Capacity Upgrade to Keep Pace - India's Maritime to Keep Date
Shipping ministry invites participation in the form of PPP. Projects worth over Rs.60,000 crores on offer. The shipping ministry will sign 20 to 25 public-private partnership (PPP) agreements this year to boost port infrastructure in the country, according to Shipping Secretary A.P.V.N. Sarma. Shipping, Marine & Ports World team reports...
Fulfilling a Maritime Dream
Thanks to Containerisation, it now costs less than USD 0.22 to ship a pair of trainers from China to Europe, which is about 0.2 percent of the displayed price. Likewise, the cost of transporting a DVD Player from Asia to Europe is less than USD 1.30 which is 0.8 percent of what the customer pays. It costs 1.4 percent of what the customer pays to ship a TV set from Asia to Europe. If we are able to enjoy perennial supply of seasonal exotic fruits in the supermarkets and on our dinner tables, it is because of Container Refrigeration. About 22 million TEUs of containers are in use today and the rate of growth continues to be about 10 percent every year. If all the containers in the world were lined up, it would create a container wall with a length of 108,000 km which is a third of the way to the moon, equivalent to 18 times the length of the Great Wall of China or 2.7 times around the earth at the Equator...
The Making of a Success Story in the Port Sector
Arvind Bhatnagar, CEO, Gateway Terminals of India discusses his company's pursuits of excellence and strategies to offer a remarkable contribution to India's efforts to shine in the Ports Sector. He comments, "The current economic scenario may look bleak at present, but we must continue to build infrastructure to prepare well for a future that is certainly very promising. I hope private investors would take much interest."...
Lending Succor to Ports and Ships
India has a vast coastline of 7.500 kms and it has tremendous potential for coastal shipping. This mode of shipping is fuel-efficient, environment-friendly and economical as a crucial component of the domestic industry and trade...
Awakening the Sleeping Giant
The Mumbai port has grown at a steady pace and its cargo handling grew from 26 million tones in 2001-02 to 57 million tones in 2007-08. Notwithstanding the gradual rise, its operating surplus fell from Rs.263 crore in FY2008 to Rs.123 crore to the current year. Rahul Asthana, Chairman, Mumbai Port Trust attributes the trend directly to the economic slowdown which has affected shipping on a global scale. Asthana points out that Mumbai port is a port for general cargo and liquid bulk. Almost 70 percent of the cargo throughput in Mumbai port is liquid cargo and serves organizations such as BPLC, HPCL and ONGC. "We have more than doubled our traffic in the last 8-9 years and this has happened despite the fact that we have competition from private ports."...
Safety of Life on Board - SOLOB
There has been increasing awareness of Safety in the maritime field over the last few years. In addition to the various statutory Certifications on board, a number of training schemes have been introduced in the pre-sea stage to reduce the probability of risk and increase risk awareness. Personnel manning ships in the present times are better trained, more knowledgeable and better prepared to face uncertain situations. And the following trends in the industry are triggering higher expectations from them:...
Can the Glory Come Back to Seafaring?
Sailing used to be fun for seafarers of a bygone era. I come from an era when the romance of sailing had begun to fade away slowly. It was still fun to sail from the mid 80's to the mid 90's. However, issues such as acute manpower shortage, seafarer fatigue, language and communication, criminalization of seafarers, and the neglect of seafarers� social needs are reaching alarming proportions and need to be dealt with seriousness...
Homing in Ships - Safely Swiftly
With the advent of the SOLAS Convention in 1960, Safety of merchant ships became an issue of topmost priority. Adil Moloobhoy, Chairman of A.S. Moloobhoy & Sons informs that there was quite a stir during this time to set up or upgrade the marine safety equipment sector internationally. He explains that it was under this scenario that his own company thought it worthwhile to shift their focus from ship breaking and ship chandling to specializing in safety products for the marine industry. A need for this service was acutely felt in the country since India had never made a mark to speak off in this sector. He says, "Right from the beginning of the SOLAS era we have been associated with the marine safety business."...
