Port Wings Maritime Exim Weekly Newspaper 5 August 2020 Epaper

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Wednesday, August 5, 2020

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July Exports At Nearly Last Year's Level; Economy On Path To Revival: Goyal New Delhi Port Wings News Network howing signs of significant improvement, the country's exports in July have reached almost the level of the corresponding month last year, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on 4 August 2020, according to a news report in Business Standard daily quoting news agency the PTI. He said several indicators are reflecting that the economic activities are reviving in the country.

"Our exports have almost reached last year's July level, with nearly 90 per cent of our export of July 2019 having come back. And, in fact if we were to remove the oil related exports, where we are largely a small value adder... we are

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95 per cent plus on the revival of our exports," he said.

The minister added that the country "today is in a mood" to not only bring back economic activity but also become self-reliant, improve the quality and competitive pricing of products.

Officially the export numbers for the month of July would be released by the commerce ministry during mid-August.

India's exports fell for the fourth straight month in June as shipments of key segments like petroleum and textiles declined but the country's trade turned surplus for the first time in 18 years as imports dropped by a steeper 47.59 per cent.

Exports in value terms declined by 12.41 per cent to $21.91 billion in June on weak global demand due to Covid-19.

After falling for a record 60.28 per cent in April, the rate of contraction of the country's total merchandise shipments slowed down to 36.7 per cent in May and 12.441 per cent in June.

Gradual Pick-Up In Export Consignments Prompts Ports To Push Volumes Mumbai

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Port Wings News Network ith export consignments gradually picking up, domestic ports are adjusting to the new normal, bringing back their cargo volumes month after month, according to a report in leading daily Business Standard.

“The unlocking that started in June (in Maharashtra) has helped the port a great deal since export consignments began coming to the terminal. Until then, we were dealing only with imports. This helped us push up volumes,” a senior official with traffic division of Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust

(JNPT) told Business Standard on conditions of anonymity.

Mumbai-based JNPT is the country’s largest major port in

container cargo. Between AprilJuly, the facility handled container traffic of 1,192,165 TEUs (Twenty-

foot equivalent units), about 80 per cent of the total traffic it had handled in the same period last year.

“Due to unlock situation, the gap between import-export is narrowing rapidly and has come back to the usual 12,000 containers per day handling at the port today,” informed the JNPT official.

In July, JNPT handled 3,44,316 TEUs container traffic, about 19 per cent up from previous month.

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Wing 6 Feather 51

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Economic Recovery Fragile Due to Covid-19, States' Lockdowns: Finance Ministry Mumbai

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Port Wings News Network ndia’s economic recovery remains "fragile" due to rising number of coronavirus cases and states "intermittently" ordering lockdowns to contain the disease, said the Finance Ministry on 4 August 2020 about July, according to a report in Business Standard daily.

The government issued on July 30 guidelines for the third phase of lifting curbs imposed to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease, removing night curfew outside containment zones and allowing gyms and yoga centres to reopen from August 5. The guidelines said that schools, colleges, theatres, swimming pools, metro rail, cinema halls and bars will remain closed.

States are free to impose their own restrictions and till July 24 at least 14 of them had announced localised lockdowns to tackle the spread of the virus.

“It is evident that, India is well on the path to a recovery from a trough in April, ably supported by proactive government and central bank policies. However, the increase in the Covid (Covid-19) cases and subsequent intermittent lockdowns make the recovery prospects fragile and call for constant and dynamic monitoring,” said the ministry’s Monthly Economic Report, referring to the disease caused in the pandemic.

It said that recovery is linked to how Covid-19 infections evolve across states. “India’s top 12 growth driving states account for 85 per cent of the Covid-19 case load, with 40 per cent of confirmed cases concentrated in the top two growth drivers i.e. Maharashtra and Tamil

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Nadu,” the report said.

As India unlocked, a c t i v e Covid-19 cases reached 5.6 lakh by Julyend, growing month end-on-month end at 166 per cent as compared to June, the report stated. The highest growth in active cases in July was in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand.

As of 4 August, India had the third highest number of confirmed cases worldwide at 1.85 million.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s data showed that 586,298 cases were active cases and 38,938 people had died of the disease.

The report said that the worst for the economy seemed to be over as high frequency indicators showed a recovery in June compared to May and April. Indicators include goods and service tax (GST) collections, electricity consumption, rail freight and passenger data, petrol and diesel consumption, and highway toll collections.

It said that the push for growth in coming months appears to be pitched in rural India, and will be helped by the recent reforms announced in agricultural sector, including two ordinances helping farmers trade across state lines. India has witnessed record procurement and production of food grains as the rabi crop harvesting gets over and kharif sowing begins.

“Urban India and the world at large, however, continue to fight the growing menace of the pandemic, simultaneously on the health and economic front,” the report said.

“In its June 2020 update, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected global output to contract by 4.9 per cent in 2020, while OECD’s projections are harsher at 7.6 per cent.

GDP figures of April-June quarter of 2020, slated to be released towards end of August, will throw some light on the expected recovery of the Indian economy,” it said.

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Inside High Costs, Red Tape, Politics... Pg-2 TEA Requests Finance Ministry... Pg-3 Paradip Port Sets up COVID Care... Pg-4 Adani Group Enters New Sectors... Pg-5 Vessel Position at Terminals and Ports... Pg-6 Latest Customs Exchange Rates... Pg-7 India Imposes Anti-Dumping... Pg-7 ICTSI Inks Contract for Operation... Pg-8

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Aug 5th - 11th Issue

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Gradual Pick-Up In Export Consignments...

Wednesday, August 5, 2020

Wing 6 Feather 51

Digitalization of Shipping

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rior to COVID-19, container shipping already had seen a rapid uptake in usage of online tools offered by the likes of Maersk Line, Hapag-Lloyd, CMA CGM, and most recently, Evergreen and Cosco Shipping. Building on longstanding online booking tools offered by INTTRA (now part of E2open), CargoSmart, and Infor Nexus (previously known as GT Nexus), shippers can tap into carriers’ digital platforms to confirm space on ships and equipment.

In other words, shippers and forwarders are gaining some of the same ability to complete a shipping transaction via computer or mobile device that air travel passengers have enjoyed for years.IMO SecretaryGeneral Kitack Lim while addressing a webinar (28 July) on Digital Connectivity and Data Standards organized by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, the first in a maritime perspectives webinar series said: ``Digitalization, big data, and new technologies such as artificial intelligence are key in enabling the post-COVID recovery''.

“Cooperation between shipping, ports and logistics will be vital for enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of shipping and therefore facilitating trade and fostering economic recovery and prosperity,” Mr. Lim said.

He highlighted IMO’s key role in ensuring shipping can embrace the digital revolution – while ensuring safety, environmental protection as well as cyber security. “Digitalization and new technologies will also be the key to allowing standardization and therefore enhancing the efficiency of shipping,” Mr. Lim said.

The need for standardization was also highlighted by IMO’s Facilitation Head, Julian Abril, who noted the mandatory requirement for electronic data exchange in the Facilitation Convention, effective since April 2019.

Discussions are currently underway towards making a single maritime window mandatory – so that all data for arrival and departure of ships is submitted through a single point and transmitted to the relevant agencies involved.

Once the crisis caused by the corona­virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has come and gone, once economies and trade volumes have recovered from the deep trough they’ve been plunged into, it’s inevitable that the container shipping industry will do even more business digitally.

The Maersk Spot online booking tool earlier this year accounted for 12 percent of spot cargo at Maersk, while the run rate of the Hapag-Lloyd Quick Quotes product was 9 percent of bookings, according to industry analyst and JOC.com contributor Lars Jensen. That rapid growth signals “the industry has left the phase of digital experimentation and entered the phase of actual digital product uptake with genuine commercial impact,” he said.

But to what end? Will e-commerce in the container space be a force for solving longstanding problems, set the stage for disruption, or both?

Fixing the chronic overbooking and no-show issue, in turn, opens the door for carriers to price dynamically based on micro-factors, such as supply and demand on an individual vessel or the actual cost of supplying a container to a particular shipper, improving profitability.

“Two-way enforceable contracts — not just spot transactions — are a fundamental shift in the market,” said Gordon Downes, CEO of NYSHEX, a platform founded to facilitate mutually enforceable transactions.

As you get closer to the trip, you as the customer would look to see if there were cheaper prices, and as you found cheaper prices, you would buy the cheaper tickets. That would result in a lot of no-shows, and a situation where the airlines have no choice but to overbook each flight.

Sample Exactly theTEXT same thing happens with container shipping, but as pricing becomes digital, if there is no two-way commitment, the age-old vicious cycle will spin even faster.

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Digitalization will allow for game-changers, such as the ability for mutually enforceable transactions, to become the industry norm. That’s far from the case today, with some 25 percent of booked containers still failing to appear at the dock and few repercussions for no-shows.

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Continued from page -1 Meanwhile, Ruia-owned Essar Ports too witnessed encouraging volumes in the period under review.

