Port Wings Maritime Exim Weekly Newspaper 22 April 2020 Issue

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Apr. 22nd - 28th Issue

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Published from Chennai and Circulated among the trade across the country RNI TNENG/2014/59741

Wednesday, April 22, 2020

8 Pages

RECOGNITION OF ELECTRONIC TRADE DOCUMENTS: Shipping Ministry Seeks Govt Intervention New Delhi Port Wings News Network o ensure smooth cargo operations at India's ports amid the coronavirus pandemic, the shipping ministry has sought the commerce ministry's intervention for issuing advisory for recognition of electronic trading documents instead of "manual trade documentation" still required by many departments and financial institutions, according to a report in leading daily The Economic Times.

Citing bottlenecks caused in handling EXIM cargo on account of the current manual process, it sought the commerce ministry's intervention for issuing advisory to departments, including customs, and the Indian Banks' Association for accepting 'electronically generated trade documentation'.

India has 12 major ports -Deendayal (erstwhile Kandla), Mumbai, JNPT, Marmugao, New Mangalore, Cochin, Chennai, Kamarajar (earlier Ennore), V O Chidambarnar, Visakhapatnam, Paradip and Kolkata (including Haldia) that handled nearly 705 million tonnes (MT) cargo in 201920.

Citing challenges faced in handling of EXIM cargo, Shipping Secretary Gopal Krishna in a letter to Commerce Secretary Anup Wadhawan said the inability of service providers such as courier agencies, general lockdown restrictions and the requirement of

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social distancing are causing severe impediment in issuance, delivery and despatch of physical format based trade documentation, which

is directly impacting the release of import containers and cargo.

Stating that the current manual process that requires surrender of original bill of lading (BL) at the shipping lines office, collection of paper invoice and payment by cash and collection of paper delivery order issued by then shipping line add up to 11.5 hours of personto-person contact on an average, Krishna said it not only creates a high level of risk with the contagious nature of COVID-19 but results in considerable delays in release of cargo.

Considering the present circumstances on account of COVID-19, the Indian Ports Association (IPA) under the aegis of the Ministry of Shipping has taken steps towards digitising some of trade related process through implementation of Port Community System (PCS), the letter said.

PCS was launched in December 2018 and has managed to digitise the major part in port related activities including e-invoice, e-payment and and electronic delivery order (eFile Photo DO).

Bill of lading (BL), a critical component, however is still missing and trade bodies under the umbrella of the Federation of Indian Logistics Association (FILA) have supported the IPA initiative of eBL and identified providers like CargoX, the letter mentions.

"I would request you to consider issuing suitable guidelines and advisory consistent with international conventions on the subject to Departments as well as to Indian Bank Association for banks in India by accepting 'electronically generated trade documentation'.

"Also, the 'stakeholders of the trade industry' such as carriers, exporters and importers can also be issued mandate to adopt and use such platforms for 'electronically generated trade documentation' including Bill of Lading (document of title) across stakeholders and across nations," the shipping secretary said.

"Such a measure shall help ease the economic and humanitarian Contd. on page -2

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Wing 6 Feather 36

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COVID-19 Effect: India's Monthly Exports Record Double-digit Decline New Delhi Port Wings News Network eacting to a highest ever double digit decline in monthly exports during March, 2020 by 34.57 percent at USD 21.41 billion, FIEO President, Mr Sharad Kumar Saraf said that spread COVID-19 across the globe has not only pulled down the world sentiment to its lowest but has also affected the global supply chain and brought economies in recessionary condition.

Global economies are facing the worst crisis in terms of slowdown compared to the global depression of the 1930s. Mr Saraf added that the annual merchandise exports figure of USD 314.31 with a nominal negative growth of 4.78 percent is on the expected lines as exporters were not able to export during the second half of March due to lockdown, cancellations and delay of shipments and orders.

FIEO Chief is also of the view that at least during the first quarter of the current financial year 2020-21 the sector will see a similar growth trend, which will be a global trend.

However, from the second quarter of the fiscal, exports may start showing nominal growth depending on the condition evolving in the international market. Further with major global players including China, US, economies of Europe, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Russia, Gulf countries facing the brunt as oil and other commodity prices have drastically declined during recent days, the short-term perspective of the exports sector looks grim.

Mr Sharad Kumar Saraf said that 29 out of the 30 major product groups were in negative territory during March 2020 except for ironore. Similar trend was also observed

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in the annual figures of 30 major product groups, where 22 out of the 30 major product groups were in negative territory. Further imports of USD 31.16 billion with a very high double digit decline of 28.72 percent during the month and an annual dip of 9.12 percent has come as relief both on the trade balance and current account deficit front. With crude prices moving southwards and supply disruptions extending to Europe and the US, due to COVID19, more comfort is expected Mr. Sharad Kumar Saraf, in imports President, FIEO during the next few months. Mr Saraf expressed his serious concerns over sharp decline in employment intensive sectors of exports which has serious ramifications for the jobs in the country particularly as domestic demand will also not be robust.

Mr Sharad Kr Saraf reiterated that with the cancellation of over 50% of orders, gloomy forecast, major job losses and rising NPAs amongst exporting units, the Federation urges the Government to immediately announce a relief package for exports as any further delay would be catastrophic. Covid Interest free Working Capital Term Loan to Exporters to cover the cost of wages, rental and utilities, EPF and ESIC waiver for 3 months from March to May, 2020 and Extension of Pre and Post shipment credit by 90-180 days on their maturity is much needed step to help the exporting community during such difficult and testing times. Besides roll over of forward cover without interest and penalty, automatic enhancement of limit by 25% to address liquidity challenges and extension of Interest Equalisation Benefits should also be looked into for immediate consideration.

President FIEO said that the huge support given by various economies to exports will put Indian exports in further difficulties as when the size of the cake reduces, competition intensifies with focus on prices.

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Inside Duisburg’s Port is China’s... Pg-2 V O Chidambaranar Port Creates... Pg-3 Seafarers Still at Sea as Govt. ... Pg-4 Medium, Heavy Trucks to Face... Pg-5 Vessel Position at Terminals and Ports... Pg-6 Latest Customs Exchange Rates... Pg-7 Virgin Atlantic Delivers 3.5 Million... Pg-7 DP World Launches Worldwide... Pg-8

RNI No. TNENG/2014/59741 Postal Registration No. TN/CNIGPO/067/2018-2020 Posted at Pathrika Channel, Egmore, RMS, Chennai-8. Date of Publication - Wednesday, Posted on Tuesday / Wednesday

Apr. 22nd - 28th Issue

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RECOGNITION OF ELECTRONIC TRADE...

Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Wing 6 Feather 36

Flailing Economy, Wailing Masses

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rime Minister Narendra Modi on April 14 announced the extension of the three-week nationwide lockdown for another 19 days till May 3 to battle the Coronavirus pandemic but indicated easing some curbs after April 20 in areas which are not hotspots to allow some "select necessary activities".

As his government seeks to balance containment measures to control the coronavirus spread with demands for the phased reopening of the economy, the prime minister acknowledged that the lockdown has come at a huge economic cost and also inflicted pain on the people, especially the poor, calling them "disciplined soldiers".

The nation witnessed a fresh bout of migrant crisis after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a 19-day extension to the three-week lockdown imposed across the nation in wake of novel coronavirus outbreak. The lockdown, originally imposed on March 25, will now end on May 3.

Even as the prime minister announced that some restrictions will be lifted after April 20 in areas that are not hotspots, thousands of migrant workers poured out to bus stops and train stations hoping to get back to their hometowns and villages.

Large crowds were witnessed in Mumbai's Bandra, Thane's Mumbra, Gujarat's Surat and Ahmedabad and Hyderabad in Telangana as daily wage workers tried to leave for their homes.

The migrants in Mumbai were misled by a social media rumour which claimed that trains were available to cross state borders. Others in Ahmedabad and Hyderabad had come out of home, hoping to walk back home even if it meant covering a distance of over 1500 kms on foot.

Recent protests—both in Bandra and Surat— are evidence of frustrated migrants living in inhuman conditions, desperate to go home.

Had there been a National Plan, it would have catered to the requirements of migrants before such announcements. The fallout is that lakhs of Indians are now without food, and other necessities.

Their livelihoods have been seriously jeopardized and they need exgratia assistance for the restoration of their livelihood. This requires data collection so that we know exactly how many are affected, how many need assistance.

This data is to be collected at the district, state and national level. Only then can the directed relief envisaged under the Act be given. Businesses have been affected across the country, especially in the MSME sector.

Loan repayments cannot be made, credit is scarce. These have to be dealt with institutionally, but no such mechanism is in place.

Since maximum efforts have been put forth to enforce the lockdown in the coming days, not much improvement may be seen in terms of following social distancing rules.

Due to the lockdown, the poor people in the unorganised sector as well as poor senior citizens, visually impaired, differently-abled persons suffered a high level of social and economic stress. So far, the government has bought peace with them by distributing freebies and making cash transfers. This, however, cannot go on for long. It is quite possible that social unrest could happen in the not-so-distant future if the present conditions are allowed to persist. Hope should have been generated among the poor and no so-educated people that conditions would improve soon by at least symbolically liberalising the lockdown.

