Dear Readers,
It is Thursday the 22nd of August, 2024 and we are back with a fresh edition of our highly acclaimed newsletter.
I am currently in Santiago, Chile. I will be working out of here until my next trip, and for once, I’ve got a minimum of 6 weeks without any flights planned. It is a strange feeling sometimes to be stationed at one place for a longer period of time. It does give you the feeling of ease because you can make your appointments locally… if not this week then next week. Any medical appointments, dentist (that I always delay…) or operations that you need to do (which I also prefer to delay) can be deferred to a later time.
However there is no doubt that once age creeps in, delaying anything vital in life is no longer an option. For me, I know that I need to have yet another operation. This time in my left hand for what is known as “Dupuytren’s contracture”. If I don’t and I leave it be, I won’t be able to write on the computer unless I am using my index fingers only. No one knows what causes this disease which primarily hits people of Nordic descent (which I am), and that is the thing. There are things in life that simply cannot be explained or even Googled; at least, not the root causes. Take a look here.
Generally, I have been blessed with reasonable health throughout my 61 years of life, so I can’t complain. Come to think of it, what matters more than good health ? Yes, that is right…nothing. Sickness, tragedy, accidents can happen at anytime, so I for one am trying to live my life to the full as long as I have it. This is not a new thought on my account, but in recent years, it has crept into my mind with increasing frequency that life isn’t waiting for you. Take your decisions, go for it, because it is better to Regret what you did instead of what you didn’t do! Some people play on your guilty feelings, exploit them, and one day, you look back only to hear that: “Sorry mate, time’s up.”
Do you recall the movie Papillon with Steve McQueen and Dustin Hofmann ? The worst “crime of all” is that of a wasted life. See this clip from the movie where McQueen in his dreams during imprisonment has a very realistic dream indeed! See this and think it over, read also the comments below the clip!
I visited the Port of Valparaiso this weekend as you can see from the featured video of the week. This is the port city where my father paid a visit originally in 1958 as an apprentice onboard mv Aggersborg on charter to Lauritzen Line, so it plays a special role. Whilst on the pilot boat harbour tour arranged by a good friend of mine, it was a pleasure to be able to call and show my dad live some footage from his son being in the Port of Valparaiso some 66 years later!
I am sure back in the day my father had many hardships being away from his children, and we all do. The difference is of course that back then they could only wait for a letter in the next port from their loved ones. No WhatsApp, Wechat, Zoom, Tik-Tok or other remedies for loneliness.
Speaking of which, perhaps all these social media options create more lonely people than ever; now that is a thought! Sometimes I wonder if parents have any clue what their kids are up to on the apps. In Sweden, it is popular among criminals even to hire youngsters via encrypted apps to commit horrific crimes. Something isn’t right, and social media should be reigned in, but how to strike a balance between media freedom and reasonable control — beats me.
Now back to the shipping business which is in a boom time, and thank God for that I guess. Yet, we all know there are cycles in our business too, so perhaps the rates at some stage will come back to normal, and the service level for customers and forwarders alike will start to resemble the word PROPER again. Let us see. As I have alluded to several times, in war and crisis there is always someone who profits, not least the weapons industry. We can trust democracies and non democracies alike to be equally eager in selling whatever hardware they can produce!
This week in our newsletter, we’ve got some interesting, fresh, and non repeat interviews in store for you. What a relief that everyone seems back from their holiday rounds.
1. CONGREX in Panama is our first interviewee. They are in charge of arranging the FIATA WORLD CONGRESS in Panama in September. They tell us about their work and their importance in arranging such huge global events in a VIP crossroads of the maritime trade.
2. EXIM in Japan is a versatile project freight forwarder in the Land of the Rising Sun. Interesting to see that not every company in Japan is a MEGA company and that small is beautiful too.
3. ESS Projects in Shanghai, China is another such example. We cannot avoid either the products of the Middle Kingdom or their growing influence in the world. So vital indeed to have good logistics links there too. ESS Projects has it.
We of course provide you with shipping news, trade intelligence and featured video and picture of the week.
We also remind you that in case you are around at:
Write to me and we can meet up!
Do NOT forget to download our APP – here is the link – It is free, our newsletter is free, and thus you have no excuse to be afraid of the purse strings since there is no better investment in listening to our podcasts or reading our interviews to know more about shipping on a personal level.
See you again on September 5th!
Yours sincerely,
With best regards,
Bo H. Drewsen
bo.drewsen@projectcargo-weekly.com
Congrex Americas – Panama City, Panama
Interview with
Ms. Cinthya Uzcategui
Operations Director
First of all, what can you tell our readers about the history of Congrex? Who are you, when was the company established, and what is your main function regarding promotion?
Congrex Americas is a leading event management and organization company with a strong foothold in Latin America. Established in 1974, we have a rich history of delivering meaningful events that drive business growth and foster connections. As the Operations Director, my role is to identify opportunities, build strategic partnerships, and promote our events as the premier choice in their industry or areas of expertise. Our focus is on creating unforgettable experiences that leave a lasting impact.