“We have seen an appreciable increase in the cargo handling numbers at our ports. In the month of July, we reached almost 95 per cent of our normal volumes, which is a growth of 74 per cent over April. The recovery over the months has been quick owing to increased demand from power, steel and oil sectors," said Rajiv Agarwal, managing director and chief executive officer at Essar Ports.

In July, Essar Ports clocked 4.39 million tonne cargo, significantly up from 2.52 million tonne noted in the month of April.

"Our terminals, across the western and eastern coasts are already performing at the pre-Covid levels and have adjusted to the new normal admirably taking full operational and safety precautions while maintaining a smooth supply chain," Agarwal informed.

Essar Ports’ current operations span over four terminals with a combined capacity of 110 MTPA. This is roughly 5 per cent of India’s port capacity. The company is in non-containerised bulk cargo space.

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ) ended the Jun quarter with a throughput of 41.5 million tonne across its nine operating ports in the country. This was, 27 per cent lower than 57 million tonnes of cargo clocked in the same period last year. In Q1FY19, the company’s throughput stood at 48 million tonnes.

“We are pleased to inform that in the first quarter of Financial Year 2021, Mundra port has become the largest container Port in India, surpassing JNPT volume,” said Adani Ports in an exchange filing.

Adani Ports along with Gujarat Pipavav, another private port player in the domestic market has their earning scheduled by mid-August.

Gujarat Pipavav too struggled to buckle up amid the Covid-19

pandemic, which sent cargo volumes for a toss across all ports in the country.

A thawed trade and broken supply chain brought all businesses to a standstill in April and since then port companies were grappling to put volumes together to reach their previously achieved targets.

In container cargo, APM Terminalled Gujarat Pipavav clocked 186,000 TEUs in June quarter, down from 221,000 TEUs in the same period last year. Its bulk volume was at 0.41 million tonne in the period under review, flat sequentially. Liquid cargo moved tad up in June quarter to 0.21 million tonne, from 0.19 million tonne in March quarter.

“We do not know whether, we will be able to continue the cargo momentum going ahead as a lot depends on demand, but at operations, ports have certainly adjusted to the new normal and will be able to function smoothly,” said the JNPT traffic division official.

Indian Register of Shipping Launches Vessel for Unichart Navigation Chennai Port Wings News Network .V. ROKNOOR-32, a General Cargo vessel, built under the classification of the Indian Register of Shipping (IRClass), was successfully launched from the Delta Shipyard in Chattogram, Bangladesh. Ordered

by Unichart Navigation Limited, M.V. ROKNOOR-32 is the first in the series of five vessels and is also the first Bangladesh flagged vessel being constructed under IRClass.

The launch follows closely on several other vessels which were built under IRClass’ classification and successfully delivered during this unprecedented global pandemic.

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It underpins IRClass’ dedication and proven track record to fulfil clients’ needs, ensuring that work carries on

even during these unpredictable times.

Executive Director of Delta Shipyard, Mr. Syed Monzur Hossain said: “We will like to thank IRClass for all the support provided during this pandemic. The timely approval of plans allowed the construction to proceed smoothly and the team’s unsurpassed attention to detail ensured that any issues were

resolved early on in the process.”

M.V. ROKNOOR-32 is approximately 82.5m long with the capacity of 3200DWT and is designed to meet the latest IMO conventions and codes for worldwide operations.

Mr. Amit Bhatnagar, Regional Manager East Coast of India and Bangladesh for IRClass commented: “I am delighted with our team in Bangladesh who have worked tirelessly during this period to facilitate the successful construction and launch of the vessel. The team has been very committed from the start and quickly adapted to the “new normal” of safety measures, implemented to allow safe operations for both our clients and surveyors.”

High Costs, Red Tape, Politics Threaten Vizhinjam As a Crew Change Hub Mumbai

Port Wings News Network ‘Front Cruiser’, an oil tanker, has scrapped plans to call at Vizhinjam anchorage on July 27 to carry out crew change and will instead sign on four seafarers and sign-off one at the anchorage of Cochin Port Trust next week, reports BusinessLine.

‘Front Tiger’, an oil tanker, has also dropped plans to sign on 14 seafarers and sign-off an equal number of Indian crew at Vizhinjam on July 28. It will carry out this task when the tanker passes Colombo port on July 29. The Indian crew lined up to join this ship has been flown to Colombo on charter flights.

These two incidents are a big blow to the emergence of Vizhinjam near Thiruvananthapuram as a hub for crew change as embattled ship owners and managers look at newer locations to swap staff on ships after travel restrictions imposed by nations to deal with the spread of coronavirus disrupted this key activity globally since March.

Likely issues Shipping industry sources said that the high costs quoted by ship agents, red tape and politics were threatening to spoil Vizhinjam’s new found stature as a crew change location which started on July 15 when container ship ‘Ever Globe’ carried out crew change involving 14 seafarers overcoming bureaucratic hurdles, followed by staff swap on ‘Ever Gifted’, also a container ship, on July 22.With Singapore – a maritime hub - imposing tough rules recently for crew change involving Indian seafarers,

Vizhinjam is seen as an ideal location for this activity due to its deep draft and proximity to the main international shipping route. “Front Cruiser” is now being diverted to Cochin on its way to Arabian Gulf after a brief stopover in Colombo to disembark two Sri Lankan crew.

The four seafarers lined up to join the ship braved tough situations to arrive in Thiruvananthapuram from as far away as Uttar Pradesh, Madurai and Chennai. They have since been moved to Kochi and asked to redo all the formalities related to COVID tests which they had competed successfully in Thiruvananthapuram.

Timeline of events ‘Front Cruiser’ picked a Thiruvananthapuram-based ship agent which quoted $4,000 (including $200 as agency fee) to facilitate the crew change on board the tanker. The only other agent approached by the ship quoted $12,500 (including $1,500 as agency fee) for the same task.

On July 21, the Kerala High Court issued an interim order on a petition brought by Dowins Resources against the Union of India, Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO), Superintendent of Customs, Chief Commissioner of Customs and Vizhinjam International Seaport Ltd.In its petition, Dowins contended that the demand of the Customs Department to pay light house dues of ₹92 per twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) as per the Light House Act, for crew change involving ‘Ever Globe” was “arbitrary and illegal” as the ship

did not enter port limits or use any facilities of the light house.

Hence, the Customs is not entitled to demand light house dues at Vizhinjam, it argued, adding that the light house dues are not collected during crew change at the outer anchorage of central governmentowned Cochin Port Trust. Dowins also asked the court to direct the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) to facilitate immigration clearance for all future crew change at Vizhinjam, apprehending that FRRO may deny such clearances and hold up crew rotation.

The High Court allowed Dowins to carry out crew change after complying with the standard operating procedures/protocols for controlled crew change prescribed by the Directorate General of Shipping, immigration clearance norms, all other applicable rules and regulations and all other statutory requirements.

By asking other ship agents to secure similar orders from the court to help undertake crew change, the Customs Department has indirectly made sure that only Dowins gets the business at Vizhinjam, backing the court’s interim order which went against its own stand, the person said.

The other charges for crew change include an anchorage fee of ₹0.90 paise per ton levied on the ship by the State government. “Given these issues, a good opportunity to undertake crew change in Vizhinjam, bringing revenue to the State and the Central governments, is being squandered,” the person mentioned earlier said. “The fees being quoted by the ship agents are astronomical,” he added.

Aug 5th - 11th Issue

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TEA Requests Finance Ministry To Extend the Moratorium Up To 31st March 2021 Tirupur Port Wings News Network irupur Exporters Association (TEA) has requested the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to advice the RBI to extend the moratorium for another seven months -- from 1st September 2020 to 31st March 2021-- as the financial situation of Tirupur knitwear garment units has not improved, and they are not in a position to repay the loan and interest.

Shri. Raja. M. Shanmugham, President, TEA, pointed out that in the first quarter of current financial year 2020-21, the All India Knitwear Exports clocked Rs. 5,355 Crores against Rs. 13,570 Crores recorded in the corresponding period of last year with a negative growth of 60.54% which is reflecting the status of knitwear garment exporting units.

He said the extension of moratorium will be not only beneficial to the Industry and Banks, but also to the wellbeing of our country’s economy and help to attain feel good factor across the board.

As the MSME units’ whose Credit exposure more than Rs. 25 Crore are deprived of receiving the Emergency Credit Line Fund now, Shri. Raja. M. Shanmugham said by denying the benefit, the real intension of the Government to extend crucial support to all MSMEs to bailout from the impact of COVID-19 Pandemic would not served and therefore, RBI should relax the condition and permit even those MSMEs which are having Credit exposure more than above Rs. 25 Crore also to get 20% of outstanding credit by keeping a maximum limit of Rs. 25 Crore.

Shri. Raja. M. Shanmugham said he has sent similar representation to Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Minister of Finance and Minister of Corporate Affairs, Shri. Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport

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and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Shri. Shaktikanta Das, Governor, RBI and Shri. A. K. Sharma IAS., MSME Secretary.

Shri. Raja. M. Shanmugham also said he has sent a representation to Shri Edappadi K. Palaniswami, Chief Minister, Government of Tamil Nadu to use his good offices and help for extension of moratorium up to 31st March 2021. He further said a representation has also been sent to Shri. K. Shanmugam, IAS, Chief Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu.

