Tuesday, 20 October 2015

Shipping Trade and Transport News 21st October 2015

Company News

Hapag Lloyd has announced it is agreement to build five new vessels  from South Korean shipbuilders Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries in April 2015.


Beached Vessels in October 2015

M.V. Tanto Hari - general cargo vessel (total loss)
M.V. Satrai - general cargo vessel
M.V. Araeo - oil and chemical tanker
MV Sea Czar- oil and chemical tanker beached at Gadani
M.V. Seal -bulkcarrier beached Chittagong
M.V. Arca Emerald - RoRo cargo ship (vehicle carrier beached Chittagong


Trade News

Malmström meets Ministers from Africa, Caribbean and Pacific, preparing WTO Conference.

Speaking in front of the ACP assembly, Commissioner Malmström reiterated the great importance that the EU attaches to the multilateral trading system and the Doha round. She expressed her disappointment that the lack of political will from many WTO Members makes it very hard to achieve a comprehensive agreement on all areas of the Doha Development Agenda.

The Commissioner highlighted the EU's readiness to work constructively in view of reaching a more limited but still meaningful agreement in Nairobi that will take full account of the needs of the most vulnerable and least developed countries.

Commissioner Malmström on TTIP and Trade for All at the College of Europe 

EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström today spoke at a conference in Bruges on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiations and her new trade strategy, "Trade for All". She outlined the economic and strategic rationale for TTIP, before acknowledging the main issues in the public debate.

That debate, she said, had helped shape our new overall approach, which is based on making EU trade policy more effective, more transparent and more in tune with European values. She concluded by saying that, "With this new strategy, Europe is engaging with the world, broadly and deeply. We are doing so in order to benefit as many people as possible… in an open transparent way to restore trust in trade… and in a way that is in tune with our values - values we share with many partners around the world, including the United States."

Bunker Prices 

 

Price rise in South America and parts of Europe however in most areas the trend is falling.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Doha Development Agenda what is it?

The main issues at stake are:
  • Reforming agricultural subsidies
  • Ensuring that new liberalisation in the global economy respects the need for sustainable economic growth in developing countries
  • Improving developing countries' access to global markets for their exports
Thanks to its active engagement in the multilateral trade negotiations, the EU wants to boost the global Gross Domestic Product and creating a fair trade system for all countries, including LDCs.

Transport body proposed in FSB Wales 2016 manifesto

A single transport body with responsibility for roads, rail, buses and cycling in Wales is proposed among "radical" new measures from the Federation of Small Business.
Its assembly election manifesto includes creating something similar to Transport for London to create a "genuine integrated transport system".
It also wants an organisation responsible for supporting small firms.
The FSB said it was "deliverable" with existing Welsh government funding.
The organisation, which has 10,000 members among the 200,000 small and medium sized enterprises in Wales, wants parties to adopt its Transport for Wales idea.
The organisation - to be fully functioning within three years - would create an investment plan and manage a Wales-wide rail franchise.
It would follow a similar model to Transport for London including ticketing across services as with the Oyster card.
The manifesto also wants:
  • A Wales Small Business Administration to loan money to firms, provide advice and handle public contracts. It would take responsibility for Finance Wales/Development Bank, Business Wales and the National Procurement Service.
  • Councils to be given legal responsibility to promote economic development and regeneration, with budgets and staff transferred from the Welsh government.
  • A radical overhaul of business rates and the introduction of better regulation.
The FSB said the measures would help small businesses grow and create more jobs.

Monday, 19 October 2015

Shipping Trade and Transport News 19th October 2015

Port News

Longshan Shipyard (China)

Crane collapses killing one worker with another missing. The crane collapsed onSaturday morning during repairs. It would appear that the crane was being overloaded at the time of the accident.


















