Port Wings Maritime Exim Weekly Newspaper 1 April 2020 Issue

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Apr. 1st - 7th Issue

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

Wednesday, April 1, 2020

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Wing 6 Feather 33

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Chennai Port Buys 100% Stake in Kamarajar Port Makes wholly owned subsidiary

Chennai

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Port Wings News Network hennai Port Trust (ChPT) on 27 March 2020 acquired 67% stake of its subsidiary Kamarajar Port Ltd. (KPL) for ₹2,383 crore, according to The Hindu report.

“This agreement comes into force with immediate effect,” said P. Raveendran, chairman, ChPT. “Our immediate focus is to utilise the existing capacity in ChPT to the maximum and carry out expansion in KPL. Our next target is to achieve cargo handling of 100 million tonnes in the coming years.”

Soon after remitting the amount, he said that both the ports would operate as different entities for the betterment of exim trade. KPL as corporate firm and ChPT as trust.

Both the ports would be in a better position to tackle competition from private players such as Adani’s Kattupalli Port and Krishnapatnam Port.

“Our combined effort will be to

maximise cargo throughput. For the past few years, ChPT has been handling over 50 million tonnes of cargo, while KPL about 35 million.

It will take at least two to three years

said that KPL would continue to function as a corporate firm and ChPT as Trust. There would not be any changing in quick decisionmaking pattern of KPL or in fixing tariffs.

"Kamarajar Port employs about 100 people and ChPT about 3,900. The utmost aim of the P.Raveendran, IRTS, SunilPaliwal port is to safeguard CHPT Chairman KPL-CMD employees interest. to reach 100 million tonnes of cargo, We will not transfer people from one due to COVID-19,” he said. port to another. KPL has outsourced "In ChPT, we can't go in for some of its services. We will utilise expansion due to thick population, them to tackle competition from traffic bottleneck and Madras High private players," he said.

Court ban on handling dusty cargoes ChPT has capacity to handle 100 such as coal and iron ore. KPL is million tonnes of cargo, while KPL already handling coal. Efforts would about 67 million tonnes. The latter be made to speed up Chennai Porthas eight operational berths and a Maduravoyal elevated corridor few are getting ready. Both the ports project. Rail connectivity is there for

both the ports. Rail lines are being doubled at KPL," he said.

Asserting that both the ports were owned by Central government, he

have deep draft of 18 metres.

Asked about the car exports, he said that they were the only ports to handle car exports from South.

During 2019, KPL and ChPT handled over 3.50 lakh units and this was bound to increase with the commencement of exports by Kia Motors.

The Story Behind Kamarajar Port: Kamarajar Port was developed from a green field situation in the East Coast of India at about 20 km to the north of Chennai Port. The port was declared as a Major Port in March 1999 and incorporated as a company (Ennore Port Limited) in October 1999. The Port was commissioned in June 2001 with two dedicated coal berths with 15m alongside draft and since then handles thermal coal for the power stations of TANGEDCO (formerly TNEB). The Port has since then developed terminals through private sector participation to handle liquids, coal, iron ore and cars. In February 2014, the port was renamed as Kamarajar Port Limited.

With the presence of 11 major ports across the country, Kolkata, Paradip, Visakhapatnam, Chennai, Tuticorin, Kochi, Mangalore, Mormugao, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai

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(Jawaharlal Nehru) and Kandla (Deendayal), the port at Ennore started functioning. While all existing ports are operating in accordance with the Trusts Act, only the Kamarajar Port is based on Companies Act and act as corporate.

The Union Government owns 67 per cent of the port and the Chennai Port holds the remaining 33 per cent. About 1,300 acres of land has been provided by the Government of Tamil Nadu for the establishment of the port. About 800 acres of land belonging to the Salt Board of the Government of India has been provided to the port at a lower price for construction facilities outside the port. The current total land area of the port is about 2,700 acres.

Established to handle around 30 million cargo annually, the port has now grown to handle 90 million tonnes of cargo. Over the next five years, construction projects are underway to handle approximately 145 million tonnes of cargo. When GK Vasan was the Union Minister for Shipping in 2014, the name of the port was changed to Kamarajar Port Limited.

Regarded as Model Port Under Union Government Control: The port currently has 11 yards/ terminals for handling coal, iron ore, natural gas, offshore liquid, cars and containers. The current market value of the port, which started with a direct investment of about Rs 300 crore, is said to be approximately Rs 30, 000 crore (including land, investment and capacity value). Over the past six years, the port management has paid about Rs 400 crore to Union Government as dividend amount. In addition, the port has paid about Rs 800 crore as taxes and other fees to the government.

Kamarajar Port, which handled 34 MT cargo in 2018-19 period and earned Rs 710 crores as revenue, Contd. on page -2

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Inside Cruise Ships Adrift at Sea as... Pg-2 Adani Ports Declares Force... Pg-3 V.O. Chidambaranar Port Adheres... Pg-4 Recorded Cargo Crimes in... Pg-5 Vessel Position at Terminals and Ports... Pg-6 Latest Customs Exchange Rates... Pg-7 New Russian Railways Service... Pg-7 Air Cargo Bottlenecks Could Put... 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

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Apr. 1st - 7th Issue

Chennai Port Acquires Majority Stake...

Wednesday, April 1, 2020

Wing 6 Feather 33

Are We Doing the Right Thing?

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n a public address to the country on March 24, 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a 21-day lockdown, calling upon Indians to stay indoors, asserting that social distancing is the only way to stop the coronavirus.

“India will have to pay a very high price if social distancing is not adhered to,” said Modi. But, although limiting human-to-human interactions is the only way to control the spread of the coronavirus, public health experts say social distancing is not an option for the hundreds of millions in India’s unorganized sector.

Tactics being employed in other countries are just aren’t possible here.

India’s informal sector is the backbone of its economy. According to the Economic Survey of 2018–19, almost 93 percent of the country’s total workforce—an estimated 437 million people—is informal. This includes agricultural, construction, manufacturing, sanitation, and domestic workers.

Meanwhile, lakhs of trucks are stranded on state borders. Supply chains for the most essential items have been disrupted, including medicines, milk, groceries, food and newspaper deliveries.

Nobody in the prime minister’s office seems to be aware of any such thing as crop harvesting, or the Rabi season, as farmers wonder how they’ll do it amid this national curfew. Only Modi can manage to be so clever as to disrupt the country’s medical supply chain while fighting a pandemic.

As per the government think tank Niti Aayog’s estimates, about 85% of India’s workforce is employed in the informal sector. They could be worst affected. Since the lockdown has been put in place, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has taken a slew of measures to ease the burden of the citizens, and to make sure no one is left behind in India's corona fight.

After first easing tax deadlines and business regulations, she also announced a Rs 1.7 lakh crore relief package for poor.

The opportunity will not be fully realised if the government does not unshackle domestic enterprises and harness their contribution to investment and employment generation as well.

India has two of the largest social security schemes in the world, and yet a majority of the workers live without basic protections like proper safety gear and medical facilities.

These are workers who need their daily wages to sustain their families and to afford food and nutrition. They work in crowded markets and travel by public transport. It is extremely difficult for them to adopt the social distancing approach.

Workers in the informal sector have indefinite working hours, no paid sick leaves, and no social security benefits. Laws and schemes exist, but they have failed to reach over 90 percent of the beneficiaries.

Although the government is advising people not to venture out, sanitation workers are required to work under subhuman conditions without any medical protection. The COVID-19 epidemic can be fatal for them.

The economic disruption that has resulted from the protective measures we are taking is enormous, and it will have its own set of devastating consequences, including lives ruined in other ways, if not by a respiratory disease.

We need to know how the people who are laid off from their jobs are getting food, and if they are still willing to access health care when the financial cost of doing so might be very uncertain.

We are all engaged in an enormous, high-stakes nationwide experiment Sample right now, and TEXTwe need all of this data to answer the question: Are we doing the right thing?

The economy isn’t on Modi’s radar either. He won a national election despite disastrous economic policies that gave us a 45 year-high unemployment rate. Why should he worry about the economy?

If we survive the pandemic, we won’t survive the impending economic collapse.

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Continued from page -1 is said to be equipping herself for handling 145 million tonnes of cargo in next few years. It may be noted that the Union Government had announced that Kamarajar is a "role model for all ports" that have yet to be announced.

