The Department of Transportation (DOTr) will evaluate relevance of the Shippers’ Protection Office (SPO), whether its operations will be extended once the COVID-19 state of calamity expires in September, according to a DOTr official.
Undersecretary for Maritime Elmer Francisco Sarmiento, in text messages to PortCalls, said DOTr will evaluate the situation first “before we decide to lift the SPO or not,” noting that shipping costs, especially destination charges, “are still high.”
The SPO was created in 2020 through DOTr Department Order No. 2020-008 as part of temporary measures to protect the public during the state of national calamity “from the impact and effects of exorbitant and unreasonable shipping fees resulting in increased prices for domestic consumers.”
The state of calamity under Proclamation No. 1281 will expire on September 12, unless it is lifted before that date or extended. Health Officer-in-Charge and Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire earlier said President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has ordered a review of the state of calamity proclamation.
Sarmiento said he will evaluate how effective the SPO has been, noting: “I’ll have to hear from complainants their side if the SPO is effective.”
He said he has no definite date yet on when the evaluation would start, but noted it is a priority.
Under DO 2020-008, the SPO is mandated to protect domestic and international shippers “against unreasonable fees and charges imposed by domestic and international shipping lines.” The SPO should look into “all complaints and issues related to the rates, charges, practices and operations of international and domestic shipping lines in the country.”
The SPO is headed by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) general manager as chair and administrator of the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) as vice chair. The SPO Secretariat is headed by PPA’s Port Operations and Services Department.
Port users and stakeholders have long asked government to oversee operations of and charges levied by international shipping lines. No government agency has direct jurisdiction over these carriers, although liners’ agents/local offices are required to register with MARINA and to comply with Customs and tax rules.
There had been attempts in recent years to regulate local shipping charges, but all efforts have fallen through.
PPA earlier told PortCalls that as of June 9, 2022 the SPO received 88 complaints and inquiries since its establishment in 2020. Four of the 88 complaints had been addressed. Of these, 18 were resolved/closed, 10 referred to other government agencies, three awaiting comments from subjects of complaints, two for issuance of special orders, and 51 returned for non-compliance with the prescribed format.
Of the total, 68 were complaints against international shipping lines for unreturned container deposit, uncollected container refund, detention charges, demurrage and storage charges, cleaning fees, destination charges, container imbalance charges, empty return location, and unreleased delivery order/container release order.
Other complaints were against terminal operators, a domestic shipping line, a freight forwarder, a trucker, a container yard operator, and a bunkering service provider, according to a 2021 presentation by PPA.
There were also complaints on the increase in sea/air freight charges, change of port of discharge, and wrong gross weight. – Roumina Pablo
Source: https://www.portcalls.com/dotr-to-evaluate-relevance-of-shippers-protection-office/
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings today announced revisions to its SailSAFE health and safety protocols for its Norwegian, Oceania and Regent brands.
Vaccinated guests aged 12 and over will no longer have any pre-cruise COVID-19 related protocols and unvaccinated guests may embark with a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours prior to departure, subject to local regulations.
According to a press release, this policy will go into effect across Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises for all sailings that commence on or after September 3, 2022.
Requirements may differ for guests traveling on voyages departing from or visiting destinations with specific local regulations, including but not limited to Canada, Greece and Bermuda.
The company said it continues to strongly recommend all guests be up to date on vaccination protocols and test at their convenience prior to travel.
“Our long-awaited revisions to our testing and vaccination requirements bring us closer in line with the rest of society, which has learned to adapt and live with COVID-19, and makes it simpler and easier for our loyal guests to cruise on our three best-in-class brands. Health and safety is our top priority and we will continue to modify our robust SailSAFE program as the public health environment evolves,” said Frank Del Rio, President and Chief Executive Officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. “The relaxation of protocols coupled with continued easing of travel restrictions and the reopening to cruise in more ports around the globe are meaningfully positive for our business as it reduces friction, expands the addressable cruise market, brings variety to itineraries and provides additional catalysts on the road to recovery.”
Key fleetwide protocols changes, subject to local regulations, effective September 3, 2022 include:
Source: https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/27996-norwegian-cruise-line-drops-pre-voyage-covid-19-testing.html
August 11, 2022 Maritime Safety News
The acquisition of Tomini Kaimai and the other vessels from Interlink will bring Tomini’s fleet to 26 ships with an average age of five years.