COSCO and China Shipping Group in Advanced Merger talks

This merger would create the worlds's fourth largest container operation. The join capacity would be in the region of 331 vessels


Chittagong Port (Bangladesh)

 Chittagong port has formally opened their new container terminal by releasing ballloons into the air at 4.30 today. Chittagong City Corporation mayor AJM Nasir Uddin, local lawmaker MA Latif MP, Chittagong Port Authority chairman Rear Admiral Nizam Uddin, private berth operator Saif Powertec’s managing director Tarafdar Ruhul Amin, local business people, trade body leaders and port users were present on the occasion.

Port Sudan

 CMA CGM implements Port Congestion Surcharge in Port Sudan. The port export and import USD 100 per TEU which was introduced on the 15th October (Bill of Lading date)



















Vessel News

CMA-CGM Rossini

On Oct 18, 2015, the "CMA CGM Rossini" enroute from Port Klang to Cape Town found both men from the capsized catamaran "Lama Lo" alive and well adrift at sea in a life-raft about 51 nautical miles off Kidd’s Beach, East London. They were found adrift in the "Lama Lo"’s tender at 6.25 p.m. The "CMA CGM Rossini" came alongside the tender after reporting that the two men were rowing towards them and they took both men on-board their ship. Jean Sitruk, 65, from Lyon and Kyle Castelyn, 30, from Strand, Cape Town, have requested to stay on board the ship which was bound for Cape Town and were due to arrive there on Oct 20. The MRCC had tasked the vessel, one of six ships that were assisting in the search with the NSRI and an SAAF helicopter to go back to the last known position of the EPIRB and to search between there and where the catamaran was physically located. Although that area had been searched earlier it was decided in the fading light to re-cover all ground and it was in this leg of the search effort that the tender was located with both men on board. Both men were reported to be in good spirits. The families of the two men have been informed with the good news.

















Trade News

US, EU open free-trade talks in Miami 

(MIAMI) - Senior negotiators on a huge transatlantic trade treaty opened new talks in Miami Monday aiming to close some differences on key issues between the United States and the European Union.
The 11th round of talks on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, or TTIP, were under new pressure to advance two weeks after Washington scored a major triumph with the agreement to set up a Pacific free-trade group with Japan, Canada and nine other countries.
But public resistance to a TTIP deal, especially from Europe, has slowed progress, amid worries that the US wants Europe to weaken its health, labour and environmental rules under the deal.
Speaking in Madrid, US Secretary of State John Kerry said that, like the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade pact, the aim of TTIP is to remove barriers to trade and investment that hamper economic growth and job creation.
"With the passage of the TPP, it is really important for Europe now to come together now around the TTIP because this can help to elevate the rules and regulations by which we do business all across the planet," Kerry said.
 

West prepares to end sanctions as Iran deal adopted 

(WASHINGTON) - The United States and Europe began preparing to lift the trade sanctions that have hobbled the Iranian economy on Sunday, as a historic nuclear deal came into effect.
The procedure to lift the embargo began 90 days after the UN Security Council endorsed the accord signed in Vienna in July, a milestone referred to as "Adoption Day."
But foreign firms will not be able to resume ties with Iran's oil industry and banks right away -- sanctions will remain in place until Iran fulfils its end of the bargain.
The next stage in the process -- "implementation day" -- will only come when UN nuclear watchdog the IAEA confirms Iran has dramatically scaled back its nuclear program.
Iran said that lengthy process will probably start this week.

Scotland's SNP vows to fight to keep Britain in EU 

(ABERDEEN) - The leader of the Scottish National Party pledged Saturday to fight to keep Britain in the European Union, as pressure mounts on the government to clarify its stance on the issue.
Prime Minister David Cameron has promised to hold a referendum on EU membership by the end of 2017, but both his pro-EU allies and euro sceptics within his ruling Conservative Party are growing impatient.
"David Cameron might play fast and loose with our place in Europe. Be in no doubt - the SNP will campaign positively for Scotland, and the UK, to stay in the European Union," Nicola Sturgeon told SNP party members on the last day of her party's conference.
"We despair at the failure of leadership of a prime minister pandering to euro sceptics in his party, but unable to articulate clearly and precisely what it is he is seeking to renegotiate," she added, speaking in Aberdeen, northeast Scotland.
Cameron plans to renegotiate the terms of Britain's membership of the 28-member-bloc, but says he cannot guarantee he will get what he wants and has not ruled out campaigning for a British exit.