Chennai Port Takes Full Ownership of Kamarajar Port: With the Union Government planning disinvestment to meet fiscal needs, the Department of investment and public asset management (DIPAM) announced strategic disinvestment of GOI stake of 66.67% in Kamarajar Port Ltd. The proposal was approved by the Prime Minister's Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on 28 February. Subsequently, two private companies were engaged by the government to finalize valuation of the port's assets and value for eventual sales. Accordingly, it was finalized that the total value of Kamarajar Port as Rs 3,560 crore and the Union government's shares of 67 percent is estimated at Rs. 2,380 crores. Chennai Port, which

has 33 per cent stake in the port from the beginning, now become a wholly owned subsidiary of Kamarajar Port after buying the remaining 67 percent from the Union government.

Recently, DIPAM completed strategic disinvestment of GOI stake of 66.67% in Kamarajar Port Ltd in favour of Chennai Port Trust at a consideration of Rs 2,383 crore.

When all the formalities are completed, Chennai Port will provide the Government's share of Rs 2,380 crore to the DIPAM Future of Kamarajar Port?

Commenting on the sales and future of the port, Shri S. Velumani, former CMD of Kamarajar Port, said: "I don’t understand why the government sold its shares in Kamarajar Port, which continue to be profitable through private investments and the only port which is likely to earn multiple returns in the future. Kamarajar Port has paid more than twice the amount invested by the Union Government and Chennai Port as dividend. Moreover, the Chennai Port has been facing revenue crunch for the past few years due to

various reasons.

In this case, the port must raise Rs 2,380 crore with the help of reserve fund in the bank to buy these S. Velumani, government's shares.

This former CMD of KPL, amount is not going to help the Union government in any way.

If the government indeed needed funds, they could have taken the stock market route to raise fund. The deal not going to benefit anyone – Union Government, Kamarajar and Chennai ports. Therefore, I assume that the profits from Kamarajar Port will be used to cover the financial shortfall of the Chennai Port. Kamarajar port is making huge profits with low investment and low number of employees.

Single management will come into effect by bringing it fully under the management of the Chennai Port. The growth of the Kamarajar port will surely be affected. It is true that the future of this port is in question."

Cruise Ships Adrift at Sea as Ports Turn Them Away Chennai

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Port Wings News Network orts around the globe are turning cruise ships away en mass amid the corona pandemic, leaving thousands of passengers stranded even as some make desperate pleas for help while sickness spreads aboard.

A Guardian analysis of ship tracking data has found that, as of Thursday, at least ten ships around the world – carrying nearly 10,000 passengers – are still stuck at sea after having been turned away from their destination ports in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic. Some of the ships are facing increasingly desperate medical situations, including one carrying hundreds of American, Canadian, Australian and British passengers, currently off the coast of Ecuador and seeking permission to dock in Florida.

The Holland America ship Zaandam, which has been stranded for days after Chile refused to allow the ship to dock in its original designation of San Antonio on 21 March, reportedly has 140 cases of respiratory illness on board, with some passengers needing breathing support.

The ship is steaming up the coast of South America, hoping to make it through the Panama Canal and dock in Florida. But the Florida port, where many of the passengers had planned to disembark on the final leg of the cruise, has refused to confirm that the ship can land.

While the Zaandam and at least two other ships still carrying passengers at sea have reported outbreaks of coronavirus-like respiratory illness onboard, other ships are being turned away from docking and unloading their passengers even with no signs of illness at all.

'WE NEED HELP’ Dramatic scenes of coronavirusstricken cruises, such as the Grand Princess in California and the Diamond Princess in Japan, have become synonymous with the pandemic. The plight of those still adrift highlights how cruise ships have become a kind of pariah of the seas, as cities push back against

becoming the next home for a potentially infected vessel.

Passengers who spoke with the Guardian describe being locked down in the cabins, with three daily meals left on the floor outside their doors. Meanwhile the number of people reporting influenza-like symptoms has almost tripled this week: 56 passengers and 89 crew members, passengers say the ship’s captain has told them. Four elderly passengers reportedly required oxygen.

But on Tuesday a port commission in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, delayed approving the Zaandam’s request, with some commissioners arguing the ship should be turned away because it didn’t originate in Florida, and others calling the situation a humanitarian crisis and saying the passengers should be allowed to disembark, according to the Miami Herald.

Amid the confusion, passengers began an online lobbying campaign to convince Florida officials to allow the boat to dock. “I am a US citizen and longtime Florida resident who is stranded at sea off the coast of South America,” wrote passenger Laura Gabaroni Huergo on Facebook on Wednesday. “Some (Florida) county officials are trying to turn us away and abandon us at sea to fend for ourselves. We need help getting a plan together to dock and return to our lives.”

Holland America said this week it had dispatched support in the form of another cruise ship carrying 611 extra staff, supplies and coronavirus test kits to meet up with the Zaandam, and that the cruise line is looking for other alternative locations to disembark passengers.

“As all ports along Zaandam’s route are closed to cruise ships, Holland America Line has deployed Rotterdam [the support vessel] to rendezvous with Zaandam and provide extra supplies, staff, Covid-19 test kits and other support as needed,” the company announced on Tuesday.

As of 26 March 2020, the Guardian had identified five ships in the Americas that were unable to unload nearly 6,000 passengers. At

least three other ships were having trouble off the coast of Australia, including one which sought urgent medical attention for an outbreak of respiratory illness. Two more ships were trying to get passengers to ports in Italy.

Lori Bessler, a southern California resident whose parents are stuck aboard the Coral Princess, another boat stranded off the coast of Brazil with no reported illness onboard, says she is nonetheless concerned for her family’s health and wellbeing. “My mom and stepdad are diabetics and ... we’re very concerned about them having enough medication to sustain them,” she told the Guardian.

Cruise ships are drawing increasing government scrutiny for not doing enough to protect their passengers during this pandemic.

In Florida, the attorney general’s office is investigating potentially misleading sales practices, after the Miami New Times obtained leaked emails showing representatives for Norwegian Cruise Lines may have downplayed the coronavirus in sales pitches to passengers, even as the pandemic was disrupting trips. “The Coronavirus can only survive in cold temperatures, so the Caribbean is a fantastic choice for your next cruise,” said one sales script obtained by the paper.

Most of the major cruise operators register their companies in countries such as Panama and Liberia, thereby avoiding most US taxes and labor laws. Thus, the cruise industry’s trade group said Thursday the companies will not have access to the US aid for large employers, according to the Washington Post.

Meanwhile a report from the US Centers for Disease Control this week laid the blame on cruise ships for spreading the virus in the crucial early weeks of the outbreak, linking hundreds of cases to the Diamond Princess and Grand Princess.

“Cruise ships are often settings for outbreaks of infectious diseases because of their closed environment, contact between travelers from many countries, and crew transfers between ships,” the CDC report concluded.

Apr. 1st - 7th Issue

Pragmatic and Realistic Relaxations on Compliances, FIEO Lauds Nirmala Sitharaman New Delhi Port Wings News Network ommenting on various flexibilities announced by the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, amidst Covid 19 challenges, Mr Sharad Kumar Saraf, President, FIEO said that the relaxation given in compliance and regulations in Direct and Indirect tax matters, MCA, IBC Code etc. are pragmatic and will ease the operational problem of taxpayers.

The extension of Dispute settlement scheme in Income Tax, Central Excise and Service till 30th June, 2020 will help the assessees to avail it as lockdown was imposing a big challenge to avail it by 31st March, 2020.

The operation of Customs clearance at all ports on 24 X 7 basis

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till 30th June, 2020 is most welcome yet all allied agencies ( statutory agencies, shipping lines, CHAs etc) should align their timings with Customs so that actual gain flows to the industry observed Mr Saraf.

Extension of all Sanitary Import Permits (SIPs) expiring between 1st March and 30th April, 2020 by three months, condonation of delayed imports by 30 days, reduction in time period of verification and

grant of NOC from 7days to 3 days etc. will benefit the Marine Sector, which is already feeling the pinch amidst Corona crisis with drop in demand said FIEO Chief.

Extension in time limit and procedure in various schemes of the Department of Commerce, though not yet detailed, should recognize the challenges faced by exporters/ importers thus giving adequate time to complete the export obligation (in view of slowdown in demand) and effect imports (faced with supplyside disruptions) opined President, FIEO. Mr Saraf also demanded that exports may be covered as “essential services” in view of tight delivery schedule thereby allowing factories and other stakeholders to operate, during lock down, with minimal workforce.

