PROJECTS: Egypt signs MoU to carry out feasibility study for Sohag dry port Feasibility study pact signed with a consortium of US, UK and Egyptian companies

 

Egypt’s General Authority for Land and Dry Ports, affiliated to the transport ministry, has signed a memorandum of understanding with an international consortium to carry out an initial feasibility study for developing and operating a dry port and logistics zone in New Sohag City.

The ministry said in a statement on Tuesday that the study for the 45-acre project would be completed by the consortium over a 9-month periodThe consortium carrying out the feasibility study consists of Pathfinder, a US-based investment bank; Active Freight Network, an Egypt-based global platform of freight forwarders and logistics companies, and the UK-based HAE Group, which provides General Sales and Service Agent services in aviation sector.

The project is expected to involve an investment of $100 million, according to Mohsen Hussein, Regional Cargo Manager-North Africa & Levant, HAE Group.

He told Zawya Projects that the project is important for the development of’Upper Egypt’, and would create 3,500 direct jobs and 16,000 indirect jobs. He added that construction work is expected to start in the second quarter of 2021.

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Emirates SkyCargo marks 18 years of cargo flights to Shanghai

 

Emirates SkyCargo crossed a historic milestone with its freighter flight touching down at Shanghai, which was the cargo carrier’s first scheduled cargo destination in the country and marked Emirates’ entry into the Chinese mainland.

Since 2002, Emirates SkyCargo has built its reputation in China by fostering a sense of reliability and by deploying capacity to cater to the growth in Chinese exports over the years. Emirates SkyCargo has been providing a continuous and robust trade link through its cargo flights for exports from Shanghai and other points in China with a better reach and faster time to the market connecting with primary, secondary and tertiary cities across the world.

More recently, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Emirates SkyCargo supported the uplift of thousands of tonnes of essential commodities including face masks, gloves, other protective gear and equipment such as ventilators manufactured in China to destinations across six continents. From the very early stages of the pandemic, the air cargo carrier reacted quickly and worked with various authorities to deploy adequate capacity to meet the surge in demand for the transport of PPE and other materials to combat COVID-19 from China. Over the next few months, hundreds of cargo flights were operated from Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou to cities in the Middle East, Europe, North America, Africa, Australasia and other parts of Asia.

“Emirates SkyCargo is an important facilitator of trade between China and the rest of the world and this is a very special milestone for us. Shanghai has been one of our main gateways over nearly the last two decades. Just between 2012 and 2019, we helped connect close to half a million tonnes of goods as exports and imports between Shanghai and the rest of the network,” said Michael Qu, Emirates Cargo Manager, China.

“During the pandemic, our teams in Dubai and China have worked around the clock to move essential commodities and we would also like to thank our partners and the authorities in China for their support. With our current extensive network of more than 120 destinations across six continents, including 56 cities from the Belt and Road initiative, we are able to provide a dependable and efficient trade link,” continued Qu.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, some of the main exports from Shanghai included electronic devices and equipment, pharmaceuticals and raw materials for other manufacturing and industrial application. On imports, Emirates SkyCargo helped bring in food items and flavours from around the world ranging from Norwegian salmon, lobsters from Boston and Chilean cherries.

Emirates SkyCargo now offers 11 scheduled weekly flights to the Chinese Mainland, including eight flights to Shanghai, and three flights to Guangzhou. From full freighters to dedicated cargo flights on passenger aircraft and loading of select cargo in aircraft cabins, Emirates SkyCargo offers a range of cargo capacity options to meet the exact requirements of customers from China.

Renault Trucks introduces the ‘T X-PORT’ model to the African and Middle East market

 

 

For customers operating on the African continent and in the Middle East, where Euro 3 legislation is in force, Renault Trucks has developed the T X-Port . This is a Renault Trucks T Euro 6 model, converted to Euro 3 using strict industrial processes in the company’s specialised Used Trucks Factory workshops, in order to guarantee the highest level of pollution reduction in force in these markets. A Euro 6 used truck driven without the addition of Adblue would be permanently damaged and its emissions would equate to those of a Euro 0 vehicle.

A robust Euro 3 vehicle

The conversion starts with dismantling the Euro 6 components, namely the silencer and AdBlue components, which are then sent to the manufacturer’s recycling network.

Operators at the Renault Trucks Used Trucks Factory then install the Euro 3 components and the reinforced filtration system. The software and manufacturer’s documentation are updated, allowing the vehicle to be recognised throughout the network with its new features.

The air and diesel filters are reinforced, enabling the vehicle to adapt to its new environment (topography and the characteristics of fuel distributed locally). Finally, ground clearance is increased by 30 mm at the front and 20 mm at the rear.

After conversion, the Renault Trucks T X-Port’s emission levels and engine performance (power and torque) are certified by UTAC, an independent international organisation. The truck undergoes the same quality process as a new vehicle.

Meeting all needs in the road haulage sector

The Renault Trucks T range meets the needs of all companies operating in the road haulage sector: industrial transport, controlled temperature transport, tanker transport, and livestock transport. It offers customers the perfect balance between fuel savings and life on-board.

