach Rs.4.03 billion against last year's Rs.2.91 billion while the container handling both in domestic and international sectors is expected to record a significant rise during the year.
Meanwhile, Concor's new inland container depot in West Bengal has been commissioned at Cossipore. The Cossipore ICD, covering an area of 4.1 acres including the bonded area of 3,450 sq.m. and covered space of 600 sq.m., will mainly target the container traffic to and from Haldia dock. Outside the bonded area, the ICD would continue to handle domestic traffic.
IRFC is likely to raise Rs.10 billion for Railways - The Indian Railways Finance Corporation is set to meet its target of Rs.34 billion market borrowing in the current fiscal. However there is no specific time frame for the borrowings as funds are selected from the market depending on the Railway's needs as and when they arise. IRFC has also arranged a loan of $19.5 million from the German bank, KFW for part purchase of 24 high-speed LHB-Alstom coaches for Rajdhani and Satabdi trains.
Meanwhile, the Railways have been able to stick on to their targets for revenue earnings in the first seven months of the current fiscal. The Railways have registered a total earnings of Rs.200 billion till the end of October this year, which is 8% higher than the earnings for the same period last year. Of the total projected earnings of Rs.15 billion for the entire fiscal, the railways have earned Rs. 3.10 billion from sundries like commercial utilization of surplus land and airspace, advertising etc.
The World Bank is likely to release the second phase of US$500 million loan for the Rs.580 billion National Highway Development Project (NHDP) by the end of the current fiscal. The loan would be utilized for widening of Delhi-Calcutta highway to four/six lanes. Besides the $516 million loan, the NHAI has already got a $180 million loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the four/six laning of the national highway between Surat and Manor in Maharastra.
C-TRAM organized seminar on port development - The Center for Transportation Research & Management (C-TRAM), an independent research center in the transport sector organized a national seminar on " Development of Ports in India and Rail connectivity". The seminar aimed at identifying and easing of transportation bottlenecks through these deliberations. It recognized the urgent need for reforms in the transportation sector to ease congestion and the necessity of adequate infrastructure for smoother and speedier movement of cargo following the accumulated growth of ports in India.
The Logistics Institute Asia Pacific offers master level programme - A partnership between the Georgia Institute of Technology and the National University of Singapore would offer a dual degree of Master of Science in Logistics Program to maintain and develop leading edge competency in Logistics. In order to make the program more attractive, the National Science and Technology Board and the Economic Development Board of Singapore and sponsoring companies are jointly offering attractive study awards to successful applicants with outstanding academic results.
The Shipping Corporation of India Limited has invited offers for
Name of the work: Sale of M.V."State of Haryana" for further
trading / scrapping Built-India1983, DWT-16800 on 'as is where
is basis'
Address for communication: SCI office, Nehru Centre, Discovery
of India Building,
Dr. Annie Besant Road, Worli, Mumbai-400 018.
Sealed offers to be submitted: in the Cafetaria, 17th floor, Shipping
House, 245, Madame Cama Road, Mumbai-400 021 between1500 hours.
to 1530 hours. on 23.11.2000
Vessel is available for inspection: from 15.11.2000 to 22.11.2000.
Tel: 91-22-493 1461
Fax: 91-22-495 0356/ 495 0316
Website: www.shipindia.com
The Shipping Corporation of India Limited has invited
offers for
Name of the work: Supply of Non-bonded provisions to their owned/managed/chartered
vessels calling at Chennai port on contract basis for a period
of two years.
Address for communication: General Manager (Purchase & Services),
The Shipping Corporation of India Limited,
Shipping House, 5th floor, 245, Madame Cama Road, Nariman Point,
Mumbai- 400 021.
Sealed offers to be submitted: by 1200 hours on 31-11-2000
Poompahar Shipping Corporation Limited has invited offers
for
Name of the work: Time Charter of Modern Panamax Self Trimming
Panamax Gearless vessels of ABT 65000-ABT 78000 DWT.
Tenders are available: From 20.11.2000 to 30.11.2000 between 10.00
hrs. to 17.00 hrs.
Address for communication: Poompahar Shipping Corporation Limited,
IV Floor, 473, Anna Salai, Nandanam,
Chennai-600035.
Sealed offers to be submitted: on 15.12.2000 by 12.00 hrs.
Goa Shipyard Limited has invited offers for
Name of the work: Planned Preventive Maintenance Service of Various
makes and capacity E.O.T. cranes for the period from 1/1/2001
to 31/12/2002
Address for communication: Commercial Department GSL Vasco-da-Gama
Goa,
Tel.No-521152 and GSL Mumbai Office, C/o Mazagaon Dock Ltd, Mumbai.
Tel.No-3738321/3738749.
Sealed offers to be submitted between: up to 30/11/2000 on all
working days from 14.30 hours to 16.30 hrs except on Saturday.
Cochin Shipyard Limited has invited offers for
Name of the work: Pre-qualification for undertaking sub contract
work in ship repair.
Address for communication: Asst. General Manager, Cochin Shipyard
Ltd.,
Kochi-682015
Fax: 91 (484) 370897/373902
Tel. No.- 91 (484) 351181/366340/361181.
E-mail- coshya@md2.vsnl.net.in