JNPT Reefer Containers Movement Hit as Migrant Truck Drivers Head Home Mumbai

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Port Wings News Network he movement of reefer containers outside the JNPT have been affected as about 50 per cent of the drivers have left for their hometown just before the lockdown. Those who have stayed back at the garages near the port fear police brutality once they hit the road, according a BusinessLIne report.

In trade, parlance refrigerated containers are called reefer boxes or reefer containers. They carry perishable items such as fruits, vegetables, frozen meat and lifesaving medicines.

A senior manager of a large refer company told BusinessLine that the movement of reefer containers has

been stalled due to driver shortage.

Until the buses and trains were functioning, drivers left sensing danger to their lives. It has been the same since the Janata curfew.

Yards where containers are tuned and made ready for a particularly perishable commodity was are also affected due to the lockdown. The yards ensure that the refrigeration systems in containers to set to a particular temperature. They also carry safety checks on the containers. Otherwise, the goods can go bad.

“Today, the grape season is full swing, the crop is satisfactory.

But due to these problems, the harvesting has been affected in Maharashtra. I have met drivers at the garages of large transporters for motivating them to resume duties.

We are telling then that driving the containers is serving. We are telling them that you cannot go to the military and serve the country but taking essential goods is also a service to the nation,” said the manager.

The manager added that the fear has set foot in the minds of the people about police brutality. But this is not true. Drivers are being motivated by saying that carrying goods such as essential lifesaving medicines, is also saving lives of the people.

Letters have also been issued to drivers so that in event of an kind of police barricades on the highway, the police could check with higher authorities. Hard copies of the cargo itinerary have been issued to the drivers so that their journey remains uninterrupted.

Adani Ports Declares Force Majeure at Mundra and Dhamra Ports Mumbai

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Port Wings News Network dani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), India’s biggest private port operating firm, has declared force majeure at its facilities in Mundra, Tuna and Dhamra in the wake of a threeweek lockdown imposed by the government to check the spread of Corona Virus, reports BusinessLIne. “In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, Port hereby notifies the "Force Majeure Event", wherein port will not be responsible for any claims, damages, charges, etc whatsoever arising out of and / or connected to the above Force

Majeure event, either directly or indirectly, which without any limitation would include vessel demurrages, inter alia due to preberthing or any other delays of whatsoever nature and accordingly the discharge rate guaranteed under the agreement shall also not be applicable for all vessels to be handled at port for any delay or disturbance in the port services during the Force Majeure period,” APSEZ said in a 24 March notice to the trade, adding that the event was effective from 22 March.

A force majeure clause absolves firms from meeting their contractual commitments for reasons beyond their control. APSEZ notified force

majeure separately for the three ports.

“Since the impact is ongoing, the port shall notify of the "Cessation of Force Majeure" based on further notifications / directives from the Central Government and State Government as the case may be,” it stated.

“At this juncture, we would also like to inform that Port Services are categorized as Essential Services and therefore, in the interest to protect and secure the supply chain of the industries, we are whole-heartedly endeavouring to continue the port operations with the kind support of Government Authorities,” it added.

National Union of Seafarers of India Pledges Rs. 25 Lakhs Towards Relief Efforts to Fight COVID 19 Chennai

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Port Wings News Network ational Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI) initiatives is pledging an amount of Rs. 25 Lakhs towards the relief efforts to fight the CORONA Virus - COVID 19.

In a media statement, NUSI said: "We are all aware about the dreaded CORONA VIRUS - COVID 19 which is resulted in lockdown of our

beloved country India along with the rest of the world. To overcome the CORONA Virus is a big challenge.

The Indian Government is doing its best under the circumstances.

The Merchant Navy fraternity is also in the forefront to help our Indian Government. The Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has appealed for financial contributions to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund.

The Merchant Navy fraternity has

vowed to support as we have done in the past.

The National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI) and the Maritime Union of India (MUI) is appealing to the entire Merchant Navy fraternity to contribute to this noble cause.

We will soon share the details of the bank accounts where the individual seafarers and company contributions can be made. A collective approach is far better under the circumstances."

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Minister Mandaviya Reviews Preparedness & Activities of all Major Ports to Deal With COVID-19 Outbreak

New Delhi Port Wings News Network n connection with the COVID-19 outbreak, Minister of State (I/C) for Shipping Shri Mansukh Mandaviya on 24 March 2020 reviewed situation at all major ports regarding cargo handling, SOP, payment to casual labourers, etc., through video conferencing, with all the Chairpersons of ports and Director General, Shipping in

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this pandemic situation.

More than 90% of exim cargo is handled through ports. For proper and smooth maintenance of the supply chain, the Ministry of Shipping is taking all-round measures. For easy movement of cargo at ports, the Ministry of Shipping has prepared Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to be adhered at all ports to fight against COVID-19.

Indian Inc Seeks 10-point Boost Plan From Govt for Exporters New Delhi Port Wings News Network ndian industry has come up with a 10-point export boost plan for the beleaguered sector amid the lockdown effected by the Covid-19 pandemic, says an ET report.

The plan drawn up by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) covers everything from extending the 5% interest subvention scheme to all exporters to onetime extensions of customs duty payments and filing bill of entry.

“The short-term impact on exports has started showing up with exporters facing liquidity crunch as customer’s payments are not coming through and shipments of ready goods are not able to leave the factory or lying at the port because of lock-down situation globally,” said Chandrajit Banerjee, director general of CII. At the top of the list, exporters suggest that consignments which are ready for shipment should be allowed to be transported from the manufacturer’s factory or warehouse to the customs facility.

The lockdown has resulted in transportation delays leading to various costs and charges piling up for manufacturers, exporters and importers.

With regard to the customs duty payments, they have asked that deferment should be extended from March to June to ease financial pressures.

To address liquidity issues, the plan suggested expediting GST refunds and extending the moratorium on loan, interest payments, utility payments and declaration of NPAs by banks by at least six months.

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The sector also seeks the waiver of shipping line demurrage and container freight station charges as the import container clearance time has gone up due to the lockdown.

Demurrage is a charge payable to the owner of a chartered ship on failure to load or discharge the ship within the time agreed.

To ease the congestion resulting from compliance norms, the CII has suggested all bills of entries should be processed based on selfdeclaration of the importer. In case of any deficiencies, the importer’s

undertaking should be accepted and cargo be released.

A bill of entry is a declaration by an importer or exporter of the exact nature, precise quantity and value of goods that have landed or are being shipped out.

For easy access to credit, the plan suggested packing credit be increased by at least 25% for exporters and the threshold for returning export packing credit be increased from 180 days to 360 days.

It also asked banks to consider sanctioning and releasing at least 20% of contract value as special cash credit funding to companies executing export contracts.

The CII also recommended all export benefits as per the current Foreign Trade Policy should be continued until June 30 or the announcement of new policy.

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Apr. 1st - 7th Issue

V.O. Chidambaranar Port Adheres to all Safety Rice Exporters Rue 30% Spike in Shipping Freight to US, Europe Measures to Prevent Spreading of COVID-19 Tuticorin Port Wings News Network he operations of seaports are covered under Essential Services and are exempted from lockdown, so that all essential goods are made available to the public in a seamless manner.

Some of the basic commodities

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Port is taking all precautionary measures by stringently following the instructions / SOPs received from time to time Ministry of Shipping, Government of India, Directorate General of Shipping, Mumbai, Government of Tamil

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handled by the Port include, Coal for thermal power generation, Petroleum products to cater to energy needs, edible oil and food grains and mission critical medical equipment etc. Bulk commodities and Container are handled through mechanized means and required minimum human intervention or working in large groups.

To keep the supply chain operating at this time of crisis, and to serve the needs of the public in large, it is imperative that Port operations are continued. Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India had issued orders ( No.403/2020-DM-I-(A) dated 25th March 2020), Ministry of Shipping have issued orders (No14033/4/2020-PDVII dated 24.03.2020), Directorate General of Shipping, Mumbai have issued Orders (No. 04 of 2020 date 20.03.2020), Highways and Minor Ports Department, Government of Tamilnadu has also issued orders (No.4 Prl. Secy/H&MP Dept., Dated 26.03.2020) which permit operation of Seaports, since they come under list of exempted & essential services essential / Activities. Also, necessary SOPs have been prescribed.

