Pressroom – Page 120

Evergreen Celebrates a New Berth at its Colon Terminal

December 21, 2015 by Julia Hiles

17 December 2015

Evergreen Group’s Colon Container Terminal, S.A. (CCT) held a ceremony yesterday to mark the completion of its newly built Berth No. 4. The President of Panama, Juan Carlos Varela, Administrator of Panama Maritime Authority (AMP), Jorge Barakat Pitty, and a number of government officials joined the company’s chairman Captain Yen-I Chang for ribbon cutting. Many dignitaries from shipping and related industries were present at the event to witness the grand opening of the new facility.

CCT is located on the Atlantic side of Panama Canal and enjoys a dominant strategic location as a transit hub for North America, South America and the Caribbean. In light of the demand for expanded terminal facilities for large vessels following completion of the Canal’s expansion program, Evergreen has planned, designed and built the new Berth No. 4 to upgrade its terminal services.

Berth No. 4 is 16.5 meter in depth and is equipped with three super post-panamax gantry cranes capable of handling 23 rows of containers. Together with Berth No. 3, the facility offers an overall quay length of 640 meters, which can accommodate larger container ships of up to 14,000 TEU.

Bronson Hsieh, Evergreen Group’s Second Vice Group Chairman said, “The current expansion of the Panama Canal is an epochal milestone in the history of maritime transportation. It will have revolutionary consequences in terms of influence on the future development of international transportation. After the expansion project is completed, the Canal will be able to accommodate vessels of around 13,000 TEU, a significant increase on the 5,000 TEU ships which are currently the largest to transit .”

Hsieh added, “CCT is an important container hub catering for the whole region and offers trans-shipment services to many international shipping lines. Evergreen’s investment in upgrading the terminal facility indicates our commitment to the smooth and efficient operation of the whole international supply chain.”

Berth No. 4 is undergoing various system tests and is scheduled to commence operation in the first quarter of 2016. The overall handling capacity of CCT is expected to increase from its current level of 1.5 million TEU to 2.4 million. Besides, CCT is continuing with the next stage of expansion program to further increase the quay length of Berth No. 3 and Berth No. 4 to 780 meters. After its expected completion around the first quarter of 2017, the facility will be able to handle two large vessels of 12,000 – 14,000 TEU simultaneously.

Filed Under: Evergreen Line

Winners of the 2015 Seahorse Journalist of the Year Awards

December 10, 2015 by Julia Hiles

Award	Winner	Publication
Seahorse Winner	Max Tingyao Lin	Lloyd’s List
Seahorse Runner-up	Roger Hailey	Air Cargo News

International Editor	Richard Meade	Lloyd’s List

Newcomer	Joe Lo	Container Management

Feature Winner	Louise Cole	Roadway
Feature Runner-up	Eric Johnson	Breakbulk

News Winner	Jaya Prakash	BC Shipping News
News Runner-up	Jim Wilson	Lloyd’s List Australia

Supply Chain Winner	Tim Maughan	BBC
Supply Chain Runner-up	Alex Lennane	The Loadstar

Environmental Winner	Danny Shorten & Namrata Nadkarni	The Marine Professional
Environmental Runner-up	Tim Maughan	BBC

Air Cargo Winner	Randy Woods	Air Cargo World

Social Media Winner	Holly Birkett	Asia Shipping Media

Filed Under: Seahorse Club

BROAD INDUSTRY COALITION OFFERS CLARITY ON NEW CONTAINER WEIGHING REGULATIONS

December 9, 2015 by Julia Hiles

BROAD INDUSTRY COALITION OFFERS CLARITY ON NEW CONTAINER WEIGHING REGULATIONS

Today, the World Shipping Council (WSC), the TT Club, the International Cargo Handling Coordination Association (ICHCA), and the Global Shippers’ Forum (GSF) jointly released a new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document to address issues arising from the new container weighing regulations due to take effect globally on 1 July 2016. The amendments to the SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) Convention require packed shipping containers to have a verified gross mass (VGM) before they can be loaded on a ship for export.

