SULPHUR OIL AND BALLAST WATER TREATMENT SET RULE FOR VESSELS NOW
Shipowners around the world are faced with increasing costs, which could offset any potential rebound of freight rates over the course of the next year or so, as a series of new regulations are bound to necessitate new investments in the existing fleet.
First off, the entry into force of the Ballast Water Management Convention means that by this coming September all vessels will have to be fitted with some sort of BWM system, preferably approved by the US Coast Guard as well, otherwise the ship won’t be able to navigate in any US port. But the most important change will come in the form of the 0.5 percent sulphur cap which has been set on shipping emissions by 2020, as a result of the latest IMO decision.
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SHIPPING INDUSTRY FACES THREAT OF UNILATERAL LEVY ON CARBON EMISSIONS
The shipping industry faces the threat of paying a levy to the European Union on its greenhouse gas emissions as lawmakers from the bloc grow increasingly impatient with the slow progress being made by the global effort to tackle the issue.
The industry, which accounts for around 90 percent of goods transported globally, ‎has rejected unilateral moves by the EU, arguing it would distort world trade and instead wants the issue handled through the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nation’s shipping agency.
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DRY BULK MARKET ENTERS 2017 ON AN OPTIMISTIC NOTE
The year 2016 left with a positive feeling for the dry bulk market, which, even amid thin trading, managed to post a quick turnaround. For instance, in the Capesize segment, the quick gains were mainly to be seen in the Atlantic as interest prior to the final trading days before Christmas reached a spike and position lists seemed to favor the freight rate spike.
Things were also fairly positive in the Pacific, with a good flow of fresh interest helping clear out any open tonnage and pushing strong gains on the average earnings.
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SA SHIPPING MARKET UNDER PRESSURE
South Africa’s shipping market is expected to remain under pressure in 2017, with import figures likely to be weaker after low third-quarter import numbers despite a strengthened rand.
After dismal first-quarter figures, the market had stabilised. But despite this, low growth figures were expected for the rest of 2016 and 2017.
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CHILAHATI LAND PORT REMAINS INOPERATIVE
Thousands of people in Nilphamari have been suffering a lot as Chilahati land port in the district has remained closed since 1965.
According to the port source, the land port was established in Chilahati of Domar upazila under the district in 1960. A custom office was set up then in the area as huge amount of goods had been imported and exported through the port.
During India-Pakistan war in 1965 the land port was declared closed but the custom office remained operative. But in 2002 the custom office was also declared closed. According to another source, the activities of Chilahati-Holdibari land port were in operation until the Indian authorities unilaterally closed their Holdibari land customs station in June 2002.
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HAI PHONG PORT TAKING FEES FROM THIS YEAR
From January 1 2017, Hai Phong port Vietnam started collecting fees for using infrastructure, service facilities and public utilities from shipments at all ports in the city.
It is estimated that the city could earn up to VND1.5trn each year. Individuals and organizations that have shipments stored at bonded warehouses now must pay VND2.2m (USD97) to VND4.8m per container, depending on the load.
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BABATNGON, A FUTURE TRANSSHIPMENT HUB
The Regional Development Council (RDC) has tagged the seaport in Babatngon, Leyte as the future transhipment hub in Eastern Visayas, approving a proposal to conduct a feasibility study for the wharf.
Aside from feasibility study, experts from the Philippine Ports Authority will also come up with a master plan of the Babatngon Port as Eastern Visayas’ regional transhipment hub. The study will kick off within the first quarter of the year and it will be completed within 2017.
The proposed development is not actually just a simple port. Part of the proposal is to build a cargo terminal holding and warehousing facility.
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SHIPPING MARKET GETTING READY OF 0.50PC SULPHUR CAP
The goal has been clearly defined. Now it is time for stakeholders to prepare their game plan, and work together as a team to reach the goal.
Although we have a date for the global 0.50 percent sulphur cap for marine fuels under MARPOL Annex VI, there are some unknowns to deal with, so communication will be needed to allow everyone to adopt the strategies that will work best for them. Paraphrasing a famous quote by Donald Rumsfeld, there are several “know knowns” about the MARPOL Annex VI compliance options, but there’s also a few “known unknowns” and there may be some “unknown unknowns” surfacing along the way.