High Power Panel Paves the Path to SMP World Expo 2010
While the economies of most countries had shrunk, India had managed a growth of 6.7 percent in the last fiscal. Pointing this out as a significant achievement for the country, Mr. S. Hajara, CMD of Shipping Corporation of India said that China had taken a conscious decision to invest heavily on domestic infrastructure to come out of recession and India should follow suit. He urged that Indian authorities must pursue growth of domestic infrastructure, especially now when the prices of cement and steel were low....
Curtain Raiser to SMP World Expo 2010 - Governor S.C. Jamir Graces the Function
Chemtech Foundation has announced Shipping, Marine & Ports World Expo 2010 in a glittering function well attended by the who's who of the Shipping, Marine & Ports industry. The function also honoured and felicitated outstanding stalwarts of the maritime industries. H.E. Mr. S.C. Jamir, Honourable Governor of Maharashtra was the Chief Guest...
Concentrated Inspection Campaign to the Rescue of Lifeboat Operations
Port State Control is spearheading a "Concentrated Inspection Campaign" (CIC) globally on Lifeboats Safety. The target set is inspecting 10,000 ships across various ports. Many Port States have beefed up their inspection capacity by hiking up their inspection team through fresh recruitments. CK Muralidharan discusses the scenario surrounding Life Boats and related accidents...
India Must Develop Gateway Ports
R. Ravi Kumar, Vice President, Visakha Container Terminal P. Ltd. has been recently honoured with National Maritime Award for the Port Sector for 2008-09 by the Ministry of Shipping for his research paper - 'Increasing Size of Container ships: Need to develop Selected Ports as Gateway Ports on the West Coast and East Coast of India.' Holding a long term perspective, Kumar argues that India must consider building Gateway Ports. Amongst the various measures suggested by Kumar, he stresses upon providing a greater autonomy to major ports, amendments to Major Port Trusts Act, and changes in the Tariff Models and concession Agreements. The author presents a synopsis of his paper...
Next Generation Crane Drive and Control
Saibal Roy, discusses the benefits accrued by the end user through proper standardization of the crane controls, possible due to the advent of the new generation of drives and controllers...
The Power of Mentoring
A mentor is required at every stage of a budding enterprise. Likewise, a mentor is essential for every entrepreneur and professional, says C. Maheshwar...
Implementation Strategy - ECDIS and E - Navigation
Information technology has the potential to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of businesses everywhere. With the mandatory carriage requirement for the ECDIS looming large on the horizon in 2012, many of the ship owners who have not yet complied with the same will have to start installing the devices in the coming years. Capt. Tarun K. Mathur cautions however, that these systems in themselves cannot create a competitive advantage, but adhering to the planning and processes that are essentials to these devices enhances safety...
Dighi Port Heads Towards First Phase Development
Dighi Port Limited has concluded a Concession Agreement for 50 years on BOOST (Build ,Own, Operate, Share & Transfer) basis for the development, operations, management, financing & marketing of Dighi Port with the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB), State Government of Maharashtra. Phase one of the project would be fully developed and completely operational by 2009-2010, according to sources...
Krishnapatnam Port Celebrates its First Anniversary
Krishnapatnam Port Company Limited (KPCL) - a dynamic new generation world class port, celebrates its first anniversary on July 17, 2009. Post the completion of first phase, in a record time of 18 months, it was inaugurated and dedicated to the nation a year ago by Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Hon�ble Chairperson UPA. It has been a very successful year for the port and with the second phase of development looking all the more promising; it will soon be poised to become one of the biggest ports in the world...
Can We Do Enough for Safety?
'It is time we found a way out of cumbersome bureaucratic procedures for many of the marine related matters.'...
Manning crisis - shortage of marine personnel - way out
J. K. Dhar examines opportunities and challenges to the HR situation in shipping & marine in the Indian context...
Competency assesment - An insider's view
"Without any perceptible improvement in infrastructure or man power in the competency Assessment centers, there is a huge bottle necking since the bench marking are important for stringent standards maintained for the purposes of competency. The bottle necking or queuing syndrome has a Domino effect in the industry, resulting in wide spread shortages of trained man power...