The amendments were adopted by the IMO (International Maritime Organization) to enhance maritime safety and reduce the dangers to containerships, their crews, and all those involved in container transport throughout the supply chain. The FAQs have been developed by the industry coalition in response to numerous questions from shippers, carriers, forwarders, and terminal operators about the steps they must take to ensure successful implementation of the new regulations.

This initial FAQs document seeks to clarify how the SOLAS container weight verification requirements will function in various situations. It identifies commercial and operational arrangements that will have to be addressed, and it flags issues that must be dealt with by national governments. The FAQs are based on actual questions from affected stakeholders, and they will be expanded as new issues emerge. Stakeholders are invited to approach any of the collaborating organizations with additional questions that may come up. Contact details of ‘subject-matter experts’ from each of the organizations can be found at the end of the FAQs document.

Container safety is a shared responsibility, and all parties have an interest in improving the safety of ships, the safety of cargo and the reduction of the risks to the lives of ships’ crews and others throughout the containerized supply chain.

The FAQs document can be accessed here:

http://www.ttclub.com/loss-prevention/publications/container-weighing/

ABOUT MEMBERS OF THE INDUSTRY COALITION:

The World Shipping Council (WSC) represents the global liner industry on regulatory, environmental, safety and security policy issues. The WSC has observer status at the IMO and was actively involved in the development of the SOLAS container gross mass verification requirements. More information is available at: www.worldshipping.org.

The TT Club is the international transport and logistics industry’s leading provider of insurance and related risk management services. The TT Club participated throughout the IMO consultation process leading to the amendment of SOLAS and the related implementation guidelines. More information is available at: www.ttclub.com.

The International Cargo Handling Coordination Association (ICHCA) is an independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the safety, security, sustainability, productivity and efficiency of cargo handling and goods movement by all modes and through all phases of national and international supply chains. ICHCA actively participated in the debates leading to these SOLAS amendments. More information is available at: www.ichca.com

The Global Shippers’ Forum (GSF) is the world’s leading global trade association representing shippers’ engaged in international trade moving goods by all modes of transport. GSF was actively involved in the debates at the IMO leading to these SOLAS amendments. More information is available at: www.globalshippersforum.com

MEDIA CONTACTS:

World Shipping Council (WSC)	TT Club
Ms. Anne Kappel	Peter Owen Isis Communications
TEL: +1 202 589 1235	TEL: +44 1737 248300
EMAIL: akappel@worldshipping.org	EMAIL: peter@isiscomms.com

ICHCA Annelies Theodorou ICHCA Secretariat, TEL: +44 (0) 20 3327 7560	Global Shippers’ Forum Julie Maddocks Head of Media Relations
	TEL: +44 (0)1892 552255
EMAIL: annelies.theodorou@ichca.com	EMAIL: jmaddocks@fta.co.uk

Filed Under: TT Club

“K” Line’s New LNG Carrier for Chubu Electric Named “BISHU MARU”

December 1, 2015 by Julia Hiles

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” Line) held a naming ceremony for the newly-built liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier (*1) for Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc. (Chubu Electric) at Sakaide Shipyard of Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. (KHI) today.

The new vessel was given her name “BISHU MARU” by President & Director Satoru Katsuno of Chubu Electric, the Charterer.

“BISHU MARU” comes from the name of an old district in western Aichi Prefecture named “Owari” where an LNG receiving terminal of Chubu Electric is located. In addition, she is the second generation with this name which was handed down from an earlier LNG carrier, the first to have been managed by a shipping company in Japan, which was also managed by “K” Line and completed at the Sakaide Shipyard of KHI in 1983 as well.

“BISHU MARU” will mainly serve on the transportation route between Australia and Japan after delivery, and is expected to contribute to stable transportation of energy in Japan which her predecessor faithfully carried out for many years.

“K” Line is dedicated to contribute in meeting the expanding needs of LNG transportation with a view to simultaneously developing a more stable earnings structure as a part of our medium-term management plan “(“K” Line) Value for our Next Century” that was newly introduced earlier this year.

