SHIPPING

Shipping Corporation to become viable venture

To be made profitable in six months:

Sanjeevi Jayasuriya

The Ceylon Shipping Corporation (CSC) is in the process of turning into a viable venture with a re-structuring plan and supportive action.

Ceylon Shipping Chairman Prasad Galhena

The vision of the CSC is to re-claim the national carries status and to re-live the past glory.

The Corporation will work towards achieving profitability and would make CSC a profitable concern within next six months, Ceylon Shipping Corporation Chairman Prasad Galhena told Daily News Business. The CSC owned many vessels in the past and in keeping with the vision to be the vessel owning nation, it will focus on accelerating the reviving process.

“We are in the process of restructuring the organization based on functions we execute with special emphasis on marketing and sales. This will bring in more revenue to the company,” Galhena said.

“Plans are underway to diversify into other related areas as we are traditional ship owners and operators. We have a new marketing strategy and have employed a dedicated larger marketing team to reach the goals,” he said.

The CSC will offer its customers economical and quality service meeting the demand together with competitive prices. The company plans to partner with large-scale international operators. The process is still under negotiation.

The CSC is open for business proposals and joint ventures with private sector initiatives.

“We are looking forward to passenger transportation between Colombo and India and also all around the country. We are looking at the possibilities of building a floating hotel. We support the Government’s policy of making Sri Lanka a maritime hub and are confident that the CSC could contribute to reach this goal,” Galhena said.

The CSC was the largest contributor to the Treasury and the first to introduce containerization in the Indian sub continent.

It plans to work closely with the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and appreciate the support by Deputy Ministers Rohitha Abegunawardena and Dayasritha Tissera.

FPS and Bertling tie-up in Sri Lanka

Famous Pacific Shipping Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. (FPS Lanka) a member of the Global NVO/Freight Forwarder, and Bertling Logistics India (South Asia team) a member of the F.H Bertling Logistics Group in Germany, have joined forces in Sri Lanka to offer a comprehensive Point to Point Project Logistics Solution from any part of the world to and from Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

With the appointment of FPS Lanka as the accredited Agent of Bertling Logistics, a communique from both companies announced the launch of this joint service on September 7 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

FPS Sri Lanka Gihan Nanayakkara Chairman/Managing Director and Advisory Committee Member of the FPS Global Group said they are launching this venture to partner the development projects of our Country and to bring in new and advanced expertise previously not available to this specialized industry.

Bertling Logistics Group, headquartered in Germany, is a global specialist in project cargo movement.

Equipped with their own fleet of ships and specialized equipment they are the pioneers in this business.

Bertling India having commenced operations in 2007, is one of the fastest growing Project Logistics Companies in the region, who rocketed to win the all India Maritime and Logistics award 2009 for Best Project Forwarder (ODC/ Heavy Lift) cargo operator, a landmark in the Industry.

Famous Pacific Shipping Group, headquartered in Hong Kong is also the fastest growing NVO/Freight Forwarder in Asia, with a global network represented in 50 countries they are present in over 4000 destinations.

FPS Global Group specializes in sea freight, consolidation warehousing and total distribution.

FPS Lanka is a leading Project Cargo Logistic Company that has facilitated the cargo movement of some of the key infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka.

\Some of the prime projects they have been involved in are, the 300 MW Kerawalapitiya Power plant, the Port of Oluvil and part of the southern Highway in addition to many other infrastructure projects.

Colombo Dockyard delivers Greatship Ramya

Colombo Dockyard PLC (CDPLC) delivered the second vessel of a series of four 78 m multipurpose platform supply vessels (MPSV) with a 3200 deadweight capacity for the Greatship Global Offshore Services Pvt Limited of Singapore.

The delivered vessel was designed by Seatech Solutions International of Singapore in collaborative consultation with the Owner and the Builder, Colombo Dockyard.

The Greatship Ramya

The role of the vessel is to support offshore oil and gas fields on a twenty-four (24) hour per day basis and has an endurance of about 35 days and a cruising range of about 9,200 nautical miles.