In order to ensure safe and effective Port operations, VOC

Nadu and the Standard Operating procedures issued by the Port Health Organization, Tuticorin, functioning Under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

BERTHING ONLY AFTER QUARANTINE PERIOD OF 14 DAYS As per the orders issued by DG (Shipping), Vessels arriving directly from any Port in China or transiting through Chinese Ports are allowed for berthing only after quarantine period of 14 days from the date of departure of the vessel from the Chinese Port.

Vessels arriving from Ports of other affected countries as identified

by Ministry of Health and Family welfare, Government of India before 14 days of departure from the infected Port, or having seafarers embarked on the vessel who have been in infected regions within 14 days of arrival at any Indian port shall need to comply with additional measures including wearing of PPEs like N-95 masks, gloves etc.

In addition, regular maritime PPE like shoes, helmet, working gloves etc. are to be worn as per the existing practices of the ports, Hand hygiene at all times to be practiced by all the operational staff and Disposal of PPE shall be as per the guidelines of MoHFW, Govt. of India.

All ships arriving from any of

the Ports are mandated to produce prearrival documents like Maritime declaration of Health, Port of call list, crew list, Medical log copy, any shore medical visit or Radio medical advice or medical evacuation or sign off done in last 1 month, Ship sanitation exemption certificate / medicine chest certificate and International Health Regulations 2005- nCoV 2019- format by the Ship Agent prior to 72 hours of arrival to the Port Health Officer (PHO). Only after scrutiny of the above documents and screening procedures, clearance is granted by PHO and Customs and Immigration formalities are carried out for discharge of cargo operations by the Port. Moreover, no Crew disembarking is allowed and no shore passes are issued to crew members to prevent them from leaving the ship & to ensure safe operations.

The Port and Terminals are operating with only minimum number of essential employees as required to carry out Port operations.

In addition, all employees performing the operational activities are provided with adequate protective gears and advised to observe appropriate health and hygiene practices.

In addition, the stakeholders of the Port like Customs, Immigration, Mercantile Marine Department, Terminal Operators, Shipping Agents, Stevedores, Container Freight Stations and Truck transport operators have also been advised to follow all SOPs and precautionary measures like maintaining social distancing, practice of Hygiene and Cough Etiquette and usage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) and advisories issued time to time from Port Health Officer.

The Public are requested not to believe and spread any rumours by uninformed elements. The District Collector has also been requested to take appropriate action against those spreading rumours. Public are requested to co-operate to ensure that the essential goods reach in time and there are no shortages.

FIEO Hails RBI Decision, Says Required Booster Dose to Domestic Economy Given New Delhi Port Wings News Network ailing the comprehensive announcement made by the RBI Governor on 27 March 2020, Mr Sharad Kumar Saraf, President, FIEO said that it will hugely benefit not only the banking system but also the Indian economy.

The reduction in the Repo rate by 75 basis points to 4.4% and Reverse repo by 90 basis points to 4% will reduce the cost of credit.

The reduction in CRR by 100 basis points to 3% for 1 year to release 1.37 lakh crores will address the liquidity, which is the need of the hour, observed FIEO Chief.

Three months moratorium on payment of installments of Term Loan outstanding, deferring of Interest on Working Capital facilities by 3 months and not considering such deferment for NPA will benefit all particularly the MSME. Mr Saraf suggested that RBI may clarify that deferment of interest on Working Capital covers pre-shipment exports credit also.

President FIEO said that RBI acknowledges that the

H

world economy is standstill and many countries will soon be in recession and therefore should bring a separate relief package for exporters providing them relief from interest and penalties on overdue export bills, forward booking of foreign currency etc.

All pre and post shipment finance to exporter to have extended due date by 90 days on auto route observed Mr Saraf.

Bank should not charge interest on month end basis. Interest to be charged after 30 June 2020 on all types of loans. No interest to be debited from today till 30 June on any of exim loans.

COVID-19 IMPACT: TIRUPUR EXPORTERS ASSOCIATION HAILS RESERVE BANK OF INDIA MEASURES Tirupur Exporters Association (TEA) has lauded the measures taken by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in the prevailing condition due to COVID-19 outbreak.

Shri Raja M Shanmugam, President, TEA, thanked the RBI governor for considering the major requisition and providing

three months moratorium on payment Mr. Sharad Kumar Saraf, i n s t a l l m e n t s President, FIEO of term loan outstanding and interest on working capital facilities to be deferred by three months at this hour of crisis.

He further lauded the measure like deferment will not be classified as NPA. Shri Raja M Shanmugam appreciated that in respect of working capital facilities sanctioned in the form of cash credit/overdraft, the banks may recalculate drawing power by reducing margins and/or by reassessing the working capital cycle for the borrowers.

While thanking the Prime Minister and Finance Minister also, Shri Raja M Shanmugam hoped other measures would also be announced soon to support and reenergizes the knitwear sector.

New Delhi Port Wings News Network asmati rice exporters said the sharp increase of about 30% in freight rates of shipping containers in the past few weeks had hit them hard, even as they jostled to deliver consignments from the largest rice exporting country to overseas destinations including the United States and Europe, according to an ET report.

The increase in logistics overheads is set to shrink margins even as foreign payments gets delayed in the pandemichit global market, f e e l s exporters.

Rice exporters have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking help in streamlining the distortions in international logistics and domestic inland transportations to ensure cereal supply to a pandemic-hit world. India exports rice to more than 90 countries and the figure for total basmati shipments stood at $ 3398 million during April-January 2019-20. The figure was $4712 million in 201819.

“Shipping containers’ freight rates have increased 20-30% in the past four weeks, and it has increased cost overheads at a time payments in global trade are prone to delays,” said Ashok Sethi, director, Punjab Rice Millers Exporters Association.

He said the association has requested the PM to extend interest subvention on bank loans in case of delayed payments by foreign buyers

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due to Covid-19.

Although the global demand for Indian premium rice has recorded an increase in the past few weeks, exporters are wary of fluctuations in currency that would be exaggerated in case of late payments.

“Bank penalties are heavy in such cases and have hit trade hard in recent years,” said Arvinder Pal Singh, president, Punjab Rice Millers Exporters Association. He said the industry is expected to face cost overheads also due to labour shortage in the wake of measures taken to contain the spread of the viral disease.

L e a d i n g basmati rice exporters in Punjab, including Lal Mahal, Supple Tek Industry and DD International, said increasing overheads threatened to shrink their margins despite the robust demand.

A senior executive of a leading shipping company said freights had risen as the industry looked to bridge the dent in business caused by the steep fall in shipments from China.

“High cost of cleaner fuel and tighter allocation of space due to increase in consignments from India are among factors that led to an increase in freight charges in recent weeks,” said the executive, who did not wish to be identified.

He said the availability of additional open space in the past due to high shipments from China had kept freight rates low for Indian exporters. “Freight rates are up 12-25% in the past three weeks depending on destination,” he added.

Bharat Mumbai Container Terminals Announces Extension of Free Storage Period For Imports Mumbai

W

Port Wings News Network ith the COVID-19 situation, many users are currently facing difficulties in arranging transport to evacuate containers from our terminal due to a shortage of manpower and resources.

To assist the trade and endusers, Bharat Mumbai Container Terminals (BMCT) is extending the free storage period of ALL import containers, laden and empty, for an additional 3 days until 31st March 2020.

It may be noted that BMCT continues to operate as normal, providing one of the Essential Services highlighted by the Government of India, with added safety and hygiene measures in place.

"We are continuing to monitor the situation closely and will review this again before 31st March 2020, depending on utilisation and other factors. Alongside you, we are doing our utmost to keep the File Photo

trade moving in these difficult and unprecedented times and express our thanks in advance for your close cooperation," read a statement issued by BMCT authority.

For further clarifications, customers can reach BMCT at document@bmctpl.com.

Apr. 1st - 7th Issue

5

Recorded Cargo Crimes in EMEA Double in a Year to 8,548 Incidents; Losses Exceeding €137 Million

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Chennai

Port Wings News Network argo thefts from supply chains in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) more than doubled to 8,548 incidents in 2019 and involved losses of product worth well over €137 million, according to the Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA).

