Shipping

First Green Port in SL:

MRMRP heralds car carrier MV “AEGEAN HIGHWAY” of K line

Magam Ruhunupura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port heralds Car Carrier MV “AEGEAN HIGHWAY” of K line .

The pioneer maritime car transporter broadens prospects for emission free operations through environmentally friendly vessels at the first green port in SL

The plaque exchange onboard to mark the maiden call of K Line’s MV ‘AEGEAN HIGHWAY’ at MRMRP. In the picture, Capt.Nihal Keppetiopla, Managing Director of SLPA exchanges plaques with the Master of the vessel Capt.Yordan Balchev . Agil Hewageegana, Chief Engineer (Southern Port Development) of SLPA, Capt. Athula Hewawitharana, Senior Deputy Harbour Master of SLPA, Nimal Jayatissa, Deputy Chief Operations Manager of SLPA, John Shiran Dissanayake, Chairman of the ABC Shipping (Private) Ltd, Wasantha Thalagala, Managing Director of ABC Shipping (Private) Ltd, Ravi De Costa, Executive Director of ABC Shipping (Private) Ltd, Tressel G.Silva, General Manager (Vessel Operations, Logistics, EQ & T/S) ABC Shipping (Private)Ltd and Reggie Dias, Senior Manager (Car Carriers) of ABC Shipping (Private) Ltd; are also in the picture. (Pix; by Mahinda Thennakon, SLPA)

K Line, the pioneer in maritime transportation of cars has further strengthened its confidence in the Magam Ruhunupura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port (MRMRP) in Hambantota with the maiden call of their RO/RO carrier MV “AEGEAN HIGHWAY” recently. This vessel previously deployed on Australian, Europe, USA sector has now been engaged on Persian Gulf service with effect from 28th July this year.

To mark the maiden call of the vessel MV “AEGEAN HIGHWAY” at MRMRP in Hambantota, a plaque exchange took place on board the vessel, between Capt. Nihal Keppetipola – Managing Director of SLPA and the Master of the vessel Capt. Yordan Balchev. Expressing his views at the occasion Capt. Nihal Keppetipola, Managing Director of SLPA stated that since the commencement of RO/RO operations at MRMRP in June this year ten RO/RO vessels have called at the brand new port so far. “The port is being further improved with all related facilities and it will surely be developed as one of the best ports in the region. With the commencement of car carrier operations 5663 units have been discharged at MRMRP and out of them 2914 units have been meant for transshipment” he further said.

Chairman of the ABC Shipping (Private) Ltd, John Shiran Dissanayake ,confident and optimistic over the success of MRMRP stated that K Line would continue to call at the new port as scheduled. “The on-arrival birth facilities extended at the new port has also resulted in smoother and efficient discharging and loading procedures which are at a higher and competitive standard,” he added.

K line, for which the ABC Shipping (Private) Limited acts as the local agents provides safer and speedier car transportation service in the business of owning and operating car carriers.

The line has been endeavoring to innovatively reinforce its car carrier fleet with in-depth consideration to environmental preservation in particular, as well as to perform service in the handling of complete cars entirely damage-free at all times during loading and discharging operations as well as during ocean navigation.

When MRMRP commenced RO/RO operations for the first time this year, on 06th June 2012, the Pure Car Carrier (PCC) “MV FRICIA” belonged to K Line was the first to call from Japan with the first local RO/RO consignment to be discharged at the brand new port. Expressing his optimism over the success of K line with SLPA, Tressel G. Silva, General Manager, (Vessel Operations, Logistics, EQ & T/S) ABC Shipping (Private) Limited, stated that during 2011, K Line had performed discharging operations of 46,944 units exclusively with the SLPA in Colombo and so far from January to July this year, the line’s discharging capacity exclusively with the SLPA both in Colombo and MRMRP in Hambantota, had registered a total of 20,620 units.