Lockdown by itself is not going to contain the COVID spread. It would continue toSample multiply within households and dormitories. Testing has been woefully TEXTinsufficient in the national response so far. The lockdown destroys livelihoods and it is the duty of the state to ensure subsistence through income transfers and free rations. The transfer of Rs 500 to Jan Dhan accounts and additional 5 kg grain rations have been woefully inadequate. We can’t put a lockdown on hunger!. Many of our people still do not have access to basic necessities. It was so difficult to go without the supplies, We can’t even imagine how the majority of families in India will survive till 3rd of May?

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Continued from page -1 challenges and also encourage continuity of trade and also enable trade revival in future. This will also support the Ministry of Shipping and Ministry of Commerce in their efforts to ensure smooth flow of Export Import trade and release of import containers/cargo at various ports in India. Should the stakeholder or financial institutions

or Departments require any support or assistance, they can reach out to Ministry of Shipping or the IPA," he added.

The ministry also requested considering CargoX, a public block chain platform that provides the eBL solution and added that other solution providers of eBL like Tradelens, Wave, Bolero etc are explored for maritime EXIM cargo.

The number of vessels handled by ports during 2019-20 was around 20,837, whereas during 2018-19, number of vessels handled was 20,853. The vessel traffic declined slightly by 0.08 per cent in comparison to last year.

The major ports handle about 60 per cent of the country's total cargo traffic.

Duisburg’s Port is China’s Gateway to Europe Chennai

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Port Wings News Network uisburg and Wuhan, both have been hit so hard by the Coronavirus, are connected by a special friendship. The location of the largest inland port in the world has maintained an intensive and friendly relationship with Wuhan since 1982, according to the China Daily.

We in Duisburg are not only recognized and valued partners for Chinese investors and scientists. We also see ourselves as friends of the people in the economically strong metropolis of Wuhan. Between Wuhan and Duisburg there is the oldest town twinning between the two countries. Our close friendship with the city of Wuhan is experiencing new impulses, particularly as a result of the Corona pandemic.

In the coming week, the first train from Wuhan since the outbreak of the pandemic will reach Duisburg again. Its arrival here in Duisburg is eagerly awaited by many people.

Medicine and protective clothing for hospitals in Germany will be part of the freight. This close connection will take on a new, larger dimension with the revival of the Silk Road.

Close friendship between Wuhan and Duisburg China´s administration helped to shape the initial impetus for Duisburg’s close rail link with China.

Members of both governments, China and Germany, experienced the arrival of the “Yuxinou train” with me on March 29, 2014, during his state visit to Germany. At that time, the 10,300-kilometer route between Chongqing and Duisburg harbor was covered three times a week.

Today, about 40 trains per week run between Duisburg and China. With the “One Belt – One Road” initiative, China has opened the gateway to Europe for transcontinental rail transport in Duisburg Port.

We initiators have been somewhat smiled at for this idea of regular train services over such long distances. Today – in the midst of the corona crisis – it is precisely rail transport that keeps the value-added chains alive in air and sea freight as the frequency of air and sea freight declines.

Already in the coming weeks we will reach pre-pandemic levels in trade with China. And that is a positive and hopeful development in difficult times. For our Chinese friends, as well as for us.

Trade links strengthen cooperation Two days after the opening of the train line, the German-Chinese Year of Youth Exchange was initiated. It is entitled “Exchange, Friendship, Future”. Schoolchildren and students, young scientists, sportsmen and women or young

artists from both sides have been coming together regularly ever since, creating networks that will carry good relations between our countries into the next generation.

Our children learn to experience a different culture and perhaps even learn their language.

And what is true for Germany is also true for the whole of Europe: The European Union is China’s most

important trading partner and the largest sales market. China’s trade volume with Germany is almost as large as China’s trade with France, Great Britain and Italy combined.

And the Port of Duisburg is the main hub for this trade.

German companies and their joint ventures have made outstanding contributions – to the benefit of both sides – to China’s technological development. Many companies have also introduced new elements of a socially oriented corporate culture.

Increasingly, Chinese companies are also investing in Germany for mutual benefit. Despite the current slowdown in growth, many German companies want to expand their business in China.

In order to continue to develop economic dynamism in the future, innovations are essential – for example, to drive forward the digitization of industrial production.

We would like to cooperate even more closely with China in this area – especially when the legal protection of innovations is better secured.

China and Germany have many things in common. Our two countries are the most populous and economically strongest countries on their respective continents. At the same time, China and Germany are proving to be an anchor of stability for their regions of Europe and Asia, even in difficult times of pandemic crisis. And there are historical reasons for this: Those of us responsible in the Port of Duisburg in particular have great respect for many Chinese achievements since 1978 – for the economic development that has enabled so many people to lift themselves out of poverty – this is a historic achievement, especially against the background of historic aberrations, with their terrible consequences for a large part of the local population.

Duisburg and Wuhan have much in common We people in Duisburg, who are familiar with the hard work in the coal mines and steelworks, also

admire the enormous willingness of the Chinese to perform, the striving of so many young people for education – with the aim of one day giving their children a better future through their own hard work. We are also pleased about the cosmopolitanism of many young people who come to Germany to study and about the enthusiasm with which they later contribute this knowledge to the development of their country.

And it is with interest and respect that we perceive that there is such a broad spectrum of views and ways of life in China today, which would have been unimaginable forty years ago, when this first city friendship between China and Germany would have been unimaginable. In a word: Chinese and German society has become more diverse through closer cooperation. This diversity, like the ability to innovate, is an important source of inventiveness and thus for the success of both Europe and China.

We can learn a lot from China.

As those responsible in the Port of Duisburg, the discipline and dedication of our friends in Wuhan are also an example to us in the pandemic crisis. As logistics experts, we are aware of the special social responsibility we have for people.

We are responsible for maintaining the supply chains and our economy in order to minimize the impairment of the port’s supply and disposal function for Germany and Europe. We are already feeling the effects of the significant decline in trade volumes and the restrictions on our daily work are also drastic.

We look with admiration at the extraordinary commitment of our friends in Wuhan in recent weeks.

We in Duisburg also have great commitment, collegiality and team spirit among our employees in the final weeks of the crisis.

It is the working people, the laborers, those on the locomotives, on the tracks and cranes, in the packaging plants, halls, trucks, signal boxes, ingates are doing an excellent job to maintain our port and the logistics for our continent.

They have to work under special safety and hygiene regulations.

This crisis helps us to seek and find our strengths. We are happy that in these difficult times, our Chinese friends have stood by us. In Germany, health is the most important thing!

In China the sentence of Confucius is valid: If you are poor, but healthy, then you are half rich. The friendship between Wuhan and Duisburg showed us: We stand by each other in good times and bad. This makes all our lives richer.

Apr. 22nd - 28th Issue

V O Chidambaranar Port Creates New Record in Coal Handling Tuticorin Port Wings News Network .O. Chidambaranar Port, Tuticorin, created a new record by unloading 55,105 Tonnes of Coal in 24 hours at Berth No.9 from the vessel ‘MV. Theoder Oldendroff’ on 10 April 2020, surpassing the previous record of 55,020 tonnes of Coal

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handled at Berth No.9 from the vessel ‘MV. Agio Sostis’ on 03 February 2020.

The Malta flagged vessel ‘MV. Theoder Oldendroff’ consigned from Indonesia was berthed at the Port on 09 April 2020 and has discharged 73, 507 Tonnes of coal using three Harbour Mobile cranes capable of discharging

56,000 Tonnes per day.

M/s. Villavarayar & Sons is the Stevedore Agent and M/s. Worldwide Shipping Inc is the Vessel Agent.

V.O. Chidambaranar Port, Tuticorin, is the crucial link in the Coal supply chain for the power plants and other major industries in Tamilnadu. Mostly, Coal is being imported through V.O. Chidambaranar Port from abroad and also through Indian Ports like Dhamra, Haldia and Paradip. The Port has handled 13.26 Million Tonnes of Coal during the last financial year and has emerged as a major bulk cargo Port in South India.

Shri T.K. Ramachandran, IAS, Chairman, V.O. Chidambaranar Port, emphasized that “COVID-19 pandemic has affected all sectors of the world and the Port is adhering to all directives given by the Government and has adapted its functioning to maintain the productivity levels alongwith scrupulous measures to weed off infections in this extraordinary situation. For several weeks, the Port has been following the SOPs and taken necessary health measures to ensure the safety of our staff and Port users”.

Cochin Port Trust Plans Sops for Exim Trade

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Kochi

Port Wings News Network he Cochin Port Trust will extend all possible support to Exim trade and Exim community, which has been hit severely by the lockdown, a businessLine report citing M Beena, the port Chairman, said.

The port is considering concessions, including ground cargo rent/container rent, CFS charges, godown rental waiver/reduction, etc. The decision on the concessions will be taken in consultation with the Shipping Ministry.

She was speaking at a webinar organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) on the problems being faced by the export-import sector in Kerala and the road ahead after the lockdown period.

The Customs Commissioner PK Mohammed Yousuf said that the Customs

House would be vigilant to get refunds and services for exporters expeditiously as possible.

