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Government eyes Rs 25,000 crore annual savings through coastal shipping

Economic Times
Government is eyeing annual savings of Rs 25,000 crore on logistics costs by 2025 by promoting coastal shipping under its ambitious Sagarmala project. Sagarmala aims at promoting port-led development by harnessing the country's 7,500-km long coastline, 14,500-km of potentially navigable waterways and strategic location on key international maritime trade routes. "Across all commodities, coastal shipping volumes could grow to 5-6 times of current levels to about 400-480 million tonnes (MT) by 2025. This would save logistics costs of about Rs 25,000 crore per annum," a blueprint on Sagarmala unveiled by the government said. Coastal shipping volume at present is about 80 MT. Logistic costs account for a large part of the country's non-services GDP compared to benchmarks of 8-10 per cent for developed nations, it said.

Govt panel to meet tomorrow on ways to fast-track exports

DNA
Concerned over continuous decline in exports, a committee of top officials including from commerce and shipping ministries will meet on Tuesday to discuss ways to fast-track clearance processes and improve ease of doing business to boost shipments. The meeting will be chaired by Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia. The committee would deliberate on facilitating implementation of measures for fast tracking the regime for export and import clearances besides other trade facilitation steps, an official said. It would also work on ways to expedite the progress of e-trade and its various components like creating paperless and contact free approval environment for export and import clearances. The committee to facilitate trading across borders and fast tracking of export import clearances was constituted last month by the Prime Minister's Office.

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Sagarmala Project Intensifies

Port Technology
In order to connect India's sea, coastal and river ports and to relieve congestion on its roads, reduce logistics costs, and ensure a more environmentally friendly transport model, the Indian government is set to invest US$60 billion into its Sagarmala Programme, which will involve a total of 150 projects throughout the next 10 years, according to IHS Fairplay. In a statement, the Indian Shipping Ministry said: "These projects include capacity augmentation at existing ports and [the] development of five to six new ports including a transhipment hub." Manish Saigal, Managing Director of port and logistics tracking company Alvarez & Marsal India, said: "To attract private and foreign investment, however, there must be a package of financial incentives. “Existing inland waterways have not been able to attract significant cargo volumes, shipping lines look at volumes. This aspect needs to be addressed.”

2 mega port projects set to get cabinet nod this week

Economic Times
Two mega port projects entailing an initial investment of about Rs 15,000 crore are likely to get the Cabinet's approval this week. The ports are proposed to be built in Colachel in Tamil Nadu and Dahanu in Maharashtra under the public-private partnership or PPP model. "These two projects are likely to get Cabinet clearance this week. Two more major port proposals, one in Sagar in Maharashtra and another in Andhra Pradesh, will be sent for the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs' clearance next month," a senior shipping ministry official said. India's 12 major ports handle close to 600 million tonnes of cargo traffic. The government has set a target of doubling this in the next five years.The Colachel port in south Tamil Nadu is envisaged as a southern gateway of trans-shipment in the country. The port will have an initial investment of Rs 6,000 crore for phase I.

Export organisations say proposals for Budget not heeded by Centre

Business Standard
Even while domestic exporters wait for global downturn in commodities to pass, many feel the government could have announced more steps in the recent Budget to stem the continuous slide in exports. India's merchandise exports fell for the 14th consecutive month in January with major foreign exchange earners like petroleum products and engineering products continuing to contract, due to softening prices and subdued demands globally. Trade experts warn against optimism for February as well since China has not been able to pick up services or manufacturing growth. While the recent Budget by finance minister Arun Jaitley scored high on socio-economic and infrastructure spending aimed at long term economic growth and ease in doing business, industry bodies like the Federation of Indian Exports Organization are disappointed over the lack of immediate relief measures.