 Transport News


Emergency funding could be used to train thousands of lorry drivers to prevent food shortages
 
  • Budget report promises review of the time it takes to get HGV licence
  • Ministers will also review need for funding extra training courses
  • Follows warning of a shortage of 45,000 lorry drivers hitting supply chain

    Emergency cash could be found to avoid a chronic shortage of lorry drivers leading to crisis in food supplies.
    George Osborne is examining plans to offer funding to help with training of new drivers, amid warnings of shortage of 45,000 hauliers.
    Tests which have been blamed for the problems in the industry could also be accelerated to address the shortage of qualified drivers.




















 


 



Saturday, 10 October 2015

Shipping Trade and Transport News 10th October 2015

 

Port of Durban (South Africa)

The port is undergoing major maintenance to its terminal areas with the view to handle increasing traffic of megaships. The dredging will reduce the waiting time for high tides and speed up the operation.














Link to the Port of Felixstowe arrivals and departures

Link to the Port of Southampton arrivals and departures

Link to the Port of Liverpool arrivals and departures

Link to the Port of London arrivals and departures
 
Southampton's cruise ships schedule. 


Trade with the European Union History

 

1957 The Treaty of Rome was signed by 6 European states

1967  The European Community was established

1973  Britain joined the European Community. Tory Prime Minister Edward Heath took Britain in.

1975  Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson had a referendum on Britain’s membership – the last national referendum this country has had. 66% voted yes – to stay in the European Community

1987  The Single European Act was signed. This was to create an internal market; "an area without frontiers in which the free movement of goods and persons, services and capital is ensured."

1991  The Maastrict Treaty was signed. The heart of this was to create a single European currency so that Europe as an entity had a currency to challenge the international supremacy of the dollar. Britain, lead by Tory Prime Minister John Major, pushed for and got an "opt out" clause for Britain. This meant that we were part of the European Community and wanted to be a part of it, but not to participate in a single currency, therefore, maintaining the pound should we decide to do so.

1993 The European Union was formed

2002  The Euro was introduced on January 1st. Britain has it Five Tests – if these are answered successfully, then Britain will join the Euro. British public opinion does not appear to support the Euro as the first month of its life draws to an end.

How will you vote in 2017?

Trade information

Statistics

Balance of Trade

We should be:


Increasing our exports and this should be a government priority

Increasing the UK GDP growth, improve vessel usage, which would improved re-load capacity for our transport and rail sectors

Unemployment 


Unemployment has a detrimental effect on the country's economy and should be a top priority.






GDP Growth



Some encouraging signs?







UK Exports

The United Kingdom mainly exports machinery and transport equipment (40 percent); manufactured products (23.5 percent); chemical products (15 percent) and mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (10 percent). Main export partners are: the United States (14 percent), Germany (10 percent), France (7 percent), the Netherlands (6 percent) and Ireland (4.5 percent). This page provides - United Kingdom Exports - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. Content for - United Kingdom Exports - was last refreshed on Saturday, October 10, 2015.

UK Imports

The United Kingdom mainly imports machinery and transport equipment (35 percent); manufactured products (26 percent); mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (13.5 percent) and chemical products (11 percent). U.K. main import partners are: Germany (13 percent), China (8 percent), United States (8 percent), Netherlands (7 percent) and France (5.5 percent). . This page provides - United Kingdom Imports - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. Content for - United Kingdom Imports - was last refreshed on Saturday, October 10, 2015.

If you would like to increase your products of services in a global market place contact us for details of vocational qualifications.

UK Consumer Confidence


  
 











Friday, 9 October 2015

Shipping Trade and Transport News 9th October 2015


Shipping News


M.V.  Flinterstar ruled total loss after K Line Collission

The Flinterstar ran aground on a sandbank after a collision with K line ship Al Qraiq. The accident occurred on Tuesday morning 10 km from Zeebrugge. The Qraiq was seized by the Federal Public Service Mobility in Zebrugge for necessary investigations.