The interest waiver for delayed Customs duty remittance is also under consideration.

KM Harilal, Joint Director General of Foreign Trade, assured that all concessions announced by the Commerce Ministry will be made available to the exporters without delay.

Praveen Thomas Joseph, CEO, DP World, said they are considering the waiver of ground rent and container detention charges at the Vallarpadam Container Terminal. He urged exporters and importers and the Exim community to cooperate in speeding up the delivery of containers from the terminal.

Antony Thomas Kottaram, Chairman of the FICCI KESC Taxation Committee, was the moderator of the Session and also appraised the participants about the representations submitted by FICCI at the national level and with State government in this regard.

ICICI Bank Sends Notice to Ocean Tankers to Impound 2 Vessels

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Mumbai

Port Wings News Network CICI Bank has issued notices to impound two vessels operated by Ocean Tankers (Pte) Ltd, a unit of the troubled Singapore oil-trading company Hin Leong Trading Pte Ltd, according to a BusinessLine report.

ICICI Bank, which has about $100 million exposure to HLT, has issued writs against the vessels Wu Yi San and Chang Bai San. According to S&P Global Platts, a provider of energy and commodities information, Hin Leong Trading Pte. Ltd’s founder Lim Oon Kuin has been blamed for financial mismanagement and reselling of inventory that was used as banking collateral, causing losses running into billions of dollars, in a court filing by his son Lim Chee Meng. Hin Leong has suffered $800 million in unaccounted derivatives losses .

The report added that Ocean Tankers estimated that its exposure to lenders for inventory in storage could be as high as $600 million, and claims by trading counter-parties such as PetroChina (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. who hold bills of lading for cargoes shipped

on Ocean Tanker vessels could be as high as $2.07 billion. It said Ocean Tankers will be unable to pay its debts if these demands were to arise.

ICICI Bank’s scrip closed nearly four per cent lower at ₹361.50 apiece on Monday on worries of a default by the trading company.

According to a report by Reuters, the tankers — Wu Yi San and Chang Bai San — were carrying cargoes financed by ICICI Bank. HLT’s founder and director had directed the company not to disclose the losses, which were running into hundreds of millions of dollars over several years.

ICICI Bank did not respond to an email query by BusinessLine.

Hin Leong Group's founder is Lim Oon Kuin, who is popularly known as OK Lim and is considered a significant player in Sinagpore’s oil trading business.

According to the website of HLT, Hin Leong is one of the largest locally-owned independent oil trading companies. The Group's bunkering arm, Ocean Bunkering Services is one of the top bunker fuel suppliers in Singapore. Ocean Tankers owns and operates over 130 vessels.

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APM Terminals Pipavav Ensures Smooth Operations Despite Lockdown

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Mumbai

Port Wings News Network he APM Terminals Pipavav port is running 24X7 due to the concerted efforts of all the stakeholders of APM Terminals Pipavav that has resulted in the smooth functioning of the port ever since the lockdown was announced in March 2020.

The port operations are proceeding safely and efficiently despite some challenges. The port handled over 35 vessels and more than

175 rakes since the lockdown without any delay. The port has created additional yard space and working with extended logistics partners to ensure the smooth flow of goods and help address any emergent supply chain needs.

The pre-emptive steps taken by the various Government bodies at State and National level, by the Local Administration; by the Customs Team to digitise the paperwork for quick cargo movement are commendable.

According to Mr. Jakob Friis Sorenson,

Managing Director, APM Terminals Pipavav, “We are grateful to the Central and State Government Agencies, Gujarat Maritime Board, the Railways, the District Administration, the Local Police, the Customs dept. etc. for supporting the port in conducting continuous operations and keeping the wheels of the supply chain moving.”

The Port continues to take stringent precautionary measures as per various statutory guidelines to ensure the safety of the employees, workforce and the community around.

APM Terminals Pipavav [Gujarat Pipavav Port Ltd.] is one of India’s leading gateway port for Containers, Ro/Ro (passenger cars), Liquid Bulk and Dry Bulk cargoes serving customers in the state of Gujarat with road and rail networks to India’s hinterland and northwest.

The current annual Cargo Handling Capacity includes 1.35 million TEU Containers, 250,000 Passenger cars, 2 million metric tons of Liquid bulk and 4 million metric tons of Dry bulk. APM Terminals Pipavav is India's first public private partnership (PPP) port in India and is a part of the APM Terminals global terminal network.

PPP Port Operators Set to Invoke Force Majeure in Concession Pacts

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Mumbai

Port Wings News Network perators running cargo terminals in the public-private-partnership (PPP) mode, at state-owned as well as private ports, are bracing to invoke the force majeure clause written in their concession agreements.

This would let them seek exemption from the payment of royalty/revenue share citing a decline in volumes and revenue due to pandemic-led trade disruptions, according to a BusinessLine report.

“We are going to invoke force majeure this week and notify the government,” said the CEO of a container terminal operating at a major port trust. “We are going to claim exemption from the payment of revenue share to the government-owned port authority till our volumes return to pre-coronavirus levels,” he added.

The clause in the concession agreement stipulates that the PPP operator can continue to operate during the force majeure period but is excused or exempted from performing that part of the concession agreement that it is unable to perform.

The executive said that the PPP operators would face difficulties in meeting the minimum guaranteed throughput (MGT) obligations written into their contracts and pay royalty/revenue share due to the impact of the pandemic.

“It’s impossible. Our revenue after deducting expenses will be negative. How will we pay, from where,” asked the managing

director of a port logistics firm.

“Hence, one by one, everybody will invoke the force majeure clause because our volumes are dwindling, and we are unable to pay the royalty/revenue share. To that extend, we should be exempted,” he said.

The government, he said, has done two things. One, it has said that the coronavirus “can be considered as a case of ‘natural calamity’ that would entitle invocation of force majeure provisions as far as obligations under various contracts are concerned”.

Second, it said that seaports are essential services and will continue to run during the lock down period.

This force majeure is different from the one declared earlier by port operators, when the 21-day lockdown was imposed by the government from March 24 to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

The earlier one was only aimed at exempting the PPP operators from meeting their performance obligations, vis-à-vis, their customers such as shipping lines.

“In that case, the force majeure was declared to prevent customers from seeking penalties for non-performance in cargo loading and unloading activities at the terminals”, the managing director mentioned earlier said.

The force majeure to be invoked now is related to the concession agreements signed with the government-owned port authorities and is aimed at seeking exemption from payment of royalty/revenue share, he added.

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Apr. 22nd - 28th Issue

Seafarers Still at Sea as Government Delays Plan on Crew Changeover Mumbai

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Port Wings News Network housands of distraught Indian seafarers anxiously waiting on their ships at the outer anchorage of the country’s ports ready to disembark on completing their contracts and those stranded in similar situations in various parts of the globe due to lockdown restrictions had pinned high hopes on the government offering some relief to help reunite with their families after months at sea, according to a BusinessLine report.

Seafarers and their families have been piling pressure on the government in the last few days to allow them to sign off from their ships while the global shipping industry has been pushing for government support to facilitate crew changeovers in the midst of the rampaging pandemic by designating seafarers as “key workers” providing an “essential service”.

While the shipping ministry and the Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping) have been giving the right signals to the stake holders,

by the local authority on the basis of authorizations issued by the respective designated authority of the railways, airports, seaports, land ports and ICDs,” sub-section 8 of Section 12 of the MHA guidelines said.

The industry and the stranded seafarers hailed the decision saying that it “recognised the critical role of seafarers and make them eligible for passes so they can sign on/off from ships”.

However, shipping ministry sources said that it was too early to say whether this will help the cause as ‘seafarers’ have not been mentioned specifically in the MHA guidelines.

Ministry sources said that it was concerned with the logistics, safety and health challenges of allowing seafarers to sign on/off from ships or bringing them back from overseas, the domestic travel and the mandatory 14-day quarantine in the larger context of combating the spread of the pandemic.

Meanwhile, an alliance of leading ship owners and managers, File Photo

this has not translated into action so far.

The revised guidelines issued by the ministry of home affairs early on Wednesday morning on the do’s and dont’s during the extended lockdown period till May 3 did offer a glimmer of hope.

“Movement of staff and contractual labour for operations of railways, airports/ air carriers, seaports/ ships/ vessels, land ports and inland container depots (ICDs) is allowed on passes being issued

concerned about seafarer welfare and the viability of ocean supply chains in the midst of coronavirus restrictions has developed detailed crew changeover risk assessment plans.

However, they said that the plan needs urgent political and regulatory support to enact them.

The alliance, representing more than 1,500 vessels and over 70,000 seafarers, includes D/S Norden, Grieg Star, Reederei Nord, Dynacom, V.Group, Wilhelmsen

Ships Service, Pacific Carriers Limited (PCL), Magsaysay, Augustea, Columbia Ship Management, Inchcape Shipping Services and Synergy Group.

The current coronavirus policy as applied to shipping is a potentially disastrous “own goal” that threatens not only the mental health and human rights of seafarers, but also the viability of ocean supply chains on which those in lockdown depend, the alliance said in a statement.

More than 100,000 seafarers are presently marooned at sea because coronavirus shutdowns worldwide are preventing them from entering or transiting countries and/or finding flights on which to return home.

