Dear Readers,
It’s Thursday 5th September and a new month has begun. Brexit seems to be at the forefront in the mainstream media (again) and I think most people have now started to almost ignore whatever is written about it because there are so many signals coming in from everywhere and so many scenarios being played out in the media by experts in this or that.
In my simple view, isn’t a referendum supposed to mean something? Or is it the new style of democracy, vote and keep on stalling and voting again until you get the result you want? I doubt that the world will go under just because Britain leaves the EU without a deal. Perhaps it is for the best and the whole Brexit farce also regrettably reveals the weakness of democracy nowadays, where no one is really in charge.
Hong Kong, my favourite city, is also in the throes of violent protests that now seem to be going on and on without anyone taking charge and only disruption and chaos following. Vandalising and stopping trains from leaving, or airports from working has nothing to do with democracy or freedom of expression. I recall living in Indonesia in 1998 when Suharto was ousted and CNN kept stating that Indonesia was in flames every thirty minutes, whilst it was only a part of Jakarta. But they themselves managed to destroy the tourism industry for years to come.
I believe the only real power nowadays is the media. They seem to be able to create chaos with their one-sided reporting. Of course, when it comes to Project Cargo Weekly you can always at least trust to reflect the editor’s opinion and no other.
‘There’s no such thing as a free lunch’ is an expression we all know in the business world or any world for that matter, and the same applies here with PCW. We have now been going along online for about two years and believe the time is ripe for introducing a modest subscription fee to our newsletter. It will be rolled out starting from September 12th, with a fee of USD 10 a month, or USD 100 a year.
Long term is always better, as my ex-wife once told me. We will continue to provide shipping news and trade intelligence for free, and only the interviews themselves, where we provide about three in each issue, will for subscribers. Still, given that we provide about 125 interviews a year, and thus each one will basically cost less than a dollar, hopefully, makes it remain worthwhile for you, at least I hope so.
In today’s ‘free lunch’ newsletter, we start with a US flag shipowner (yes they do indeed exist and are alive and thriving) in Houston, who provides us with an interesting insight into what they can do with their heavy-lift ships. We then visit the island nation of the Philippines again and speak to a local freight forwarder based in Manila, before we finally end up in Shanghai where a project freight forwarder who has been around for years tells us his story.
We provide interesting shipping news, trade intel for the active sales staff that you hopefully have, and we round off the newsletter with featured videos, a featured photo and wise words.
Please enjoy as usual, and as always, bear in mind that you are always welcome to write to me for any reason, or to make any direct comments, at bo.drewsen@projectcargo-weekly.com
Until next week, I remain,
Yours sincerely,
Bo H. Drewsen
bo.drewsen@projectcargo-weekly.com
US Ocean, LLC – Houston, Texas
Interview with
Mr. Will Terrill
President and C.E.O.
What can you tell us about the history and ownership of US Ocean, LLC?
US Ocean, LLC started operations of modern, multipurpose vessels under the US Flag in 2002 as an affiliate of Intermarine, LLC. US Ocean was part of Intermarine until April 2018. The company now operates as an independent business but continues to maintain a relationship with Zeamarine.
When Intermarine began to engage in US flag operations, the focus was on cargo that were financed by the Export-Import Bank of the United States. Intermarine wanted to provide customers that utilized EXIM with modern heavy-lift capable vessels that had the same capabilities as those operating in the international sector, along with exceptional customer service…
Asiaworld Transport Philippines – Manila, Philippines
Interview with
Ms. Jumila Lacanlale
General Manager
Can you tell us how you find the current business environment in the Philippines to be? Do you face a lot of competition?
Competition in the freight forwarding industry is getting more competitive and tighter in terms of the pricing and services that one company can offer. More and new companies are being started to accommodate the demand for different companies. However, along with the competition in this industry, Asiaworld transport Philippines has expanding its services through the years by providing full services through forwarding, customs clearance, trucking, domestic transport, etc.
New Chain Logistics – Shanghai, China
Interview with
Mr. Henry Hu
General Manager
There are so many freight forwarders in China. There has also been a lot of cases of fraud and tricky freight forwarders working without a license. How to trust the freight forwarders you deal with in China? Do you need a license in China to work as a freight forwarder?
Formal registration is mandatory for a forwarding company in China, and normally we need to check the official information before cooperation by asking for a copy of their license and checking a Government website. For NVOCC (where house bills of lading (HBL) are involved) the company needs to be registered with the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) and obtain a license.