 M.V Haidar update

After the sinking of the "Haidar", the 28 crew members of the vessel were in the custody of the Federal Police. The beach of Conde in Barcarena.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Port News

The Gothenburg Port Authority has decided to leave the Port Tariff unchanged. As a result, the Port Tariff for 2016 will remain at the 2015 level.





 Port of Tema


The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) has put up a new refrigerated terminal with the capacity to hold 800 20-footer equivalent unit (TEU) containers and replace the current facility.



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 UK Port News

Southampton named UK’s best cruise departure port 

Associated British Ports' Port of Southampton has been named the UK’s Best Departure Port for the seventh year running.
 
Southampton won the coveted title in the 2015 Cruise Critic UK Editors’ Picks Award.
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday, 7 October 2015

 
Shipping Trade and Transport News 8th October 2016
Trade News
UK Conservatives fire early shots in EU battle 
 Conservative MPs have already begun the debate over the referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union, reopening old divisions that once nearly sank the party.
Prime Minister David Cameron has yet to set the date for the in-out referendum -- promised by the end of 2017 -- and is still to negotiate pledged reforms with European partners, but the issue has dominated many fringe events at the party's annual conference in Manchester this week.

"I believe that membership of the EU makes us a stronger country, more prosperous and more secure," said MP Damian Green, chairman of the Conservative European Mainstream group.
"That argument has to be made between now and the referendum, and in particular that argument has to be made inside the Conservative Party."

Fellow MP Gerald Howarth, who has vowed to vote "No" whatever concessions Cameron gains, disagreed.

"Have a look and see how this organisation has evolved since the British people last have a vote in 1975: they change their name and they introduce a shedload of more regulations and we have transferred a shedload of powers," Howarth said.

- 'A very difficult campaign' -
It is currently hard to gauge the relative strength of the party's factions.
There are 22 Tory MPs firmly in favour of a "Brexit", while 47 are leaning towards a "No" vote, according to a study published last week by the think-tank Open Europe.
Only 14 are firmly in favour of staying in, while around 200 remain undecided, said the study.
"It is going to be a very, very difficult campaign," admitted europhile MP Anna Soubry, the minister for small business
.
"We should never underestimate the passion, some would say the obsession that those who want us to leave have."

Britain's loudest anti-EU voice for over two decades has been Nigel Farage, head of the UK Independence Party (UKIP).

















 
UK exit from EU would be 'disaster'
German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said on Tuesday that he wanted to do everything possible to keep Britain from leaving the European Union, adding that it would be a disaster for both the British and Europeans.

"I hope that we can convince (the) UK... (to) stay in the EU, because a Brexit would be a disaster for the UK and for Europeans," Schaeuble said during a discussion with students at Sciences Po university in Paris. 

Schaeuble also said that he hoped Britain would join the euro in the coming years.
"It will take some time," he said.

11th Round Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership Negotiations
The eleventh round of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations will take place in Miami, Florida from October 19 - 23, 2015.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) will host a stakeholder forum on Wednesday 21 October from 11:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. to provide an update on negotiations and solicit input and feedback from interested stakeholders, as well as a press conference on Friday 23 October to discuss outcomes from the negotiations.

Outreach - Latest developments in the EU-Vietnam FTA
Meeting details
  • Date: 06/10/2015, 14:30 – 16:30 (registration closed)
  • Location: Mansholt room, Charlemagne Building, Rue de la Loi 170, Brussels
The purpose of the meeting is to brief civil society organizations on the status of the negotiations for an EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (FTA) following the agreement in principle reached on 4 August by EU Trade Commissioner Malmström and Vietnamese Minister for Trade and Industry Vu Huy Hoang.
This FTA, for which negotiations started in October 2012, is the most ambitious and comprehensive FTA that the EU has ever concluded with a developing country, the second in the ASEAN region after Singapore, and a further building block towards the EU’s ultimate objective of an ambitious and comprehensive region-to-region EU-ASEAN FTA. This agreement will allow EU exporters and investors to access a fast-growing market of 90 million people and to consolidate their presence in one of the most dynamic regions in the world.