The alliance has developed port viability and detailed seafarer risk assessment plans which it is convinced will mitigate the risk of coronavirus infections during essential crew changeovers. It is now urging immediate governmental and intergovernmental action to enable the resumption of crew changes including the designation of seafarers as ‘key workers’.

Measures aimed at protecting society were never intended to prevent key workers from carrying out tasks essential to the ongoing wellbeing of society. These policies were also not intended to be detrimental to the welfare of key workers such as seafarers, says Captain Rajesh Unni, CEO and Founder of Singapore-based ship manager Synergy Group.

“Our collective aim as responsible owners and managers employing tens of thousands of seafarers is to pursue every means possible to get crew back to their families,” Unni said.

Collective crew changes are viable now Members believe collective crew changes at identified ports are a feasible short-term aim even in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic if State assistance is made available.

The alliance has identified key ports where collective crew changes can potentially be organised. The ports include Singapore, Houston, Rotterdam, Gibraltar, Jebel Ali, Fujairah, Hong Kong and Shanghai.

“As well as identifying ports we have also developed a rigorous risk

COVID-19 IMPACT: FIEO Seeks Instant Comprehensive Economic Package for Industry New Delhi Port Wings News Network esponding to RBI announcements made on 17 April 2020, Mr Sharad Kumar Saraf, President, FIEO said that it will be having substantial positive impact on the financial system and the economy in this difficult time.

Measures to maintain adequate liquidity in the system through TLTRO 2.0, lowering of Liquidity Coverage Ratio; incentivize the bank lending by cutting reverse repo rate to 3.75 percent and facilitating

R

n o r m a l functioning of markets are the most welcome initiatives.

Refinancing of Rs 15,000 Cr to SIDBI Mr. Sharad Kumar Saraf, and 90 days President, FIEO NPA norms to exclude moratorium or deferment period will give relief particularly to MSME units who are struggling to keep them alive with no business but saddled with fixed costs.

However, Mr Saraf said that the Government should immediately announce a comprehensive economic package for the industry

to provide them relief in payment of wages, statutory obligations, rental and utilities.

President FIEO said that exporters’ interest should be paramount in the package as they are the worst sufferers facing challenges both at the domestic turf and in the global market. Extension of pre and post-shipment credit tenure, Interest Equalization Scheme, Interestfree loan to cover forward losses, Automatic enhancement of limit by 25% without further condition/ collaterals, Enhancement in MEIS rate by 2% for all sectors and 4% for employment intensive sectors, amnesty for the default under Advance/EPCG authorization/EOU etc.

assessment methodology and drawn up action plans that we, as employers of seafarers and organisers of crew logistics, can implement to mitigate the risks of infection,” said Captain Unni.

“Governments must act and assign ports in proximity to suitable

group said.

The crew change time bomb Every month around 100,000 seafarers are rotated on/off vessels worldwide in accordance with international safety and working hours regulations.

However, the closure of borders and strict File Photo

airports so that crew changes can be resumed. This really is a time bomb. Its imperative governments recognize this and take action,” Unni added.

Minimal risk to port states The alliance is confident that collective crew changes can be managed at minimal risk. “Whilst we would have to work on the micro level to deal with the logistics of transporting a seafarer from his home to the vessel and vice versa, matters such as access to airlines and airports and immigration clearances are political decisions,” the alliance said.

The world relies on seafarers to deliver everything they need including medicines, food and energy. The shipping industry and seafarers are now relying on the world’s politicians to respect their human rights and protect their welfare in these difficult times, the

quarantine rules are preventing crew changes from being completed in accordance with employment contracts and international conventions including the Maritime Labour Convention, leaving thousands stranded at sea for periods far beyond their contracts.

“Seafarers have limitations on the amount of time they can work onboard a vessel which is governed by the vessel Flag State,” said David Wonfor, Vice President, Global Head of Managed Services, Inchcape Shipping Services.

Even if this period can be extended in exceptional circumstances, it can be detrimental to the mental health and wellbeing of crew to work for such extended periods without any downtime, he said.

“Seafarers who are now stranded ashore and cannot re-join vessels will not be earning any income and in many cases are the only breadwinner in their families,” Wonfor added.

Road Ministry Launches List of Dhabas and Truck Repair Shops on Highways NewDelhi Port Wings News Network he Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has created a dashboard on its website for providing details of dhabas and truck repair shops available across the country, said a BusinessLine report citing an official release.

The list is dynamic and will be updated as various States permit more dhabas. Some States like Uttar Pradesh and Assam have permitted a list of dhabas while in some States, food is available at outlets of oil marketing companies and toll plazas of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

Dhabas and repair shops, drivers, cleaners or any other person involved in movement of goods trucks shall follow all the necessary precautions and healthcare protocols of social distancing, use of masks, hygiene, among others.

T

“Many drivers carry gas stove and ration with themselves. Drivers usually have set dhabas on their routes. Some of the dhabas also provide food on credit,” SP Singh, Senior Fellow, Indian Foundation for Transport Research and Training, told BusinessLine.

The States decide which shops have to be opened as per April 14 notification of Home Ministry.

NHAI’s centralised call centre 1033 has also been enabled to answer calls, and help drivers and cleaners to find information about the dhabas and repair shops along the highways.

This is intended to facilitate the truck or cargo drivers and cleaners in their movement across the country for delivering required goods during the lockdown, said a release.

NHAI has restarted its toll collection with effect from Monday (April 20), even as Haryana and Punjab have decided not to collect tolls on state highways to aid the lifting of foodgrains.

Apr. 22nd - 28th Issue

Medium, Heavy Trucks to Face the Brunt of COVID in 2020 Mumbai

I

Port Wings News Network ndia’s medium and heavy commercial vehicle (M&HCV) segment could be the biggest casualty of Covid-19, which has led to a complete paralysis of the economy, according to a BusinessLine report.

Vehicles in this category typically carry loads ranging from 15 to over 50 tonnes.

Used extensively in the infrastructure space across sectors like roads/highways/bridges, construction, mining etc, it is the M&HCV segment that is often touted as the best reference point for the health of an economy like India.

Facing headwinds Clearly, things are quite dismal on that front right now, as Covid-19 has pretty much derailed all growth prospects across sectors for a good part of this year and even the next.

The M&HCV space was, in any case, facing severe headwinds even before this crisis broke out and things will only get worse from now.

For one thing, a lion’s share of fleet operators will hardly be in any position to resume business once the lockdown is lifted, even in the most optimistic scenario, early next month.

There is no telling if another extension will be implemented beyond May 3 since this will depend on the spread and severity of the pandemic.

Drivers of M&HCVs have borne the brunt of the lockdown from the time it began, in lateMarch. Trucks were stopped at all State borders and drivers were left in the lurch with no access to food, water and basic hygiene.

The loads they were carrying in their vehicles were left to rot since access was denied to their final destinations. Many of the drivers, who were hopelessly marooned in this situation, have now headed back to their villages, leaving their trucks behind.

“The big problem now lies in finding these drivers once the lockdown is lifted. Many of them will be in no mood to return to cities and risk their health,” said a top executive of a truck company.

User segments hit hard Beyond this are the realities of a battered

economy where all segments, right from farming to mining, will have taken a severe beating. “In this backdrop, where is the business for heavy trucks?” he wondered.

M&HCV sales had already fallen 30 per cent between calendar years 2018 and 2019 (from 3.5 lakh units to 2.4 lakh units) even while there was some degree of optimism that this calendar would be a lot better. Companies had worked round the clock to ready their new Bharat Stage VI-compliant trucks till Covid-19 struck and tore the economy apart.

Clearly, no fleet operator would be in any mood to buy these expensive BS-VI offerings.

In the process, there will be rapid sale of relatively new BS-IV trucks File Photo (registered before March 31) whose owners will be more than willing to dispose of them, even if this means incurring huge losses in the process.

These are early days yet but truck makers will already be staring at the prospect of large, unused capacities across their plants. In a worst-case scenario, if sales fall below 1.5 lakh units in calendar 2020, it will mark a 60 per cent fall from 2018 levels. The results could be disastrous in terms of a large number of fleet owners shutting down operations since it would be practically impossible for them to sustain their businesses.

Finding labour While drivers represent one part of the void in human capital, the other will arise from the thousands of migrants who have left big cities to the safety net of their towns and villages.

They are part of the country’s unorganised File Photo

sector which are employed on company shop floors among other vocations. Truck makers will be hard pressed to quickly find this category of workers who form a key part of their contract labour once operations resume post-Covid.

The silver lining is that the going may not be as bad for smaller load carriers which will be more gainfully employed for intracity movement. However, till their larger siblings come back into the mainstream, there is little hope for an economic revival happening soon.

“It’s these large wheels of M&HCVs that move a country like India. Till they are back in motion, the going will be tough,” said a company official.

Goa COVID-free, but Risks Loom as 7,000 Seamen Set to Return

G

Panaji

Port Wings News Network oa on 19 April became the first state to be free of Covid-19 patients for the moment as the seventh patient recovered from the virus. The small state has not reported a single case since April 3 and all seven patients - six with travel history and the seventh with the brother of one of the patients - have now recovered, according a TOI report. ``It is a moment of satisfaction and relief for

Goa, but we can't relax. The state will continue to be on high alert since cases have risen in Belagavi is an important link for Goa as it is from here that the state procures its vegetables and fruit supply.