The incident rate is the highest recorded in TAPA’s 23-year history as the leading Security Expert Network for everyone in the supply chain and reflects criminal attacks on all modes of transport; air cargo, ocean freight, road freight and rail freight.

In its Incident Information Service (IIS) Annual Report 2019, the Association also reveals average losses for major cargo crimes of €536,889 and an average daily loss in the EMEA region last year of €378,058.

The intelligence data is based on cargo losses reported to TAPA’s IIS by international law enforcement agencies, insurers, manufacturers and logistics service providers.

Despite the high numbers, however, the Association continues to emphasise that it is still not receiving reports on the large majority of cargo crimes it believes are taking place across the region.

In 2019, the number of incidents rose 114.7% to 8,548 versus 3,981 in 2018. Of these, only 39.1% of reports provided any financial value for the goods stolen, which accounted for a combined €137,991,499.

The Association also recorded thefts from supply chains in more countries in the EMEA region than ever before – 48 in total compared to 35 in the previous year.

Of this total, 10 countries accounted for 94.6% of the cargo crimes reported in 2019: • Germany – 2,905, up 1,945% year-onyear; • France – 1,542 – up 817.8%; • United Kingdom – 1,199, down 53.6%; • Netherlands – 680, up 55.6%; • Sweden – 607, up 1,114%; • Spain – 388, up 53.9%; • Russia – 371, up 290.5%; • Italy – 159, up 174.1%; • Belgium – 120, up 118.1%, and • South Africa – 118, up 195%.

While the UK was the only country to report fewer incidents to TAPA’s incident database in 2019, the Association is aware that UK police have information on more than 4,000 cargo crimes across the country over the course of the year.

Higher incident rates were also recorded in many other countries in the region, including: Czech Republic – 73, up 421%; Romania – 68, up 165.3%; Denmark – 50, up 1,150%; Hungary – 44, up 450%, and Poland – 40, up 344.4%.

The biggest single loss reported to TAPA’s IIS in 2019 was the theft of €17,440,800 of jewellery/precious metals stolen from an Origin Facility in Gauteng province in South Africa. This was one of 19 crimes with 7- and 8-figure loss values. Overall, the 179 major cargo thefts last year – classified as incidents with a loss of €100,000 or more – represented a total loss of €96,103,152.

Trucks continued to be the biggest target for cargo thieves Losses were recorded in 16 separate TAPA IIS product categories, with 12 suffering combined losses of €1 million or far higher; phones, clothing and footwear, cosmetics and

tactic to force drivers to stop their vehicles was another M.O. reported to the Association.

Growing at a record rate in the EMEA region since 2014 Commenting on the 2019 data, TAPA EMEA’s President & CEO, Thorsten

hygiene products, car parts, computers/laptops, cash, jewellery/precious metals, furniture/ household appliances, food and drink, metal, tobacco, sports equipment, and no load (theft of truck and/or trailer).

Trucks continued to be the biggest target for cargo thieves, featuring in some 95% of all freight losses in the EMEA region. The lack of secure truck parking remained one of the most significant contributors to these crimes, with drivers forced to park their vehicles at service stations, in laybys and on industrial estates while taking mandatory rest breaks. TAPA’s Parking Security Requirements (PSR) industry standard is working to identify and encourage a network of truck parking places which meet its members’ requirements. Already, this has gained the support of Parking Place Operators in 10 countries across the region, with more in the pipeline. In total, 4,602 of the crimes reported in 2019 occurred in unclassified parking places. Smaller vans involved in Last Mile deliveries also faced a high level of risk.

During 2019, only 220 Theft from Facility crimes were recorded, reflecting the growing reluctance of cargo thieves to take the risk of targeting warehouses and distribution centres where security systems and on-site personnel increase their chances of getting caught.

Fake driver and company identities Attacks on trucks continued to mostly involve so-called ‘curtain slashing’ as thieves cut the tarpaulin curtains of parked trucks to reach the goods inside. Drivers also faced extreme violence in many of these attacks.

At least two drivers lost their lives in cargo crimes in 2019 while others were threatened by violent offenders armed with guns, knives and other weapons.

Other modus operandi used by cargo thieves during the year included a significant number of fraudulent pick-ups by offenders using fake driver and company identities, and cloned vehicles – often after being awarded loads through online freight exchanges for available transport capacity. GPS jammers were once again used to block vehicle tracking signals is some truck hijackings, while the ‘blue light’

Neumann, said: “Cargo crime has been growing at a record rate in the EMEA region since 2014 and previous analysis by the European Parliament and industry associations put the total cost at more than €8 billion a year in Europe alone. Our statistics only show the incidents reported directly to our IIS database but they are the best possible indicator of the growing risks companies are facing and, naturally, a significant cause of concern for supply chain security, loss prevention and risk management professionals."

Thorsten Neumann stated: “There is no doubt that the supply chains of TAPA members globally are among the most resilient in the industry because of the steps they are taking to protect goods in transit or being stored in facilities. This includes adopting our industry standards for facilities and trucking operations.

However, for the industry-at-large, the risks are now greater than at any time this century.”

He also advised companies to consider the ‘bigger picture’ of TAPA’s cargo crime data, adding: “Some countries stand out simply because of their high rates of crime reported to our IIS database. This, however, does not mean they are bigger crime hotspots than anywhere else in EMEA. It just means our sources of intelligence in these countries are more willing to use the information they have at their disposal to reduce cargo crime in the most effective ways possible. Frankly, we need more partners with this positive approach.

When supply chain security professionals in our Manufacturing and Logistics Service Provider members need to determine the level of risk on a particular route or in a specific country, our IIS database gives them high quality, credible intelligence on which to base their decisions. So, the greatest risk is often in countries where we have little information on the activities of cargo thieves, making it harder to manage these risks.”

TAPA’s full 56-page Incident Information Service (IIS) Annual Report 2019 was produced exclusively for global members of the Association.

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6

Vessel Position at Terminals - (01.04.2020 To 08.04.2020)

Apr. 1st - 7th Issue

7

CITPL - Chennai

CCTL - Chennai ETA

ETD

Service

Vessel Name

Voy

Agent/Line

Calling Ports

30/03

31/03

COST

TCI VIJAY

1334

TCI1

Port klang

30/03

31/03

COST

MCP LINZ

032

SCI1

Port klang

31/03

1-4

SIF

SPIRIT OF MUMBAI

014

MSC1

Colombo

3-4

4-4

CCG

MESSINI

100

EMC1

ETA

ETD

Service

Vessel Name

Voy

Agent/Line

30/03

31/03

TCXNEW

X PRESS JERSEY

20003

SCM

Calling Ports Chennai WestPort Klang, North Port Klang, Singapore, Laem Chabang Krishnapatnam, West Port Klang ,

