Dear Readers,
It is week 26, Thursday 27th June and, as I have been told, there are 52 weeks in a year. This means that we’re half-way already through the year 2019. A wise man once said that it’s not the years in your life, but the life in your years that we should treasure, and I have been giving this a lot of thought. With the constant feeling that time is running faster than ever, even more so as we grow older, it’s best not to postpone what you would like to do but instead just do it, as the old Nike commercials said.
Most of you are aware that as this newsletter is being published I shall be in the Lion City of Singapore for a couple of days before boarding a container ship as a passenger sailing to Melbourne. Although it’s hard to leave one’s kids and even wife behind to realise a dream, it must be pursued whilst one is still able to walk up the gangway. I believe we need, no matter in what kind of relationships we are privately, to all get our own private time; time to reflect, to miss one-another and to even be without the mobile phone and its constant reminders about things that are immaterial and unimportant in real life. Taking a trip on the high seas to Australia helps me get away from it all and, while it may dismay some, it may also please others not to receive our weekly newsletter for a few weeks, though of course, I hope not.
There are not many container or breakbulk lines left that take passengers nowadays, so I do owe it to recommend to anyone who’d wish to try it to consider CMA CGM and its affiliates, which includes their traveller’s club in Marseille offering routes worldwide. Alternatively, you can click on www.cross-ocean.com as in the menu there you’ll find Ocean Voyages. There you can find various videos filmed on freighter cruises around the world. I have taken such trips since 2005, with the first trip being from Malta to Khor Fakkan, UAE. Now being allowed to travel every two years, I am already contemplating where to go in 2021. I have looked at Shanghai to Pointe Noire, Congo as a potential trip. Let’s see.
With summer starting now, I also realise how fortunate or, rather shall we say, spoiled we are here in the northwest of Europe, with no less than five weeks’ vacation a year hereof mostly three weeks in one go. That is a mere dream for many people around the world, so perhaps we in Europe do need to take a breather and appreciate what we have before it’s gone because it won’t be around forever unless we start changing our attitude to work. In many places, the costs of doing business, paying for rules and regulations and keeping the bureaucracy at work has reached astronomical height. Not least to fulfil the green wet dreams of many in the political elite that cannot get enough green legislation pushed down hard working people’s throats.
There is a life outside the cafe latte discussion clubs of the capitals and big cities, where most people still work and live. What they need should be acknowledged. We all care about the environment, but just because you shout louder about it doesn’t mean that others don’t feel the same way or want the same targets met if it’s done with everyone on board. The squeaky wheel always gets the grease, as the saying goes, be it in business, politics or most certainly, in the green lobby. One scary example was recently here in Sweden where a couple was charged for not feeding their baby properly. They wanted their baby girl to be a vegan from birth and she almost died in the process. Talk about stupidity, arrogance and fulfilling one’s own ideals at the cost of others!
Businesswise, this week before the summer holidays we start off in Slovenia, a beautiful country in the Adriatic region where we speak to a Europe-wide reaching company offering seaworthy packing solutions which are certainly needed by most in import/export, let alone transports. After that, we fly to Shanghai and meet up with a local company involved China-wide in lashing/securing of project cargo aboard ships and offering various commodities as well in this field. Finally, we end up in the country of the Maple Leaf, i.e. Canada, and we speak to a modern and versatile project forwarder covering not only this huge though sparsely inhabited country but also covering many other parts of the globe with project cargo solutions.
We finish off with shipping news, trade intel and the usual wise words. PCW will be back on 8th August, but for now, I wish you all a great summer and leave you with a short message that everyone should pay heed to when considering the sales department’s results and what must be done. It is likely true, but certainly a reminder that sales must be done consistently to secure business and that giving up is not an option.
See below, and until next time, I remain,
Yours sincerely,
Bo H. Drewsen
bo.drewsen@projectcargo-weekly.com
Comark d.o.o – Slovenia
Interview with
Mr. Branko Butala
Director and General Manager
We’ve interviewed Comark before in connection to your cooperation with Liburnia. Today, we focus on a very important aspect of shipping, i.e. seaworthy and export packing and crating. When and why did you start offering seaworthy packaging services?
I’m glad you’ve picked this important step in the logistics chain to discuss. The idea of offering seaworthy packing and crating to our clients goes way back, almost ten years. There was one project back then that showed us the real potential of this service. The first crate was made from the ground up at the cargo’s location and we had no idea what we were doing. We were improvising! To be on the safe side, we used a lot more wood and other materials than needed for protection. Once the project was finished, I said to myself, “I have to find a partner or at least [gain] the know-how!”
Shanghai Port Star Rigging Co. Ltd. – China
Interview with
Mr. Frank Fan
Marketing Manager
Can you tell us about the various kinds of equipment that you produce for the shipping industry? Please can you elaborate on the most popular products that you produce?
Currently, we specialise in designing and manufacturing lashing and lifting equipment, like lashing chains, wire rope, turnbuckles, shackles, dunnage wood etc. and all kinds of steel construction like lifting beams, weight spreaders, flat racks, storage bins, boat cradles, pipe cradles etc.
ITN Logistics – Canada
Interview with
Mr. Paul Lobas
Director
Tell us about the company ITN. When was it originally established, who owns it and where do you have your offices located in Canada?
ITN was established in 1997, starting with the opening of our Toronto office, which is now our headquarters. From our humble beginnings with six people, we have grown to over two hundred personnel with additional offices in Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver. The owners are Monica Kennedy, Paul Lobas and Bill & Brian Gottlieb.