From the viewpoint of oil pollution prevention and environmental preservation, K Line has also adopted a new methodology in which fuel and bunker oil tanks are designed to be placed within a triple-bottom structure. The new method is expected to increase protective capabilities of the tanks even when a ship’s hull is damaged. K line has also succeeded in adopting an electronic control engine on board a car carrier for the first time. Fuel injection timing and timing of both opening and closing of the exhaust valves are controlled with electronic signals. As a result, it contributes greatly to reducing emissions of Nitrogen Oxide and reducing emissions of Carbon Dioxide and particular matter when in low load operation. K line is currently endeavoring to introduce various types of ships in the line’s fleet to strengthen its service network covering the Atlantic, Southeast Asia, Oceania, Intra-Europe and China. On CIX II and India Far East Express (INDFEX) services, K line also patronizes exclusively with the SLPA providing stable and reliable services to all its customers over the years.

SLFFA Cargo Services Ltd signs MoU with Sri Lanka Customs

SLFFA Cargo Services Ltd, a public unquoted Company operating under the auspecies of Sri Lanka Freight Forwarders’ Association (SLFFA) which provides import Air Cargo warehouse at BIA Katunayake for the last 17 years, recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sri Lanka Customs, to facilitate the submission of the electronic Manifest and Customs Declaration (CUSDEC) with the setting-up of a Key-in Centre which will be based at its facilities in the Air Cargo Village premises of the Bandaranaike International Airport.

Picture shows Dr. Neville Goonawardane(Seated, Right), Director General of Customs and Diren Hallock (Seated, Left), Chairman of SLFFA Cargo Services Ltd signing the MoU. Looking on is Mohan S. Mohanadas, Chairman, Sri Lanka Freight Forwarders’ Association (SLFFA) and other officials of Sri Lanka Customs and SLFFA Cargo Services Ltd.”

This ground-breaking initiative undertaken by Customs is part of the new online facilities being implemented by Customs using the ASYCUDA WORLD programme designed to make all Customs clearing processes online, in keeping with trends and practices in developed countries.

This facility which authorizes SLFFA Cargo Services Ltd to operate as a Key-in Centre Service Provider (KCSP), which at present is handled by Customs staff, will enable all importers and clearing agents to submit all documentation required to clear both air and sea import cargo, making this process very simple and fast. For this purpose, Customs will train all staff at the Key-in Centre in the utilization of a customized software module to assist importers in the use of this fully automated process.

Speaking on this special occassion, Dr. Neville Goonawardena, the Director General of Customs, who signed the MoU on behalf of Customs, said that he was delighted to grant this facility to SLFFA Cargo Services Ltd, having worked very closely with Sri Lanka Freight Forwarders’ Association over the years and he was very confident that they will be able to perform this important role efficiently on behalf of Customs.

This will also enable Customs to employ their own staff, who currently perform this role,

on more important functions when they hope to fully automate all Customs processes by the end of this year, which will no doubt be a great leap forward for the country.

Chairman, Diren Hallock, who signed the MoU, on behalf of SLFFA Cargo Services Ltd, said that SLFFA Cargo Services was very pleased to accept the invitation by Customs to facilitate the operation of the Key-in Centre, in the premises of the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake, which will provide easy access to all importers and clearing agents based in the Airport and outside in the Free Trade Zones in Katunayake and Ekala.

Chairman of SLFFA, Mohan. S. Mohanadas, also reiterated the importance of this significant step taken in the right direction by Customs to simplify processes for the benefit of all importers and thanked the Director General of Customs for the trust placed in SLFFA by awarding this facility to be operated by a Company, where all the share-holders are members of SLFFA.

Finally, both signatories to this MOU confirmed that this facility will be in operation shortly in Katunayake.

Sri Lanka Freight Forwarders’ Association enhances skills of logistics sector personnel

Participants at the certificate course

Continuing with their efforts in enhancing the knowledge and skills of those engaged in the logistics sector, the Sri Lanka Freight Forwarders’ Association recently concluded another professional certificate course in International Trade and Transport with 60 participants successfullly completing these sessions and the examination.

This certificate course has been designed to comply with the regulatory competence requirements set out by the Director General of the Ministry of Ports and Shipping for licensing of companies carrying out Freight Forward and Logistics services. The certificate course covers the areas of Carriage of Goods by Sea and Air , Multi Modal Transport, Documentation and Legal aspects, Quality Management and ISO Standards, IMDG Code guidelines and applications, Business Communication, Marketing Logistics Services, Supply Chain Management and E Commerce

The partcipants who followed these two courses posed for a photograph with Ms Tania Polonnowita (Chairperson of the Sub Committee for Education - SLFFA) and Peter Barbut, Consultant of AITT.