01/04

Ali, Bandar Abbas, Dammam

ETA

ETD

Service

Vessel Name

Voy

Agent/Line

Calling Ports

28/03

29/03

KAK, KRI

SSL VISAKHAPATNAM

100

IMPERIAL

Halida, Colombo

902

BOTHRA SHIPPING

3-4

KAK, IXZ

TCI LAKSHMI

31/03

04/04

ETD 1-4

5-4

Service C13

ACS

Vessel Name ALEXANDRIA BRIDGE HYUNDAI PRARAMOUNT

Voy 108W

Agent/Line ONE

HMM

Tuticorin, cochin, Pipava, Kandla, Jebel

6-4

TCX

VERMONT TRADER

6

RCF

6-4

7-4

SHTL

MARATHOPILIS

2012

MSK

8-4

9-4

CCG

MESSINI

100W

EMC

Singapore, Cailan, Busan, Ulsan,

ETD

Service

Vessel Name

1-4

2-4

ME3

MAERSK KIMI

Voy

Klang, Singapore, Laem Chabang

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

Agent/Line

Calling Ports

MSK

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

1-4

2-4

NMG

XPRESS GUERNSEY

SEC

2-4

3-4

PS3

ATHENS GLORY

ONE

2-4

3-4

MINA

NINGBO EXPRESS

HLI

02/04

03/04

FME

ZANTE

077E

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

FM3

MAERSK TAIKUNG

MSK

Pipavav, Port Klang, Singapore,

06/04

07/04

TCXNEW

VERMONT TRADER

006E

Port, Izmlt Korfezi, Novorosslysk 6-4

CIX3

OOCL WASHINGTON

OCL

07/04

08/04

ASX

OEL JUMEIRAH

SMM

Jebel Ali, Mundra, Hazira, Nhava Sheva Jebel Ali, Mundra, Hazira, Nhava Sheva

NSICT - Mumbai Voy

Agent/Line

RCF

Port Klang, Singapore, Laem Chabang

NCT, Krishnapatnam ETD

Service

Vessel Name

Voy

Agent/Line

Calling Ports

31/03

01/04

ACS

Hyundai Premium

065E

Hyundai, RCL & XCL

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

06/04

07/04

CHX

Melina

015E

Maersk & Safmarine

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

05/04

06/04

IEX

AL Safat

2009E

Hapag ,ONE,COSCO,OOC

Colombo, Damietta Piraes Rotterdam, London

3-4

4-4

VCH-2

Kapitan Afanasyev

101

MSC & NVOs

Colombo

08/04

09/04

COASTAL

SSL Sabaramalai

57

Colombo

30/03

31/03

ECX

SSL Visakhapatnam

101

Haldia, Paradip

04/04

05/04

MEARSK SHUTTLE

Marathopolis

2012

Colombo, Salalah

5-4

6-4

PIX-2

SSL Krishna

17

Haldia, Colombo

Bharat Mumbai Container Terminal ETA

ETD

Service

Vessel Name

Voy

Agent/Line

Calling Ports

03/04

03/04

SWAX

LOUISE

K1745

CMA

DAR, JEC, JEA, MUN, MBA

05/04

06/04

CIX

HYUNDAI FAITH

K1752

HMM

KHI, DCB, HKG, SIN, NGB, PKG, QOE, SHA, MUN, SHK, PUS, HAZ, OAK, LGB, KAN

05/04

06/04

AACI

COSCO OCEANIA

K1748

COS

SIN, NGB, SHK, NSA, SHA, KHI, LGB, LCH, SEA, CMB

06/04

07/04

CIX

HYUNDAI MERCURY

K1784

HMM

KHI, DCB, HKG, SIN, NGB, PKG, QOE, SHA, MUN, SHK, PUS, HAZ, OAK, LGB, KAN

Pipavav, Hazira, JNPT, Jebel Ali, Salalah, Port Said, Mersin, Ambarli

5-4

Pusan, Shanghai, Hong Kong Chennai WestPort Klang, North

Shangai, Ningbo, Xiamen 5-4

Port Klang, Singapore, Manila,

RCF

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

4-4

Singapore, Cailan, Busan, Ulsan,

Chennai WestPort Klang, North Port

APM Terminal - Mumbai ETA

BTL

ali

Shanghai, Ningbo, Yantian

05/04

1663E

Calling Ports

Krishnapatnam, West Port Klang , 52

TRF KAYA

Shanghai, Ningbo, Yantian

ETA

Kattupalli ETA

MD1

Cochin, Nhava Sheva, Mundra, Jebel

Kakinada Container Terminal

2-4

02/04

ETA

ETD

Service

Vessel Name

Calling Ports

1-4

2-4

BMM

INTER SYDNEY

EMS

1-4

2-4

MESAWA

ALS FLORA

CCA

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

2-4

3-4

INDUS

MSC NOA

MSC

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

3-4

4-4

MIDAS

MS EAGLE

CCA

Nhava Sheva, Mundra, Port Qasim, Singapore

4-4

5-4

MWE

HUGO SCHULTE

MSK

5-4

6-4

MECL

MAERSK DETROIT

MSK

7-4

8-4

IIX

NEGAR

RIS

8-7

9-4

MESAWA

CMA CGM JAMAICA

CCA

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

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

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.

States Told to Curb Thermal Coal Imports New Delhi Port Wings News Network ndia houses the fourth largest resources in the world yet thermal coals were being imported and should be stopped, Union Minister for Coal Pralhad Joshi said.

While replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha, the Coal Minister said states have been asked to stop thermal coal imports and added that a lobby was active in some states that was behind dry- fuel imports despite sufficient domestic stock.

“There is no hesitation in saying that in many states some import lobby is also working.

Though in last three-four months we have enough stock some of the Gencos are importing.

This is the major problem,” Joshi said.

Making it clear that he was not politicising the issue, the minister said many states are importing thermal coal which is substitutable.

“I have written to all chief ministers including of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Telangana, Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu requesting them to direct all Gencos to maximise the coal lifting and stop coal imports,” he said.

The minister said he has also asked Power Minister R K Singh to ask NTPC to totally stop the imports.

All thermal power plants have a stock of

I

23 days which is the highest ever in recent history, he added.

The minister cautioned states to utilise domestic coal on a priority basis as the present stock has a maximum life of 30 years.

The minister said though coal production this year remained impacted due to “incessant and unprecedented” rains, the production increased post December.

On commercial mining, he said a new system for E auction of mines has been put in place besides stringent action against nonperformers.

Also, captive mine owners have been allowed to sell 25 percent of the coal over and above end-use.

Thermal coal is used in power generation.

About coking coal which is mostly used in steel production, the minister said the country has not sufficient stock but Jharia coalmines which has the highest such stock was being redeveloped.

“Jharia Redevelopment Authority is there.

We are supporting that … Rehabiliation will done at the earliest,” he said in reply to a supplementary.

India imported 235.24 million tonnes of coal in 2018-19 whereas imports for the current fiscal up to December stood at 186.64, the minister said. The value of imported coal during last fiscal was estimated at $2,4513 million.

Apr. 1st - 7th Issue

New Russian Railways Service Now Connects Scandinavia and China by Rail Chennai

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Port Wings News Network SC UTLC ERA (part of Russian Railways), together with Mukran Port (Germany) and the Port of Baltiysk (Kaliningrad Oblast), is launching regular multimodal container service between Scandinavia and China using unified CIM/SMGS consignment notes.

This new service greatly simplifies logistics and reduces the time and cost of transporting goods.

Before, shippers from Scandinavian

countries had to consolidate cargo at major European terminals such as Hamburg or Duisburg and then ship by land.

That's no longer the case. The cargo now arrives by ship at Mukran Port for further processing and is then sent multimodally through the Port of Baltiysk and then Lithuania, Belarus, Russia, and Kazakhstan to the consignee in China with a single CIM/SMGS consignment note.

It takes about 15 days to ship from the Swedish port to its final destination in China, as opposed to 60 days by sea. Freight trains will be sent weekly, forming pairs of trains going both directions.

CIM/SMGS consignment notes

are valid in China, Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, and Europe, so there's no need to reissue waybills along the route, preventing the possibility of errors occurring when reissuing documents and optimizing transportation costs, technology, and delivery time.

Russian Railways Started to Transit Sanctioned Goods Through Russia JSC Russian Railways Logistics and JSC UTLC ERA (part of Russian Railways) have begun shipping sanctioned goods from Europe to China in transit through Russia using electronic navigation seals.

The first cargo, a shipment of frozen salmon, was delivered from the Netherlands to Duisburg, and then it left for China by rail on March 21. It has crossed the Russian border and is traveling in an accelerated container train to Xi'an and then on to the consignee in Shanghai.

The test dispatch was carried out in close cooperation between JSC Russian Railways Logistics, UTLC ERA and its reliable foreign partners, the Federal Customs Service, the Federal Service for Supervision of Transport, and others.

The refrigerated-container transportation route passes through Belarus and Kazakhstan along one of the UTLC ERA routes. The electronic seals are applied at the Smolensk Marshalling Yard railway station and removed at station Kartaly I. This new Russian Railways

service will make better use of the country's transit and logistics potential, increase traffic volumes, and increase transit transparency, and the protection of national interests and the economic security of the country will be ensured.

The first test shipment is planned along the northern transit route through Zabaykalsk in the near future.

The ability to transit sanctioned goods through Russia with the use of electronic navigation seals was established by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 290 of June 24, 2019.

The sanctioned goods will be monitored using a transportation tracking system that allows for collecting, processing, storing, and automatically transferring data about the location and safety of goods to regulatory agencies.

The cargo-tracking system featuring navigation seals is a largescale project being developed with the Federal Customs Service of Russia, the Federal Service for Supervision of Transport, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Agriculture, and Russian Railways.

This system will be another step in the development of electronic interactions between shippers, carriers, and regulatory agencies.