Numair Shaikh, CEO of Tomini Group, said: “We see a very positive supply side picture on the handies, with relatively few new builds on order, and an ageing profile of the existing fleet. This leads to greater recycling numbers due to incoming environmental regulations, meaning the fundamentals are very much in favour of a positive handysize segment.”
China’s military exercises in the Yellow Sea and Bohai Bay would not disrupt flight services in the Taipei Flight Information Region, but container ships would have to bypass the areas, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday.
China’s Lianyungang Maritime Safety Administration on Friday announced that it was banning the entry of ships into certain areas south of the Yellow Sea from Saturday last week to Monday next week due to live-fire drills by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.
China’s Dalian Maritime Affairs Bureau announced that entry to certain areas of Bohai Bay would be prohibited from yesterday to Sept. 8 due to military exercises.
Photo: Chen Hsin-yu, Taipei Times
China’s military exercises in Bohai Bay and areas south of the Yellow Sea would not disrupt international flight routes to and from Taiwan as they would not fall within the Taipei Flight Information Region, the ministry said.
However, the Maritime and Port Bureau has warned Yang Ming Marine Transport, Evergreen Marine Corp and Wan Hai Lines to avoid sending their container ships through these areas for safety reasons, it said.
The nation’s flight and shipping services have gradually resumed normal operations after all seven temporary danger zones China unilaterally declared last week expired yesterday.
Six of the zones expired at 12pm on Sunday, while the last danger zone expired at 10am yesterday, the ministry said.
The Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) and Maritime and Port Bureau would continue to guide aircraft and sea vessels to bypass the temporary danger zones to ensure their safety, the ministry said, adding that inbound, outbound and transit flights must avoid the seven temporary danger areas and operate on alternative routes.
On Sunday, the nation had 138 outbound flights, 145 inbound flights and 147 transit flights, CAA data showed.
From Thursday to Sunday, Taiwan had about 150 inbound flights and the same number of outbound flights daily, the ministry said, adding that China’s military drills did not lead to a drastic reduction in arriving or departing flights.
Transit flights gradually resumed after six of the seven temporary danger zones expired, it said, adding that air traffic control offices across the nation would carefully monitor the situation to ensure flight safety.
In terms of shipping services, China’s military drills mainly affected the vessels accessing the Port of Keelung, the Port of Taipei and the Port of Kaohsiung, the ministry said.
Vessels entering and leaving these ports must avoid entering the temporary danger zones, it said.
Maritime and Port Bureau data showed that seven international commercial ports around Taiwan on Sunday recorded 118 inbound and 120 outbound ships, which was not much different from the previous three days, the ministry said.
Source: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2022/08/09/2003783229
The company’s net profit came at Rs 1,072 crore ($134 million) for the first quarter of FY22-23, against the Rs 1,278 Cr ($160 million) from the same period a year ago.
Consolidated EBITDA (excluding Gangavaram) grew by 11 per cent to Rs 3,005 Cr ($377 million), while revenue stood almost flat year-on-year at Rs 4,638 Cr ($582 million) – given the Rs 725 Cr ($9 million) decline in revenue from the SEZ business segment.
APSEZ reported that this decline was in line with its expectations.
Adani added that the overall strong performance was delivered by both its businesses – ports and logistics.
During Q1 FY23, the company handled 90.89 MMT of cargo, which is an approximately 8 per cent year-on-year growth. The growth was primarily led by dry cargo (11.2 per cent increase), followed by containers (3.2 per cent), and liquids including crude (5.6 per cent).
Mundra port continues to be the largest container handling port with 1.65 million TEU versus 1.48 million TEU managed by JNPT port during the quarter. Mundra crossed 50 MMT of cargo volumes in the initial 111 days of FY23.
Ports EBITDA grew 18 per cent to Rs 2,885 Cr ($362 million).
Revenue from the logistics business stood at Rs 360 Cr ($45 million), a growth of 34 per cent on account of improving container and terminal traffic, and the bulk segment with overall increase in the rolling stock.
Logistics business EBIDTA grew by 56 per cent to Rs 96 Cr ($12 million). According to the company, this was aided by increase in cargo volumes, cargo diversification, elimination of loss- making routes and operational efficiency measures.
Gangavaram Port reported revenue of Rs 414 Cr ($52 million) and EBIDTA of Rs 280 Cr ($35 million) in Q1 FY23, although these numbers are currently not consolidated in APSEZ results.