VPT mulls setting up of dry ports in Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Odisha

The Hindu
Visakhapatnam Port Trust, which is on an expansion mode, is contemplating setting up of Inland Container Depots in Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Odisha to transform the premier port under the Central Government into a container hub. The States concerned have been informed through letters about the intention of the VPT for which the Ministry of Shipping has given in-principle consent. The plan is to acquire land to an extent of around 200 to 400 acres each in Hyderabad, Raipur (Chhattisgarh) and Jharsuguda (Odisha) and develop required facilities to convert them into ‘dry ports.’ “As logistic cost will come down substantially if containers from the three States are transported to the City of Destiny by rail to ensure faster evacuation of cargo, it is considered a most viable option,” Visakhapatnam Port Chairman M.T. Krishna Babu told The Hindu on Monday.

Stage set for waterways in AP

The Hans India
Inland water transport is going to be a reality soon in River Krishna. The Inland Waterways Authority of India is planning to finalise the tenders to develop waterways from Muktyala to Amaravati within 15 days. The 85-km long waterways would help transport cement at cheaper price as majority of cement industries are located on the border of Krishna and Nalgonda districts. Tenders to be finalised within 15 days to develop inland waterways from Muktyala to Amaravati. CM Naidu sees tremendous potential for goods transportation through waterways. The survey for developing water transport was already completed. The successful bidders have to identify the waterways in Krishna river as it is necessary to maintain 2.5 metres depth and 50 metres width for sailing of 1,000 tonnes capacity barge. Speaking to The Hans India, IWAI deputy director V Sridhar said once the tenders are finalised,

Major India ports post modest container growth

JOC
India’s major ports booked a 2.6 percent increase in container volumes in the first 11 fiscal months compared with the same period the prior fiscal year, the newest provisional port figures show. The 12 public landlord ports handled a combined throughput of 7.45 million 20-foot-equivalent units from April 2015 through February, up from 7.26 million TEUs during the corresponding period of fiscal 2014-15. Total containerized cargo tonnage in the 11-month period was up 2.8 percent year-over-year to 112 million tons. Of that, JNPT accounted for 4.1 million TEUs, edging up 0.6 percent from 4.08 million TEUs during April 2014 to February 2015, but that was way below the port authority’s forecast of 4.39 million TEUs for the first 11 fiscal months. The combined impact of off-and-on disruptions and weaker global demand is believed to have dragged down throughput growth at India’s largest, public container handler.

Indian Budget Proposals for Maritime Sector

Marine Link
Finance Ministry Arun Jaitley in Union Budget for financial 2016-17 (Apr-Mar) has announced imposition of 14% service tax on services provided by domestic shipping companies transporting goods from outside India. “The service tax on services provided by shipping companies by way of transportation of goods by a vessel from outside India up to the customs station in India will be 14% with effect from 1 June, 2016,” said the Budget. Shipping Corporation of India, Mercator and Great Eastern Shipping among others are some of the top domestic shipping companies. The Modi government has allocated Rs 800 crore next fiscal year for development of new ports and ongoing work on its National Waterways project, Arun Jaitley said. "In 2015, India's major ports have handled the highest ever quality of cargo. We have also added the highest ever capacity in major ports.

WTO pact: Centre to implement single window customs clearance

Business Line
India will operationalise single window customs clearance from April 1 and allow deferred payments to importers as part of a trade facilitation pact of the World Trade Organisation. “The Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) is already working on a pilot for single window customs clearance at 13 air and sea ports in the country. We hope to roll it out from April 1 and we will gradually expand it to all ports,” said Najib Shah, Chairman, CBEC. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had in the Budget proposed to amend the Customs Act to provide for deferred payment of customs duties for importers and exporters with proven track record as well as implement the Indian Customs Single Window Project. Importers will be able to get clearance from most regulators including food safety, plant quarantine, textiles and drugs through the new mechanism, which will also cut down their dwell time by 50- 60 per cent.

Vizag Port cruising towards handling 58 million tonnes by March, 31.