Main Particulars of the Vessel:

Charterer	Chubu Electric
Construction Yard	KHI Sakaide Shipyard
LOA	About 293m
Beam	48.9m (*2)
Tank Capacity	164,700m3
Boil Off Rate (*3)	0.08% per day
Propulsion System	Reheat Steam Turbine (Kawasaki Advanced Reheat Turbine Plant) (*4)
Speed	19.5 Knot

(*1) Please refer to the press release on March 29, 2013：

“K” Line to enter Long-Term Time Charter and Construction of LNG Carrier to serve Chubu Electric

(*2) Allowable width to pass through the Panama Canal after the expansion.

(*3) Boil Off Rate (BOR)： Ratio of natural vaporized gas against maximum tank capacity to indicate capability of tank heat-insulation system.

(*4) Reheat Turbine Plant： Next-generation LNG carrier propulsion plant of high thermal efficiency and high reliability, incorporating the most advanced materials and control technologies including improvements in steam conditions to raise the thermal efficiency.

Filed Under: "K" Line

AMERICAN CLUB ANNOUNCES MODEST GENERAL INCREASE FOR 2016 POLICY YEAR: P&I PREMIUM TO RISE BY 2.5%, BUT NO INCREASE FOR FD&D

November 23, 2015 by Julia Hiles

RELEASE CALL MARGINS FOR 2013 AND 2014 POLICY YEARS REDUCED: CURRENT YEAR TO BE REVIEWED IN FIRST HALF OF 2016

Premium uplift by international P&I insurer in line with current market trends

NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 23, 2015: At its meeting in New York on 20^th November, the American Club’s board resolved to levy a general premium increase of 2.5% for P&I cover, but no increase in the cost of FD and D for the 2016 policy year. The club’s board also reviewed release call requirements for open policy years, significantly reducing the margins for 2013 and 2014, and undertaking to revisit the 2015 figure in the first half of 2016.

In reaching these decisions, the Board took account of the Club’s recent performance against a background of the overall economic climate, the outlook for the freight and investment markets and the implications of emerging trends within the P&I environment.

In a circular released to its members, the American Club said that, over the last twelve months, the “churn effect” (the term applied to the reduction of premium volume as older, higher-rated vessels are replaced by newer, lower-rated ships) had had a more subdued impact upon revenue than was the case from 2012 through 2014. Indeed, the average net rate per ton for the Club’s P&I entries was only 2% lower than it had been twelve months earlier, despite unrelenting pressure on premium pricing over that time. The Club also remarked that claims development for the 2015 policy year had been favorable to date as to both retained losses and those covered by the International Group’s pooling arrangements for larger claims.

In commenting on these developments and the outlook for the industry in general, Joe Hughes, Chairman and CEO of the American Club’s managers, Shipowners Claims Bureau, Inc., said:

“Price increases, however modest, are never welcome, particularly at a time when the freight markets continue to struggle. Nevertheless, the board remains resolute in its commitment to consolidate the financial standing of the American Club, particularly in light of the progress it has made in recent years.

Let us hope that the outlook for shipping will improve as the global economy expands in 2016 and beyond. However, apart from the tanker sector and certain other specialist trades, the freight markets have yet to experience any sustained growth.

As to the prospects for P&I generally, pressure on premium pricing is likely to continue, given the difficulties facing shipowners at large. On the claims front, the severity of attritional losses will probably increase, even if their frequency continues to diminish, while the size and volatility of large claims are unlikely to abate,” Hughes concluded.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

American Club Circular

Full details of the American Club’s Circular number 41/15 dated November 20, 2015 can be found here http://www.american-club.com/files/files/cir_41_15.pdf

Highlights of Circular number 40/15

2013 much improved by comparison with the position twelve months earlier. Release call reduced from 20% to 7.5% over and above the current estimated total premium for the year. Year expected to be closed in June 2016 in accordance with original budget.