“Q1 FY23 has been the strongest quarter in APSEZ’s history, with a record cargo volume and highest ever quarterly EBITDA. This is a 11 per cent jump on a robust performance in the corresponding quarter last year that witnessed the post-Covid demand surge,” commented Karan Adani, CEO and Whole Time Director of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone.
“The company continued this strong performance in July and recorded 100 MMT of cargo through-put in the initial 99 days of FY23, a feat never achieved before.”
As Adani is set to commission two new terminals in the coming months, this growth will gain more momentum according to the company. The container terminal at Gangavaram Port will become operational next month, while the 5 MMT LNG terminal at Dhamra will be ready by the end of the year.
“Our strategy of connecting port gate to customer gate through an integrated utility model is starting to yield results,” added Adani.
“We are confident of achieving our full year guidance of 350-360 MMT cargo volumes and EBITDA of Rs 12,200-12,600 Cr ($1,5 billion). APSEZ remains committed to its philosophy of ensuring sustainable growth in partnership with our key stakeholders.”
Most recently, Adani Ports and Israeli firm Gadot and won the tender for the sale of Haifa port.
The group will buy the port for a sum of $1.18 billion. Adani Ports will have a 70 per cent stake and Gadot will hold the remaining 30 per cent.
Source: https://www.porttechnology.org/news/adani-ports-profit-dips-16-per-cent-amid-rise-in-volumes/
The managing authority has announced the ship named ZEN-HUA 35 arrived in Lagos on 5 August.
The ship conveyed the second batch shipment, comprising two Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes with 115 packages of accessories and five Rubber-Tyred-Gantry (RTG) cranes with 270 packages of accessories from Shanghai.
The news follows the delivery of three Super Post Panamax Ship-to-Shore cranes and 10 RTGs a month ago. The number of cranes has now totalled five STS cranes and 15 RTG cranes.
The management added that yard equipment for the port is expected to be shipped shortly.
Lekki port is nearing completion as construction works are slated to be concluded by September.
Dredging and reclamation work is 98.43 per cent done, while work on the quay wall is 96.07 per cent finished.
Police have reportedly seized about 700 kgs of cocaine with an estimated value of $280 million but have appealed to the public to help smash the criminal syndicate behind it.
Australian Border Force officers discovered the drugs on 22 July while inspecting containers on a vessel named the Maersk Inverness at Sydney’s Port Botany.
Federal police reportedly confiscated 28 denim bags, each loaded with approximately 25 kilos of cocaine in brick form. The agencies mentioned that forensic inspection helped identify emblems on the bricks, including the numerals 5 and 365 and the word Netflix.
Luke Wilson, an AFP Detective Inspector, said that the vessel that had been permitted to continue its journey had reportedly stopped at ports in South America and Central America before sailing to Australia.
Wilson said that the interception of these drugs would be a massive blow to what is likely to be a well-resourced criminal syndicate.
He mentioned that they are still investigating where the drugs had been loaded and who was supposed to pick them up.
The AFP estimates this seizure saved the community over $451 million in drug-related harm.
Joanne Yeats, the ABF’s Detained Goods’ NSW Superintendent, mentioned that the seizure reflects the technical specialization and experience of the officers who could detect the drugs.
She added the agency had successfully disrupted the criminal channel’s significant supply by preventing the cocaine shipment from entering their community.
Anyone with relevant information is requested to call Crime Stoppers at @1800 333 000.
References: New York Post, DCN, Paper Writer
U.S. shipyards are making improvements to building ships for the Navy and Coast Guard today and in the future. In some cases, it means phasing out one class of ship and getting ready for the next. Or, it can be a drastic make-over.
The yards include mid-tier yards all the way up to very large facilities devoted exclusively to warships. The ships range from the 353-ton Fast Response Cutter to the 100,000-ton nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.
Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Wisconsin is transitioning from its Freedom-class littoral combat ship production line to building the new Constellation-class of guided missile frigates. In the interim, FMM is also completing four multi-mission surface combatants, based on the Freedom-class design, for the Royal Saudi Navy.
Bollinger Shipyards of Lockport, La., delivered the 154-foot Legend-class Fast Response Cutter (FRC) USCGC Douglas Denman to the U.S. Coast Guard in May. Douglas Denman is the 49th Fast Response Cutter (FRC) delivered under the current program of 64 cutters—and Congress has appropriated funds for two additional FRCs beyond the 64.