There are also fears that Goa could find itself on the back foot again with almost 7,000 seafarers now preparing to return to the state.

Seafarers must be quarantined for 28 days.

People having viral diseases must be screened, said Dr Anil Mehndiratta, TB and chest physician.

5

Curtail of Lockdown Only to Affected Communities, Urges All India Association of Industries

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Mumbai

Port Wings News Network he lockdown post COVID19 disaster has destroyed trade near to completion and business losses amount to Rs 7-8 trillion during the 21-day period, round about 80,000 jobs are expected to be cut in the retail sector itself and with the government revenue due to GST alone lost to about Rs 3 lakh crore per quarter, said Mr. Vijay Kalantri, President, All India Association of Industries (AIAI), a premier Chamber of Commerce working in interests of trade, industry and employment since 1956.

Commenting on the development, Mr. Vijay Kalantri stated: "In such a bizarre situation, it is highly impractical for the government to move on with the same strategy that was invoked at the beginning of the complete lockdown. With testing of probable COVID19 infected increased in volume and the exact locations of various infected communities now defined. There needs to be a change in strategy to simplify the measures taken due to lockdown with the identification of the communities. Thus, there needs to be a retrospection of the degree of lockdown in the non-affected areas."

"Mumbai being one of the most affected due to the higher density of population especially in the slum areas and other areas where the density of population is higher than 10 persons /sqm. Thus, only such areas need to be marked and contained," said Kalantri.

Mr Kalantri added that there is an urgent need that there should be an ease in movement with social distancing in place where there is no high rate of infliction of the COVID19 virus.

So that businesses resume slowly and steadily on their own pace. The government and banking departments being closed, the inflow of employees has already been restricted.

Hence, there remains lesser risk for businesses

to resume atleast their urgent operations with restricted number of employees resuming on urgent functions.

Moreover, the unplanned, unpredictable and instantaneous lockdown without any clarity on the type and seriousness of the disease of COVID19, forced the businesses to closedown

for a week presuming an almost certain return.

However, certainty of the ending of this lockdown seems to be far from the fact with the same being extended preposterously without any distinction to respite. Lot of unfinished, half done monetary transactions pertaining to accounts, payments have to be done and there seems to be no certainty about the COVID19 situation owing to nontransparency and lackadaisical approach of the government towards testing and containment of the affected. With numbers announced and declared being in total doubt.

"Therefore, owing to the huge losses incurred and predicted ,we suggest that, Data regarding areas not declared as an emergency to be released immediately; Affected areas to be market in color variants to depict seriousness of the affliction by COVID19; Such areas to be freed for movement with social distancing in place; Mode of transport to such areas to be immediately started so as to facilitate travel; Retail outlets to be opened as not only food items but at the same time stationary, computer peripherals are being required as people are working from home. We hope our suggestions are accepted," said Mr. Kalantri

ITF and IATA: Support from Governments Essential to Protect Jobs and Preserve Aviation Industry

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Chennai

Port Wings News Network he International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) called for support from governments to the aviation industry, to protect jobs and ensure that air services can be maintained.

The economic situation facing the aviation industry is severe. Air passenger demand is down 80%. Airlines are facing a liquidity crisis which threatens the viability of 25 million jobs directly and indirectly dependent upon aviation, including jobs in the tourism and hospitality sectors.

In a joint statement, ITF and IATA called for governments to: Ensure that the protection of health workers caring for those with COVID-19 is prioritized; Coordinate carefully between each other and with industry to ensure harmonized and effective action to protect the safety of passengers and crew; Provide immediate financial and regulatory support for airlines, in order to maintain the sustainability of terms and conditions for air transport workers; and Assist the industry to restart quickly by adapting regulations and lifting travel restrictions in a predictable and efficient manner.

IATA and ITF also noted the aviation industry’s contribution to helping alleviate the COVID-19 crisis by keeping supply chains open, and repatriating citizens. Aviation

professionals are also volunteering on the front line to assist medical services in the fight against COVID-19.

“Airlines are facing the most critical period in the history of commercial aviation. Some governments have stepped in to help, and we thank them. But much, much more is needed.

Direct financial support is essential to maintain jobs and ensure airlines can remain viable businesses. And when the world is ready to start travelling again, the global economy will need aviation at its best to help restore connectivity, tourism and global supply chains.

That will require a harmonized approach with industry, workers and governments working together,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO. “IATA and ITF have a shared goal to ensure a sustainable future for the aviation industry.

In order to achieve this, we need urgent action now. It is crucial that governments understand the importance of the aviation industry in rebuilding the global economy and support the industry. Bold decisions are required to invest in the future of airlines and protect the jobs and livelihoods of the transport workers who will lead the economic recovery when COVID-19 has been contained. Workers and the industry have joined forces, we invite more governments to join us in a coordinated approach to keep the industry and its essential supply chains moving,” said Stephen Cotton, ITF’s General Secretary.

6

Vessel Position at Terminals - (22.04.2020 To 29.04.2020)

Apr. 22nd - 28th Issue

7

CITPL - Chennai

CCTL - Chennai ETA

ETD

Service

Vessel Name

22/4

23/04

SIF

SPIRIT OF MUMBAI

Voy

Agent/Line

Calling Ports

ETA

ETD

Service

Vessel Name

Voy

Agent/Line

Calling Ports

MSC1

Colombo

22/04

23/04

MD1

WANHAI 507

84666E

WAN

Krishnapatnam, West Port Klang , Singapore, Cailan, Busan, Ulsan, Shanghai, Ningbo, Yantian

DAKSHINBHARATH GATEWAY TERMINAL / Tuticorin ETA

ETD

Service

Vessel Name

Voy

Agent/Line

Calling Ports

22/04

23/04

CTS

MV.VALADIVOSTOK

124S

FAR SHIPPING C

COLOMBO, TUTICORIN, COLOMBO

23/04

24/04

TUX

MV.OEL SHRAVAN

20024

TWF

COLOMBO, TUTICORIN, COLOMBO

23/04

23/04

CI II

MV.WAN HAI 517

053E

OMEGA SHIPPING

TUTICORIN, PENANG, PORT KELANG, HONG HONG, QINGDAO, SHANGHAI, NINGBO, SHEKOU

24/04

25/04

BOX

MV.XPRESS MAHANANDHA

20132S

BOX

COLOMBO, TUTICORIN, COLOMBO

Kattupalli ETA

ETD

Service

Vessel Name

Voy

Agent/Line

Calling Ports

21/04

22/04

ECS

SCI MUMBAI

2

SCI

Kolkata, Kakinada, Haldia, Paradip

22/04

23/04

C13

OOCL SAVANNAH

391

OIL

Tuticorin, cochin, Pipava, Kandla, Jebel ali

26/04

27/04

TCX

X PRESS JERSEY

20004

SCA

Chennai WestPort Klang, North Port Klang, Singapore, Laem Chabang

26/04

27/04

ACS

HYUNDAI PRIVILEGE

070

HMM

Krishnapatnam, West Port Klang , Singapore, Cailan, Busan, Ulsan, Shanghai, Ningbo, Yantian

APM Terminal - Mumbai ETA

ETD

Service

Vessel Name

22/04

23/04

ME3

25/04

25/04

23/04

Voy

Agent/Line

Calling Ports

MAERSK KIEL

MSK

Port Qasim, Nhava Sheva, Pipavav, Colombo, T.Pelepas,Tanjung, Singapore, Hong Kong, Ningbo, Pusan, Kwangyang, Qingdao, Dalian, Xingang

NMG

XPRESS GUERNSEY

SEC

Pipavav, Port Klang, Singapore, Shangai, Ningbo, Xiamen

24/04

PS3

YM UPWARD

YML

Pipavav, Port Klang, Singapore, Shangai, Ningbo, Xiamen

24/04

25/04

FM3

SAN FRANCISCA

MSK

Pipavav, Hazira, JNPT, Jebel Ali, Salalah, Port Said, Mersin, Ambarli Port, Izmlt Korfezi, Novorosslysk