The Hindu
The slump in economy notwithstanding, Visakhapatnam Port is all set to retain fifth slot in the country by either surpassing or finishing close to last year’s cargo of 58 million tonne by March 31. “The market is very dull this time. All the major and non-major ports in the East Coast have handled five per cent less cargo than the previous year whereas we have so far recorded 1.3 per cent less,”Port Chairman M.T. Krishna Babu told The Hindu on Monday. The reason for the dismal scenario despite capacity addition by some ports is attributed to almost nil steel exports after China flooded the domestic markets with cheap products following glut and drastic fall in coking coal imports. Due to situation in China, exports of iron ore fell steeply. Container traffic has gone up by five lakh tonne. Other commodities like break cargo went up by two million. “All this made it possible to put up a reasonably good performance by us,” Mr. Krishna Babu pointed out.

V.O. Chidambaranar Port sets Container handling record

Business Standard
V.O.C Port has achieved a momentous landmark in container handling by surpassing the previous financial years container traffic of 5,59,727 TEUs by handling 5,61,586 TEUs 25 days ahead of the close of the current financial. This year, upto 6th March 2016, the Port has maintained an impressive growth at 9.36 percent as compared with the same period of last financial year. It is notable that V.O.C Port offers the fastest transshipment time to Colombo among all Indian Ports. At present there are two Container Terminals in V.O.C Port. Berth No.7 with a capacity of 4.17 lakh TEUs is being operated by PSA SICAL. The Terminal commissioned under BOT basis on 21.12.1999 operates 8 services a week, of which 6 services are operated between Tuticorin and Colombo, 1 Coastal service and 1 international cum coastal service connecting Tuticorin Colombo Mundra Jebel Ali Mundra Pipavav Cochin and Tuticorin.

Salalah Port Inks Iran Deals

Marine Link
Oman's top port Salalah has signed trade agreements with key Iranian terminals in the latest efforts by the Gulf country to boost shipping ties with Tehran following the lifting of international sanctions. Measures against Iran were lifted in January as part of a nuclear deal with world powers, ending years of isolation which saw the international shipping sector cut ties and disrupt supplies to import-dependent Iran. The United Arab Emirates previously enjoyed greater shipping activity with Iran but ports in Oman are looking at expanding ties. Salalah, located near the Gulf of Aden, said on Monday it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Iran's biggest cargo port Bandar Abbas and with Chabahar port, which would "facilitate growth in shipping, trade and commerce" between the two countries.

Mega-ships come under fire for hiking supply chain costs

JOC
Container lines have been accused of raising costs across the global supply chain — from cargo terminals to hinterland transport — as they pursue economies of scale through the deployment of increasing numbers of mega-ships. The maximum size of container vessels has doubled in the past decade, considerably reducing carriers’ own costs but imposing additional costs on shippers and other players in the transport chain, according to Chris Welsh, secretary-general of the Global Shippers Forum, an industry lobby. While most industries evolve, container shipping innovates in “big chunks” and the rest of the supply chain “can’t keep up,” Welsh told the International Cargo Handling and Coordination Association conference here.

Exporters miffed at budget's inability to stem steady slide

Business Standard
Even while domestic exporters wait for the global downturn in commodities to pass, many feel the government could have announced more steps in the recent budget to stem the continuous slide in exports. India's merchandise exports fell for the 14th consecutive month in January with major foreign exchange earners like petroleum products and engineering products continuing to contract, due to softening prices and subdued demands globally. Trade experts warn against optimism for February as well since China's services and manufacturing growth remain negative. While the recent budget by finance minister Arun Jaitley scored high on socio-economic and infrastructure spending aimed at long term economic growth and ease in doing business, industry bodies like the FIEO are disappointed over the lack of immediate relief measures.

CPT gets Chairman in-charge

Shipping Ministry appointed Cyril C. George as in-charge of Chairman of Chennai Port Trust on Monday, an official release stated. Mr. George, who is Deputy Chairman of the port, assumed the additional charge on the Monday. He has been Deputy Chairman and Chairman In-charge of Mormugao Port Trust.