Shipping

DAMCO newly registered name for 'Mersk Logistics'

Jayantha DE SILVA

'DAMCO', the newly registered name for 'Mersk Logistics', a hundred percent subsidiary of AP Moller-

Denmark the global logistic provider has chosen Sri Lanka as a regional part of South Asia joining the other regional players India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

This would open a window of opportunities and support supply chain container cargo viz. apparel made ups, handicraft along with traditional tea and perishables.

The new entity would strive to understand the opportunities of growth said Hyral Vyas Head of Air freight South Asia.

The growth target for the current year is 65 per cent in terms of volume pertaining to airfreight in comparison to 250,000 (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand ) kilos in 2011 he added.

Outlining the corporate business vision he said that main focus is to drive the entities global aspiration and strategy in respect of the SA branch , which has a high potential market for air freight.

Anurag Dabral, the Country Manager advocated the use of Air Bus 380 aircraft to facilitate cargo movement.

Pointing out room for improvement he said that more capacity to airfreight should be created.

"This would ensure timely delivery of large shipments as export consignments on passenger flights are prone to create delivery problems on time lines.

He pointed out to cost structures in Sri Lanka are higher and reminded that Sri Lanka is competing with other nations as a sourcing original. .

Referring to future corporate aims he said that around 80 per cent of garment exports are controlled by both Europe and North American buyers. The entity is focusing on acquiring a controlling stake of this segment.

The Hambantota Harbour would support the growth of transshipment volume provided that appropriate infrastructure viz.

Storage facilities to facilitate improve supply chain efficiency.

Inaugural Seatrade Offshore Marine Asia ends on a high note

The inaugural Seatrade Offshore Marine Asia (SOMA) conference, held at Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre ended on a high note sharing the experience of delegates who participated in the final industry panel discussion. The 'Technical and Environmental Challenges' session highlighted how Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) could hold the key to a cost effective and environmentally efficient industry, if certain challenges are overcome sucessfully.

Seatrade chairman, Chris Hayman said, "With soaring global demand for energy, the Asia-Pacific region continues to grow as a major global player in the offshore marine industry. The calibre of participants at this week's inaugural SOMA conference was testament to the confidence the industry has in the future growth and development of this sector in the region. Conference delegates were extremely optimistic that the region will continue to go from strength to strength."

Over the course of the three-day conference, experts across a variety of industries came together to discuss the dynamics of the offshore marine sector, its opportunities and the changing strategies of industry players. The conference highlighted the strong demand for offshore support services, and the industry's evolving service requirements as energy players increasingly explore opportunities in deeper waters.

The final panel discussion at SOMA addressed the technical and environmental challenges currently facing the offshore marine industry. A major highlight was the potential of LNG as the key to a cost effective and environmentally efficient shipping industry. While recognising the opportunities LNG has to offer, the industry acknowledged it faces challenges such as the current lack of infrastructure, technology and the costs associated with adopting LNG as a preferred fuel source.

Dr Lorenzo Casarosa, Senior Consultant in DNV's Clean Technology Centre said: "Replacing conventional shipping fuel with LNG could hold the key to a cost effective and environmentally friendly industry. LNG offers significant benefits over traditional fossil fuels as it is cleaner than oil. However, the region faces certain challenges when it comes to utilising this fuel source, including a lack of infrastructure, no 'flag state' regulations, the expense of new build and retrofitting and uncertainty around the price of LNG. However I'm confident these challenges can be addressed and the region is well placed to lead the way in terms of sector innovation." During the course of the first two days of SOMA, participants agreed that the whole industry needs to improve training and employee retention, with global training standards a potential solution to developing talent in the industry. Industry fragmentation was also discussed and identified as a barrier to the expansion of Asia's offshore marine industry. Looking to the future, the industry saw the region's capacity to meet the increasing demand for Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) units a major challenge, as oil companies push technology to the limits to drill deeper to renew their energy sources.

Hayman said, "As Asia continues to lead the growth in demand for energy, opportunities to develop the region's offshore marine sector abound. Seatrade will continue to support, this dynamic industry."

(SJ)