27/04

28/04

CIX

NORTHERN PRIORITY

HLI

NSICT - Mumbai ETA

ETD

Service

Vessel Name

Voy

Agent/Line

Calling Ports

22/04

23/04

BMM

HAZEL

PRD

23/04

24/04

INDUS

MSC MARIANNA

MSC

Mundra, Nhava Sheva, Valencia, New York, Norfolk, Charleston, Savannah, Freeport

24/04

25/04

ADHOC

MARIANETTA

TSA

Nhava Shiva, Mundra, Khor Al Fakkan, Port Klang, Singapore, Shanghai

24/04

25/04

IEX

CAPE MORETON

SBG

Colombo, Damietta Piraes Rotterdam, London

25/04

26/04

IEX

SONGA ANTOFAGASTA

MSK

Colombo, Damietta Piraes Rotterdam, London

26/04

27/04

MECL

MAERSK DENVER

MSK

Mundra, Nhava Sheva, Valencia, New York, Norfolk, Charleston, Savannah, Freeport

27/04

28/04

MWE

MAERSK BROOKLYN

CCA

28/04

29/04

MESAWA

SEASPAN LEBU

MSC

Mundra, Nhava Sheva, Valencia, New York, Norfolk, Charleston, Savannah, Freeport

Bharat Mumbai Container Terminal ETA

ETD

Service

Vessel Name

Voy

Agent/Line

Calling Ports

22/04

23/04

CIX

HYUNDAI VANCOUVER

L0028

HMM

PUS, NGB, SHK, KAN, SHA, DCB, SIN, PKG, KHI, MUN

24/04

24/04

SWAX

JOGELA

K1778

HLI

DAR, JEC, JEA, MUN, MBA

24/04

24/04

SWAX

LIME BAY

L0075

CMA

DAR, JEC, JEA, MUN, MBA

26/04

27/04

AACI

COSCO ASIA

L0069

COS

LGB, OAK, CMB, NGB, LCH, SHA, HPH

27/04

28/04

CIX

HYUNDAI DYNSITY

L0082

HMM

PUS, NGB, SHK, KAN, SHA, DCB, SIN, PKG, KHI, MUN

As the data is received by us, sometimes even at the eleventh hour by telephonic messages from the concerned Steamer Agents, there is every likelihood of last minute changes in the data published for which and also for the printing errors occuring the Management of Port Wings is not responsible or liable.

NCT, Krishnapatnam ETA

ETD

Service

Vessel Name

Voy

Agent/Line

Calling Ports

23/04

24/04

ACS

Hyundai Privilege

70E

Hyundai, RCL & XCL

Krishnapatnam, West Port Klang , Singapore, Cailan, Busan, Ulsan, Shanghai, Ningbo, Yantian

27/04

28/04

CHX

Melina

018E

Maersk & Safmarine

Ennore, Krishnapatnam, Visakhapatnam, Tanjung Pelepas, Xingang, Qingdao

26/04

27/04

IEX

E.R Los Angeles

0003E

Hapag ,ONE,COSCO,OOCL,

Colombo, Damietta Piraes Rotterdam, London

21/04

22/04

ECX

SSL Visakhapatnam

103

Haldia, Paradip

25/04

26/04

COAST EXPRESS

SSL Kochi

181

Colombo

25/04

26/04

MEARSK SHUTTLE

Marathopolis

2014

Maersk & Safmarine,XCL

Colombo, Salalah

Kakinada Container Terminal ETA

ETD

Service

Vessel Name

Voy

Agent/Line

Calling Ports

22/04

23/04

KAK>CMB

KAPITAN MASLOV

084S

FAR SHIPPING

Halida, Colombo

29/04

30/04

KAK>IXZ

TCI LAKSHMI

906

BOTHRA

Virgin Atlantic Resumes Shanghai Cargo Services

V

Chennai

Port Wings News Network irgin Atlantic Cargo has become the first British airline to resume scheduled services to China, operating three flights a week from Heathrow Airport to Shanghai.

The cargo capacity on two of the three times weekly Boeing 787-9 flights from China will be used exclusively by the UK Department of Health and Social Care to increase deliveries of Personal Protective Equipment and medical supplies for front-line NHS staff.

V i r g i n Atlantic has so far completed five flights from Shanghai for the NHS, with its Boeing 787-9 services having already delivered 80 tonnes of cargo consisting of 3.5 million items of p e r s o n a l protective equipment, including 50 ventilators, 1.8 million face masks, 600,000 face shields and visors, 1 million disposable gloves, 38,000 items for eye protection, and 75,000 protective coveralls and isolation gowns. Equipment is being despatched immediately to doctors and nurses in hospitals across the UK to help reduce the impact of the Covid-19 virus.

The airline has been given permission to carry cargo on the aircraft’s passenger seats and in overhead lockers as well as the cargo hold to maximise the payload of each flight.

As well as providing urgently needed capacity to ship medical equipment to the

UK, the Monday, Thursday and Saturday departures from Heathrow will also provide a vital trade lifeline for British exporters and their freight forwarding partners on one of the country’s prime trade routes.

Dominic Kennedy, Managing Director of Virgin Atlantic Cargo, praised the ‘herculean effort’ of everyone involved in the resumption of the airline’s scheduled services to China, acknowledging the support of the Department of Health, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, the Civil

Aviation Authority, and the British Embassy in Beijing.

He added: “These are unprecedented times and we all want to play a part in supporting the NHS. We are proud to be part of the mission to get crucial medical supplies to the UK as fast as possible, which is the result of a fantastic team effort between the authorities and our colleagues right across the airline. It also means we can help our freight forwarder customers to re-establish supply chains to China, which will enable them and their customers to start getting back to business.”

Apr. 22nd - 28th Issue

Virgin Atlantic Delivers 3.5 Million Items of PPE, Medical Supplies to UK From China Chennai

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Port Wings News Network irgin Atlantic has delivered 3.5 million items of personal protective equipment (PPE) into the UK aboard special cargo-only flights which have been chartered by the Department of Health and Social Care and the NHS. On 21 April, the airline operated another 26-hour round trip between London Heathrow and Shanghai, with flight VS251 arriving from China. Stowed on board are tonnes of crucial medical supplies and PPE, in the cargo hold of the Boeing 787-9 aircraft, and also on the seats in the cabin, following special dispensation from the CAA. Manned by seven pilots and four cabin crew, who rotate duties and rest time, each flight carries an average of 16 tonnes of essential items to keep NHS heroes working on the frontline safe and support patients who are in great need.

Since the first charter on 3 April, which was supported by Virgin Unite and Virgin Group, over 80 tonnes of medical supplies and PPE have been transported, including 50 ventilators, 1.8 million face masks, 600,000 face shields and visors, 1 million disposable gloves, 38,000 items for eye protection, and 75,000

protective coveralls and isolation gowns.

Dominic Kennedy, Managing Director of Virgin Atlantic Cargo, said: “We’re hugely grateful to the NHS health and care workers who

are working so hard to help the nation and respond to the Covid-19 crisis.

“Working closely with the NHS and Department of Health and Social Care, Virgin Atlantic is transporting over 100 tonnes of crucial medical supplies and PPE in to the UK on special cargo charter flights from Shanghai this month, through Heathrow airport. Special dispensation from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) means that we can store cargo in the cabin as well as

the cargo hold, ensuring even more essential medical supplies can reach the UK this week and be distributed by the NHS to frontline staff.”

The emergence of Covid-19 has led to Virgin Atlantic operating cargo-only flights, a first for the airline since its launch in 1984. Special exemptions from the imposed travel restrictions for pilots and cabin crew – whose health and wellbeing remains our top priority mean that cargo operations can continue, ensuring the airline can continue to support vital supply chains across the globe.

Virgin Atlantic’s first-ever cargoonly flight, VS698 from London Heathrow for New York JFK, took place only on 22 March 2020.

The flights are operated in partnership with the UK Government and Virgin Atlantic.

The British Embassy is working with the Department of Health and Social Care to procure medical equipment from China and deliver it to NHS hospitals all over the UK.

Indian Register of Shipping Increases Use of Remote Surveys to Beat Coronavirus Restrictions Mumbai

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Port Wings News Network he Indian Register of Shipping (IRClass) is taking a pragmatic and practical approach in rendering services to its clients during this period of unprecedented challenges posed by global restriction in personnel movement to reduce the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.

IRClass’ aim is to manage and adapt to the ever-changing circumstances to minimise the impact on its customers by adapting remote surveys in maintaining the validity of ship’s certificates and thereby supporting the global trade, while ensuring the well being and safety of its staff. All of its office based staff are now working remotely from their homes and the company has also provided specific guidelines to its surveyors to follow precautions and country specific advisories when planning the conduct of surveys.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some ships may experience operational challenges such as non

availability of drydocks, spares, technicians, etc. In addition, surveys and audits may, in some cases, not be conducted because surveyors are unable to attend the ships due to travel restrictions or quarantines.

Depending on the specific circumstances, IRClass may grant survey extensions as allowed by its rules and application of force majeure provisions to ships due for surveys but facing difficulties due to COVID-19 scenario.

IRClass is working very closely with its clients and may also consider the postponement of noncritical work, where appropriate.

However, where possible and with flag approval, IRClass is increasingly turning to the use of remote surveys/inspections which are based on self-checks by the Master/Chief Engineer of the ship or the Senior Staff of the works, using the IRClass survey checklist and remote asesssment of supporting documentation, photographs/ videography by an IRClass surveyor.

Facilities for video conferencing including live video streaming for

viewing specific sections of the ship or equipment for cross verification, are also proving to be invaluable tools for IRClass’ surveyors.

“These are challenging times for everyone, as the Covid-19 scenario is constantly changing.

IRClass is actively monitoring the global situation and is committed to working with all its clients to support their business needs,” said Mr. Suresh Sinha, Managing Director of IRClass.