In addition, the shipper will have detailed information on the location of the cargo. The electronic seal will ensure higher cargo safety and send an alert in the case of any tampering, making it possible act quickly to prevent theft or damage to the shipment.

COVID-19 Hits Ship Recycling Works in India, Pakistan Chennai

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Port Wings News Network he coronavirus pandemic has practically paralysed the ship demolition market in South Asia as lockdown measures continue to be introduced across the subcontinent.

Pakistan suspended all beaching and boarding of vessels at Gadani ship recycling yards last week for a minimum period of four weeks. All ship recyclers have been instructed to strictly comply with these latest orders.

India has also ordered a suspension of recycling for all ships arriving at Alang whose last port departure was after 13 March 2020.

Those that departed a port earlier than March 13, will be allowed to arrive at Alang, however, foreign crews will be subject to a quarantine of 14 days at the port of arrival at Alang.

Cash buyer of ships for recycling GMS said that several ships have been detained at Alang anchorage this week, with authorities refusing to provide anchoring permissions.

Even those with Indian crew on board are going through rigorous medical checks, questioning, and procedures, before being allowed entry.

“As Pakistan and India close their doors on all foreign ships arriving (with India also canceling all international flights), the reality

is that subcontinent recycling locations will remain quiet as long as the coronavirus crisis persists,” GMS said in its weekly market review.

“Global government efforts and the ongoing focus remains on fighting this virulent pandemic, and whilst shipping markets continue to struggle – this is certainly the least

ports adopting new restrictions, more owners will seek the ‘as is’ deal to avoid the last voyage to the recycling destinations – therefore it will be on the shoulders of the cash buyer to carry the burden of how they would dispose of the unit at a later stage.

The only subcontinent location that remains open at present is

NEWS - BITS Russia’s Foreign Trade Cargo to be Completely Redirected to Domestic Ports Russia’s foreign trade cargo will be completely redirected to domestic ports by 2022-2023, IAA PortNews correspondent cites Aleksandr Poshivai, head of Rosmorrechflot (Federal Marine and River Transport Agency), as saying at the extended meeting of Rosmorrechflot’s Board and Public Council.

“Roadmaps have been developed for all major exporters. They include targets and special activities. Provision are made for phase-by-phase redirection (of Russian foreign trade cargo - Ed.) to both the existing terminals of Russian ports and those under construction. It is to be finalized by 2022 excluding hazardous chemicals the redirection of which is to be fully completed by 2023”, said the official.

Aleksandr Poshivai emphasized that transshipment of Russia’s foreign trade cargo via the ports of Baltic states and Ukraine in 2019 reduced by almost 6 million tonnes, year-on-year.

69th Navigation Season Opened in Volga-Don Basin of Inland Waterways On 26 March 2020, Volgograd hydrosystem hosted the ceremonial opening of the 69th navigation season of the Volga-Don Basin. According to Federal Marine and River Transport Agency (Rosmorrechflot), the first ships to pass the Lock No 30 were M/V Kapitan Krasnov and M/V VolgoDon177 of Volga Shipping Company.

In the southern part of the Volga-Don Basin navigation is open from March 24. The first ships to pass the Konstantinovsky Lock were the Electra, Entselad and Maya tankers of Prime Shipping.

To ensure successful navigation, routine repair and reconstruction of facilities in the Volga-Don Basin had been performed, says the statement.

Volga-Don Administration runs 2,187.5 km of waterways in the Volgograd, Rostov, Voronezh and Lipetsk Regions as well as in the Krasnodar Territory and the Republic of Adygeya. Included is the 101-kilometer long Volga-Don Canal with its 96 hydraulic engineering structures, 13 locks, 3 pumpstations, 17 dams and 2 emergency repair barriers.

Port of Gdansk is fully operational

Port of Gdansk say it is fully operational. At the moment, cargo handling in the port is carried out smoothly, with proper caution and care for the safety and health of port employees.

In these difficult moments, we are focused on safety and that's why we have decided to provide the highest possible protection of employees against the risk of COVID-19 infection.

We have introduced remote work for the greatest possible number of employees. For those still working in the Company's office, we have installed dispensers with a disinfectant at the entrance to the building and in its passageways. Our employees have been provided with materials for disinfecting keyboards and phones. We have also taken care of shipyard workers, who are equipped with personal protective equipment (disinfection liquid).

Currently and until further notice, all business trips, both domestic and foreign have been cancelled. Moreover, we have reduced to an absolute minimum all visits and internal meetings that gather more than 5 people.

We have replaced them with online meetings and teleconferences.

We have organised a special quarantine room, assigned for an employee suspected of coronavirus infection.

CUSTOMS EXCHANGE RATES Notification No.34/2020 (N.T.) ALL RATES PER UNIT

of the international communities’ concerns at present.”

It is no surprise that there is a lack of activity given the current market situation, however, interest from some buyers to acquire tonnage remains, Clarksons Platou Shipbroking said in its report last week.

“Several capesize bulkers continue to be discussed in the arena, but confidence from the cash buyers may restrict numbers placed on the negotiating tables. The market is not flush of cash buyers, several are reportedly facing difficulties with cash flow positions, and there is certainly more strain on those cash buyers active in the current climate.”

Clarksons added that with many

Bangladesh with several deals concluded this week, according to GMS, as owners scramble to finalize deals before an almost total global lockdown is eventually enforced.

Finally, Turkey is also expected to follow suit with the suspension of activities as vessels start to be turned away from Aliaga and reports of deals failing start to emerge, GMS believes.

“As European markets grind to a halt and a non-essential travel bans come into effect at various EU countries, it’s only a matter of time until Turkey follows suit. As such, this unintended closure, should it come into effect, may just be what the doctor ordered, given this markets plummet this week,” the cash buyer said.

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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 28th March 2020

RATE (INR) Import Export 45.05 200.95 52.10 10.75 11.10 83.20 9.80 249.50 45.30 7.30 93.65 21.25 20.60 52.50 4.45 7.35 78.90 11.90 21.05 75.75 69.80 6.35

42.95 195.60 50.35 10.45 10.75 80.20 9.45 234.05 43.10 7.05 90.35 19.95 19.35 50.80 4.15 7.10 75.85 11.20 19.75 74.05 67.30 5.95

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

Air Cargo Bottlenecks Could Put Lives at Risk, IATA Seeks Urgent Government Action Chennai

Port Wings News Network he International Air Transport Association (IATA) and its members renewed their call to governments to take urgent measures to ensure that vital air cargo supply lines remain open, efficient and effective.

Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO, said, “Air cargo is a vital partner in the global fight against COVID-19.

But we are still seeing examples of cargo flights filled with life-saving medical supplies and equipment grounded due to cumbersome and bureaucratic processes to secure slots and operating permits. These delays are endangering lives. All governments need to step up to keep global supply chains open.”

The COVID-19 crisis has seen almost the entire world-wide passenger aircraft fleet grounded; a fleet which normally transports almost half of total air cargo shipments. Airlines are scrambling to meet the gap between cargo demand and available lift by all means possible, including reintroducing freighter services and using passenger aircraft for cargo operations. To support these efforts, governments need to remove key obstacles by: Introducing fast track procedures for overflight and landing permits for cargo operations, particularly in key manufacturing hubs in Asia -- China, Korea and Japan -- in response to the increased number of cargo charters replacing withdrawn passenger operations; Exempting flight crew members who do not interact with the public from 14-day quarantine requirements to ensure cargo supply chains are maintained; Supporting temporary traffic rights for cargo operations where restrictions may apply; Removing economic impediments, such as overflight charges, parking

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fees, and slot restrictions to support air cargo operations during these unprecedented times; and by Removing operating hour curfews for cargo flights to facilitate the most flexible global air cargo network operations.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reiterated the importance of air cargo in the fight to slow the spread of COVID-19: Paul Molinaro, Chief, Operations Support and Logistics, WHO, said, “Around the world the frontline health workers who fight against COVID- 19 need to be continuously supplied with necessary medical equipment and protective material.

It is our collective duty to keep these supply lines open by continuing air cargo operations. The scale-down of air passenger flow is seriously hurting our scheduled freight operations. We call on airline companies and governments to join the global effort to ensure dedicated freight capacity continues to operate on previously high-volume passenger routes that are now closed down.”