Below is the reproduction of the letter sent to the Prime Minister's Office Respected Sir, SUB: REQUISITION TO ADVICE TO EXTEND THE MORATORIUM FOR ANOTHER SEVEN MONTHS UP TO 31ST MARCH 2021 -REG We would like to thank the Hon’ble Prime Minister for laying out comprehensive vision to spur growth and become Self-reliant India with a focus on Aatma Nirbhar Bharat package Vision and also for further upward revision of MSME definition.

We wish to note that Tamil Nadu State Government has announced an extension of the lockdown to curb the COVID-19 spread across the state till 31st August 2020 and public bus transport shall remain suspended, which affects the workers, particularly women workers to turn up for the jobs.

Moreover, the migrant workers have gone back to their respective states. Sir, in the first quarter of current financial year 2020-21, the All India Knitwear Exports clocked Rs. 5,355 Crores against Rs. 13,570 Crores recorded in the corresponding period of last year with a negative growth of 60.54%.

May we be permitted to note that we witness a gradual improvement in the month of July 2020, and the cause of concern is that

Kerala Fishing Community Protests Against Re-Routing of Merchant Ships

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Kochi

Port Wings News Network erala’s traditional fishing community is gearing up for an agitation over the Shipping Ministry’s notification for re-routing of merchant ships in the Arabian Sea. They fear that the move would lead to a rising number of collisions involving passing ships and fishing boats, reports BusinessLine.

Charles George, State president of Kerala Matsya Thozhilali Aikya Vedi, told BusinessLine that the July 2 notification on the new routing would come into force from August 1. But the authorities have not discussed the matter either with the State Government or the fishing communities before going ahead with the amendments.

Given the rising number of accidents between merchant ships and fishing boats, he said the State Fisheries Department has asked to redraw the shipping channel route towards 50 nautical miles from the seashore to further west off the Arabian Sea so as to facilitate smooth fishing operations. The Southern States Fisheries Ministers Conference States held in Kochi in 2018 had also favoured a decision in this regard.

He also cited instances of mishaps involving passing merchant ships and fishing boats in the Arabian Sea that claimed several lives and injuries to fishermen and damages to their fishing fleets. So far, there are over 9 such accidents during 2012-2018 and criminal cases are pending in various courts.

Request rejected But with the current move, the Shipping Ministry has rejected all these requests and

come out with a notification under the pretext of ensuring a safe navigation for merchant vessels, he said.

According to George, the fisheries coordination committee consists of 11 fish workers unions and boat owners association is organising a dharna in front of the Cochin Port Trust on August 1 and is planning to intensify the protest including a blockade of the shipping channel, if the Ministry withdraws the notification with immediate effect.

He pointed out that several fishing boats are operating on the Kerala coast in the first channel called Quilon Bank due to abundant availability of Karikkadi prawns, squid, cuttlefish etc. Likewise, there are several other stretches in the regions extending from south to northern part in the shipping channel which witnessed increased fishing activities. But there was no mention about the existence of other rich fishing sources in the notification where gillnet boats, trawling boats, traditional fish workers with fibre canoes operate.

Of the 590-km Kerala coast, he pointed out that the mentioned stretch in the notification was only 85 km and the remaining has to be declared which includes Chettuva, Manjappara and Ezhimala banks that are potential fishing zones.

The new notification, once it comes into effect, is likely to affect the livelihood of the fishing communities who are finding greater difficulties in the recent period on account of dwindling catches and a drought-like conditions in the sea.

even now the garment units in Tirupur are running partially with an average capacity utilization of 40%-50%. It is to be noted that there has been no significant improvement in garment purchase in EU and US markets till now and as a result of this buyers have been placing orders gradually in slow pace manner.

With this difficult position, the garment units are struggling to meet their financial end and fulfill the statutory monthly commitments also.

In view of the extension of the lockdown and continuing disruptions on account of COVID-19, We have been requesting the Government from day one for providing moratorium for One year and in this line, we request the Hon’ble Prime Minster to kindly advice Finance Ministry and RBI for extension of moratorium on term loan instalments and working capital facilities by another Seven months, from 1st September 2020 to 31st March 2021.

Sir, the extension of moratorium will be not only beneficial to the Industry and Banks, but also to the wellbeing of our country’s economy and help to attain feel good factor across the board.

MSMEs CLASSIFICATION EMERGENCY CREDIT LINE GUARANTEE SCHEME (ECLGS) We wish to note that Borrowers with up to

Rs. 25 Crore outstanding as on Feb 29, 2020 and up to Rs. 100 Crore annual turnover for FY 2020 are eligible for Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS).

Sir, further to upward revision of Medium enterprises definition, where the investment in Plant and Machinery or Equipment does not exceed fifty crore rupees and turnover does not exceed two hundred and fifty crore rupees, more number of knitwear garment exporting units in Tirupur have been fit into the definition of MSME. Despite this, the MSME units’ whose Credit exposure more than Rs. 25 Crore are deprived of receiving the Emergency Credit Line Fund, as their outstanding exceeds Rs. 25 Crore and we wish to note at this juncture that, the real intension of the Government to extend crucial support to all MSMEs to bailout from the impact of COVID-19 Pandemic need to be done across all MSMEs. It is necessary to extend the liquidity support to MSMEs having credit exposure more than Rs. 25 Crore also, mainly to bring them back to operationalize their units to the normalcy level, do exports and continue to provide employment.

Considering the gravity of the situation, we request the Hon’ble Prime Minister to advice RBI to relax the condition and permit even those MSMEs which are having Credit exposure more than above Rs. 25 Crore also to get 20% of outstanding credit by keeping a maximum limit of Rs. 25 Crore.

We are optimistic that with the implementation of financial measures as requested by us would certainly bring back our industry and place in growth trajectory.

Thanking you Yours faithfully Raja M Shanmugham President

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Aug 5th - 11th Issue

Despite COVID-19 Challenges, JNPT Closes July on a High Note; Handles 344,316 TEUs Containers Mumbai

J

Port Wings News Network awaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT has been continuously growing month over month to perform its responsibilities of a strategic contributor to nation building even during this pandemic.

Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust registered a throughput of 344,316 TEUs in container handling, which is 19% higher as compared to June 2020. The port handled total of 196 vessels and the overall traffic handled in July was 4.85 Million Tonnes which is an increase of 19% as against 4.07 Million Tonnes handled in June 2020.

In another major accomplishment, JNPT received the operational status for India’s First Port Based Special Economic Zone, JNPT SEZ. The multi-product port based SEZ aims to boost exports by enabling port-led industrialization under Sagarmala initiative of Ministry of Shipping. 5 units have started their construction activities and amongst them, 2 units have recently started their operations in SEZ successfully. All three units are granted operational status

by Development Commissioner, SEEPZ, SEZ. JNPT is leaving no stone unturned to ensure world class infrastructure and facilities to units in the SEZ.

In another development and in continuation of the JNPT SEZ success story, Hindustan Infralog Private Limited (HIPL), a joint

venture between DP World and NIIF has announced an investment of INR 1000 CR to develop the Nhava Sheva Business Park (NSBP), Free Trade Warehousing Zone (FTWZ) situated at JNPT. The project will be completed by the end of 2021 and will provide a seamless experience for both domestic and international traders at JNPort. Once operational, the FTWZ project at JNPT will contribute in establishing India as a major trade and manufacturing hub, and support the Government’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ Program.

Commenting on the results, Shri Sanjay Sethi, IAS, Chairman, JNPT said, "JNPT will continue to extend support for the country’s

economic growth and perform its duties to steadfast growth trajectory of the Port sector. In July we have seen Exports increasing and expect even the Imports to get back to normal by the end of this month.

There were few ups and downs, but we have managed to keep the operations up and running. Also, JNPT is the first port where Port-led economic development is evolving successfully, and we are confident of attracting leading global companies for investing here at JNPT SEZ." JNPT has also setup a dedicated COVID Health Centre (DCHC) at JNPT Hospital to cater to JNPT beneficiaries and the local community. Earlier in June 2020, JNPT had also converted its Multi skill training centre into COVID Care Centre to serve the local community. Even in the face of this unprecedented situation, JNPT continues to remain committed to doing what’s right for the employees, stakeholders and the communities.

JNPT, further looks to strengthen its position, achieve the goals and remain in the position of a leading port in the coming years, with new innovation, dedication, best technology backed by customer service and above all being the Port of Choice of the customers.

Portall, GOCON Collaborate To Provide Trucking Services on PCS 1X Chennai

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Port Wings News Network OCON, a digital transport aggregator platform that connects operators (Trailers and Truckers) with shippers, onboarded the collaborative P-CaSo platform. GOCON is known for its ability to deliver effective transportation solutions vide their own and leased fleet across the country. Led by a young leader with a second generation trucking background - the service is already LIVE on PCS 1x.

IPA (Indian Ports Association), an autonomous body under the

Ministry Of Shipping, which launched the PCS 1x in Dec 2018 has been working closely with the trade to expand functionality and features and the addition of this service has ensured that the users can get attractive rates which can help bring down the logistics costs.