“Our remote survey system is working very well indeed and is a practical and innovative way for our surveyor to carry out the emergency safety assessment of a ship around the various restrictions in place. Our surveyors can now deal with surveys, audits and inspections from the safety of their own homes and, subject to various flag approvals. I can see remote inspections continuing to revolutionise classification services long after the COVID-19 outbreak using digital technology and real time, risk based, data driven decision making process - in not too distant a future,” he continued.

SOHAR Port joins SEA-LNG Chennai

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Port Wings News Network oday SEA-LNG welcomes SOHAR Port and Freezone as its first Middle Eastern port member. SOHAR joins SEA-LNG to promote its investment in LNG bunkering facilities and the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a marine fuel. SEA-LNG is the leading multi-sector industry coalition, created to accelerate the widespread adoption of LNG. MARSA LNG, a venture comprised of TOTAL S.A. and OQ, is developing a state of the art LNG liquefaction plant and

bunkering facility in SOHAR Port, SEA-LNG said in its release.

Highlighting the importance of the upcoming project, Mark Geilenkirchen, CEO of SOHAR Port said; “This major LNG Bunkering project will generate in-country value and job opportunities, and will support industry diversification efforts by promoting shipping activities in Oman. The establishment of this facility will make SOHAR one of the key LNG bunkering facilities on the main shipping trade routes, alongside other strategic ports,

many of whom are already SEALNG Members, such as the Port of Singapore. MARSA LNG will supply LNG sourced locally in the Sultanate.”

The project will see the provision of LNG to the shipping lines calling at SOHAR Port. The switch from traditional marine fuel oils to LNG has accelerated following the implementation of new sulphur emission limits by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in January 2020 and the IMO greenhouse gas emission targets set for 2030 and 2050.

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NEWS - BITS TenneT Develops Innovative Submarine Cable With Suppliers

Forty percent of the Netherlands’ electricity will come from offshore wind farms by 2030. TenneT will realise the grid connections for these wind farms, the company said in its release. Alongside the eight 0.7 Gigawatts (GW) AC grid connections already planned, two 2 GW offshore grid connections will be built in the IJmuiden Ver wind energy area. And three additional 2 GW offshore grid connections in the LanWin and Balwin area will lift TenneT’s offshore grid connection capacity in Germany to more than 17GW until 2030. However a 2GW offshore grid connection is currently not existing. Innovation is needed and TenneT invited cable suppliers to develop these 'next level' submarine cable systems.

TenneT has contracted 8 cable suppliers to develop a new standard for a submarine cable system. This new cable system is required for the planned 2GW offshore grid connections in the Netherlands (IJmuiden Ver) and in Germany (LanWin and Balwin) which set a new standard for connecting offshore wind farms. A 525 kV HVDC extruded submarine cable system with a 2GW capacity is currently not implemented in any project worldwide. The development programme should result in a certified cable system which TenneT can apply in the IJmuiden Ver, BalWin and LanWin projects as well as projects using the same power output and voltage. This will reduce costs and minimise spatial impact.

Vessels entering Estonian ports exempted from fairway dues for one year

In order to encourage trade in the current situation, all vessels entering Estonian ports or roadsteads will be exempt from the payment of fairway dues between April 1st 2020 and March 31st 2021; all fairway dues which have already been paid since April 1st shall be reimbursed within 30 days by the Estonian Maritime Administration.

The Port of Tallinn informs all its partners that in order to foster trade in the current state of emergency, the Parliament of Estonia passed the Act on supplementary budget, which includes mitigating measures designed to cut costs for shipping companies, on April 15th.

No fairway dues will be charged for vessels entering Estonian ports or roadsteads for a period of one year. Companies that have received payment notices from the Maritime Authority and have paid their fairway dues since April 1st, 2020, shall be reimbursed within 30 days.

The Act also foresees the maximum fairway dues applicable to passenger vessels in the period from April 1 to December 31 in 2021. Fairway dues shall be paid for a maximum of 45 times during this period for entries made (the legislative maximum effective so far is set at 60). For cruise ships, the maximum is set at 3 times, and for other types of ships, at 8 times.

SeaBird Receives Letter of Award for Source Contract in South America

SeaBird Exploration has received a letter of award for a source contract in South America. The contract is expected to start in Q3, with a duration of about 30 – 45 days.

SeaBird is a global provider of marine acquisition for 2D/3D and 4D seismic data, and associated products and services to the oil and gas industry. SeaBird specializes in high quality operations within the high end of the source vessel and 2D market, as well as in the shallow/deep water 2D/3D and 4D market. Main focus for the company is proprietary seismic surveys (contract seismic). Main success criteria for the company are an unrelenting focus on Quality, Health, Safety and Environment (QHSE), combined with efficient collection of high quality seismic data.

CUSTOMS EXCHANGE RATES Notification No.39/2020 (N.T.) ALL RATES PER UNIT

FOREIGN CURRENCY Australian Dollar Bahraini Dinar Canadian Dollar Chinese Yuan Danish Kroner EURO Hong Kong Dollar Kuwaiti Dinar New Zealand Dollar Norwegian Kroner Pound Sterling Qatari Riyal Saudi Arabian Riyal Singapore Dollar South African Rand Swedish Kroner Swiss Franc Turkish Lira UAE Dirham US Dollar Japanese Yen (100) Korean Won (100)

with effect from 17th April 2020

RATE (INR) Import Export 49.30 206.20 55.30 11.00 11.40 85.00 10.10 254.65 46.95 7.40 97.40 21.75 21.10 54.60 4.25 7.75 80.85 11.45 21.60 77.65 72.40 6.45

47.10 200.90 53.45 10.70 11.00 81.95 9.75 238.80 44.75 7.15 94.05 20.45 19.80 52.80 3.95 7.50 77.80 10.75 20.25 75.95 69.80 6.05

We are not responsible for any mistake. ALL RATES ARE PROVISIONAL. The rates in these column are only meant for guidance.

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RNI No. TNENG/2014/59741 Postal Registration No. TN/CNIGPO/067/2018-2020 Posted at Pathrika Channel, Egmore, RMS, Chennai-8.

Date of Publication - Wednesday, Posted on Tuesday / Wednesday

Piracy and Armed Robbery a Threat to Ships’ Crews, Warns IMB Chennai

Port Wings News Network eafarers face continuing threats from pirates and armed robbers on the world’s seas, says the ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB), reporting 47 attacks in the first three months of 2020, up from 38 in the same period last year. Pirates boarded 37 ships in the first quarter of 2020.

The Gulf of Guinea remains the world’s piracy hotspot. Seventeen crew were kidnapped in three incidents in these waters, at distances of between 45 and 75 nautical miles from the coast.

IMB’s latest global piracy report shows zero hijackings in the last two quarters, and no incidents around Somalia. But with no sign of a reduction in attacks worldwide, IMB encourages shipowners to stay vigilant, calling for continued international cooperation.

“Navy patrols, onboard security measures, cooperation and transparent information exchange between authorities, are all factors which help address the crimes of piracy and armed robbery,” said IMB Director Michael Howlett.

“The threat to crew is, however, still real – whether from violent gangs, or opportunistic armed thieves inadvertently coming face-to-face with the crew. Ships’ masters must continue to follow industry best practice diligently and maintain watches. Early detection of an approaching pirate skiff is often key to avoiding an attack,” he added.

Gulf of Guinea kidnappings persist IMB’s 24-hour Piracy Reporting Centre (PRC) recorded 21 attacks in the Gulf of Guinea in Q1 2020. Of these, 12 were on vessels underway at an average of 70 nautical miles off the coast. All vessel types are at risk. The perpetrators are usually armed. They approach in speedboats, boarding ships in order to steal stores or cargo and abduct crewmembers to demand a ransom.

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While ten vessels were fired upon worldwide for the whole of 2019, four already reported being fired at within Nigerian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the first quarter of 2020. This includes a container ship underway

around 130 nm southwest of Brass.

In another incident around 102 nm northwest of Sao Tome Island, another container ship was boarded by pirates. The crew retreated into the citadel and raised the alarm. On receiving the alert, the IMB PRC liaised with Regional Authorities and the vessel operator until the vessel was safe and the crew had emerged from the citadel.

“The IMB PRC commends Regional coastal state response agencies and international navies in the Gulf of Guinea region for actively responding to reported incidents,” said Mr Howlett. With many more attacks going unreported, IMB advises seafarers in the region to follow the recently published Best Management Practices West Africa – BMP WA. Indonesia: dialogue pays dividends Strategic deployment of Marine Police patrol vessels has resulted in a continued decline in attacks on ships in most Indonesian anchorages and waterways – thanks to positive cooperation between the IMB PRC and the Indonesian Marine Police (IMP). In Q1 2020, just five anchored vessels were reported boarded. These are often low-level armed robbery attacks. The IMB PRC is monitoring the situation and continues to liaise with the IMP as well as other local and

regional authorities.

Singapore Straits Five ships were boarded while underway in the Singapore Straits – where no attacks were reported in Q1 2019. These low level armed robbery attacks are a distraction to crews navigating in congested waters. In one incident the crew managed to lock their assailants in the storeroom, which enabled their later arrest.