Human Capacity Development for the Global Maritime Industry
"Whenever we refer to Maritime Education and Training, invariably it is almost taken for granted that the limits and boundaries get automatically confined to Shipboard competencies."...
Take manning challenge by its horns
"The global shipping industry is beset by the low profile of the industry, shortages of competent seafarers, inadequacies in the STCW Convention and its implementation, lack of sea time and good trainers, and inappropriate role models for new entrants. Crewing is probably the biggest operational problem. This article looks briefly at one of the issues, how to address the serious shortage of competent seafarers through improved training."...
Can Training Take a Back Seat?
There is an economic downturn and in most places, training and development has become the first casualty. Experts suggest that "Even a minor looking mistake on the ship can cause a major loss." This draws our attention to the question, 'Can training be avoided?' Sadanand Subramanian reports...
A Glorious Career Beckons
The ship manning industry has had its fair share of ups and downs through the decades. There had been an excess of seafarers around not many years ago and they were prepared to accept rock bottom salaries. In the years to follow, the industry witnessed a boom and soon there was an extreme shortage scenario when seafarers were in high demand. Along the way somewhere, seafarers began demanding higher wages and parity with their international counterparts. And in the recent years we are witnessing another development. The attraction towards the seafaring profession has begun to slowly wane, especially amongst people living in big towns. On its ebb currently as a result of the global downturn, is the manpower requirements situation any different now? Some say that the current situation will do good for the industry by easing the manpower shortage crisis. But what do we do when times change, and demand rises again? Capt. Navin Passey, Managing Director of Wallem India, as well as Chairman of FOSMA speaks candidly to Sadanand Subramanian of Shipping, Marine & Ports World on issues close to his heart, namely, the glory of seafaring career, strategies to attract and retain talent, and commitment with a long term end in mind...
Growing Challenge
"Companies cannot forget that under the present scenario cadets will become a master or chief engineer in about 6 years and will be handling a billion dollar asset. And hence all the more need to adopt a stricter assessment and evaluation approach."...
Time and Tides of Indian Port Sector
Over the last decade, Indian Ports have seen some far reaching changes with private sector participation & Joint Ventures permitted under Major Port Trusts Act. Sudhir Rangnekar presents a case to show that if ports in India are to emerge as key facilitators and accelerators towards economic development, they need to be globally competitive...
Time to Look outside the Box
We have been hearing about globalization since 1990's. I would like to say that the maritime sector deserves the highest praise for hastening the pace of globalization. There is no doubt that this sector is the real catalyst for economic growth of any country. Going back in history, we will see that shipping has always spread culture, trade, and friendships across the blobe...
Gujarat Takes a Step Further to Maritime Glory
Gujarat could well become another successful maritime destination like Singapore or Hong Kong if the investments committed during the 4th Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Summit 2009 come through. There have been port projects worth Rs.85,750 crore and shipbuilding projects worth Rs.20,355 crore...
Successful Development of Ports : A Road Map
The question often asked to me at various seminars is why has the state of Maharashtra been unable to commission a single Greenfield port though the process had commenced way back in early 2002. The question posed is extremely relevant when you see our neighbouring Gujarat state has a different story to tell of its success in commissioning a number of ports to date, notably Pipavav, Dahej, Mundra and Hazira...
Is Evacuation at Indian Ports Smooth and Rapid?
There is a growing consensus that for a port to be truly efficient and functional there has to be a balanced and all round development of not only the waterside facilities, but also of facilities at the yard side and the landside which would enable goods to be evacuated smoothly and rapidly and delivered at their destinations in an efficient manner...
Build ships in your own yard
Vijay Kumar, MD, Bharati Shipyard, shows how investments in shipbuilding leads to a multiplier effect in the economy while also lending tremendous rural employment opportunities. Sadanand Subramanian & Sanjana Mishra report...
