Ex-PSA managers boost Aden throughput

01 Mar 2007

Overseas Port Management (OPM), managed by several ex-PSA executives, has been granted a one-year extension to its three-year contract at Aden Container Terminal.   

PORT QASIM SCREENS US BOUND BOXES

01 Mar 2007

Following a pilot scheme in February, Port Qasim is expected to start screening US-bound containers from March this year. There will be a live video link between customs authorities in both Pakistan and the US. Containers arriving from Pakistan will then not need to be re-examined on arrival in the US.  

VICT EXPANDS INFRASTRUCTURE

01 Mar 2007

Vietnam International Container Terminal has decided to upgrade infrastructure at its facility in Ho Chi Min City.Work will include extending the quay by 192 metres to 678 metres, thereby allowing the terminal to accommodate four containerships at once. It also intends to acquire additional quayside lift. Current capacity of 450,000 teu/year will be boosted to 900,000 teu/year by 2008.  

OPERATIONS RECOMMENCE AT GOPALPUR

01 Mar 2007

A consortium led by Orissa Stevedores Limited has begun handling cargo at the minor Indian port of Gopalpur.Within four years, it plans to have developed facilities to handle 20m tonnes annually,which it claims will be reached by 2012.  

CONTROVERSIAL PLANS AT MACHILIPATNAM

01 Mar 2007

While plans by the state government of Andhra Pradesh in India to build a deepwater port at the town of Machilipatnam have been generally welcomed, the proposed location of the port has drawn controversy.The chosen site requires less dredging than at Gilakaladindi, which is where cargo in the area has been traditionally handled, but would impose on the historic residential area.  

Disaster recovery plan for MICT

01 Mar 2007

International Container Terminal Services Inc and subsidiary Manila International Container Terminal have given the go-ahead for the development of a disaster recovery site through DataOne Asia. The site will allow business to continue in the event of an unexpected disruption in operations.  

Busan won over by Savitrak

01 Mar 2007

Busan marks the latest port to sign up to Savitrak’s Radio Frequency Identity (RFID) service. The product is built on an opentechnology network that captures data from all types of standards-based Automatic Identifica-tion and Data Collection (AIDC) devices, including bar codes, sensors, passive and active RFID and Global Positioning Satellite location systems.   

PSA to run Gwadar

01 Mar 2007

PSA has received a letter of intent confirming the build-operatetransfer contract to run the Pakistani port of Gwadar as part of a 40-year concession. Three quarters of the $248m project was financed by China.   

Labour peace returns to Chittagong

01 Mar 2007

Bangladesh’s leading port of Chittagong claims to have overcome industrial action by its workers unhappy with plans to privatise operations at the container terminal.  

DPW EYES WEST BENGAL

01 Mar 2007

DP World has revealed that it is seeking new infrastructure projects in the Indian state of West Bengal.The company is already heavily involved in the Kulpi port construction project, which also features an adjacent industrial zone.The company is investing $136m in the first phase of the project, which is scheduled for completion at the end of 2009.  

SHANGHAI STILL NO.1

01 Mar 2007

With throughput in excess of 530m tonnes, Shanghai remains the world’s busiest port for the second consecutive year,with traffic growth of 19.8%. In terms  of box traffic, it handled more than 20m teu, which in part was helped by the opening of the 30m teu capacity Yangshan deep water harbour.  

JAPANESE INVEST IN ANGOLA

01 Mar 2007

The Japanese government is to spend $9m on rehabilitating the Angolan ports of Namibe and Lobito.The former,which was built in 1961, has 680 metres of quay, but its existing container stacking yard is reported to be in very poor condition.  

KPT DEEPENS DRAUGHT

01 Mar 2007

To facilitate the entry of postpanamax ships, Karachi Port Trust is to rebuild berths 14-17 and widen the access channel at Junabunder.At present, the 12.2 metre draught restriction will remain, although dredging will allow up to 16 metres.As part of a second phase upgrade, berths 10-13 will also be reconstructed.  

Kaohsiung invests to compete with China

01 Mar 2007

Competition from China and other Asian countries has prompted the port of Kaohsiung to announce a $1.5bn investment programme, which aims to increase traffic and upgrade infrastructure over the next eight years.  In February, a tender was due to be issued for a four-berth build-operate transfer terminal project worth $364m.   

Malaysia tariff control

01 Mar 2007

Asian box ports lead world

01 Mar 2007

Asian ports experienced an average growth of 11% in container traffic in 2006, with the world's six leading box handling facilities all located in that region.   

PSA quits Brunei terminal

01 Mar 2007

PSA is to pull out of its concession at Muara Container Terminal in Brunei, which it has operated since 2000. The Singapore-based stevedore will be replaced by Brunei Ports Department personnel with effect from April 1,2007.   

Fourth JNPT box tender

01 Mar 2007

The Indian port of JNPT is to issue a tender in respect of its proposed fourth container terminal by the end of the current year. Expressions of interest have already been received.   

BONTANG SETBACK

01 Mar 2007

Earnings at Indonesia’s Bontang Coal Terminal have been hit by a malfunctioning winch-brake motor, which forced the declaration of a force majeure in February.The terminal has a loading capacity of 250,000 tonnes per week.  

VINALINES PORT PLEDGE

01 Mar 2007

Vietnam Shipping Lines, known as Vinalines, plans to raise $3.3bn (VND51tr) over the next three years to invest in its shipping fleet and upgrade its ports. Part of this investment will be spent on the construction of new seaports in Dinh Vu, Hiep Phuoc and Cai Mep.  

ASIA-PACIFIC COOPERATION

01 Mar 2007

Port officials from Asia-Pacific stressed the importance of cooperation at a pivotal International Association of Ports and Harbours’ meeting in Vietnam in February. Representatives met to discuss port development and management and plans to develop sea links between Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.  

HPH seals Vietnam deal

01 Mar 2007

Expected to be fully operational in 2011, the terminal will have a quay length of 730 metres, with depth alongside of 14 metres and a total yard area of 33 hectares.   

Automatic kick for Manila

01 Mar 2007

International Container Terminal Services Inc’s (ICTSI) flagship terminal is gunning for full automation at its central gate with the introduction of truck portals with imaging cameras and automated driver transaction kiosks.   

HPH seals Vietnam deal

01 Mar 2007

Kong Kong’s Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) is to jointly construct, develop and operate a new container terminal in Vietnam under a 50-year concession.