Recommended reading:
“Transportation and the Belt and Road Initiative”
This book critically examines what China’s BRI is about, clarifies the confusion, and answers many questions. It includes a first-time-ever-published list and statistical tables of all the BRI projects up to December 31st, 2018. A mixed-methods approach was used in the data analysis, and the theory of constraints underpins this research as a theoretical framework. BRI projects are classified by projects’ name, date, status, value, country, region, industry, and transportation mode.
While a Simplified Chinese translation is being done and should be ready in one or two months’ time, the book is available now in English language in paperback editions on Amazon and in digital edition on SCMO website (www.scmo.net).
- Book paperback color edition: https://www.amazon.com/dp/9887991201
- Book paperback B&W edition: https://www.amazon.com/dp/988799121X
- Book digital edition: https://www.scmo.net/books-1
- Book paperback all editions: All good bookstores near you
Authorities Find 16.5 Tons of Cocaine on Ship at Port of Philadelphia
Editor’s Note:
Drugs and weapons are also profitable in shipping. There’s no doubt though, that MSC would rather have avoided someone using their ships to transport a huge load of drugs that were seized recently in a US port. Regrettably, the hiding places on giant container ships or in the containers therein are numerous and possibly inexhaustible.
Federal authorities have seized approximately 16.5 tons of cocaine from a ship at the Port of Philadelphia, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania tweeted Tuesday.
The drugs were seized on a ship at the Packer Marine Terminal on the Delaware River.
The U.S. Attorney’s office said the drug bust marks the largest drug seizure in the history of the district. The drugs have an estimated street value of approximately $1billion, the office said.
Port of Vancouver USA Receives Largest Single Shipment of Wind Turbine Blades in Vestas History
The Port of Vancouver USA received the largest single shipment of 198 wind turbine blades in Vestas history this week, breaking the previous record of 156 blades on a single ship. The unprecedented delivery which arrived at the port Monday, June 24, is a joint effort between blade manufacturer Vestas and project owner PacifiCorp. The special “repowering”blades will increase production at PacifiCorp’s Marengo Wind Project near Dayton, Washington by more than 35 percent.
Seawing for K Line Bulk Carrier
Editor’s Note:
It’s impressive using the wind to support the propulsion of a bulk carrier and hopefully saving fuel. It’s been tried before. Perhaps it’s now being developed into something substantial and reliable, even for shipping.
Seawing is mounted on the bow of the vessel and is unfolded by simple operation from the bridge under certain conditions of wind power and wind direction.
K Line says that over the past two years it has carerfully assessed Seawing’s performance in close cooperation with Airseas. The line says it can “confirm that the system can greatly contribute to the reduction of the environmental load associated with the ship’s operation.”
Intra-Asia Market: Launch of Bangkok Haiphong Service (RBH)
As part of APL’s effort to enhance service connectivity, we are pleased to announce the launch of Bangkok Haiphong Service (RBH), a weekly express service from South China to Thailand and from Thailand to Haiphong.
Indian Investors to Build Ski Resort, Noodle Factory in Turkestan Region
Chaudhary Group (CG Global) is planning to build a ski resort, instant noodle factory and food park in the Turkestan Region. The Indian company intends to attract Spanish and Swiss specialists to assist with the ski resort.
Meirzhan Myrzaliyev, the region’s deputy akim (governor), met in Almaty with CG Global board chair Binod Chaudhary and executive director Varun Chaudhary to present a number of projects and speak in detail about Turkestan’s investment opportunities and socio-economic development. Representatives of Kazakh Invest and Kazakh Ambassador in India Bulat Sarsenbayev also attended the meeting.
Okeanus Winch & LARS for JOGMEC Seabed Mining Ops
Okeanus has received a purchase order from NiGK Corporation (NiGK) in Japan for the development, manufacture, and delivery of an active heave compensated umbilical winch and skid mounted A-frame style LARS.
The 10 ton winch and LARS will be used from ships of opportunity to deploy a tethered seafloor drill that will obtain core samples of cobalt crust deposits. NiGK will manufacture the drill and provide the umbilical and topside control vans.
Oceanteam Wins Cable Lay Spread Deal
Oceanteam Solutions has been awarded a contract by an undisclosed client for the supply of a cable lay spread.
The contract lasts until mid-October 2019, with extension options. The scope includes the hire of one of Oceanteam’s 2000t and 4000t turntables, two 10t tensioners and technicians for operations and maintenance activities. The cable lay spread will be used on-board of the clients’ dedicated cable lay vessel.
Editor’s Note:
The Port of Shanghai/Yangshan is a marvel to behold. See this rather long movie about it and be impressed.
Editor’s Note:
I was in Malta a few years back and I saw a Maersk Line feeder on the horizon for days on end. It turned out that it was the filming of Captain Philips, with Tom Hanks, that was taking place. Malta is a great place for film making and other movies that have been shot there include Troy and parts of Brideshead Revisited, for some examples. Anyhow, here comes a newly released and perhaps more truthful depiction of the events leading to the resolution of the piracy attack on the Maersk Alabama.
Editor’s Note:
CP’s multipurpose vessel is seen here with yachts loaded aboard. Hopefully, she will not encounter severe storms like what happened recently in the Med where a multimillion euro yacht was lost overboard. Against the weather, no-one has any real power. All that can be done in advance is preventative measures, exercising seamanship and avoiding saving on lashing costs.