Speaking on this occasion Mr. Shirishchandra Shah, Chief Product Officer of Portall said: "Coming from the well-known transportation fleet owner Roadwings - Portall has good reason to believe GOCON will serve the trade well and we wish Pratyaksh and his team the best as they begin their journey with the

PCS ecosystem. We thank IPA for their support to add trucking services as a functionality on PCS 1x to better serve the ecosystem."

"Gocon was created basis the experience on ground by my father who offered transportation and cargo handling services across the nation.

We have an established transport company with a large owned and leased fleet who have now embraced digital business. We are pleased to tie up with Portall whose work in the digital landscape of India is well known and appreciated," said Pratyaksh Sureka, Founder of GOCON

Government Declares GST Revenue Collection for July 2020 New Delhi Port Wings News Network he gross GST revenue collected in the month of July, 2020 is ₹ 87,422 crore of which CGST is ₹ 16,147crore, SGST is ₹ 21,418 crore, IGST is ₹ 42,592 crore (including ₹ 20,324 crore collected on import of goods) and Cess is ₹7,265 crore (including ₹ 807crore collected on import of goods).

The government has settled ₹ 23,320 crore to CGST and ₹ 18,838 crore to SGST from IGST as regular settlement. The total revenue earned

by Central Government and the State Governments after regular settlement in the month of July,2020 is ₹ 39,467 crore for CGST and ₹ 40,256 crore for the SGST.

T

The revenues for the month are 86% of the GST revenues in the same month last year. During the month, the revenues from import of goods

were 84%and the revenues from domestic transaction (including import of services) were 96% of the revenues from these sources during the same month last year.

The revenues for the last month were higher than the current month.

However, it is important to note that during the previous month, a large number of taxpayers also paid taxes pertaining to February, March and April 2020 on account of the relief provided due to COVID-19. It may also be noted that the taxpayers with turnover less than ₹ 5 core continue to enjoy relaxation in filing of returns till September 2020.

The chart shows trends in monthly gross GST revenues during the current year. The table shows the state-wise figures of GST collected in each State during the month of July 2020 as compared to July, 2019 and for the full year.

Hindustan Infralog Private Limited Announces Rs 1000 Cr Investment in FTZ Chennai

D

Port Wings News Network P World and National Investment & Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) joint venture Hindustan Infralog Private Limited (HIPL) has announced an investment of Rs 1000 Cr in developing its Nhava Sheva Business Park (NSBP) Free Trade Zone (FTZ) in Mumbai.

NSBP, a Special Purpose Vehicle, is a co-developer for the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) SEZ. The company signed a Lease Agreement on 29 July 2020 with JNPT for the project. The FTZ is on a long-term Lease of 60 years and is located 5 kms away from JNPT. Its strategic proximity – to the port, the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport, Western Dedicated Freight Corridor and National Highways – provides quick and direct access to domestic and global markets. It will offer longterm advantages to domestic as well as global traders and manufacturers, by enabling reliable and fast movement of cargo.

The facility will be equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure like specialized multi-product and temperature-controlled warehouses, and a container yard with ultramodern digital & security systems.

It will offer round-the-clock customs clearance and value-added services to provide customers a one-stop solution for all their consumption and trading needs.

Rizwan Soomar, CEO & MD, DP World Subcontinent, said: “The Free Trade Zone will be ready towards the end of 2021. This investment reinforces DP World’s strategy and commitment to India, and strengthens our integrated logistics portfolio in the country. Alongside DP World’s global network of ports & terminals and inland logistics infrastructure in the region, the FTZ will provide a seamless experience for both domestic and international customers."

Rizwan Soomar stated: "We

believe that the FTZ will contribute in establishing India as a major trade and manufacturing hub, and support the Government’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ Program. With its strategic location, the FTZ will help position India as a prime hub for exports to neighbouring countries, and provide a huge fillip to the manufacturing sector in the country.”

Vinod Giri, Managing Partner, National Investment & Infrastructure Fund, said “NIIF is pleased to partner in this project through HIPL. This u n i q u e p u b l i c p r i v a t e partnership project with Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) significantly enhances the value proposition of logistics sector in India. This project will enable domestic companies to dovetail world-class logistics facilities with an established ports ecosystem offered by JNPT to support the continued growth of trade and manufacturing sectors which are crucial for the Indian economy.

This investment exemplifies NIIF’s ability to channelize international capital and expertise from partners of high repute to enable primary capital formation in the Indian infrastructure sector.”

The Rs 1000 Cr DP World FTZ investment comes under the Hindustan Infralog Private Limited (HIPL) joint venture between DP World (65%) and the National Investment & Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) (35%). This venture has been created to invest up to USD 3 billion in ports, logistics and related sectors across the country.

The project will help boost trade especially in sectors like electronics, IT, telecom, pharmaceuticals, chemicals & petrochemicals, machinery, agri & foods, and metals.

Paradip Port Sets up COVID Care Center at "Port Club" Paradip

I

Port Wings News Network n view of growing cases of Covid-19 infections, Paradip Port Trust has established a 50 bedded Covid Care Center at the "Port Club", for its employees, which became functional on 3 August 2020.

Shri Rinkesh Roy, Chairman,

PPT assured that PPT will leave unturned to fight the pandemic.

In view of rapid growth in corona patients, the state govt. has asked the corporates to make their own covid care center.

Asymptotic or Port employees having mild symptoms will be housed in the center and they will be provided with the face mask to cover their nose and face. Home isolation for mild/asymptomatic cases is recommended, if a separate room with toilet facility is available under the same roof. All the houses in Port Township don't have such facilities.

Besides in a building, there are 4 to 6 quarters.

If anybody is legally subjected to home isolation, all other families in the same building might be in dilemma.

Hence mild or asymptomatic people may be in a better condition at this new Covid Care Center. The biomedical waste will be safely disposed of following the Biomedical Waste Management Act. All protocols of Covid Management will be strictly followed.

Aug 5th - 11th Issue

5

Adani Group Enters New Sectors Mumbai

Port Wings News Network or long, Gautam Adani has been synonymous with ports, coal, power and infrastructure. According to a detailed news article in Forbes India, along with a value of $30 billion, his companies have, however, amassed serious brickbats over their poor environmental track record, particularly the flagship company Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ), in Gujarat, and Adani Australia, over the controversial Carmichael coal mine in Australia.

But this could well change, with the 58-year-old billionaire emerging as an unlikely champion of clean energy. Over the past few years, he has been laying the groundwork to diversify his empire, and renewable energy seems to be at the heart of this transformation.

In June, Adani Group’s renewable energy arm, the Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL), won a contract from the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) to develop 8 GW of solar projects, along with a commitment to build 2 GW of additional solar cell and module manufacturing capacity over the next five years. The entire project is expected to cost ₹45,000 crore, and will create about 4 lakh direct and indirect jobs.

With this, AGEL will have about 15 GW of capacity of renewable energy under operation. “By 2025, the capacity of AGEL will be 25 GW, while Adani Power’s thermal capacity will be less than 20 GW,” says Adani, chairman of Adani Group. Today, Adani Power’s thermal capacity stands at 14 GW. AGEL, set up in 2015, has become the group’s second-most valuable company in terms of market capitalisation, at ₹54,000 crore, a notch below APSEZ. In fact, in June, it had become the group’s most valuable company as its share prices swelled; over the past two years, AGEL shares have rallied as much as 1,000 percent on the bourses.

Over the next five years, Adani has lined up investments of ₹112,000 crore to transform the company into the world’s largest renewable energy firm by 2030.

“India will have between 20 percent and 25 percent penetration in renewables by 2030,” he says. “I feel that renewable penetration will continue to grow because it offers clean, economical energy solutions. Technology has changed the world dramatically and also helped in climate change adaptation.” While there is an undeniable business opportunity in the green energy gamble, it is also a shot in the arm for the group, particularly when it comes to addressing years of allegations over its poor environmental record.

Yet, green energy is only one leg of the group’s transformation and diversification.

Over the past few years, Adani has ventured into numerous new areas, including defence, airports, metro rails, data storage and petrochemicals. “The foundation of Adani Group is built on strategically meeting India’s needs and requirements, addressing some of the cornerstones in India’s growth ladder,” says the group’s spokesperson.

Green Frontiers “As a group, they are always willing to take two steps forward, and step back and reflect if the need arises,” says G Raghuram, director, IIM-Bangalore, and member of the board of directors at APSEZ. “As far as diversification goes, it is simply one of competence and with the bandwidth to handle it. Gautam has a good nose for business. He has also built good managerial competence and professional management that can complement his entrepreneurial skills.”

Headquartered in Ahmedabad, AGEL has an installed capacity of under 3 GW across 11 states. It owns and operates utility-scale grid-connected solar power, wind power, hybrid projects and solar parks, and has an order book in excess of 10 GW. Solar power accounts for 76 percent of the portfolio, while wind power and hybrid projects account for 12 percent each.