WMTC 2009 Attracts Best of Maritime
World maritime technology conference opened amidst great fanfare at Mumbai on January 21, 2009. Chief Guest Admiral Sureesh Mehta said, "development in the future will be determined by how well we 'shape' the maritime environment. A significant portion of this 'shaping' would have to be achieved by leveraging technology - and that is where your deliberations are undoubtedly aimed." ...
A Date with Chennai - Nation's first maritime university organises a meeting of top industry minds
The date 8th December 2008 was a date for the shipping industry giants who had flown down from various parts of the world to participate at the CEOs panel discussion on "Vision of Shipping" organized by AMET University, the country's first maritime university dedicated towards marine education. The discussions moderated by Capt. S. Bhardwaj, Vice Chancellor of the university focused on the current economic slowdown and its impact on the shipping sector ...
Mitsui to operate car carriers from ports
Japanese multi-modal transport group Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd (MOL), has formed a new company in India to transport cars from Ennore and Chennai ports.called MOL Auto Logistics (India) Pvt Ltd. The Chennai-based company will operate car carriers from the two major ports to nearby Asian countries from next year ...
Security Core Issue For Kochi Port
Indian ports have started beefing up port security. Post 26/11 Port authorities are giving prime focus to security issue. Cochin Port Trust has beefed up the security apparatus both on its waterfront and on land ...
Recession in Shipping: Strategic Choices.
The global shipping industry has been drawn into the whirlpool of a recessionary crisis in the world economy. Managing Director of Bernard Schulte Ship Management, B.N. Prasad examines the strategic choices that lay ahead to shipping companies in the midst of serious down turns and slump in freight rates...
GL acquires Maritime Consulting Firm
The maritime consulting and software companies Friendship Consulting GmbH and Friendship systems GmbH are now members of the Germanischer Lloyd Group. The acquisition of the business operations of Friendship Consulting serves to expand GL's palette of advisory services for shipping companies, yards and the maritime supply industry ...
Shadow of Global Downturn on Port Industry
The global financial crisis and the ensuing economic downturn are putting enormous strains on Indian ports. There is a decline in traffic due to lower demand for iron-ore and bulk products and similarly port expansions plans are also kept aside for time being ...
Major Expansion Plan for Kandla Port
Kandla port has notched up a string of successes by its steady growth and economy of operations. Now Kandla Port Trust has planned for massive expansion and started working on several major projects, including four multi-purpose berths, cargo handling facilities at Tuna Tekra, where a special economic zone (SEZ) is to come up, setting up of a single-point mooring (SPM) and allied facilities at Vadinar ...
Vizag Port v/s Gangavaram Port - Latest Tally
Gangavaram port is a newly urbanized port in the east cost. Ever since it came into being it has marched along aggressively cutting into the nearby government-owned Visakhapatnam port taking advantage of its deepest ship channel in the country. Apart from lower tariffs and better turnaround time for vessels, Gangavaram also provides good infrastructure and facilities ...
BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT - Case for Solid Ballast!
World Trading Fleet As at 1st January 2008, the world trading fleet was made up of 728,225,000 gross tonnes with a total of 50,525 ships comprising of General Cargo ships (18,982), Bulk Carriers (6,890), Container ships (4,170), Tankers (12,583), Passenger ships (5,957) and Others (1,943) ...
GL Tech Head Towards Safety - Dr Herman J . Klein talks about Indian maritine industry and opportunities it offers in an interview with Shipping, Marine and Ports World
Dr Herman J . KleinHigh Sea Highjack - A matter of grave concern to maritime Shipping industry has always faced problems through pirates from the earliest days of its history. It was a common thing during ancient Greek and ancient Roman age. Oldest evidence of piracy dates back to 1350 (BC) at the time of Pharo Echnation. It began in the Mediterranean Sea and then in North Europe ...
By Capt. Shyam JairamWMTC 2009 Opens with Great Gusto
World Maritime Technology Conference (WMTC) 2009 opens with great gusto on 21st January at NCPA, Mumbai. WMTC 2009 is the first World Maritime Technology Conference to be held in Asia. The Institute of Marine Engineers (India) has won this coveted task of hosting this mega event after stiff competition from other maritime nations of the world ...
