Dear Readers,
It is Thursday the 26th of January and PCW is back again.
January is traditionally a tough month to get through–at least here in Northern Europe. Weather-wise it is generally dark and dull. Only a few days this month have we been able to see the blue sky. I must admit that as age presses on and the clock of life is winding down, the weather influences the mood more and more.
Added to the weather is the long road towards my recovery and rehabilitation. I broke my wrist in the port of Härnösand on Dec 11. Surgeons inserted a titanium plate to stabilize the area. The operation went well and was professionally executed. Nevertheless, the journey to full use of my wrist is indeed long. Still on balance, I can’t complain–and even if I did, it would do no use as no one would be listening … at least not here at home ?.
But we humans are breakable, and we can hardly walk on water. For me, this accident whilst in port tells me once again to live life whilst having it. A former partner of mine lost his wife suddenly at the young age of 58, just as they were ready to enjoy his retirement after a life in shipping. So yes, when your number is up, it is best to have checked off as many items as you can on that bucket list, whatever it may be that you have in mind.
One big thing for me is now fixed. In February, I shall be boarding mv Bright Sky in Leixões, Portugal and sailing to Durban, a port where I disembarked 55 years ago together with my mum after a month-long trip onboard mv Thyra Torm. The shipowner this time is MACS. In fact, we have an interview with them in this issue. You will find it here:
MACS Maritime Carrier Shipping GmbH & Co, – Hamburg, Germany
Interview with
Mr. Olaf Wiedemann
Line Manager
MACS is a well-known carrier on the South African trade routes. Please tell our viewers more about your trade lane normal load and discharge ports and how often you have got sailings out of Europe.
MACS vessels sail every fortnight from Hamburg and Antwerp via Leixões to Walvis Bay, Cape Town and Durban. Every second vessel is calling additionally at Port Elizabeth and Maputo. On the return voyage, the vessels call at Durban, Cape Town and Walvis Bay before heading back to Europe where they call at Vigo, Rotterdam and Hamburg.
I hope to meet some of you at booth H44 at Breakbulk Middle East in Dubai (February 13-14). Particularly if you are a shipowner who is certified FFF (Freight Forwarder Friendly), then it would be a pleasure to meet up. FFF certification is easy to get: just be non-arrogant, give freight forwarders the time of day, and treat them right…naturally only if they do the same to you. It’s a kind of certification where you don’t need to pay some UK-based consultancy thousands for a rubber stamp. It’s a matter of simple common sense and an understanding that everyone has a role to play in shipping.
On the shipping front in this last newsletter of the month of January we have:
1. GPL — a South Korean-based project freight forwarder with a vast experience in both Africa and the Middle East particular on behalf the the many Korean chaebols (mega companies).
2. FPS — a Sri Lankan and Maldives-based freight forwarder with a proven track record of capability and customer service.
3. KWH Logistics – a reputable finnish service provider for ports and bulk operations including shipping agency.
Finally, we provide you with well-chosen shipping news, trade intel, and wise words. We also feature a picture (collage) of the week, and since this week is the Chinese New Year of the Rabbit, we offer a featured video of a COSCO vessel arriving yet again from Asia to Stockholm to discharge mousing modules.
Don’t forget to download our app, and until our next issue due out on February 9th,
I remain,
Yours sincerely,
Bo H. Drewsen
bo.drewsen@projectcargo-weekly.com
GPL – Global Project Logistics – Busan, South Korea
Interview with
Mr. Insoo Kim
Managing Director
First of all Mr. Kim, please tell us about your background in shipping and freight forwarding. When did you start your career?
Immediately after graduating from university in Korea in 1984, I started my career at Korea Express Co., Ltd. The company is now known as CJ Logistics. I mainly looked after LCL ocean shipping dealing with LCL Navigation in Canada, which is now Vanguard Logistics. I also handled the shipment of exhibition & convention cargos, working with the International Machinery Removal & Installation Providing Team of Beck & Politzer in the UK.
In 1990 I joined Panalpina, which is now DSV A/S, and managed a business unit in Busan, covering international freight forwarding, Oil & Gas logistics, and the project management team until I established GPL, Global Project Logistics.
