Shipping

SLPA to produce more mariners

The ceremonial inauguration of the Diploma course in Marine Engineering for Engineering Cadets was held at the Mahapola Training Institute of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) recently under the distinguish patronage of Minister of Ports, Aviation, Irrigation and Water Management, Chamal Rajapaksa.

Addressing the audience Minister said that this was a basic step in establishing a Marine Training Institute under Mahinda Chinthana programme to enable local students to obtain a locally and internationally recognized certificate in the sector.

He said that the course also opens avenues for local students to acquire higher and professional education in the international marine sector in Sri Lanka. The Minister also expressed that the course had offered opportunities to more rural students to obtain international employment opportunities following the study course in the maritime sector for higher wages.

This Diploma Course in Marine Engineering for Engineering Cadets has been launched by Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) and Ceylon Shipping Corporation (CSC) as a collaborative professional and higher educational course.

It is conducted as a 3 year study course directing students in both theoretical and practical training given in international vessels at times, under fullest supervision of CSC. University of Moratuwa also offers more facilities for the students enrolled in this course.

Parallel to the other Marine courses of the same strength, the new Diploma Course in Marine Engineering for Engineering Cadets have offered a more concessionary course fee enabling students to pay the total course fees even under easy payments schemes.

Chairman of SLPA Dr. Priyath Bandu Wickrama said that besides current services rendered by SLPA, it is also expected to extend its port services through the professional training of human resource in various Marine Engineering sectors via such programmes marking SLPA a focal point in supplying able and skilled professional mariners to the local and international maritime industry.

He added that such steps would also strengthen our challenges in the international maritime sector amidst future economic crisis.

Minister of Ports Development Dilan Perera, Deputy Minister of Aviation Sarath Kumara Gunerathne, Acting Secretary of the Ministry of Ports & Aviation K.V.P. Ranjith De Silva, Chairman of CSC Y.L.S. Hameed, Director General of Merchant Shipping Shantha Weerakoon, Executive Director of SLPA Dr. Sanjaya Sedara Senerath, Executive Director to CSC Mayantha Dissanayake also participated at this occasion.

Wan Hai, RCL service commence

Wan Hai Line and Regional Container Lines (RCL) have announced the calling of CCI/RKE East Bound Service at Jaya Container Terminal (JCT) of Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA).

This new service connecting Colombo from Nhava Sheva will link the Indian sub continent directly with China. The first vessel under this new service, namely Wan Hai 305 called at JCT of SLPA recently. This 199.9m LOA vessel with a capacity of 2496 TEUs is operated by Wan Hai Lines and sails under the flag of Singapore. Totally, there will be four vessels in this service of which two will be operated by Wan Hai Lines and the other two by RCL.

The Port rotation of the new Service is Shanghai - Ningbo - Hong Kong - Singapore - Port Klang Nhava Sheva - Colombo - Port Klang - Singapore - Hong Kong - Shanghai.

DP World ports under review

DP World, one of the largest global container terminal operators, said that it is reviewing all its new port projects because of a deteriorating world economy and declining international trade.

The company reported a 15 per cent increase in the volume of containers it handled in 2008, but sees 2009 to be a tough year for business because of the changed world economic environment.

Chief executive officer Mohammad Sharaf told Gulf News the company is taking a fresh look at its capital expenditure and has frozen new recruitment as it adjusts its plans to match new market conditions.

However, he clarified that DP World is not reducing its existing workforce, estimated about 30,000 worldwide.

"There are no job cuts but we are not hiring new people. Volumes have started to come down," Sharaf said.

He said 2009 will be a "challenging and tough year" compared with 2007 and the first half of 2008, when countries around the world witnessed strong trade growth, rise in investments and escalation in commodity prices.

"Each and every project is being reviewed. The whole dynamics of global trade has changed suddenly," Sharaf said, adding that the company wants to "preserve cash as much as possible" by reducing capital spending".

The company has 13 new port projects under development, including in Britain, India, China, Peru and The Netherlands. (Gulf News)

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A container ship sails beneath the Golden Gate Bridge as it makes its way into port in San Francisco, California. California's natural resources, major ports, access to the Pacific rim, relatively young workforce, entrepreneurial draw and tech-oriented industries may leave it well-placed to rise again, economists and historians say.

REUTERS