2014 exhibiting a deficit, but likely to improve toward closure expected in the first half of 2017. Release call reduced from 20% to 12.5%.

2015 developing well within initial expectations, release call to be maintained, for the time being, at 20%, but to be reviewed during the first half of 2016.

2016 renewal to feature a 2.5% general increase on expiring estimated total premium for P&I entries.

2016 renewal to feature a zero general increase for FD&D entries.

2016 renewal also to feature increases in, and minimum levels of, certain deductibles, as well as of deductibles for certain P&I risks.

The American Club

American Steamship Owners Mutual Protection and Indemnity Association, Inc. (the American Club) was established in New York in 1917. It is the only mutual Protection and Indemnity Club domiciled in the entire Americas and its headquarters are in New York, USA.

The American Club has been successful in recent years in building on its US heritage to create a truly international insurer with a global reach second-to-none in the industry. Day to day management of the American Club is provided by Shipowners Claims Bureau, Inc. also headquartered in New York.

The Club is able to provide local service for its members across all time zones, communicating in eleven languages, and has subsidiary offices located in London, Piraeus, Hong Kong and Shanghai, plus a worldwide network of correspondents

The Club is a member of the International Group of P&I Clubs, a collective of thirteen mutuals which together provide Protection and Indemnity insurance for some 90% of all world shipping.

For more information, please visit the Club’s website http://www.american-club.com/

P&I Insurance

Protection and Indemnity insurance (commonly referred to as “P&I”) provides cover to shipowners and charterers against third-party liabilities encountered in their commercial operations; typical exposures include damage to cargo, pollution, death/injury or illness of passengers or crew or damage to docks and other installations

Running in parallel with a ship’s hull and machinery cover, traditional P&I cover distinguishes itself from usual forms of marine insurance by being based on the not-for-profit principle of mutuality where Members of the Club are both the insurers and the assureds.

Filed Under: The American Club

GEODIS to exhibit at annual Power-Gen event, Power-Generation International

November 18, 2015 by Julia Hiles

Global supply chain operator GEODIS is exhibiting at POWER-GEN International, from December 8 – 10, in the Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event is part of the Power Generation Week, co-located with Renewable Energy World Conference & Expo North America, NUCLEAR POWER International, COAL-GEN and GenForum.

Power-Gen International is the largest, most respected power generation event in the world – the ideal venue to showcase GEODIS’ expertise in this segment and to discover new, cutting-edge innovations and trends in power generation. During the 3-day event, attendees have the opportunity to meet experts of GEODIS ‘Industrial Projects activity, a global unit of the company’s Freight Forwarding network, specialized in project cargo operations, freight forwarding, customs clearance service, planning and execution of turnkey project solutions, coordinating complex out-of-gauge cargo transport and inland logistics.

The Industrial Project segment of GEODIS serves a range of global players in the areas of power and renewable energy, including the execution of a record-breaking airfreight shipment of wind turbine blades from China to Scandinavia and leading the first rail freight solution for a similar blade delivery in Europe. The company also managed the transport of the 16 lock gates for the Panama Canal expansion project, with the final gates arriving last year.

“With Regional Power Segment Leader in the U.S., Julie Shafer, and George Abreu, Director of Industrial Projects for North America, in attendance along with myself, we are eager to engage with other experts in the field of power generation in Las Vegas,” says Mikael Pedersen, Global Renewables Segment Director, “The event allows us to ensure we are in tune with our client’s needs and most of all, continue to provide reliable, transparent, and personalized solutions for the power industry.”

GEODIS will be exhibiting at Booth No. 9906, from 8 – 10 December, 2015, whereby attendees at the exhibition will have the opportunity to meet with both Global and U.S.-based teams in the Power Segment of the Industrial Projects division.