Singapore Seizes ShipTek 2009
After the inaugural and successful run of Marine BizTV's flagship event ShipTek 2008, at Kochi, India, which was also the first ever maritime event to be telecast live globally through live.marinebiztv.com, Singapore is all set to host ShipTek 2009, in May ...
Optimism Winning Over Gloom
The economic slow down showed its effects everywhere around the world including in the shipping industry. Yet, there is a ray of hope and optimism as we witness it holding its own due to a variety of factors during these tough times...
Healthy Order Books to Tide Over Lean Period
Indian shipyards stick to calculated plans banking on their current order book positions. Shipping, Marine & Ports World team brings forth an update of current shipbuilding activity undertaken by major Indian shipbuilders.
Shipbuilding euphoria was on an all time high in India until very recently. Although most prominent players believe there is no cause for alarm in their individual cases, experts generally believe that caution would be the best watchword during these times. Knowledgeable quarters also point to studies that point to the presence of factors within the global shipbuilding market that have resulted in the increased possibility of prolonged economic cycles which further indicates that the impact of an economic downturn can easily become more serious than originally anticipated ...
Yeoman Services To Marine Industry
Yeoman Marine Services has occupied centre stage as one of the most prolific marine services and private ship repair facility in the country. Managing Director, Dhananjay Mishra's dynamism sparks out in his words; "It is a matter of great pride that we have built an energetic and efficient team of 450 engineers and technicians today. We started with a small team of 6 engineers in 1999." Mishra is also proud that his company has progressed from starting out with a few lakh of rupees to becoming rupees 15 crore currently.
Challenges Facing The Indian Maritime Sector
India's economy boom and strategic geographical location has offered good opportunity for growth of the Shipping Industry during the past decade. But Indian Shipping sector is yet to overcome many challenges imposed by conventions passed by IMO; advancements in shipping technology, environmental concerns, expansion of ports, and development of waterways being a few of them. Commodore M.K.Banger shares his views...
Lull Before The Storm
The industry feels that they cannot be complacent with its HR plans. Meet long term strategies. There has been a downsizing spree in almost every industry as fallout of the global economic downturn. What is the impact of the present global scenario to shipping industry's manning position then? BIMCO had, as recently as 2005 reported a total global shortage of 10000 officers. And it went on to predict a spiraling increase to bring the number of shortfall to 27000 officers in the next ten years. What is the current status?
Indian Infrastructure - A Dampener Or Catlyst?
Infrastructure plays the key role in development of any economy and that is probably the only reason in the difference in the growth rates between India and China. In spite of the global recession and liquidity crunch, India cannot overlook investing into infrastructure development of shipping industry. A serious thought is required by the authorities for identifying the major heads for investments in infrastructure and come up with plans for investments through various funds in Greenfield and Brownfield projects.
Developments in Refrigerated Containers Is Training Coping up with the Technology?
Highly advanced reefer containers with Data recording mechanisms, remote indication and control devices, cargo probes, analyzers and testers etc. are used for transporting the high value cargo by the shipping industry. Still the stakeholders in the Reefer Container Cargo Logistics Chain face the challenge of lack of trained personnel in operations and maintenance for both offshore and onshore operations. A methodical approach needs to be followed to train people to overcome the challenge for prevention of huge losses incurred rather than the hit and trial approach followed for the operation and maintenance of these containers and machinery.
Dredging as a MEANS to Increase Port Capacity
Mumbai based Marine Electronics and Navigation Services a ship technology and repair services company makes good headway in the high potential dredging sector. P. B. Shukla, Director, MEANS says that his company has bagged a Rs one crore contract involving a series of dredging projects for the entire Karnataka coastline.
JN Port All Set To Break Barriers
Port capacity in the country achieved a growth of 532 million tones and by 2011-12 the capacity enhancement is expected to be around 1.5bn tones. Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, T.R. Baalu informs that major ports in the country would undertake 24 more projects in the next two years. SMP World presents an update of strides made by Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust ...
