SHIPPING

Dellogistics International expands business

Director N. Mendis, Director K. Satkunam, Managing Director H. N. J. Chandrasekera and Chairman A.Jayatileke at the event.

Dellogistics ( Pvt) Limited recently hosted a reception to mark the introduction of Dellogistics International Pvt. Limited, a company set up to reach higher standards in the global freight logistics operations. The event was graced by several key personnel from the banking, manufacturing, service industry and the public sector. Welcoming the invitees Dellogistics International (Pvt) Limited Managing Director J. Chandrasekera outlined company strategies to serve both local and global clients more effectively and competitively.

Dellogistics is known for shipping and logistics(Both airfreight and sea freight) and related operations and originally began as a part of the business conglomerate Delmege and Forsyth Limited. The company has recently expanded its business prospects globally with the launch of Dellogistics International (Pvt) limited which has already made several strategic business moves to attract and expand its business and provide more efficient and effective service to its clients.

Dellogistics International has brought in several professionals with extensive banking, corporate marketing and management backgrounds to enhance business reach and also has successfully attracted foreign direct investments from the United Kingdom to expand its operations.

In an attempt to make its regional presence more effective, the company has opened its first fully fledged representative offices in Dhaka and Chittagong in Bangladesh. Together with additional satellite representative offices in the United Kingdom and Australia, the management of the Dellogistics International expects to provide more competitive freight services to Companies that are involved in imports and exports.

Pirate attacks at sea getting bigger and bolder - IMB report

Pirate attacks on the world's seas totalled 266 in the first six months of 2011, up from 196 incidents in the same period last year, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) International Maritime Bureau's (IMB) Piracy Reporting Centre (PRC) said.

More than 60 percent of the attacks were by Somali pirates, a majority of which were in the Arabian Sea area the report, Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships said. As of June 30, Somali pirates were holding 20 vessels and 420 crew, and demanding ransoms of millions of dollars for their release.

"In the last six months, Somali pirates attacked more vessels than ever before and they're taking higher risks," IMB Director Pottengal Mukundan said.

"This June, for the first time, pirates fired on ships in rough seas in the Indian Ocean during the monsoon season. In the past, they would have stayed away in such difficult conditions. Masters should remain vigilant." In the first six months, many of the attacks have been east and north-east of the Gulf of Aden, an area frequented by crude oil tankers sailing from the Arabian Gulf, as well as other traffic sailing into the Gulf of Aden.

Since May 20 there have been 14 vessels attacked in the Southern Red Sea. "It is necessary that shipboard protection measures are in place as they sail through this area," Mukundan said.

But although Somali pirates are more active - 163 attacks this year up from 100 in the first six months of 2010 - they managed to hijack fewer ships, just 21 in the first half of 2011 compared with 27 in the same period last year.

This, the report says, is both thanks to increased ship hardening and to the actions of international naval forces to disrupt pirate groups off the east coast of Africa.

"It is vital that this naval presence be sustained or increased," the report asserts. Somali pirates took 361 sailors hostage and kidnapped 13 in the first six months of 2011. Worldwide, 495 seafarers were taken hostage. Pirates killed seven people and injured 39. Ninety-nine vessels were boarded, 76 fired upon and 62 thwarted attacks were reported. Ships, including oil and chemical tankers, are increasingly being attacked with automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenade launchers. Whereas five years ago pirates were just as likely to brandish a knife as a gun, this year guns were used in 160 attacks and knives in 35.

A surge in particularly violent and highly organized attacks has hit the coast of West Africa this year, says IMB's piracy report, listing 12 attacks on tankers off Benin since March, an area where no incidents were reported in 2010. Five vessels were hijacked and forced to sail to unknown locations, where pirates ransacked and stole the vessel's equipment, and part of their product oil cargoes.

Six more tankers were boarded, mainly in violent armed robbery style attacks, and one attempted attack was reported.

In neighbouring Nigeria, the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre was informed of three boardings, two vessels being fired upon, and one attempted attack. The crew were beaten and threatened. Ship's equipment and crew's personal effects were stolen. But IMB says that in reality, the seas around Nigeria are more dangerous than the official reports suggest. The organization is aware of at least 11 other incidents that were not reported to the Piracy Reporting Centre by ships' masters or owners. Overall, 50 incidents were recorded for Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore Straits and the South China Seas in the first two quarters of 2011. Three tugs were hijacked by armed pirates and 41 vessels were boarded.

The IMB PRC is the only manned centre to receive reports of pirate attacks 24 hours a day from across the globe.

Aitken Spence brings 'Logos Hope' to Magampura

Creating history, 'Mv Logos Hope' the goodwill passenger cruise liner cum book exhibition vessel docked at the Magampura Port recently, as the first ever passenger vessel to call at the port. A spokesman for the vessel agent Aitken Spence Shipping stated that they were keen on making the Logos Hope call at the Hambantota Port firstly to showcase the brand new picturesque port and secondly to nullify the myth that vessels could not call at this Port.

"We were able to convince the owners and project directors to call at the port of Hambantota despite the initial concerns they had" the spokesman said. Wish to thank Dr. P B Wickrema, Chairman Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA); Agil Hewaeegana, Project Director of Hambantota Port; Capt Ravi Jayawickrema- Harbour Master SLPA, Capt Athula Hewawitharana, Senior Deputy Harbour Master SLPA and all the officials of the Hambantota Port for their wonderful support and cooperation.

Sea Sunday Service of Mission to Seafarers held

The Annual Sea Sunday service of Mission to Seafarers was held recently at St. Peters Church, Colombo with the presence of many distinguished guests.

Sea Sunday is celebrated around the world in churches and ports annually on the second Sunday of July.

The officiant at this service was Archdeacon of Colombo Venerable Chrishantha Mendis.

The Mission to Seafarers was founded in 1865, but began in 1835 when Rev John Ashley started visiting ships off Bristol, England. He found that no one cared for the crew and was so moved by their needs that he gave up a job to serve them.

The Mission to Seafarers Colombo was established over 60 years ago. The Sri Lanka President is the Patron, and the Bishop of Colombo is the President of the society and the Chairman is Wing Commander (Retd) Noel Fernando.

Mission to Seasfarers is supported in Sri Lanka by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Ceylon Association of Ships' Agents, South Asia Gateway Terminal, Colombo Dockyard Ltd, Colombo Nautical and Engineering College, Company of Master Mariners, Nautical Institute, National Seafarers' Welfare Board and International Transport Wortkers Federation as well as sister- society Apostleship of the sea (Roman Catholic) and the British High Commission.

CASA elects new team

Nimal Ranchigoda was appointed Chairman to the Ceylon Association of Ship Agents at their annual General meeting last week. The new office bearers of the Executive Committee for 2011/2012 pictured are: Seated (from left to right) - Dhammika Walgampaya (Secretary General), Ralph Anandappa (Vice Chairman), Nimal Ranchigoda (Chairman), M. Reza (Treasurer), Faizer Hashim and Capt. A. V. Rajendra. Standing (from left to right) - Capt. Nalin Peiris, Ranjan Ratnasingham, Walter Rodrigo, Rohitha Mendis, Wasantha Talagala, Iqram Cuttilan and Jeremy Anandappa.