Shipping

CASA to launch professional association

The young professionals of the local shipping industry have announced plans to launch an initiative to develop the future human resource base of the shipping and logistics sector, in line with the Government of Sri Lanka's ambitious hub concept.

Young shipping industry professionals who are members of the Ceylon Association of Ships' Agents (CASA), are to launch a professional association within the folds of the CASA, called the Young Shipping Professionals of CASA, on May 10, 2013. The aim is to develop talent, skills and experiences of the youth cohort of CASA, to meet the country's future human resource needs in the rapidly evolving field of shipping and logistics.

CASA, the leading voice of the shipping industry, says it is confident that this forum will give expression to youth engaged in the ships agency business in Sri Lanka. "It would create the environment for robust growth of this human resource pool in agency business in order to prepare our industry for the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead in our quest to become a regional shipping and maritime centre of excellence," says Chairman, CASA, Ralph Anandappa.

Chairman of the Young Professionals of CASA, Mevan Peiris, says the new formation within CASA would provide a unique and dedicated platform to identify and develop skills and experience needs of the next generation of Sri Lankan shipping professionals.

"Our membership will be made up of persons below the age of 35 years, because we have identified the need for a focused thrust to meet development and growth needs of the younger generation. Through the Young Professionals of CASA, we hope to develop both professional and leadership skills that the local shipping industry will need as our economy expands under the Government's plans to develop the country into a maritime hub," explained Peiris.

Peiris, who has a bachelors in Business Management from the Monash University of Melbourne Australia, is currently the Manager of Business Development at the Ceyline Group of companies, the most diversified shipping company in Sri Lanka.

Peiris also worked in the shipping industry in Australia, in the shipping company Australian National Line, for almost five years, and was a member of Young Shipping Australia.

The Government of Sri Lanka has announced plans to exploit Sri Lanka's strategic location by positioning the country as a naval hub and has initiated many port and related infrastructure development projects across the country. The Young Shipping Professionals of CASA will support the governments long term national development plans by facilitating a pipeline of young talent and industry leaders to ensure development plans are sustainable in the long to mid term.

"Our forum will create a platform for young people to learn new things and also to network and exchange ideas and experiences," said Peiris.

This will be achieved through interactive sessions, educational fora and visits, and lectures from foreign and local experts in the field.

The proposed youth forum of CASA has already received strong interest with 102 registrations of young people from different shipping companies in Sri Lanka.

In addition to its goals of creating a learning and development culture among the youth, the Young professionals of CASA will also take on corporate social responsibility projects on behalf of CASA.

Wilhelmsen Ships Service expands in Asia offshore market

Wilhelmsen Ships Service (WSS) is increasing its offer to clients in the offshore vessel and energy production sectors in 2013, with a strong focus on opportunities in Singapore and South East Asia.

WSS has been supplying the Offshore Supply Vessel (OSV) market for more than 30 years, but going forward will increase its focus on non-OSV markets, providing its safety services to customers working in seismic exploration, mobile drilling rigs/platforms/vessels, accommodation platforms, pipe layers and other speciality vessels as well as fixed installations and decommissioning sectors.

WSS's offshore capabilities cover safety systems (personal safety, fire protection, safety services), chemicals (water treatment, fuel treatment, chemical services) full ships' agency services and a range of marine products (welding, hydraulic equipment, refrigeration).

Michael Connolly (pictured), General Manager West Coast Oceania, Wilhelmsen Ships Service, said: "Traditional ships service markets are changing. The global recession is continuing to impact on the operations of shipowners and managers who are looking to drive costs down.

"In the offshore market however, business is much steadier, with high energy prices, new oil and gas field developments and greater use of technology all creating opportunity for experienced service partners."

"There is currently huge potential for WSS to provide services across a much wider section of the offshore market across Asia Pacific, particularly within South Asia which is currently experiencing the highest concentration of offshore activity across the region."

WSS is well positioned to support offshore vessels, rigs and industry personnel worldwide, given that its products are already available to serve the marine market from key supply locations. As a result customers do not need to buy new equipment for each area of operation, since much of the required inventory can be supplied or exchanged during regular port calls and re-supply.

WSS also has product specialists who can work with a vessel's engineering and health and safety teams to specify and supply equipment to meet the demands of extreme offshore environments. In a commitment to environmental protection, WSS offers its extensive range of Unitor marine chemicals, accredited to the ISO 14001:2004 environmental management system standard.

"This, coupled with continuing investments in the oil and gas segment and robust emerging markets are driving the global economic recovery and this growth is forecast to keep up for the years to come," added Mr Connolly.

"It makes sense for us to focus our activities on a growing sector in such times and we are expanding our operations across Asia to ensure that we are ready to meet demand and offer a joined-up, single-source solution."

Source: Wilhelmsen Ships Service (WSS)

Tanker Rates Double as Russia Ships Oil Through Baltic Sea Ice

Rates for tankers in the Baltic Sea doubled in the past week to a two-year high as demand for oil shipments increased amid icy conditions, according to Fearnley Securities AS.

Daily earnings for Aframaxes hauling about 650,000 barrels of crude oil rose to $29,916 yesterday, compared with $14,452 a week earlier, according to the Baltic Exchange, the London-based publisher of shipping costs. That's the highest since March 2011, figures compiled by Bloomberg show.

Ice in the Baltic, while lower than average, extends farther than a year ago, according to maps on the website of the Finnish Meteorological Institute. Loadings from the Russian port of Primorsk will jump 23 percent to a seven-month high of 1.4 million barrels a day in April, data compiled by Bloomberg show.

Eleven Aframaxes were chartered to load in the Baltic last week, compared with four a week earlier, according to data from Clarkson Plc, the world's largest shipbroker.

"Last week's high activity on the route has continued this week, and coupled with fewer ships in position, rates have firmed significantly," Rikard Vabo, an Oslo-based analyst at Fearnley, the investment-banking unit of Norway's second-largest shipbroker, said in an e-mailed report yesterday.

Source: Bloomberg

Greece to begin auctioning marinas

Greece will begin this week auctioning off rights to operate dozens of marinas as it seeks to tap private investment to boost lucrative yacht tourism, officials said.

The state agency in charge of privatisation (HRADF) said six international tenders would be issued by June for 46 marinas in its portfolio while the tourism ministry pledged to facilitate licencing procedures for investors.

"There is acute interest... from Greece and abroad," HRADF chief executive Yiannis Emiris told a news conference.

In addition to bringing in revenue as the country continues to mired in recession, the government hopes that development of marinas will boost growth in the key tourism sector.

"Marine tourism can bring a lot of wealth, it can create jobs and give Greece hope," added the agency's chairman Stelios Stavridis.

Though Greece is a major tourist destination, it has failed to adequately exploit its marina potential and has lost out to regional competition from Turkey, Croatia and Montenegro. "Greece has over 15,000 kilometres of beaches and thousands of small and middle-sized islands but this is not enough," said Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni, adding: "A total of 153 marinas have been zoned but fewer than 25 operate respectably under international standards."

AFP