FPS (Pvt) Ltd – Sri Lanka & the Maldives
Interview with
Mr. Gihan Nanayakkara
Chairman / Managing Director
The Maldives is famous as a tourist destination, what about cargo? How is cargo in fact shipped into the Maldives? Is there a port available there? Is it done via transshipment? Give us some detailed information about how to get cargo to and from the island nation.
Maldives is a leading tourist resort cluster of Islands.
The development of tourism fostered the overall growth of the Maldivian Economy. It created direct and indirect employment and income generation opportunities in other related industries such as logistics, transportation and tourism related businesses.
Maldives is comprised of many groups of islands, known as atolls where the capitol Male (also the main Port) is situated 400 miles Southwest of Sri Lanka.
The main sea Port is in the Male Island, the capital city. The International Airport is on a separate island adjacent to the capital. Most of the cargo to Male is transshipped via the Port of Colombo. The subsequent transportation to the respective islands are effected on local boats mainly in break bulk form. In a limited scale SOC boxes are carried to the final point of delivery by barges.
Video Interview
KWH Logistics – Vaasa, Finland
Joakim Laxåback, Head of Division KWH Logistics, CEO Oy Backman-Trummer Ab was interviewed by Bo H. Drewsen, Editor in Chief at PCW.
Panama Cancels Registry to 136 Iran-linked Ships
Editor’s Note:
Seems Panama which is a big flag state due to lower costs for many owners, is now taking a stance towards ships of Iranian registry. Interesting…
As Reuters reports, Panama pushed back against claims by an anti-nuclear group accusing it of helping Iran export oil, mainly to China and Venezuela.
In fact, earlier this week, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush called on Washington to pressure Panama to stop “helping” Iran to evade sanctions. Bush is a member of United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), which seeks to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear-armed regional superpower.
Wind Turbine as Tall as a 70-story Building Announced in China
Editor’s Note:
The windturbines become larger and larger and the blades are now so long that only a few ships are able to carry them… that may represent a big problem in the near future.
Extreme engineering is becoming the norm as offshore wind continues to scale up. Sweeping the area of 12.3 standard NFL fields each rotation, with gargantuan 140-meter (459-ft) blades, it will be the largest wind turbine ever built.
Charted: The Dipping Cost of Shipping
Editor’s Note:
Finally it seems that the party is over for the containership owners worldwide, having raked in money and changed attitudes concerning proper customer service (some of them) rates are now soon back to pre-COVID level.
Bahri‘s New Europe Service
Editor’s Note:
Saudi shipowner BAHRI (formerly know as NSCSA) is starting a RORO pendulum service to include Northern Europe with Middle East, India and China. Interesting indeed.
Europe > Asia | Status Quo – Jan 2023
Masdar to Develop 3GW of Renewable Energy in Angola and Uganda
According to Masdar, it signed an agreement with Angola’s energy and water ministry to develop renewable energy projects with a total capacity of 2GW. These projects can “improve production capacity and access to electricity by the Angolan people, as well we the creation of jobs”.
Konecranes to Expand its Port Cranes Presence in India with Larsen & Toubro Licensing Agreement
Konecranes and Larsen & Toubro (L&T), a large Indian multinational company, have signed a licensing agreement for the manufacturing and distribution of Konecranes port cranes in India, expanding Konecranes’ footprint in this dynamic market. The first products have been sold under this agreement: two shipyard jib cranes will be delivered to the Cochin Shipyard in Cochin, Kerala province.
Lotte Confectionery to Build Havmor Ice Cream Factory in India
The investment will be funnelled into its subsidiary Havmor Ice Cream for a 60,000 square-meter facility in the city of Pune in the Indian state of Maharashtra, according to Yonhap News Agency, South Korea’s official news service. The project is expected to create around 1,000 jobs.
Orsted Wins Approval for Hornsea 3 Offshore Wind Battery
Orsted has secured consent for a battery storage project in England from South Norfolk Council that will serve its 2.9GW Hornsea 3 offshore wind farm.
The development is expected to be in the region of 200MW and will be a standalone facility providing grid services and supporting the UK’s transition to net zero.
MV Tian En of COSCO Shipping Specialized Carriers Arriving Port of Stockholm from Asia
Editor’s Note:
A fantastic day in the Port of Stockholm where the Director & Partner of COSCO Shipping Sweden met with the Captain of mv Tian En and handed over a letter from COSCO Europe & some gifts for the crew in connection with the Chinese Lunar New Year of Rabbit 2023.