EXIM – Tokyo, Japan
Interview with
Mr. Kaz Fukuda
Managing Director
Please tell our readers about your background and history in logistics. Why did you choose this career?
I wanted a job in which I could use English, so I selected the freight forwarder industry about 27 years ago. I mainly handled containers (including special containers) in the pivot of Japan / USA traffic.
ESS Project Forwarding – Shanghai, China
Interview with
Mr. Mahyar Forghani
Global Managing Director
Can you tell our readers about the background and history of ESS Project Forwarding? What does the abbreviation ESS stand for?
ESS Project Forwarding has a rich history rooted in delivering specialized logistics and freight forwarding solutions. Established with the mission of providing tailored services to complex logistics needs, ESS Projects has grown into a trusted partner for clients across various industries.
The abbreviation ESS stands for Excel Sea Shipping. We use the abbreviation as our brand name to reflect our broader range of services and commitment to excellence. This reflects our core commitment to offering efficient, reliable, and innovative logistics solutions. Our focus has always been on understanding the unique challenges of project forwarding and developing customized strategies that ensure smooth execution from start to finish.
AAL’s First Super B-Class Vessel Completes Record-Breaking Maiden Voyage
Editor’s Note:
Simply an astonishing and impressive picture of a fully booked MPP vessel and a newbuilding at that from AAL. PCW is impressed!
With the arrival of ‘M/V AAL LIMASSOL’ in Cuxhaven, the first Super B-Class vessel in AAL Shipping’s fleet has completed her highly successful maiden voyage to Europe – the perfect test of her cargo handling capabilities, including the ‘AAL ECO-DECK’ retractable deck extension system.
Dangerous Cargoes and Container Ship Fires Back in the Spotlight
Editor’s Note:
Another scary explosion/fire onboard a container vessel alongside (luckily) this time. The jury is out on what caused it but Lithium has been mentioned… Hope they find the right answer so that anyone culpable in case of mis-declaring etc. can be held accountable.
In the case of the blast that occurred on the 6,589 teu YM Mobility while berthed in Ningbo-Zhoushan port the vessel’s crew and port would have appear to have been aware of the impending danger and videos showed large amounts of white smoke billowing from containers stowed on the ship’s bow prior to the explosion. This would have given time to evacuate crew from the vessel and port workers in the nearby area and fortunately no fatalities or casualties were reported.
Debt Around the World
Editor’s Note:
It is not directly shipping news but the World Debt involves us all, here a special dispatch on this special subject from Visual Capitalist who generally make great and understandable overviews.
Global Debt Reaches a Record High $315 Trillion. Over the last 10 years, global debt has grown by more than $100 trillion. In this time of high interest rates across many countries in the world, both advanced economies and emerging markets face expanding debt piles and payments which are projected to continue to grow over the coming decade.
More Challenges for Container Shipping May Be Lurking as Contract Talks Loom
Editor’s Note:
Great times for shipowners… With wars raging including in the most important waterway, ie. to/from the Red Sea it does mean huge costs for shippers and ultimately for ALL of us.
Supply chain managers need to be wary of more threats to container shipping – and how to mitigate them – as contracting season approaches.
The Red Sea crisis has magnified small cracks emerging within the market, leading to port congestion, container shortages, low schedule reliability, extended lead times and eye-watering surcharges.
China’s Mingyang makes new Brazil breakthrough with utility tie-up
Chinese wind turbine maker Mingyang has landed an order for what will be its first installed wind turbine in Latin America with a major Brazilian utility that is expanding into the sector.
LONGi to Deliver 596.4MWh Electricity in Kenya with 1.2MW Solar Rooftop
LONGi has stated that it will deliver 596.4 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity through its 1.2 megawatts (MW) rooftop system at the Mabati Milling premises in Nairobi, Kenya. This solar rooftop project is the first in East Africa to utilise Hi-MO X6 modules, showcasing the potential for industrial-scale solar solutions in the region.
Energy Recovery Signs $27.5 Million in Desalination Contracts in Morocco
Energy Recovery Inc has signed contracts worth US$27.5 million to supply its PX Pressure Exchanger to seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination projects in Morocco.
Tokuyama Plans Polysilicon Factory in Vietnam
Japanese chemical producer Tokuyama has signed an agreement with Thanh Binh Phu My JSC to build a $30 million polysilicon factory at the Phu My 3 Industrial Park in Vietnam’s Ba Ria-Vung Tau province.
Port Tour in Valparaiso, Chile
Editor’s Note:
A great weekend trip to the Port City of Valparaiso. Although now a bit rundown in places it is still a historic port by the Pacific Coast of Chile. My father was there in 1958 and frequently during 2 years as apprentice onboard J. Lauritzen West Coast Line.
Editor’s Note:
During my port tour in Valparaiso saw some of the ships regularly service the Easter Islands anchored….Easter Islands or Rapa Nui belongs to Chile and is part of their territory.