“Today, if you are to set up a coalbased power plant compared to a solar and

F

Gautam Adani

Karan Adani

wind-based one, it makes more sense to go after renewables,” says Chandra Bhushan, environmentalist and CEO of New Delhibased think tank iForest. “Under Indian laws, renewables have the first right over the [power] grid, and unlike coal, where it makes sense to have a power purchasing agreement, the government has to buy the [renewable energy] power. In many ways, Adani’s foray into renewables, especially the latest project, signals that the sector has finally arrived.”

India, a signatory to the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change mitigation, has been trying to ramp up its use of solar power, especially since it committed to ensuring that 40 percent of its power capacity would be from non-fossil fuel sources. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also launched in 2015 the International Solar Alliance, a treaty between 121 countries, to work towards promoting solar energy. India’s solar power capacity has grown more than 11 times in the last five years, from 2.6 GW in 2014 to 35 GW in 2020. India’s total installed power capacity is about 371 GW as of June. Renewable energy, which includes small hydro power and solar power, accounts for 87 GW, and thermal power accounts for 231 GW. “When we are talking about only climate change and not giving economical solutions, things will never work,” Adani says. “The cost of renewable energy was about five times higher than today five to seven years ago. But the reduction in price has seen wide acceptance. People want development at an affordable price. The challenge is to continue development and make things good for the society. Economically viable solutions driven by improving technology will make climate change adaptation faster.”

It also helps that it takes far less time to set up renewable power sources, compared to coal-based power plants. “It takes six months to set up a solar power plant, while it takes four to five years for a coal-based plant. The cost advantage is phenomenal,” adds Bhushan of iForest. “Now, there is a lot of venture capital money involved in green energy, and India has massive potential for solar power, much more than wind. Therefore it is also a case of business acumen.”

Adani Group is also firming up plans to raise up to $12 billion through sale of green bonds over the next four to five years. If it goes through, it will be the country’s largest sale of green paper. There seems to be good merit in that: Over the past year, AGEL has seen a 292 percent growth in its revenues, while net profits rose to ₹134.26 crore in 2020 from a loss of ₹35 crore in 2019.

“Normally all our projects are 70:30 or 75:25 debt-equity ratio,” the company spokesperson explains. “AGEL has the distinction of being the only renewable company outside the

OECD that has garnered sovereign rating.

This gives us the leverage to raise a 25-year bond, which significantly cuts the requirement of refinancing during the project execution, and ensures timely completion of the project.” trivandrum airportThe Adani Group has bagged the rights to run six government-run airports Waiting for Take off Adani Group has also been busy expanding into areas such as airports, defence and data centres.

Last year, it bagged the rights to run six government-run airports, making it India’s third-largest private airport operator in passenger volume after the GMR Group and GVK group. Under the contracts, Adani Group is to develop and operate airports at Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Mangaluru, Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram, through a 50-year public-private-partnership with the Airports Authority of India (AAI). It also signed concession agreements for three of them this February, with plans to take over their operations within 180 File Photo days.

ICRA, a credit rating agency, reckoned that the group could earn over ₹650 crore in the first year, after paying its share to the AAI. At that time, the six airports together handled 30 million passengers, growing over 22 percent over the previous year.

However, for now, those plans seem to have hit a glitch. In June, Adani Group asked the ministry of civil aviation for an extension in taking over the three airports, and was given time till November.

Industry experts say it is a deliberate attempt at staying away from taking over the airports, largely due to the aggressive rates that it offered to the AAI. “None of their bids ever made any sense,” says an industry executive. For instance, at ₹115 per passenger for Manguluru and ₹171 for Lucknow, Adani Group’s bids were over 500 percent more than the lowest bids received from the GMR Group and PNC Infratech. Similarly, Adani Group bid ₹177 for Ahmedabad airport, nearly 200 percent more than the lowest bid of ₹60 from Autostrade Indian Infrastructure Development Pvt Ltd. “It’s ridiculous, and clearly the move now seems deliberate to realign their bids.”

The group is also in the midst of a legal tussle with the GVK group, which runs the Mumbai airport, for purchasing a 13.5 percent stake held by South Africa-based Bidvest.

“Considering the slowdown, the Adani Group may not look at airports immediately and might wait out until 2023-24 before recovery and a fresh round of financing,” says Mark Martin, founder of Dubai-based aviation consultancy Martin Consulting. “They are a formidable group and have the intent. Instead of going after low hanging fruits such as the Mumbai airport, they should look at the Delhi airport, which has much to offer, especially in the real estate space.”

Then there is a tie-up with aircraft maker Airbus for collaboration in the area of aircraft services for the Indian and South Asian markets. “With Adani’s recent foray into airports, this potential collaboration will leverage the synergies between the product and services excellence of Airbus and infrastructure, engineering and mega-project execution capabilities of Adani,” Airbus said while announcing the partnership in February.

Defence & Data Adani Group has also doubled its efforts in the lucrative defence sector, which has received an impetus under the Modi government; it is in the midst of a $250-billion modernisation plan.

In April 2019, the company acquired Bengaluru-based Alpha Design Technologies, which specialises in design, development, and manufacture of defence electronics and avionics. It also stitched a partnership with Swedish defence and aerospace company

Saab to design, develop and produce the Gripen fighter aircraft for India. This February, Adani Group’s joint venture partnership with Israelbased Elbit Systems exported the first-ever Indiamade military drone to an undisclosed customer.

This partnership includes the design, development and maintenance of Hermes 900 and Hermes 450 unmanned aircraft systems in India.

Adani Group has also forayed into the small arms business by acquiring a facility owned by Punj Llyod in Gwalior late last year to produce machine guns, carbines, and other weapons for India and export markets.

“Today, Gautam delegates far more than before,” adds Raghuram. “He finds value in professional management, and they also have a role in fitting newer opportunities into the overall institutional growth. But, at the same time, Gautam is in a position to absorb all the risks.”

This enables Adani to venture into entirely new areas, such as data centres. As India’s internet users surge alongside smartphone subscribers, Adani Group has sensed the opportunity in setting up centres that collect, store, process, and distribute data. As a part of its initial plan, it is building data centres in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad.

Last year, the group said it would invest up to ₹70,000 crore to set up solar-powered data parks in Andhra Pradesh.

“India offers a huge market when it comes to data centres,” says Prachir Singh, senior research analyst, Counterpoint Research. “The earning potential is massive, and companies such as Facebook, Amazon and Google are all entering the data centre market in India. With the new data privacy law, companies will need to store certain data in India and data centres require a lot of real estate and energy. The Adanis have the expertise there, and it could emerge as a good money churner.” The India data centre market is expected to be worth $4 billion by 2024, according to Research and Markets, an Ireland-based market research firm.

Safe Harbour Yet, despite its diversification, the Adani Group isn’t forgetting its mainstay, the ports business.

Gautam Adani had set up Adani Port in Gujarat after bagging the rights in 1994 from the Gujarat Maritime Board for setting up a captive jetty at Mundra, then a fledgling town in Gujarat. In 1998, Gujarat Adani Port, a joint sector company promoted by Adani Port and Gujarat Port Infrastructure Development Company, was incorporated; in 2003, Adani Port merged with Gujarat Adani Port.

Since then, Adani Group has emerged as India’s largest private port operator, and operates 11 ports and terminals across Gujarat, Odisha, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala; it accounts for about 22 percent of the country’s total port capacity, and handles over 200 million tonnes of cargo a year. “Unlike the major ports controlled by the government, they can take quick decisions and have always been customer-oriented,” adds Raghuram.

Earlier this year, the group also bought a 75 percent stake in Krishnapatnam Port in Andhra Pradesh for an enterprise value of ₹13,572 crore, helping it improve its market share to nearly 27 percent. It also purchased Odisha’s Dhamra Port in 2014 and Tamil Nadu’s Kattupalli Port in 2016.

“We believe our actions will allow us to emerge stronger on the other side of the Covid-19 crisis and put us comfortably on the path to achieve 400 million tonnes of cargo by FY25, and thereby make progress towards becoming one of the most valuable port companies in the world by the end of the next decade,” says Karan Adani, CEO of APSEZ. “Our objective has always been to avoid focusing on numbers, and focus on the strategy and execution that generates the numbers. In this context, the two areas that we continue to focus on are the logistics and industrial economic zone strategy.”

Clearly, the Adani juggernaut is only starting out.

