Shipping

Bernhard Schulte inks MoU with Colombo Dockyard

Bernhard Schulte Ship Management Group, (BSM) signed a ship repair agreement with Colombo Dockyard PLC (CDPLC) recently.

BSM is one of the largest ship management companies in the world, globally managing over 670 vessels of which over 300 are under full management. This cooperation agreement demonstrates that BSM places confidence in Colombo for their repair requirements and has added CDPLC to its list of preferred yards.

Dr. Ruanthi De Silva- Group Director Supply Chain Management handing over the agreement to Chairman Akihiko Nakauchi

Colombo has been providing repair facilities to a wide spectrum of global owners over the past three decades. Signing this agreement with BSM can be considered a significant milestone for Colombo. As a result of this, BSM will now have at their disposal, the experienced and dynamic repair service teams, located in one of the most strategic maritime hubs, adding value and convenience to the BSM fleet and its owners.

Lying at the hub of many shipping lanes joining the West, the Middle East, Far East as well as Africa and Australia, Colombo has been recognised world over as the hub port in South Asia.

Colombo Dockyard is the island's leading ship repair and ship building and heavy engineering facility, conveniently located within the Port of Colombo. CDPLC operates four graving dry-docks with a capacity of 125,000 Dwt and has extensive repair berth facilities. Established in 1974, this state of the art engineering entity has been servicing a wide spectrum of international clients in the ship repair, ship building, heavy engineering and offshore engineering sectors. Since the 1993 CDPLC has been operating in joint collaboration with Onomichi Dockyard Company Limited, Japan.

Colombo's strategic location and flexibility has been already experienced by BSM, a few months ago when of one of their vessels was entrusted to CDPLC for repairs.

The BSM-CDPLC agreement will strengthen the business relationship between the two establishments, which will definitely be mutually beneficial to both organisations, where BSM will have a shipyard with red carpet service, while CDPLC will have the potential to secure significant repair volume from the BSM managed fleet of vessels.

The agreement was signed on January 19,2012 in Colombo, between BSM and CDPLC Dr. Ruanthi De Silva - Group Director Supply Chain Management signed on behalf of BSM, while A Nakauchi, Chairman and Mangala Yapa, Managing Director signed on behalf of Colombo Dockyard.

SL has vast potential in port, shipping development

Sanjeevi JAYASURIYA

Sri Lanka is in to a new dimension and there is vast potential in the port and shipping related development to make the country a key regional player.

The country will have the opportunity to showcase its capabilities and service excellence in the forthcoming two international events to be held in Colombo. While catering to shipping and logistics demand globally, the country could be a preferred venue for international events, Sri Lanka Ports Authority Managing Director Capt. Nihal Keppetipola said.

The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) and CEMS Global organized Sri Lanka's first ever international logistics exhibition - Sri Lanka International Air Freight, Shipping and Logistics Expo 2012 (SIASLE 2012) to be held from March 8 to 10 at BMICH Colombo.

On the sidelines of SIASLE 2012, the 12th International Association of Ports and Harbours Asia/Oceania Regional Meeting and Port Forum hosted by the SLPA will be held from March 8 to 9 at the same venue.Sri Lanka needs to be marketed properly to attract businesses and these international events will provide a launching pad to build business linkages and forging partnerships. The events will also supplement the development of the shipping and ports sectors while creating a networking platform to expand trade cooperation, he said.

Among the topics scheduled to be discuss at the regional meeting and port forum are global trade, capacity building, maritime safety and sustainability. There will be discussions on pressing global concerns encountering shipping fraternity. Eminent speakers from Europe, South East Asia, Australia and other countries along with 450 delegates are expected at these events.

The country could take the message to the world that it is ready for business and with the well placed facilities including infrastructure, Sri Lanka's ability to be a key regional player as a logistic hub will improve significantly, he said.

The international exhibition will showcase shipping and freight forwarding companies, agents shipping liner, warehouse, bonded depot and cold storage, container, tank and bulk international trade ports, wharfs including cargo terminal, trucking, railway transport, airlines, cross border transportation, Customs clearance brokers, software/IT automation for transportation, land, air and sea equipment, machinery for logistics, couriers and messengers, surveyors, marine associations, packing and crating, government agencies and state enterprises.

It will focus on target visitors from Sri Lanka and abroad consisting of CEOs, operations and logistics managers, decision makers and professional from all related industries, consultants, agencies, manufactures, exporters, importers, government officials and traders from all sectors. [email protected]

India to provide Sovereign Guarantee to domestic shipping

India is considering providing sovereign guarantee to domestic shipping lines for import of crude oil from Iran which is facing sanctions from the US and Europe.

The sanctions prohibit EU-based entities from providing insurance and guarantees for transportation of oil from Iran. Most of the Indian shipping lines take protection and indemnity cover (P&I) mainly from them. "The government is exploring options like sovereign guarantee and Cost&Freight (C&F)for importing crude from Iran in the wake of European sanctions...A decision will be taken in the next two-three months," Shipping Secretary K Mohandas told reporters here today.

The development comes in the wake of apprehensions from state-run SCI, the largest domestic tanker owner that it will not get international insurance cover following European Union sanctions against Iran announced on January 23. Mohandas said the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) has brought the issue to the notice of the government and deliberations are on.

Indian Shipping News