Mormugao Port Expansion
Indian industry and Trade Associations have been attaching the highest priority to development of much needed infrastructure in the country. However, private sector participation in port infrastructure development has been forthcoming only at the stage after government or sponsoring organizations have made significant progress in the identification of potential sites, land acquisition, clearing encroached land areas, rehabilitation and relocation, shifting of utilities etc ...
MEANS - A Company for all Seasons Even as the shipbuilding industry in India forges on with orders full up to 2011-12, the engines and spares capabilities for this industry is yet to take root. For now the industry is content to heavily rely on service providers who source most of the equipment from overseas manufacturers. Technocrats P.B. Shukla and R.K. Jani set up Marine Electronics and Navigation Services during the mid eighties realising a need for sophisticated marine equipment for various utilities ...
SMP World BureauNDTEX 2008 Held Brings Together Fraternity At Naval Dockyard all SeasonsNDTEX provides an ideal platform for industries to showcase their top of the line/state-of-the art products. Besides enriching professionals has further strengthened the edifice of collaboration between the Navy and civil industry to herald modern repair technology ...
Chemtech Holds India Day India Day at SMM, Hamburg attracts high ranking delegates from 20 countries
Shipping, Marine & Ports world magazine was launched at a glittering India Day Function organized by Chemtech Foundation on 25th September 2008 during SMM Hamburg held during 23 - 26 at Hamburg, Germany. India Day Function, focussing on "Indian Maritime Industry - Opportunities for Greater Co-operation" was held at Hamburg Marriott. Mr. Jasu Shah, Chairman of Jasubhai Media welcomed an impressive gathering of delegates from over 20 countries including India. In his valedictory address he recounted the need for a fitting platform for the shipping and maritime industries to converge and exchange ideas. He also chalked out a plan of action that Chemtech Foundation would be undertaking in this regard. While delivering the keynote address, Mr.J.C. Anand, Chairman of Indian Register of Shipping and a veteran in the field of maritime stressed on the maritime opportunities currently thrown open in the global arena and especially in the Indian environment. Others who spoke on the occasion included luminaries and Guest of Honour such as Dr. B.M. Vinod Kumar, Consul General of India in Hamburg, Mr. Frank Mungo, WMTC Congress Chairman and Mr. K.K. Saxena, Convenor, World Maritime Technology Conference, Mumbai. Cordial interactions and networking over cocktails were followed by dinner. Mr. Hemant Shetty, Chief Operating Officer of Chemtech Secretariat proposed the vote of thanks ...
ISS Deliberates Shipbuilding with Great Gusto Industry bigwigs call for government to provide incentives to ship owners ordering from domestic shipyards
The fourth annual India Shipping Summit has concluded with over 500 participants from 21 countries. There were strong calls for positive actions, a need for more government involvement and support and encouraging predictions for the nation's maritime development ...
Industry examine port and infrastructure progress
An integrated and well coordinated transport and logistics system is of critical importance to the country's domestic as well as exim trade, emphasized Mr. Hussain, Chairman of JNPT during the 3rd Southern Asia Ports, Logistics and Shipping 2008 India Conference and Exhibition held at Hotel Leela Kempinski ...
Politicising the Seas
As I see it, the only recourse would be to convince the powers that be about the strength of our numbers at sea including those of our near and dear at home and how it translates as a power to reckon with in terms of a plain vote bank ...
Seafarer Training Need of the Hour
The Indian government is giving a lot of attention to maritime education now. A National Maritime University is very likely to be set up soon in the country. The bill is supposed to come in the next parliament session ...
Multi-dimensions of Shipbuilding
"Business philosophy of responsibility, Professionalism, Creativity and Technical excellence leads to non-linear growth."
PPP Needs to Get on Fast Track
IAS officer, APVN Sarma who took over as Secretary, Department of Shipping, Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, Government of India during February 2008 is already firmly in the saddle driving or overseeing various projects related to maritime development in India ...
Maritime Education - Need to enhance the Scope
It is a matter of great satisfaction, that the world today sees India as a place of achievement and potential, a source of intellectual capital and a driver of global growth in the 21st century ...