Lamu Port Project Impacts Kenyan Fishermen’s Livelihoods
At a police station on Lamu Island in Kenya, 47-year-old Somo Mohamed Somo is nursing his injuries. Somo, the chairman of a local group representing Lamu’s fishermen, has come to lodge a complaint. He says his attacker unfairly accused him of pocketing money meant to compensate fishermen hit by dredging for a new 32-berth port.
The Lamu port is being funded by the Development Bank of South Africa and built by the China Communications Construction Company. It is meant to ease congestion at Mombasa, more than 300 kilometres south, and better connect Kenya to its landlocked northern neighbours, Ethiopia and South Sudan.
Record Sales of Cranes in India
Editor’s Note:
Although not directly shipping news still that India is booming with orders of cranes must mean that the economy is moving on rapidly and that infrastructure and other developments are ongoing with the result of the need for more project cargo inbound to India.
Mobile cranes are the third largest selling equipment type in India after backhoe loaders and hydraulic excavators, according to a report by market research organisation Off-Highway Research (OHR). Sales of these machines hit an all-time high of nearly 12,000 units in 2018, with some 96 per cent of demand being for locally manufactured pick and carry cranes.
OHR’s new Equipment Analysis report on the mobile crane industry in India stated, “The infrastructure sector started showing signs of recovery from 2015 when the overall construction equipment market grew by 2 per cent after falling successively for three years beginning in 2012.
Roll Group Expands in Asia
Editor’s Note:
On a roll!
Heavy lifting and moving specialist Roll Group, which includes Roll-Lift and RollDock, has opened offices in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Korea.
It is the latest stage in the Dutch company’s bid to expand its land-based operations and to further make the most of combining land and sea projects, the company said. Robin Koenis has been appointed managing director at Roll Group in the Asia Pacific region.
NYK Orders Next-Generation Heavy-Lift Vessels
The break-bulk and project cargo unit of NYK Group has signed a contract for the construction of two next-generation heavy lift vessels at the Nanjing Jinling Shipyard in China.
NYK Bulk & Projects Carriers, an NYK Group company, is the sold owner and operator of heavy lift vessels in Japan.
The two energy-efficient newbuilds will be used for the transportation of bulk cargos such plants, wind-turbine blades, and equipment.
Pestech, Sungrow Sign MoU to Jointly Develop Floating PV Projects
Pestech International has signed off on a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Chinese inverter manufacturer Sungrow for a collaboration on future floating PV installations, according to a filing with the Malaysian stock exchange.
“The parties intend to explore the possibility of complementing each other’s core competencies, technical capabilities and references to co-operate jointly on exploring floating solar system solution, localisation of parts and other possible co-operations in the region of Southeast Asia,” the filing read.
Halliburton Wins Nine Contracts for Work Offshore Senegal
Halliburton Company on Monday said it had been awarded nine conditional contracts for drilling and completion services for SNE Field Development Phase 1 offshore Senegal.
The campaign, awarded by Woodside Energy BV, includes drilling and completion of 18 wells with up to eight optional wells over an estimated three- to four- year term.
Vinci Bags $306m LNG-Tank Contract in Canada
European contractor Vinci Construction has been awarded a ontract to build a 225,000 m3 liquefied natural gas (LNG) tank in Canada. The Joint Venture composed of Entrepose Contracting and Vinci Construction Grands Projets, said in a release that the contract, which covers the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of the tank, is worth CAD $400 million (about US$306 million).
“The strong co-operation between Entrepose Contracting and Vinci Construction Grands Projets has a unique track record of construction in harsh climates. We are proud to bring our proven LNG tank expertise to Canada,” said Gaël Cailleaux, Managing Director of Entrepose Contracting.
Deals Signed with Reliance for 718MW Plant
The government yesterday signed agreements with a Bangladesh subsidiary of India’s Reliance Group to set up a 718-megawatt gas-fired power plant in Narayanganj. The project will begin production in 36 months and price of each kilowatt-hour unit of electricity will be 7.3123 cents. ]
Imported re-gasified liquefied natural gas (LNG) will be used in the project, the power ministry said in a statement. Reliance Bangladesh LNG and Power, a subsidiary of Reliance Power, inked the implementation deal with Power Division and the power purchase agreement with Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB).
Ever Glory – 20,000 TEU-Class Container Vessel
Editor’s Note:
Evergreen, for many years, hasn’t been at the forefront when it comes to supersized container vessels. However, they have now entered the race and this week’s video is of one of their largest and newest 20,000 TEU giants.
Could Alaska Be The New Center For Global Trade?
Editor’s Note:
Onboard CMA CGM Georgia towards Fremantle. A beautiful day at sea.
