News
on Ports
Strike
builds up congestion at Vizag With about 800 employees working
in VPT’s Floating Crafts section going on strike; the berthing
and unloading operations have been crippled leading to congestion
in the port. The port authorities have sought the help of Naval
personnel from the Eastern Naval Command, which has agreed to
help.
Chennai
feeder operators to roll back congestion levy Chennai feeder
operators (CFOs) have reportedly decided to withdraw the congestion
surcharge increase from $ 200 to $ 125 per TEU. The slash in charges
will come into effect from December 24 on all laden movements
from Chennai to Colombo, Singapore, Port Kelang and Tanjung Pelepas
and vice versa. The hike was announced on December 19, in the
wake of take-over of terminal container at Chennai port by P&O
Ports.
Mechanized
export conveyor system commissioned at Mundra The Mundra Port
has commissioned a mechanized export conveyor system for the speedy
clearance of the export dry bulk cargo, both at the terminal and
storage areas. The private port developed by the Gujarat government
and Adani group, through the joint venture company - Gujarat Adani
Port Limited (GAPL) has thus, become the first port on the West
coast to have the export conveyor facility. The new conveyor system
comprises two main sub-systems – bleeding line conveyor system
and the main conveyor system. Both the systems are programmable
and logically controlled (PLC) and operated from individual control
rooms.
Sea
King in talks for more stakes in GPPIL Sea King Infrastructure
Ltd., promoters of Positra Special Economic Zone (SEZ) are negotiating
with the Gujarat government for offloading another five per cent
stake to 10 per cent, according to Mr. Rajendra Singh, chairman
of Gujarat Positra Port Infrastructure Ltd. (GPPIL). Gujarat Maritime
Board (GMB) and Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC)
presently own the five per cent stake in the project.
Steamer
Agents plea for trimming port pools’ staff strength The Cochin
Steamer Agents Association has called for implementation of a
scheme to reduce the strength of the workers in various pools
of the port to bring down the financial burden on the shippers
and trade. The steamer agents have proposed the introduction of
a voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) and have sought the cooperation
of port authorities in implementation of the scheme. The steamer
agents argue that increased cost in cargo handling has been driving
away sizeable volumes of cargo traffic to neighboring ports such
as Tuticorin and New Mangalore.
Back
to top
News on Shippings
SCI
to continue to be nodal agency for crude oil transport The
Union shipping ministry is reported to be in favour of continuation
of the nodal agency status for Shipping Corporation of India (SCI)
for crude oil transportation. The government, which has just announced
the 51 per cent disinvestment of SCI, would however, continue
to retain a major portion of SCI equity. Crude oil transportation
forms a major chunk of SCI’s business and the decision to retain
the nodal agency status is likely to assure substantial revenue
stream with SCI, even after disinvestments.
IPBC
conference plans hike in freight rates India/Pakistan/Bangladesh/Ceylon
(IPBC) Conference reportedly is considering a freight rate increase,
through the Rate Restoration Initiative (RRI). The proposed RRI
will be enforced from February, 2002 and will be around $300 per
TEU and $600 per FEU. The move comes in the wake of drastic drop
in freight rates to the UK/Continent from Indian sub-continent,
especially by the non-conference shipping lines, which are reportedly
charging as low as $ 575 from Kolkata to Felixstowe (UK), which
is below the bare minimum cost of operation.
Back
to top
News
on Logistics
CONCOR
launches its first container train from Hyderabad to Vizag The
Container Corporation of India (Concor) has flagged off its first-ever
container train from Hyderabad to Visakhapatanam port. The container
train will henceforth operate on a regular basis to the port city.
Concor also plans to launch a similar outward train for Tuticorin
port from Visakhapatanam.
Nagpur
cargo hub project cleared The Maharashtra government has approved
the proposal for development of the international passenger and
cargo hub complex in Nagpur. A separate company – Maharashtra
Airport Development Corporation (MADC) would be constituted in
partnership with the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation
(MSRDC), Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC)
and other financial institutions for setting up the project. The
project is being developed on a build-own-transfer (BOT) basis.
Kerala
to focus on Inland Waterway Transport The Kerala government
has identified three waterways in the State for developing inland
water transport along with the road transport. The project aided
by the World Bank will provide direct access to the products of
the hinterland to the ports by bringing down the costs. The three
waterways identified for development include Alappuzha-Kotayam
(23 kms), Allapuzha-Changanassery (28 kms) and Kottayam-Viakkom
(42 kms).
Back to top
|