Transport News  - Rail

Tony Plumbe, Chair, Campaign for Better Transport North & West Yorkshire Rail Group.

We welcome the announcement by Transport Minister Patrick McLoughlin that work will re-commence on the sequential electrification to key railways in the North to boost economic activity and promote social interaction

 Just putting wires above the TransPennine line from Manchester to York and Selby smacked of cheap, short-term and incoherent planning by Network Rail. Taking a little longer and developing a complementary package of line improvements is highly desirable. It has to be noted, however, that this will take at least four more years than originally planned.

 Low Carbon Truck Trial
 Two yeasr ago, the Department of Transport  co-funded a Low Carbon Truck trial which included use of  duel fuel vehicles, gases and vehicles operating on cooking oil.

The outcome
reductions in :
  • Noise and performance
  • C02 and Air Quality Emissions reduced
Two years ago, the Department of Transport, the Office for Low Emissions and Innovate UK co-funded a new Low Carbon Truck trial in order to pump prime procurement of low emission HGV technologies. The funds were directed mainly towards duel fuel vehicles, some gas vehicles and some running on used cooking oil. - See more at: http://www.dynesolicitors.co.uk/news_15sep-the-second-annual-report-of-the-low-carbon-truck-trial.htm#sthash.uqwXSmP2.dpuf
Two years ago, the Department of Transport, the Office for Low Emissions and Innovate UK co-funded a new Low Carbon Truck trial in order to pump prime procurement of low emission HGV technologies. The funds were directed mainly towards duel fuel vehicles, some gas vehicles and some running on used cooking oil. - See more at: http://www.dynesolicitors.co.uk/news_15sep-the-second-annual-report-of-the-low-carbon-truck-trial.htm#sthash.uqwXSmP2.dpuf
Low Carbon Truck Trial

Improved driving licence services
The new system allows you to make applications

  • access to information advice and guidance
  • upload documents
  • on line progress tracking
  • make applications on line.




 

the Department of Transport, the Office for Low Emissions and Innovate UK co-funded a new Low Carbon Truck trial in order to pump prime procurement of low emission HGV technologies. The funds were directed mainly towards duel fuel vehicles, some gas vehicles and some running on used cooking oil. - See more at: http://www.dynesolicitors.co.uk/news_15sep-the-second-annual-report-of-the-low-carbon-truck-trial.htm#sthash.uqwXSmP2.dpuf

the Department of Transport, the Office for Low Emissions and Innovate UK co-funded a new Low Carbon Truck trial in order to pump prime procurement of low emission HGV technologies. The funds were directed mainly towards duel fuel vehicles, some gas vehicles and some running on used cooking oil. - See more at: http://www.dynesolicitors.co.uk/news_15sep-the-second-annual-report-of-the-low-carbon-truck-trial.htm#sthash.uqwXSmP2.dpuf
the Department of Transport, the Office for Low Emissions and Innovate UK co-funded a new Low Carbon Truck trial in order to pump prime procurement of low emission HGV technologies. The funds were directed mainly towards duel fuel vehicles, some gas vehicles and some running on used cooking oil. - See more at: http://www.dynesolicitors.co.uk/news_15sep-the-second-annual-report-of-the-low-carbon-truck-trial.htm#sthash.uqwXSmP2.dpuf

the Department of Transport, the Office for Low Emissions and Innovate UK co-funded a new Low Carbon Truck trial in order to pump prime procurement of low emission HGV technologies. The funds were directed mainly towards duel fuel vehicles, some gas vehicles and some running on used cooking oil. - See more at: http://www.dynesolicitors.co.uk/news_15sep-the-second-annual-report-of-the-low-carbon-truck-trial.htm#sthash.uqwXSmP2.dpuf