Elsewhere Other violence against seafarers includes the kidnapping of five crew for ransom in an attack on a fishing vessel off Sabah, Malaysia in January 2020. In March, at Macapa Anchorage, Brazil, a watchman was confronted while on duty and held temporarily by a group of robbers. Meanwhile, in the anchorage of Callao, Peru, three crew were apprehended by nine robbers who boarded their vessel to steal ship’s stores. Two crew were injured during the incident. Callao recorded five incidents in the last quarter of 2019 and three this quarter.

IMB Piracy Reporting Centre Founded in 1991, the IMB PRC’s 24-hour manned centre remains a single point of contact to report the crimes of piracy and armed robbery.

The centre has not only assisted ships in a timely manner, it also provides the maritime industry, response agencies and governments with transparent data – received directly from the Master of the vessel under attack - or its owners.

The IMB PRC’s prompt forwarding of reports and liaison with response agencies, its broadcasts to shipping via GMDSS Safety Net Services and email alerts to ships’ CSOs (Company Security Officers), all provided free of charge, has helped the response against piracy and armed robbery and the security of seafarers, globally.

Baltic Exchange Partners With TAC Index, Moves Into Air Cargo Market Chennai

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Port Wings News Network U authorised benchmark administrator the Baltic Exchange has partnered with air cargo pricing publisher TAC Index Company of Hong Kong.

The Baltic Exchange and TAC will provide new regional general air cargo rate assessments. TAC’s Regional General Air Cargo Indices will be rebranded as the Baltic Air Freight Index (BAF Index) powered

by TAC Index and come under the governance of Baltic Exchange Information Services Limited (BEISL). TAC Index will act as the Calculating Agent.

TAC Index provides weekly average assessments for general cargo on 32 major air trade lanes and is based on transaction data submitted by global freight forwarders.

Launched in 2016, the TAC Index is widely referenced in the air cargo market and has established itself as a trusted and independent source for market freight rates.

The Baltic Exchange will initially undertake a rigorous review of the TAC Index’s methodology and processes to establish a governance structure which will ensure the index's compliance with UK’s Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) rules for benchmarks.

The Baltic Exchange already provides benchmark assessments for the maritime markets which are used to settle billions of dollarsworth of derivatives and physical

trades every year. Baltic Exchange Information Services is itself authorised by the UK’s FCA as a benchmark administrator under EU Benchmark Regulation. This means that the Baltic Exchange’s main daily maritime indices are regulated by an EU National Competent Authority.

Commenting on the development, Baltic Exchange Chief Executive Mark Jackson said: “Our status as a regulated benchmark administrator opens up all sorts of possibilities for the air freight market. We are confident that the index will provide a completely independent and uncompromised view of the air freight market and the audited Index will become listed by financial clearing houses. This would provide the industry with new ways of managing its freight rate risk and potentially bring in new market participants.”

TAC Index Managing Director John Peyton Burnett said: “We are very excited to be partnering with the Baltic Exchange. TAC Index has seen its air freight indices become the primary price benchmarks for carriers, lessors, shippers, forwarders and end-buyers globally. The partnership with the Baltic Exchange will drive further integration of air freight into the global commodity markets and put the indices at the heart of a substantial new global forward freight market.”

The global air freight market is estimated to be worth US$100bn, with 65 million tonnes of general cargo moved by air annually. It is

estimated that less than one percent of world trade by tonnage is carried by air, but because of the high value of these goods, they represent about 35 percent of the value of goods shipped globally.

Baltic Exchange member Freight Investor Services (FIS) launched the Air Freight Forward Agreement (AFFA) market in 2019, using TAC as the basis of settlement. FIS worked with TAC to develop a robust methodology for air freight.

"Freight Investor Services has been instrumental in pioneering the development of the airfreight derivatives market from the ground up and the highly volatile market movements of the last few weeks demonstrate the need for better risk management tools,” said Peter Stallion, Airfreight Derivatives Broker at FIS. “Our work with TAC Index has helped to lay solid foundations and this agreement with the Baltic Exchange will help to drive forward liquidity in the airfreight derivatives market."

The Baltic Exchange is the provider of daily assessments for the dry bulk, tanker, gas and container markets.

Shipping companies, traders, charterers and shipbrokers use Baltic Exchange to settle Forward Freight Agreements (FFAs) and index-linked trades. The Baltic Dry Index is the Exchange’s bestknown index and is a barometer of the cost of moving commodities such as grain, coal and iron ore by sea. The Baltic Exchange is a subsidiary of the Singapore Exchange (SGX).

Apr. 22nd - 28th Issue

More Coordinated Approach Required to Keep Air Cargo Moving: IATA Chennai

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Port Wings News Network he International Air Transport Association (IATA) has renewed its calls for a coordinated approach among governments to keep air cargo flowing. Delays in permit approvals, quarantine measures for air cargo crew and not enough support on the ground continue to hamper the movement of cargo flights carrying vital medical supplies and other necessities.

“Airlines are providing as much capacity as they can. Governments need to step up and ensure that vital supply lines remain open and efficient and that there is adequate infrastructure and support available in the air and on the ground,” said Glyn Hughes, IATA’s Global Head of Air Cargo.

Governments Many governments and international regulatory bodies are facilitating the movement of air cargo. The European Commission (EC) issued Guidelines on Facilitating Air Cargo Operations During COVID-19 Outbreak.

The World Customs Organization (WCO) has implemented a series of emergency contacts to ensure cargo border blockages can be responded to immediately, and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has issued a series of state letters urging member states to further facilitate air cargo flows during this time of crisis.

But there are still too many examples of delays in getting charter permits issued, a lack of exemptions on COVID-19 testing for air cargo crew, and inadequate ground infrastructure to/from and within airport environments. Air cargo needs to move efficiently throughout the entire supply chain to be effective. We urge governments to: Cut the paperwork for charter operations; Exempt cargo crew from quarantine rules that apply to the general population; Ensure there

is adequate staff and facilities to process cargo efficiently; Mutually recognize agreed global standards (health certificates, licenses, etc.); Ensure alternate airports are available even if passenger flights are not operating “To keep cargo flights operating safely, airlines need access to alternate airports along all routes.

These alternate airports are where aircraft can land in the event of an emergency during flight. Because of the sharp drop in passenger flights, some airports that serve the critical alternate airport function are closed or not available at all times. A coordinated effort by governments to keep alternate airports operational is needed. If not, the global air cargo network cannot function and vital shipments are at risk,” said Hughes.

Aligning Stakeholders Ensuring that that stakeholders have access to the latest operational and regulatory guidance in relation to COVID-19 is essential. IATA is supporting industry through several initiatives: IATA Quick Reference for Ground Handling During COVID-19 provides a reference guide for Ground Handling during the COVID-19 outbreak.

IATA Guidance on the Safe Carriage of Cargo in the Passenger Cabin provides a comprehensive guide on issues to be considered when performing a safety risk and operational assessment when utilizing passenger aircraft for cargo only operations.

“We all need to work together to keep cargo moving. That means we all need to be on the same page.

Global standards are a priority to achieve this objective. IATA is disseminating the information required. And where there is more complexity, IATA’s vital role is to collect deviations/local information and make it available to all the players in the cargo industry,” said Hughes.

DP World Launches Worldwide Digital Platforms Throughout Supply Chain To Move Global Trade Online Chennai

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Port Wings News Network P World on 21 April 2020 launched cutting-edge online logistics tools and services, covering sea, land and air shipping around the world. The connected ecosystem of platforms will enable freight forwarders and any business, to book shipments of cargo from and to anywhere in the world, by any combination of sea, land and air.

The initiative represents a major step forward in digitizing the management of logistics to increase the efficiency, visibility and the resilience of global supply chains. DP World has accelerated the already planned roll-out of the platforms to help companies meet the challenge of the Covid-19 crisis and keep trade flowing including vital food and medical supplies.

The initiative follows DP World's acquisition of SeaRates. com, a digital platform that enables customers to transport cargo worldwide at the click of a mouse, along with LandRates.com and AirRates.com. DP World has also created the Digital Freight Alliance which is an online association that brings freight forwarders globally onto one platform, giving them access to new tools, routes and services, and enabling them to do

more business anytime anywhere.

Our new platforms are moving the management of moving cargo online. It will enable our customers to be more efficient and increase the visibility and predictability of supply chains. This will help them to grow their businesses, and ultimately keep countries supplied with the vital goods they need in the crisis."

DP World's growing global network of ports, terminals and economic zones are the bedrock of the business with more than 150 operations in over 50 countries. The digital trade and logistics platforms will leverage this vast network of real-world infrastructure to offer end-to-end supply chain services.

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO, DP World said: "We believe that our new platforms, including the Digital Freight Alliance, will contribute to opening new commercial opportunities for our customers, even during the sudden economic downturn.

"This technology is a direct business enabler. Digitising trade will help companies do more business, more efficiently. It will also support the global imperative to keep trade moving during the current crisis to help meet the demand of world markets."

Port Wings - Maritime Exim Weekly Newspaper : Published by K.Sivakumar on behalf of Universal Media Associates, Old No.72, New No.149, 1st Floor, Srinivasa Complex, Linghi Street, Mannady, Chennai - 600 001. And Printed by V.Meganathan at Web Kingdom, No.115, Jani John Khan Road, Royapettah, Chennai – 600014. Editor: K.Sivakumar.