All T models feature top-of-the-range finishes for the best on-board comfort for drivers. These include all-textile seats designed by RECARO®, two driver’s armrests, the option of rearranging the positions of the control buttons and an ergonomic dashboard with a 7” central display, which is the largest on the market. Also available are a storage compartment that can be accessed from both inside and outside the vehicle, plus a door-opening angle of 85°.

The truck as a whole, the cab and every element of the powertrain have been designed to promote fuel savings. The windscreen is inclined by 12° and the cab itself is trapezoid in shape, being 2.35 metres wide at the front and 2.50 metres wide at the back, which improves its drag coefficient (cx) by up to 12%. Enhanced productivity Is provided by a GCW (gross combined weight) rating of up to 60 tonnes and a fuel tank capacity of up to 1,475 litres for long journeys.

Finally, all Renault Trucks T models are fitted with the Optidriver transmission as standard. This automated gearbox selects the right gear at the right time according to speed, load and driving style in order to guarantee better mobility and greater comfort while driving.

A 12-month international manufacturer’s warranty

The Euro 3-certified Renault Trucks T X-Port comes with a 12-month international manufacturer’s warranty that covers all incidents relating to the engine, gearbox and axles and is valid throughout Renault Trucks sales and service outlets in Africa and the Middle East. The T X-Port is only available from the Renault Trucks network. In addition, a 24 months international manufacturer’s warranty and service contract are offered for a limited time.

IMB: Piracy Attacks More Than Double in Gulf of Guinea

Piracy increased on the world’s seas in 2018, with a marked rise in attacks against ships and crews around West Africa, according to a report from the International Maritime Bureau (IMB).

Worldwide, the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre (PRC) recorded 201 incidents of maritime piracy and armed robbery in 2018, up from 180 in 2017.

The Gulf of Guinea remained increasingly dangerous for seafarers as reports of attacks in waters between the Ivory Coast and the Democratic Republic of Congo more than doubled in 2018. The incidents included all six hijackings worldwide, 13 of the 18 ships fired upon, 130 of the 141 hostages taken globally, and 78 of 83 seafarers kidnapped for ransom.

The region saw a significant new spike in violence in the last quarter of 2018. Vessels have been boarded by pirates well outside territorial waters, with crew kidnapped and taken into Nigeria where they are held for ransom.

“There is an urgent need for increased cooperation and sharing of intelligence between the Gulf of Guinea’s littoral states so that effective action can be taken against pirates, both at sea and on-shore where their operations originate and end,” an IMB spokesman said.

Overview

In the last three months of 2018, 41 kidnappings were recorded in Nigerian waters alone. On October 27, 2018, 11 crew were kidnapped from a container vessel 70 nautical miles off Bonny Island, Nigeria. Two days later, Nigerian pirates in a speedboat hijacked a tanker underway 100 nautical miles off Point Noire, Congo. Eight of the 18 crew were kidnapped.

Although no ships were hijacked in the Somalia region, pirates fired upon a Suezmax tanker in the Gulf of Aden, as well as a product tanker and a capesize bulk carrier more than three hundred miles from the Somali coastline.

In Indonesia, patrols by the Marine Police have seen the number of incidents drop for the third successive year. The majority of the 36 Indonesian reports were low level opportunistic thefts. Six crew however were taken hostage and threatened, “indicating the need to be vigilant”.

Attacks off Sabah, eastern Malaysia, continue to be a cause of concern with five crew from two fishing boats reported as kidnapped. Separately four attackers in a speedboat fired on a tug, and the master was shot in the leg.

Ten incidents have been reported from the Philippine islands – down from 22 in 2017. Batangas anchorage accounts for five of these. In one attack, suspected militants fired upon a general cargo ship.

 

Full release on worldmaritimenews.com

Brokers: Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Wins Tanker Quartet Order

South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Mipo Dockyard has reportedly won an order for the construction of four tankers from Evangelos Pistiolis – led Central Group from Greece.

According to Intermodal, the 50,000 dwt quartet is scheduled for delivery in 2020 and the newbuilds would be scrubber-fitted to comply with the new sulphur regulations.

The price details of the deal were not disclosed, however, market valuations indicate that the price could be approximately USD 36 million per vessel.

The order is in line with anticipated growing demand for medium range tankers, especially in the product tanker sector, in the upcoming period. The projection is based on the increased need for compliant bunker fuels across global ports required for the implementation of the 2020 sulphur cap.

Based on the data from VesselsValue, Hyundai Mipo has secured over 80 orders, dominated by MR2 chemical and product tankers.

As part of Hyundai Heavy Industries Group’s 2019 orderbook target of USD 15.9 billion, Hyundai Mipo Dockyard has vowed to obtain USD 3.5 billion worth of orders. HHI has set sights on attaining USD 8 billion in the shipbuilding segment, whereas Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries expects to secure USD 4.3 billion worth of orders, as reported by Yonhap.