(Courtesy: https://www.forbesindia.com)

6

Vessel Position at Terminals - (05.08.2020 To 12.08.2020)

Aug 5th - 11th Issue

7

CITPL - Chennai

CCTL - Chennai ETA

ETD

Service

Vessel Name

Voy

6-8

7-8

CCG

MORGAL

10-8

08Nov

PIC-2

SSL BHARAT

4-8

08May

SIF

SPIRIT OF MUMBAI

Agent/Line

Calling Ports

ETA

ETD

Service

Vessel Name

Voy

Agent/Line

Calling Ports

SMI

Cochin, Nhava Sheva, Mundra, Jebel Ali, Bandar Abbas, Dammam

05/08

06/05

MD1

TRF KAYA

1681E

BTL

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

Colombo, Tuticorin, Cochin MSC

VCTPL, Vizag

Colombo

Kattupalli

ETA

ETD

Service

Vessel Name

Voy

Agent/Line

Calling Ports

5-8

6-8

CCG

MOGRAL

028

SIM

Cochin, Nhava Sheva, Mundra, Jebel Ali, Bandar Abbas, Dammam

6-8

7-8

ADHOC

MCP SALZBURG

043

AVB

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

ETA

ETD

Service

Vessel Name

Voy

Agent/Line

04/08

5-8

BULK

HUGE SW

1

PM1

04/08

5-8

ECS

MCP LINZ

41

SCI

Cochin, Nhava Sheva, Mundra, Jebel Ali, Bandar Abbas, Dammam

6-8

7-8

ECS

SCI MUMBAI

479

SCI

Cochin, Nhava Sheva, Mundra, Jebel Ali, Bandar Abbas, Dammam

7-8

8-8

FME

SUEZ CANAL

2005E

TSL

Port Klang, Singapore, Manila, Pusan, Shanghai, Hong Kong

7-8

8-8

ACS

HYUNDAI PRIVILEGE

073W

HMM

Cochin, Nhava Sheva, Mundra, Jebel Ali, Bandar Abbas, Dammam

7-8

8-8

ADHOC

RHL ASTRUM

SH032A

MSC

7-8

8-8

CCG

MOGRAL

28

SIM

Cochin, Nhava Sheva, Mundra, Jebel Ali, Bandar Abbas, Dammam

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

8-8

9-8

MDM

TRF KAYA

1681E

BTL

Colombo

8-8

9-8

BULK

RISING SKY

1

SPS

8-8

9-8

CVK

MSC JANIS 3

XA032A

MSC

9-8

10-8

CCG

VARADA

27

SIM

09/08

10/0

VKS

SSL KUTCH

193

SSL

9-8

10-8

TCX

TALASSA

013W

CCO

10/08

11-8

SHTL

NAGOYA TOWER

032E

MSK

12/08

13/08

CCG

VARADA

27

SIM

Calling Ports

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

Cochin, Nhava Sheva, Mundra, Jebel Ali, Bandar Abbas, Dammam

Kakinada Container Terminal ETA

ETD

Service

Vessel Name

Voy

Agent/Line

Calling Ports

06/08

07/08

KAK>CMB

OEL SINGAPORE

SV031R

SAMSARA

Halida, Colombo

5-8

6-8

KAK>IXZ

TCI LAKSHMI

720

BOTHRA

Halida, Colombo

DAKSHINBHARATH GATEWAY TERMINAL / Tuticorin ETA

ETD

Service

Vessel Name

Voy

Agent/Line

Cochin, Nhava Sheva, Mundra, Jebel Ali, Bandar Abbas, Dammam

NCT, Krishnapatnam ETA

ETD

Service

Vessel Name

Voy

Agent/Line

Calling Ports

10-8

11-8

CHX

Alexander Bay

033E

Maersk & Safmarine

Port Elizabeth, Durban, Port Louis, Jebel Ali, Mundra, JNPT, Colombo

7-8

8-8

CHK

RHL AURORA SH

032R

MSC

Port Elizabeth, Durban, Port Louis, Jebel Ali, Mundra, JNPT, Colombo

10-8

11-8

VCH-1

Kapitan Afanasyev

115

MSC & NVOs

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

Calling Ports

5-8

6-8

CTS

MV.VLADIVOSTOK

144S

FAR SHIPPING

COLOMBO, TUTICORIN, COLOMBO

6-8

7-8

TUX

MV.ANTON SCHEPERS

20703

XCL

COLOMBO, TUTICORIN, COLOMBO

9-8

10-8

COASTAL

SSL Chennai

160

Haldia

7-8

8-8

BOX

MV.OEL SHARVAN

20153S

BTL

COLOMBO, TUTICORIN, COLOMBO

9-8

10-8

EXX

X-Press Hoogly

10-20

8-8

9-8

CI II

MV.WAN HAI 501

202E

AISSA MARITIME

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

Kolkata Kakinada, Haldia, Paradip

8-8

9-8

MAERSK SHUTTLE

Nagoya Tower

032W

Maersk & Safmarine,XCL

Colombo, Salalah

10-8

11-8

CCG

Varada

1-27

MSC, SCI

Cochin, Nhava Sheva, Mundra, Jebel Ali, Bandar Abbas, Dammam

NSICT - Mumbai ETA

ETD

Service

Vessel Name

5-8

6-8

IMED

E R YOKOHAMA

Voy

Agent/Line

Calling Ports

MSC

Nhava Sheva, Karachi, Pipavav, Colombo, Port Klang, Singapore, Caimep, Shekou, Hong Kong, Osaka

5-8

6-8

IIX

YARAN

RIS

6-8

7-8

INDUS

NORTHERN JUBILEE

MSC

7-8

8-8

IPAK

AMERICA

MSC

9-8

10-8

MECL

MAERSK KENSINGTON

MSK

10-8

11-8

MWE

HANSA AMERICA

MSK

Colombo, Damietta Piraes Rotterdam, London

APM Terminal - Mumbai ETA

ETD

Service

Vessel Name

9-8

10-8

CIX3

5-8

6-8

8-8

Voy

Agent/Line

Calling Ports

OOCL HAMBURG

OCL

Jebel Ali, Mundra, Hazira, Nhava Sheva

ME3

MAERSK KAMPALA

MSK

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

9-8

FM3

MAERSK TANJONG

MSK

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

6-8

7-8

MINA

CMA CGM MOLIERE

CCA

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

6-8

7-8

ADHOC-ME1

MAERSK SERANGOON

MSK

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

Haldia, Paradip

Bharat Mumbai Container Terminal ETA

ETD

Service

Vessel Name

Voy

Agent/Line

Calling Ports

04/08

05/08

ADHOCMHIMALAYA

MSC ROSA M

L0490

MSC

MUN, KAC, GIT, SIE, FXT, RTM, HAM, ANR, SLL

07/08

08/08

SWAX

EMIRATES ASANTE

L0542

ESA

MUN, DAR, JEC, MBA, JEA

08/08

09/08

ASX

XPRESS BARDSEY

SEC

07/08

08/08

EPIC2

ROME EXPRESS

L0524

HLI

HAM, JED, ANR, MUN, RTM, LEH, TNG, LGP

Jebel Ali, Mundra, Hazira, Nhava Sheva

10/08

11-8

CIX

WAN HAI 509

WHI

09/08

10/08

AACI

COSCO AFRICA

L0511

COS

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

Jebel Ali, Mundra, Hazira, Nhava Sheva

SHA 10/08

11/08

CIX

HYUNDAI PRIVILEGE

L0528

HMM

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

ADHOCMHIMALAYA

MSC TOPAZ

L0515

MSC

MUN, KAC, GIT, SIE, FXT, RTM, HAM, ANR, SLL

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.

Visit

www.portwings.in for Latest News

Aug 5th - 11th Issue

India Imposes Anti-Dumping Act On Various Import Items, Extends Safeguard Duty On Chinese Solar Goods New Delhi Port Wings News Network fter the Government of India banned China’s apps, the government has given another big blow to China. The Indian government has imposed anti-dumping duty on parts and components imported from China for five years, according to a news report in The India Wire Online.

After the India-China border tension, the people of the country were demanding a boycott of Chinese goods from the government.

China has always dumped cheap and inferior quality Chinese goods to India by taking advantage of the World Trade Organization and Free Trade Agreement. The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) has imposed anti-dumping duty on their imports.

India has reportedly extended imposition of safeguard duty and placed anti-dumping duties (ADD) on various import items to protect domestic manufacturers and to bar China from allegedly dumping products like solar cells, digital offset printing plates and industrial raw material.

Chinese imports are likely to be the worst affected. The safeguard duty is also applicable to competitor countries Vietnam and Thailand, but not other developing countries.

Does dumping mean cheap or low priced imports The-Top-10-Users-of-Antidumping-Action-at-the-WTOTheTop-10-Users-of-Anti-dumpingAction-at-the-WTO Often, dumping is mistaken and simplified to mean cheap or low priced imports. However, it is a misunderstanding of the term. On the other hand, dumping, in its legal sense, means export of goods by a country to another country at a price lower than its normal value. Thus, dumping implies low priced imports only in the relative sense (relative to the normal value), and not in absolute sense.

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Import of cheap products through illegal trade channels like smuggling do not fall within the purview of anti-dumping measures.

India-China Stand-off in an Economic War: The move is the latest in an economic offensive against China with which India had a border clash last. So far, has Indian export and import goodsbanned dozens of Chinese smartphone apps, ordered e-commerce firms to disclose to shopper’s origin of the products offered on their platforms and banned companies from China and Pakistan from bidding for government contracts without specific approval from competent authorities.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has advocated self-reliance as a growth strategy, which will also help wean Indian producers from over dependence on raw materials from China, especially in sectors like automobiles, pharmaceuticals and electronics.

In the case of digital offset printing plates, the anti-dumping duty is also applicable to imports from select companies from Japan, Republic of Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam at specified rates. The duty on aniline oil is up to $150.8 per tonne and applies to any Chinese import routed through other countries too.

Is it practically possible for an Indian to Boycott on Chinese Products?