For more information on the Conference go to:

http://www.power-gen.com/

About GEODIS

Supply chain operator and subsidiary of SNCF Logistics, GEODIS is a global European company, ranking fourth in its field in Europe. Through its ability to overcome logistical constraints and coordinate the different steps of the logistic chain (Supply Chain Optimization, Freight Forwarding (air and sea), Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express, Road Transport), the Group is the growth partner for its clients and offers them tailored solutions. With over 39,000 employees in 67 countries, the Group constantly innovates to improve the performance of its clients. The Freight Forwarding business of GEODIS delivers tailor-made, integrated logistics solutions supported by a specialized Industrial Projects division, managing oversized cargo operations worldwide. This division has achieved international recognition for its innovative and sustainable approach to transportation solutions.

For more information about GEODIS go to – www.geodis.com

Filed Under: GEODIS

NUE3 (AWS) Seasonal Suspension

November 18, 2015 by Julia Hiles

November 18, 2015

COSCON, Yang Ming, Hanjin Shipping and Evergreen Line are to implement winter service adjustment to NUE3 (AWS) service.

In response to seasonal market demand, COSCON, Yang Ming, Hanjin Shipping and Evergreen Line will suspend NUE3 (AWS) service effective from December 3, 2015.

The last voyage of NUE3 (AWS) would be week 47, M/V Nagoya Tower Voy. 0012E/W (Ningbo ETA November 19, 2015) and Week 48 is implemented void sailing.

Meanwhile other AWE services will continue to provide high service quality to customers.

CKYHE alliance will still be providing one of the most comprehensive service coverage in the market even after this adjustment.

Filed Under: Evergreen Line

TT Club Champions Operational Best Practice to Improve US Intermodal Efficiency

November 12, 2015 by Julia Hiles

The global freight transport insurer is encouraging supply chain stakeholders to understand better the interrelationship of the various functions in the intermodal network, particularly in the United States where one effect of the enlarged Panama Canal will be to increase importers’ routing options in order to supply internal markets

New Jersey, 12 November, 2015

Dan Negron

Speaking at the recent TOC Americas Conference in Panama, TT Club’s Senior Underwriter Dan Negron outlined the future opportunities to diversify both the export and import supply chains in the US as the widening of the Panama Canal (due to become operational early next year) will allow larger container ships to transit from Asia to Gulf and Atlantic Coast ports.

Explaining how freight transport and logistics operators are adapting to provide increasingly efficient and economic options to shippers, Negron said, “Stakeholders are beginning to understand the complex relationships of functions within the intermodal system. Some have diversified to become multi-functional participants in the system. However, whether operators choose to act independently or to diversify in this way, all need to ensure that they engage in best practices to avoid systems failures and delays.”

Additionally Negron pointed out the need to consider potential congestion at pinch-points beyond the ports of entry as the domestic transport process to deliver goods is adapted to changes in routings to and from internal markets. The West Coast dominant intermodal network that has previously prevailed in serving Asian imports has had well documented congestion problems and care must be taken in avoiding similar failings as other alternative routes develop.

Negron put forward a number of operational guidelines in which the employment of best practice will particularly safeguard the integrity of the network. “While effective communications between participants along the distribution chain seems an obvious requirement it should be emphasised,” said Negron. “An understanding of the legal environment in which operational functions take place, including standard trading conditions and the contractual obligations of the various partners is also vital.”

The complexity of the supply chain may be typified by the various modal options available (road, rail and inland river/waterway in particular), each with differing logistical and contractual requirements. Thorough understanding of the multimodal facets of the evolving system is required, together with greater investment in training to raise skill levels. This depth of understanding must encompass the appreciation of seamless insurance cover that ensures protection against mishap within each stage of complex transport arrangements.

– End –

Notes to Editors

TT Club

The TT Club is the international transport and logistics industry’s leading provider of insurance and related risk management services. As a mutual insurer, the TT Club exists to provide its policyholders with benefits, which include specialist underwriting expertise, a world-wide office network providing claims management services, and first class risk management and loss prevention advice.

Customers include some of the world’s largest shipping lines, busiest ports, biggest freight forwarders and cargo handling terminals, to companies operating on a smaller scale but whose operations face similar risks. TT Club specialises in the insurance of Intermodal Operators, NVOCs, Freight Forwarders, Logistics Operators, Marine Terminals, Stevedores, Port Authorities and Ship Operators.