Glyn Hughes, IATA Global Head of Air Cargo, said, “Air cargo is on the front line, not only fighting COVID-19 but ensuing that global supply chains are maintained for the most time-sensitive materials including food and other products purchased online in support of quarantine and social distancing policies implemented by states. But we can only continue to do this if we work together with the support of governments. Keeping supply lines open also supports jobs in local economies for example producers of perishables in Africa and Latin America. We are stronger together.”

Keeping Air Cargo Moving Airlines are taking extraordinary measures to ensure the flow of vital goods by air. Some examples include:

Delta, American and United have started cargo-only flights, using passenger aircraft domestically and internationally to bolster depressed global airfreight capacity Air Canada, Aeromexico, Austrian, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Iberia, Korean, LATAM Lufthansa, Qantas, Scoot, Swiss and many other carriers have made some passenger aircraft in their fleets available for chartered cargo operations Ethiopian Airlines is playing a key role in transporting COVID-19 medical equipment through its hub to Africa’s 54 nations, including recently transporting equipment donated by the Jack Ma Foundation Croatian Airlines has operated a charter flight from Abu Dhabi to Zagreb delivering critical medical equipment China Eastern delivered a significant amount of medical supplies to support doctors in Italy Austrian used 2 passenger B777 aircraft to fly medical equipment from China to Austria Airlink, a nonprofit organization working with aviation and logistics partners to transport relief workers and emergency supplies have transported 16,127 lbs, of medical supplies and food aid to help the COVID-19 relief effort FedEx Express has helped the US government transport COVID-19 test specimens from more than 50 remote drive-thru testing centers at major retailers across 12 states.

The UPS Foundation has expanded its relief response to Coronavirus, delivering urgent medical supplies, food and housing, and financial assistance to aid in recovery efforts Airbus has transported 2 million face masks from China to Europe on a test A330-800 aircraft — the majority will be donated to Spain & France.

Swire Shipping Strengthens Commitment to Asia Pacific Region, Deploys M.V. Changsha on South East Asia to Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands Route Chennai

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Port Wings News Network wire Shipping on 23 March 2020 announced the entry into service of its first 2400-teu newbuild vessel, M.V. Changsha. The vessel will be deployed on Swire Shipping’s South East Asia to Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands service. Despite the uniquely challenging period the world faces, this deployment looks towards a brighter future and shows Swire Shipping’s strong and continuing commitment to the region.

M.V. Changsha is part of a wider order book of eight feeder container vessels (four 2,400teu vessels and four 2,750teu vessels) scheduled for delivery in 2020. This series of vessels has been designed to accommodate the needs of the region’s customers.

These vessels are part of a fleet renewal programme which began in 2015. During this renewal programme, 14 vessels will have been disposed of in total. Eleven of these vessels will have been sustainably recycled at approved ship recycling facilities under the Hong Kong Convention. The

remaining three were sold for onward trading. The new moderneco designed vessels will help Swire Shipping provide sustainable and

innovative shipping solutions for its customers. The eight newbuild container vessels will join a fleet that includes eight 31,000dwt/ 2,118teu multipurpose vessels (“S Class”) and four 22,000dwt/ 1,627teu multipurpose vessels (“Chief Class”) delivered between 2013 and 2015.

Mr Jeremy Sutton, General Manager, Swire Shipping, said, “Like many other companies, we are very concerned about the global situation over CoVid19. However, we are also cognisant that vital supply chains must remain open with as little disruption as possible.

The economies and livelihoods of the Pacific region are heavily reliant on seaborne trade. Our purpose as a company is to enrich lives by connecting our customers with the communities of the Pacific. The addition of MV Changsha and the remaining newbuilding vessels will enable us to achieve this and show our long-term commitment to our customers and the region.”

Mr Jeremy Sutton stated: "Swire Shipping is focused on serving its customers well. Its fleet renewal programme shows its continued commitment to providing safe and reliable shipping services to these customers. We want to save our customers’ time. Speed to market is important to our customers, and we want to enable that.”

Additionally, besides providing customers greater flexibility through a comprehensive suite of container, breakbulk and project cargo solutions, the newly launched e-commerce site (www. swireshipping.com) also enables customers to quickly search for information, obtain a quote and make a booking.

Apr. 1st - 7th Issue

Antwerp Port 100% Operational: Taskforce Chennai

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Port Wings News Network he specially designed Covid-19 task force met for the first-time last week at the Antwerp port. Here it was reaffirmed that the port is part of the essential national infrastructure in Belgium and is of crucial importance for supplying the country and large parts of Europe, according to port's source.

Thanks to the daily efforts and commitment of all employees, the port of Antwerp remains 100 percent functional. At the operational meeting, priorities were also defined and a “port monitor” was introduced.

With its help, malfunctions and critical situations in daily operation can be quickly identified and the necessary measures taken.

All important areas of the port and the port authority participated at the first meeting of the task force. They consider maintaining port operations and thus the supply of Belgium and Europe as a common priority and have pledged their full support.

During the meeting, the attendees were able to get an overview of the current situation using the newly installed port monitor.

The task force is multidisciplinary and cross-border. To get a complete picture of port activities, all areas within the entire port organization are involved.

Participants are the Port of Antwerp, Alfaport-Voka, ASV, Cepa, ESPO, Essenscia, the Antwerp Fire Brigade, the Antwerp Maritime Police, the Agentschap voor Maritieme Dienstverlening en Kust (MDK; Agency for Maritime Services and Coast), the Flemish Waterways Administration, the Belgian Customs and the cabinet of the Flemish Minister of Mobility Lydia Peeters (Open Vld).

The Dutch infrastructure and hydraulic engineering authority “Rijkswaterstaat” is also represented here due to the accessibility of Antwerp via the Scheldt.

The port is operational The port of Antwerp is operational and there are currently no insurmountable problems in operation. The transhipment at the terminals is normal, there are sufficient personnel available for the transhipment and the arrival and departure of the drivers takes place without major delay. However, the task force has defined a number of points that are continuously monitored: Different approaches in Belgium and the Netherlands: Both Belgians and Flemings are pilots. While the Dutch approach is based on controlled contamination, the Flemish approach is much more restrictive. Both the Port of Antwerp and the MDK are therefore working on an approach in which the different types of measures are no longer in conflict.

Economic impact There is currently no decrease in the flow of goods in the port of Antwerp. However, it is expected that fewer ships will call Antwerp in the coming days and weeks due to the Corona outbreak. For example, 15 large container ships will arrive less from Asia, which corresponds to a minus of around 115,000 TEU in traffic to and from China.

The logistics chain works normally and copes well with the current peaks in the market. The demand for food in general and for healthy food such as bananas in particular has increased, which has led to an increase in the supply of these products.

This shows how important it is to continue to open the European borders to all forms of freight transport. The port of Antwerp will continuously monitor this situation and will continue to respond to the requirements of logistics operators and terminals.

The Antwerp Port Covid-19 Task Force will meet weekly. If necessary, the frequency is increased accordingly.

Govt Must Act to Protect Shipping Jobs: UK Chamber of Shipping New Delhi Port Wings News Network s organisations representing the interests of seafarers and employers in the shipping industry, we are united in our determination to protect the national interest from the economic impact of the COVID-19 emergency, says UK Chamber of Shipping.

The chamber further said that its members must be empowered by Government, urgently, to perform the shipping industry’s key logistical role in keeping the UK supplied with the food, medicine, fuel and equipment required to sustain people and businesses during this period of unprecedented national and international emergency.

As a priority, the diverse range of onshore and onboard skills required to operate merchant vessels from the UK ports network must be protected from long term damage.

Alongside the welcome government support announced for the payment of wages and company sick pay, the preservation of jobs

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and skills particularly for seafarers and other key workers affected by COVID-19, must now be the focus of joint industry and government action, it said.

The collapse in passenger demand in particular is expected to last for the foreseeable future as countries attempt to ride out the COVID-19 storm. We believe that Government has a central role to play in backing our seafarers and business throughout this profoundly difficult time and we stand ready to continue the work with Government to agree an effective package of measures to achieve this.

As such, the shipping chamber called upon the UK Government and devolved administrations to exercise all the policy levers at their disposal to protect seafarer jobs and qualifications.

Seafarers will always be needed to make the global economy work for the national interest and the maritime skills base will be even more important once we emerge from the other side of this global pandemic, it added.

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.