Austal USA’s all-aluminum parallel production lines that are producing littoral combat ships and expeditionary fast transports have been augmented with a steel production capability. Since October of 2021 Austal USA received contracts to build two steel towing, salvage and rescue tugs, with a contract for two more issued on July 22), with construction of the first starting on July 11. Austal USA also received a contract to build an auxiliary floating drydock for the Navy. But the investment really paid off when the Mobile-Ala., yard won the competition for phase II of the Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC). This will provide up to 11 of the 360-foot 4,500-ton cutters.
Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG) of Panama City, Fla., was the original OPC prime contractor. Although they were expected to build the first ten OPCs, ESG’s shipbuilding facilities were damaged following Hurricane Michael in October of 2018. The shipyard submitted a request for extraordinary relief to help the facility recover and the people return to work. Subsequently, relief was granted, but limited to the first four hulls in the OPC program. The Coast Guard announced that the OPC program would be restructured to include a competition for a new contract to build subsequent OPCs. That award went to Austal USA.
Huntington Ingalls Industries is constructing the 1,092-foot, 100,000-ton Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers and Virginia-class attack submarines at its Newport News Ship Yard (NNSY) in Virginia.
The first, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), was commissioned in 2017. The next three—Precommissioning Unit (PCU) John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), PCU Enterprise (CVN 80) and PCU Doris Miller (CVN 81), are building. NNSY is also building Virginia-class attack submarines.
The future USS John Basilone (DDG 122) undergoes “translation” from Land Level to the Kennebec River at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works in Maine. During its translation into the dry dock, the ship was wheeled at a rate of 6 feet per minute via the rail system embedded in the Land Level Transfer Facility. (BIW Photo)
Submarines
General Dynamics Electric Boat (EB) Electric Boat and NNSY are building the Virginia class fast attack submarines (SSNs) in a teaming arrangement with Newport News Shipbuilding. “We build different portions of each ship and alternate final assembly at our respective yards,” said EB spokesman Daniel McFadden.
The sail, stern, bow, habitability, machinery spaces, and torpedo room are assembled at NNSY, while EB’s Groton, Conn., and Quonset Point, R.I. facilities are building the engine room and control room. The shipyards take turns building the reactor plant and the final assembly, outfitting and delivery.
“Currently there are 13 ships in various stages of production. The next delivery from Electric Boat will be the Hyman G. Rickover (SSN 795),” McFadden said.
The Virginia-class construction has progressed in blocks, with the boats having successively more capability or built with more efficiency. The Block III submarines were being built with a pair of multipurpose Virginia Payload Tubes (VPT), which replaced the single purpose cruise missile launch tubes. Block V variants are longer so they can incorporate the new Virginia Payload Module (VPM).
The lead ship, USS Virginia (SSN 774), was commissioned in 2004. The newest, USS Montana (SSN 794), was commissioned in June of this year. Sixteen more are under construction or authorized, divided between the two yards.
The Navy plans to build 12 Columbia (SSBN-826) class ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) to replace the Navy’s current force of 14 aging Ohio-class SSBNs. While both NNSY and EB are expected to build the new subs, EB is the primary contractor and all boats will be assembled, tested, launched, and delivered at Groton.
General Dynamics has invested $1.85 billion in infrastructure improvements and expansion at Electric Boat to support the Columbia class production. “This involves new buildings and tooling for hull module construction at its Quonset Point, Rhode Island, facility, a 200,000 square-foot assembly building at the Groton, Connecticut, shipyard, a custom transport barge for the Columbia modules, and a floating dry dock now under construction by Bollinger Shipyards,” McFadden said.
HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division is building National Security Cutters for the Coast Guard, Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers, and San Antonio Class amphibious ships and America-class assault ships in Pascagoula, Miss. That includes the 844-foot, 45,000-ton future USS Bougainville (LHA 8), as well as three San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ships (LPDs). The yard is transitioning from the Flight I LPD to Flight II, with the new variant being a slightly less capable variant and more affordable to replace the Navy’s 12 aging Whidbey Island/Harpers Ferry (LSD-41/49) class landing ship dock (LSD) ships. Richard M. McCool (LPD 29) is the final Flight I LPD, while Harrisburg (LPD 30) will be the first Flight II. Both are under construction, soon to be joined by Pittsburgh (LPD 31)
Ingalls has delivered nine Legend-class national security cutters to the Coast Guard. The 10th, USCGC Calhoun (WMSL 759) was christened in June and scheduled to be delivered early next year. Ingalls is the sole yard building the NSC, LPD and LHA.