Maximum mobile brands in Indian market are Chinese Brands which includes Vivo, Xiaomi, OnePlus, Lenovo, Huawei. Apple’s iPhone and iPad have significant parts that are produced in China. Amidst this hoax of #BoycottChinaProducts campaign itself the newly launched model of OnePlus went out of stock in minutes after its online launch on Amazon.

We are completely surrounded by the Chinese products in every possible manner. From a minor nail cutter to the calculator, from

children’s toys to the bedsheets and curtains in our houses, from a basic pen to the laptop we use, from online transaction through Paytm to online shopping sites like Shein and to note AliBaba has the highest share of investment in the business of Zomato and Snapdeal.

Pulp of paper, textile fabrics, articles of plaster, glassware, utensils, crockery, furniture, vehicles, fertilisers, heavy machinery etc. all of these basics that we consume directly or indirectly are imported from China and we are actively and passively using Chinese products extensively in our daily lives. No matter which service or product we avail, Chinese market has completely attacked Indian lives. Withdrawing ourselves from availing these services or not purchasing these products is not happening practically in decades to come.

Transport crates with Chinese flag on the conveyor belt. Global exportation concept.

All the raw material in the accessories made in India comes from China. Battery and LCD are the most in demand and both of them come from China. Because Chinese companies provide good finishing, they are very much liked among the people.

However, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAT), the apex organization of the country’s traders, is going to make the festivals special. CAT claimed that Chinese goods would be completely boycotted in the coming festivals and domestic products would be available in abundance.

Chinese imports are likely to be the worst affected. India is aiming at limiting trade links with China as part of a policy to cut dependence on its northern neighbour. The government in April notified changes to its foreign direct investment (FDI) policy by mandating government clearance for all FDI inflows from countries with whom it shares land borders

For First Time, Railways Bids Virtual Farewell To 2,320 Employees New Delhi Port Wings News Network n a first event of its kind, necessitated by pandemic, Ministry of Railways organised a virtual retirement function for the Indian Railways officers/staff who were superannuated on 31 July, 2020, according to a news report in Livemint.

This was an event where all the Zones/Divisions/Production Units were connected on a single platform along with the officers and staff.

In the history of Indian Railways, it was the first time that Minister of Railways interacted with all the 2,320 officers/staff superannuated on 31 July, 2020. The event was attended by Minister of Railways Piyush Goyal, Minister of State of Railways, Suresh C Angadi, Secretary, Railway Board, Sushant Kumar Mishra and other senior officers of Railways.

Goyal complimented the superannuated staff for their dedicated services and valuable contribution to Railways and urged them to continue to perform acts that can benefit society at large and further enrich the process of nation building.

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Speaking on the occasion, Goyal said: “It is a day of happiness and sadness. It is a happy occasion because the employees have served long period in different areas, capacities, responsibilities. Your contribution for Railways to make it a better Railways and the role you have played in making Railways for future ready shall be remembered.

In past few years, Railways have shown improvement in their style of working.

"In COVID phase, freight trains, parcel trains, Shramik Special trains were moved. Railways have put in best efforts to serve the nation during the pandemic. Railway employees are no less than Corona warriors. I would like to compliment the staff for putting best efforts during the fight against COVID." Goyal added that this retirement is an intermediate station in one’s life journey, the later half of the journey can be interesting if one decides to do something better for the country and be the leader of transformation. "If we spare some time from our life and utilize our experiences from our life in the service of the nation, our country’s future can become bright. We may encourage the next generation in a

better way and leave a better country for them," he said.

He urged the retirees to continue to perform small acts which can bring discernible changes in society like rain water harvesting, production of manure from wet waste, thinking of innovative ways to increase production of farmers’ harvest.

He also suggested that all the officers/staff who retired from Railways have the vast experience of working in Government sector.

They may further inform and educate the common people about Government of India’s policies and programmes so a common man may benefit and become self sufficient. It may be one of the big contributions for making their life better.

Goyal complimented the retirees on 31st July, 2020 for their valuable contribution and wished them a good life ahead.

Addressing retirees, Angadi said, “It is a great pleasure to be with you all. Railways and the country can never forget the services which Railway staff has rendered tirelessly.

Your advise/suggestion is always welcome to motivate the young staff. I wish to God to give strength and good keep up. A Railwaymen is always a Railwaymen."

7

NEWS - BITS Castor Maritime Announces Vessel Acquisition

Castor Maritime Inc., a global shipping company specializing in the ownership of drybulk vessels, announces that it entered, through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, into an agreement to purchase a 2010 Japan-built Panamax dry bulk carrier for a purchase price of $12.75 million from an unaffiliated third party seller, the company said in its release.

The acquisition is expected to be consummated by taking delivery of the vessel sometime in the end of the third quarter / beginning of the fourth quarter of this year and is subject to the satisfaction of certain customary closing conditions.

Castor Maritime Inc. is an international provider of shipping transportation services through its ownership of dry bulk vessels. The Company’s vessels are employed primarily on medium-term charters and transport a range of dry bulk cargoes, including such commodities as coal, grain and other materials along worldwide shipping routes. Upon completion of this acquisition, the Company's fleet will consist of fivePanamax dry bulk carriers.

Maersk Drilling Invests In New Technology To Facilitate Carbon-Neutral Drilling

Maersk Drilling has entered an agreement to invest USD 1m in the California-based company Clean Energy Systems to help develop a new technology called Carbon-Negative Energy, the company said in its release.

The concept builds on proven technology originally developed for the aerospace industry, which is now being deployed in a process that is expected to result in net-negative carbon emissions. For Maersk Drilling, this is one of several opportunities being pursued in order to help the company’s customers move towards carbon-neutral drilling.

A full-scale deployment of the Carbon-Negative Energy concept will produce renewable fuel and power, and simultaneously remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. The net negative carbon emissions can be converted into carbon credits. The agreement between Clean Energy Systems and Maersk Drilling gives Maersk Drilling an option to offset the emissions resulting from drilling for its customers or for the company itself.

The Carbon-Negative Energy concept is based on using biomass waste as fuel to produce syngas, from which renewable natural gas and hydrogen is separated for sale. The resulting hydrogen-depleted syngas will be used to produce electricity with full capture of associated CO2 emissions. By using fuel that consumes CO2 over its lifetime, combined with safe and permanent CO2 storage, the process results in net-negative emissions, effectively removing CO2 from the atmosphere.

Blue Wave Terminal H1 Volume Soars 41% To 286,000 Tonnes

Handling of cargo at Azov port based Blue Wave Terminal in JanuaryJune 2020 reached 286,000 tonnes of various cargoes, or a 41% growth as compared with the same period a year before, Blue Wave Shipping General Director Alexander Fadeev said.

There was a significant 43-percent drop in cargo throughput in the first half of 2019, and this year the volume is growing, but has not yet reached the numbers of 2018, Alexander Fadeev told PortNews regional correspondent.

This year, following the market trend, Blue Wave built and commissioned a silo for storage of 3,000 tonnes of grain.

Blue Wave Terminal is located on left coast of the Don River, one of the major rivers in the European part of Russia, at the center of international trade routes: North - South and Europe - Asia. The facility specialises in handling of nearly all types of cargo: grain, break-bulk, containers, hazardous and oversize cargo (except for liquid bulk), delivered to / from the terminal by waterborne, rail and road transport. Blue Wave Terminal encompasses ondock area of 6.2 ha, and 4.5 ha of near dock territory. The terminal operates 217-meter long No.16 berth and 156-meter No.17 berth. Blue Wave Terminal is capable of handling 900,000 tonnes of cargo a year.

CUSTOMS EXCHANGE RATES Notification No.59/2020 (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 July 2020

RATE (INR) Import Export 53.80 206.00 56.70 10.90 11.75 87.35 9.90 252.35 50.70 8.20 96.10 21.35 20.70 54.95 4.65 8.40 81.15 11.30 21.15 76.10 71.65 6.45

51.50 193.45 54.75 10.60 11.30 84.25 9.55 236.90 48.45 7.95 92.85 20.05 19.45 53.15 4.35 8.15 78.05 10.65 19.85 74.40 69.05 6.05

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

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

8

Dubai Witnesses Crew Change Of 3,000 Seafarers Within Its Territorial Waters Chennai

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Port Wings News Network ompleting the success of the cooperation between the Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) and the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai (GDRFA) to facilitate ships’ crew change, 3,000 seafarers have been recently registered within Dubai territorial waters, comprising 1700 sign on and 1300 sign off since DMCA announced the resumption of crew change, according to a DMC release.

It is a remarkable achievement for Dubai, which is allowing crew change, offering a safe haven for those stranded on board their ships for several months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

After DMCA’s decision to resume the procedures allowing for changing ships’ crews in ports and anchorage areas within the territorial waters of Dubai, it has witnessed growth in marine activities, while maintaining full compliance with the Dubai Health Authority and ensuring confirmed flights from the UAE. Competent authorities continue to receive hundreds of requests to change crews of different nationalities, in close coordination with DMCA, the port authorities,

the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, airlines, and continue to work with the Dubai Health Authority to facilitate the precautionary measures which will enable the crews to sign on and off from the ship as a top priority.