World Maritime News Staff

 

Full release on worldmaritimenews.com

Port of Los Angeles Sets New All-Time Cargo Record in 2018

The US Port of Los Angeles moved more cargo in 2018 than any time in its 111-year history, racking up 9,458,749 TEUs, 1.2 percent more than 2017’s record-breaking year.

It is the third consecutive year of record volumes for the nation’s #1 gateway for containerized trade and the most cargo moved annually by a Western Hemisphere port.

“2018 was marked by a robust economy coupled with tariff-induced surges of cargo headed to US retail and manufacturing sectors,” Gene Seroka, Port of Los Angeles Executive Director, said.

“These extraordinary volumes highlight the need for continued stakeholder collaboration on methods to maximize supply chain efficiency. Through a number of initiatives, we are focused on both physical and digital infrastructure enhancements that continue to ensure the reliable, safe and efficient conveyance of cargo through our gateway,” he added.

In December, the port processed 903,258 TEUs, the busiest December in its 111-year history and a 15.9 percent jump compared to the previous year. It was the sixth consecutive month of volumes exceeding 800,000 TEUs.

December imports increased 21.6 percent to 468,906 TEUs. Exports decreased 3.2 percent to 147,965 TEUs. Along with an 18.9 percent rise in empty containers, overall December TEUs totaled 903,258, an increase of 15.9 percent compared to the previous year.

North America’s leading seaport by container volume and cargo value, the Port of Los Angeles facilitated USD 284 billion in trade during 2017.

 

Full release on worldmaritimenews.com

Denmark Unveils Cyber Security Strategy for Maritime Sector

Denmark has launched a new sectoral strategy for the shipping industry as part of the government’s cyber and information security strategy.

Launched by the Danish Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs, the strategy contains a number of initiatives aimed at strengthening IT security and preventing cyber threats in the maritime sector.

The objective is to ensure that navigational safety in Danish waters and safety on board Danish ships, including systems and software for operation, propulsion and navigation of the ship, is not compromised by cyber attacks.

In addition, services such as traffic monitoring, warning and information systems, as well as other systems with a connection to the ship’s safe navigation, are included.

The Danish Maritime Authority has established a dedicated Danish Maritime Cybersecurity Unit, which is to handle implementation of the strategy in practice.

 

Full release on worldmaritimenews.com

Seaspan Completes 2nd Tranche of Investment with Fairfax

Hong Kong-based containership owner and operator Seaspan Corporation revealed that Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited closed the second tranche of its USD 1 billion investment commitment in the company.

As with Fairfax’s initial USD 500 million investment in Seaspan, the second tranche of funding is structured as a USD 250 million issuance of 5.50% senior notes due 2026 and approximately 38.46 million warrants.

Pursuant to a deal entered into at the end of May 2018, Fairfax has agreed to immediately exercise the 2019 warrants at a price of USD 6.50 per warrant, for additional equity proceeds to Seaspan of USD 250 million. As a result, Seaspan’s aggregate proceeds from the Second Fairfax Investment will be USD 500 million, the company explained.

This brings Fairfax’s total investment in Seaspan to USD 1 billion, the proceeds of which will be used to fund future growth initiatives, repay debt and for general corporate purposes.

With the closing of the second investment, Fairfax’s aggregate shareholdings in Seaspan are 76.9 million Class A common shares or 36% of shares outstanding.

Fairfax continues to hold the 25 million seven year warrants, with an exercise price of USD 8.05, which were issued to it on July 16, 2018.

“This additional investment will enhance Seaspan’s ability to execute on our long-term goals of deleveraging, strengthening our balance sheet, and creating value through disciplined and thoughtful capital allocation,” David Sokol, Chairman of Seaspan Corporation, said.

 

Full release on worldmaritimenews.com

Canadian Gov’t to Assess Risks Posed by Wrecked, Abandoned Ships

The Canadian government has awarded a contract to London Offshore Consultants (LOC) for the development of a risk assessment methodology related to hundreds of abandoned, wrecked or dilapidated vessels in Canadian waters or on Crown land.

As explained, the risk assessment methodology, expected to be delivered by this summer, will help the Canadian Coast Guard assess the level of risk these vessels pose to the environment, the economy and public safety.

This contract, valued at CAD 551,554.95 (USD 416,252) would help improve the restoration and protection of marine ecosystems. It is part of the country’s CAD 1.5-billion Oceans Protection Plan.

“This contract award further enhances the Canadian Coast Guard’s ability to assess the risks posed by wrecked or abandoned vessels in our waterways and to help prioritize our operations,” Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, commented.

The National Strategy to Address Abandoned and Wrecked vessels seeks to prevent the occurrence of new problem vessels and make progress in cleaning up existing problem vessels.

Bill C-64, the Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act, aims to strengthen owner responsibility and liability and address irresponsible vessel management, including vessel abandonment. It also provides the federal government, including the Canadian Coast Guard, with clear authority to take necessary measures to address hazards posed by these problem vessels.

 

Full release on worldmaritimenews.com