An outstanding speed of 13.8 knots enables the vessel to get to the desired location around the world as quickly as possible, minimizing downtime.

The vessel is built for operation in un-restricted waters and is capable of undertaking multi-purpose roles such as transportation of pipes, fresh water, diesel, methanol, bulk cement, stores, equipment, moving men, materials between platforms and shore.

Good maneuverability and station keeping is achieved by using twin controllable pitch propellers, twin rudders and transverse bow and stern thrusters. Twin maneuvering consoles are fitted in the wheelhouse stations, forward and aft with “joy-stick” controls.

The vessel being equipped with advanced dynamic positioning (DP AA) system assures safe and more efficient operations while working in close proximity to oil platforms/ rigs, even under the most harshest weather conditions. Being equipped with a fully automated bridge layout with alarm monitoring systems for single man bridge operation, the vessel is classed with “NAV1” notation.

The vessel has a larger accommodation area for 50 persons as against the 24 persons in the previous anchor handling tug supply vessels.

These accommodation areas are well-appointed and are aesthetically designed and built. Special attention has been paid to noise and vibration levels and crew comfort onboard the vessel, thereby meeting compliance to ‘CAC3’ notation of the classification society.

Among another feature that was added to this vessel was the application of the ‘Intersleek’, the very latest innovation in foul release coatings. Intersleeks exceptionally smooth, low friction surface prevents organisms attaching on to the vessel’s hull, saving the owner, time and money at sea. The specialized coating not only reduces the fuel costs but also has a positive impact on the environment and has durability up to 10 years.

The vessel is also classed with “In Water Survey” denoting the vessel could be operated without being dry-docked for five years.

Due to this, surveying the underwater parts of the vessel could be carried out while the vessel is still afloat instead of having to dry- dock the vessel for examination of the under water areas, as is conventionally done. This is a huge saving for the owner.

In addition, the vessel is also equipped with tail shaft monitoring system (SCM) which is a huge advantage for the owner in his quest for monitoring of temperature and condition in the tail shafts.

In addition to the dry bulk carrying capability, the vessel is also capable of carrying methanol, which is a low flash point liquid. In order to prevent any fire risks, a special deck foam fire fighting and prevention system has been installed for safety.

The vessel has been designed, constructed and outfitted complying with the latest rules and regulations applicable to a vessel of this type and size.

Surge in pirate attacks in South China Sea

Seafarers have reported a surge in attacks by armed pirates in a South China Sea shipping lane, an international maritime watchdog said Thursday.

International Maritime Bureau (IMB) Piracy Reporting Centre Head Noel Choong said there had been eight attacks off Indonesia’s Mangkai island in the past two weeks.

“It appears one or more groups of pirates are operating in the area. Pirates are armed with guns and machetes and robbed vessels of cash and crew valuables,” he told AFP.

Since February the IMB has been informed of 26 attacks in the area, he said, adding that the maritime body had asked Indonesia to beef up patrols to prevent further incidents.

Kuala Lumpur, AFP

Japanese tanker attacked off Indonesian island

A Japanese tanker has been attacked by armed pirates off an Indonesian island, the latest in a spate of incidents in a South China Sea shipping lane, a global maritime watchdog said Monday.

International Maritime Bureau (IMB) Piracy Reporting Centre Head Noel Choong said the Japanese-owned chemical tanker was travelling from Singapore to China when it was targeted off Indonesia’s Mangkai island.

“The 3:00 am attack on Sunday saw the pirates board the tanker and rob the 23 crew on board before the pirates escaped,” he told AFP, adding that it was the 27th incident in the region since February.

“We have informed the Indonesian authorities and we have also alerted ships in the area to mount anti-piracy watches as these pirates normally abort attacks once they are spotted.”

Mangkai island lies on a busy sea passage running along the east coast of the Malaysian peninsula.

It is a major route for ships heading between East Asian nations and the Pacific Ocean.

Kuala Lumpur, AFP