Ingalls is also one of two shipyards building Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers (DDGs). According to a news release, “Frank E. Petersen Jr. is the 33rd destroyer Ingalls has built for the U.S. Navy, with five more currently under construction at Ingalls, including Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123), Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125), Ted Stevens (DDG 128), Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129) and George M. Neal (DDG 131).”
Jack Lucas is the first of the new Flight III DDGs, incorporating a new and more capable SPY-6 Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR).
General Dynamic’s NASSCO yard in San Diego is continuing to build the John Lewis-class of fleet oilers (T-AOs) and Lewis B. Puller-class of Expeditionary Mobile Bases (ESBs).
The 50,000-ton, 746-foot John Lewis-class of class of fleet replenishment oilers will eventually comprise twenty ships and will replace the Henry J. Kaiser-class replenishment oilers now in service.
NASSCO spokesman Brian Jones said the company is making the San Diego yard more productive, efficient and competitive.
“We’ve invested in more automated production equipment and modern welding technology like our Thin Plate Panel Line. The cutting-edge facility uses hybrid laser arc welding and numerically controlled robots to mill, seam and weld steel panels in a highly automated production line. These features improve capacity, quality, accuracy, cycle time and produce lighter, more energy efficient ships. In addition, upgrading our blast equipment and smaller accuracy control tools have enhanced our shipbuilding process with less demand on our workforce,” Jones said.
General Dynamics Bath Iron Works spokesperson Julie Rabinowitz said her yard has 10 ships in its backlog, including the last of the Flight IIA ships and the newer Flight III variants. “Currently, seven ships are under construction. DDG 122 John Basilone was translated and christened in June, and all backlog ships have been funded by Congress.
According to Navy officials, the service is committed to a smooth and successful transition from DDG 51 to DDG(X) starting around FY 2030. The transition will preserve the critical shipbuilding and supplier industrial base by executing a collaborative design process with current DDG 51 shipyards and transitioning to a proven limited competition model between these shipyards at the right point in ship construction. Both Ingalls and BIW are expected to build DDG(X).
Source: https://www.marinelink.com/news/shipyards-adapt-help-navy-coast-guard-498583
Ocean Network Express (ONE) launched its Marine Safety and Quality Campaign to raise safety awareness and mitigate marine accidents. The campaign will run from 8th August to 30th September 2022.
Campaign theme “Safety Consciousness – A step ahead”
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect global shipping operations over the long term, ONE continues to face difficulties in conducting ONE’s Vessel Quality Standard (ONE-VQS) physical inspections on board operated vessels all around the world. As such, over the past two years, self-inspection campaigns have comprised thorough checks by crew to mitigate risk of accidents in identified critical areas, supplementing the ONE-VQS.
ONE is confident that this year’s campaign will help in building a safer working environment and increase safety consciousness on ONE-operated vessels. The campaign will also assist in assuring customers that ONE constantly provides safe and reliable services.
The focus of this year’s campaign will be on:
– Sharing good practices highlighted during past vessel inspections on ONE operated vessels
– Reaching out to the vessels to share any good practices from ship’s side
– Sharing recurring observations that were pointed out during past vessel inspections
All vessels under ONE’s operation will be requested to reflect on the above items and their valuable responses will be analysed by ONE. ONE will then share the analysis and feedback with the whole fleet after formal completion of the campaign.
Through this campaign, done in cooperation with the ship’s crew and concerned parties, ONE aims to further raise safety awareness and the quality standards of our vessels. ONE is committed to continuously delivering reliable and quality services to our valued customers.
Reference: Ocean Network Express
China’s Maritime Safety Administration has closed part of the Bohai Sea for military exercises, according to a statement of the department, TASS informed.
These exercises will be conducted from August 8 to September 8.
“Military tasks will be carried out within the boundaries of the mentioned zones. Access to this zone is prohibited,” the document also reads.
From August 5 to 16, China has closed also a part of the Yellow Sea to conduct “annual combat shootings.”
On August 4, China’s armed forces began large-scale exercises—with missile launch—at six water zones around Taiwan. They were supposed to end Sunday afternoon, but, according to the Ministry of National Defense of China, they were extended by at least one day.
These drills began the day after Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, concluded her visit to Taipei.
Source: https://news.am/eng/news/715265.html