The TT Club is managed by Thomas Miller.

www.ttclub.com

Thomas Miller is an independent and international provider of insurance, professional and investment services. Founded in 1885, Thomas Miller’s origins are in the provision of management services to mutual organisations, particularly in the international transport and professional indemnity sectors; where today they manage a large percentage of the foremost insurance mutuals. Thomas Miller also manages insurance facilities for all the self-employed barristers in England & Wales, as well as trustees of pension schemes, patent agents and housing associations.

Principal activities include:

Management services for transport and professional indemnity insurance mutuals
Investment management for institutions and private clients
Professional services
Building defects insurance

www.thomasmiller.com

Filed Under: TT Club

Establishment of K LINE SHIPPING & LOGISTICS L.L.C

November 9, 2015 by Julia Hiles

On 25 October 2015, we “K” Line established a new company called K LINE SHIPPING & LOGISTICS L.L.C (hereafter “KLSL”) in Dubai, UAE, and KLSL has started its operations. KLSL is a joint venture between “K” Line and Sharaf Group (*1) and is the first company to operate in the Middle East among the subsidiaries of Japanese shipping companies. KLSL will conduct businesses in the fields of marine transportation, land transportation and logistics, etc. and the company will develop new businesses actively through the networks of “K” Line and Sharaf Group (*2).

Outline of New Company in Dubai

Name of Company : K LINE SHIPPING & LOGISTICS LLC

Business Scope ： Marine transportation, logistics, land transportation, air cargo transportation, warehousing and supply chain solutions.

Representatives of the Company ： Takashi Kodera, Director & General Manager; Kazutaka Imaizumi, Director & Chairman; Ibrahim Sharaf, Director & Vice Chairman

(*1) Sharaf Group was established in 1976 by Mr. Ibrahim Sharaf and Mr. Sharafuddin Sharaf and is now an established business house in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Its number of employees across the group is over 11,000. Sharaf Group is doing businesses in many industries, and they include shipping agency (Sharaf Shipping Agency), logistics (Sharaf Logistics and Emirates Logistics), retail business, travel agency (Sharaf Travel) and Sharaf Exchange.

(*2) Sharaf Group has offices in Middle East, Indian Sub-Continent, Red Sea, African Continent, Europe, Far East /South East Asia, Russia and Australia and representative offices in Japan, Korea, China and Europe.

Filed Under: "K" Line

Voyage Cancellation Plan for Asia-North Europe and Mediterranean Loops in Winter Season

November 4, 2015 by Julia Hiles

CKYHE Alliance (COSCO, “K” Line, Yang Ming, Hanjin Shipping & Evergreen) is to implement a service adjustment on the Asia – North Europe and Mediterranean trade in order to cope with the seasonal market demand.

The CKYHE members will cancel a total of 9 voyages on the current Asia-North Europe/Mediterranean service loops from November 2015 through December 2015.

For details of updated schedule, please contact carrier’s local agent or visit the website of the relevant CKYHE line.

The CKYHE Alliance will continue providing excellent weekly services covering major ports connecting Asia and North Europe and Mediterranean regions.

Details of the cancelled voyages are as follows:

Asia-North Europe Services

45th week, NE7 (ETA Ningbo, Nov.04)

46th week, NE8 (ETA Taipei, Nov.08)

48th week, NE7 (ETA Ningbo, Nov.25)

51st week, NE8, (ETA Taipei, Dec.13)

51st week, NE7, (ETA Ningbo, Dec.16)

Asia-Mediterranean Services

47th week, MD2 (ETA Xiamen, Nov.15)

48th week, ADR (ETA Qingdao, Nov.26)

49th week, MD2 (ETA Xiamen, Nov.29)

51st week, MD2 (ETA Xiamen, Dec.13)

Filed Under: "K" Line, Evergreen Line

Transport communications