Sheikh Saeed bin Ahmed bin Khalifa al Maktoum, Executive Director of Dubai Maritime City Authority, explained that the increased activities of changing crews within the territorial waters reflect the growing confidence in Dubai’s leadership in the global maritime map.

He noted that the emirate has provided all the means of guarantee to assist the sailors, which were held due to the exceptional global circumstances associated with COVID-19.

Sheikh Saeed al Maktoum highlighted DMCA’s commitment to enhancing communication, cooperation, and coordination with the concerned authorities, Dubai ports and airports in the UAE to ensure smooth, efficient and reliable operations, and in line with international health protocols and precautionary measures followed by the emirate.

He concluded: "The resumption of the marine crew change operations comes from our constant efforts to guarantee the highest

levels of health, safety and security of seafarers, visitors and workers within the maritime sector.

The move has proved to be a strong boost to national efforts to revitalize the economic movement in the post-corona period, which prompts us to continue providing the necessary facilities for the return of marine activities while following strict precautionary measures that ensure the change of ship crew members and managing its operations are conducted with full efficiency, in line with Dubai’s leading position as one of the most competitive, safe, and attractive marine capitals in the world. "The decision to resume the procedures for changing ship crew members within the territorial waters in the Dubai obligates all shipping agents to coordinate closely with the DMCA, the GDRFA – Dubai, Dubai ports and airports in the UAE, in order to speed up procedures for the movement of crew members from the airport to the ship and from the ship to the airport.

Maritime agencies also have an obligation to perform the required medical examinations, in compliance with the preventive procedures and guidelines pertaining to COVID19 to preserve the health and safety of both the crews and personnel involved in maritime activities.

Mission To Seafarers Calls For Urgent Action To Save Shipping Crews In Mental Agony Chennai

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Port Wings News Network he seafarer community is in the midst of a mental health crisis due to the ongoing impact of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, a new survey

by The Mission to Seafarers has shown.

There is continuing decline of happiness at sea largely due to the inability of seafarers to sign off and return home. In addition, heavy workloads, virus fears and a perceived lack of Covid-19 precautions onboard vessels are exacerbating the decline in satisfaction, according to the latest Seafarers Happiness Index.

“We are in the midst of a welfare crisis. While Q1 showed us how seafarers suffered as Covid-19 struck home and provided insight into the support that was needed, the Q2 report highlights the cost of inaction and the need for immediate solutions,” said Andrew Wright, secretary general of The Mission to Seafarers.

“It is paramount that we see progress with crew changeovers, onboard PPE and improved communication between shore and sea, to defuse this ticking timebomb. Protecting seafarers is a priority and governments must now come together and work with industry before it is too late,” he urged.

The latest survey, undertaken in

association with the Shipowners’ Club and Wallem Group, analyses the experiences of seafarers across the global maritime industry between April and June 2020, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Overall, seafarer happiness has dropped from 6.30 in Q1 2020 to 6.18 in Q2 2020.

Vessels have been sailing with fewer crew, seen increased sickness onboard and a pressure to keep hygiene standards at almost hospital-like levels. The demands of meeting these standards while also maintaining social distancing are relentless and seafarers are struggling to adhere to new guidance, the survey results showed.

This level of workload has been relentless since the outbreak of Covid-19 and is clearly taking its toll. Seafarers have reported feeling unsupported and stressed, and without respite, which is impacting work standards as well as the welfare of seafarers. Combined with the challenge of accessing medical services, the risk of an increase in incidents of self-harm and in the number of accidents is very real as stress impacts work, compromising safety at all levels.

Louise Hall, director - loss prevention at the Shipowners’ Club, commented: “Among other issues, this report highlights the toll that social distancing has taken on relationships and connectivity on board. Reports of additional safety measures, such as separating

tables and limiting the capacity of mess rooms at meal times, has made even the most habitual social interactions difficult. This, coupled with extended periods of time at sea, raises serious concerns for seafarers’ mental wellbeing as feelings of loneliness and isolation intensify.”

With many seafarers unable to leave their vessels or contact their family due to the crisis, online access is fundamental to their wellbeing.

Without the connection to home and restricted support from ship visitors and port chaplains, seafarers are on the edge of serious mental distress.

It is reported that many companies are not communicating well with their seafarers and little support is on offer.

The Mission to Seafarers stated: “The challenges being reported are reaching intolerable levels, due to contracts being disregarded and growing reports of sexism, racism and bullying and drunkenness onboard. Seafarers are at a tipping point and it is essential that faster progress is made to protect seafarers and stop the industry from falling into a deeper crisis.

“The message is clear: crew changes are needed, and those who can make them happen must do so, now. Only once seafarers can return home to their families and those serving at sea feel safe can we avert the both the immediate and the longterm impact of a mental health crisis among our seafarers.”

Aug 5th - 11th Issue

ICTSI Inks Contract for Operation and Development of Cameroon’s Kribi Terminal Chennai

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Port Wings News Network nternational Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) has signed the concession contract with the Port Autonome de Kribi (PAK) for the development, operation and maintenance of the Kribi Multipurpose Terminal (KMT) in Cameroon.

With the signing of the contract, KMT, a subsidiary of ICTSI, is now the official concessionaire of the multipurpose terminal for the next 25 years.

At the signing ceremony in the Southern region of Cameroon, Hans-Ole Madsen, ICTSI Senior Vice President and Regional Head for Europe, Middle East and Africa, thanked the Government of Cameroon and PAK for placing their trust in ICTSI. He added: “ICTSI is very proud to partner with Cameroon and the Port of Kribi in the operation and development of the Kribi Multipurpose Terminal.

KMT is a newly built deep-water port located 150 kilometers south of Douala. Phase 1 consists of 265 + 63 meters of berth and a 10-hectare yard.

Phase 2 will include an additional 350 meters of berth and 23 hectares of yard. Kribi port is surrounded by the Kribi Industrial Area, a 262 square-kilometer zone destined to accommodate new industrial and logistical developments supporting the growing Cameroonian economy.

Mr. Madsen also stated ICTSI’s goal for the terminal: “Our purpose as a company is to make the Port of Kribi a driver for positive and

sustainable growth, thus ICTSI will work diligently to partner the Cameroonian business community by providing efficient and safe port services. Our services will act as a catalyst for Cameroons foreign trade and we will actively promote the Kribi Logistic Corridor – encompassing Cameroon, Chad, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon – an area home to more than 50 million people. We already have a team on the ground – headed by Mrs. Kathy Magne – and we expect to be fully operational within the next couple of months.”

KMT is purposely built to handle multipurpose shipping services including roro, project and heavy lift

cargo, forestry products, dry bulk and other general cargoes, and to offer support services to the oil and gas industry. KMT provides 16 meters of deep water access and is equipped with state-of-the-art handling equipment including two mobile harbor cranes, providing an annual capacity of 1.5 million tons. KMT is capable of accommodating the largest vessels plying the waters today.

ICTSI will further invest in KMT's infrastructure and superstructure, and by 2024 the port will double in size. The expansion will include additional modern handling equipment, storage facilities and modern IT platforms.

Iran's Chabahar Port Exports Cargo To India And Southeast Asia, Notwithstanding Slowdown New Delhi Port Wings News Network ran's Chabahar Port built with India's support has recently witnessed cargo movement to South Asia and SE Asia notwithstanding slowdown in the global trade due to Covid. The first shipment of Iran’s aquatic products has been shipped to Thailand via Chabahar Port recently, ET has learnt.

Director General of Sistan and Baluchestan Ports and Maritime Organization, Behrouz Aghaei has said that the first ship carrying Iran’s aquatic products left the Southeastern Iranian port of Chabahar for Thailand for the first time.

Aghaei informed that the shipment of non-edible fishes was sent to the Indian port of Mundra via Chabahar.

Aghaei further informed that the fourth shipment of Afghanistan’s transit goods has been shipped to India through Shahid Beheshti terminal in Chabahar Port.

Later on, in February 2019, the Afghanistan-Iran-India trade corridor for the trade between the two countries through Chabahar Port was officially inaugurated.

On July 25 Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson had tweeted,

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“#Iran has a longstanding policy of maintaining balanced, friendly relations w/ all Eurasian & E/S Asian powers. Our potential longterm cooperation agreements w/ #China & #Russia, & our continued joint work w/ #India in Chabahar prove this. We are determined to uphold this policy”.

This came amid firefighting by India and Iran over the past two weeks over Delhi’s participation in the proposed Chabahar-Zahedan railway project. India's problem with Iran has been its insistence to give Chahbahar-Zahedan railway contract to Khatam al-Anbiya, a Revolutionary Guard entity, under US secondary sanctions. However, both sides remain committed to Chabahar Port project.

A lease contract for two terminals and five berths at the Shahid Beheshti Port in Chabahar was signed in 2016 between Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organisation (PMO) and Indian Ports Global Limited (IPGL). The Phase-I of the Shahid Beheshti Port was inaugurated in December 2017

by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. The Chabahar Port was operationalised from December 2018. Iran is planning to increase the capacity of the Chabahar Port from the current 2.5 million tonnes to 8.5 million tonnes.

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.