NOTICIAS MES DE ABRIL DE 2002 (NEWS)

 

30/04/02 It should be modified toll tariff for vessels through the Panama Canal - The new differentiated tariff system should be based on different vessel types and sizes.

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) announced a delegation headed by Administrator Alberto Alemán Zubieta, met days ago with members of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), a global organization that looks after the interests of ship owners and operators.

During the meeting, Canal officials presented current traffic and tolls results, highlighting the effects of the global economic slowdown. A report on the waterway's modernization programs and expansion studies was presented as well.

The briefing covered security issues and the efforts the ACP is undertaking in conjunction with other Panamanian entities to reduce the risk for transiting ships through the Canal. The analysis leading up to the Canal's new security fee, to be implemented in June, was also discussed.

ACP officials presented the ICS with a conceptual framework to change the waterway's current toll structure. The last toll increases were approved in 1996 and made effective in January of 1997 and 1998. Since then, the ACP has been analyzing toll structures and actually presented a proposal before its Advisory Board on September 12, 2001, in Hong Kong.

The September 11 events, however, caused ACP officials and its Board of Directors to postpone the presentation and implementation of this change until an economic recovery was observed, thus minimizing the effect on the maritime industry.

The current toll structure, in which ships are charged the same regardless of vessel type, is now obsolete since the market has evolved and become more specialized.

The changes proposed create a toll structure that is more attuned to the service value provided and in line with the needs of the maritime industry. Because the Canal market is heterogeneous, different vessel types and sizes require different services, such as locomotives, line handlers, tugboats, and others. The market mix makes it necessary and equitable to create a differentiated tariff system.

The current tariff system clearly generates inequities for certain types of vessels and is not profitable for some segments of the market. Nevertheless, these types of vessels make demands upon the Canal's operating capacity and transit resources, leading to higher waterway costs not recovered through tolls.

The Canal's strategic objectives are stated in its organic law, and require the ACP to be profitable. Profitability is a constitutional mandate, which requires the Canal to produce an adequate return from its investments and capital assets. Therefore, the proposed toll structure is one of the main tools to guarantee that revenues adequately cover costs and produce resources needed for long-term expansion plans. This initiative will allow the Canal to remain competitive and viable for Panama and the world maritime community in the long term.

18/04/02 Schenker confirms commitment to GF-X - Neutral trading platform for airfreight carriers and forwarders

Schenker has now fully committed to participate in Global Freight Exchange (GF-X), having experienced the benefits of the system in New York, London and Hong Kong. GF-X is the neutral trading platform for airfreight carriers and forwarders that is fully integrated to the systems of the carriers, meaning that Schenker is able to see up-to-date details of carrier schedules and capacity.

        

"We believe that GF-X represents an opportunity for Schenker to improve and standardise our business processes worldwide," says Thomas Mack, Vice President Airfreight, Schenker AG. "This will save us valuable time, which we can then spend on delivering an excellent service to our customers. We are working with GF-X to implement the functionality across our comprehensive global network. GF-X is a single platform for all electronic transactions and we are keen to see the Exchange adopted throughout the air cargo industry."

Air France Cargo, Lufthansa Cargo and British Airways World Cargo have recently stated their commitment to make GF-X their preferred electronic channel. Schenker will continue to work with GF-X and the other Exchange members to encourage more companies from the cargo community throughout the world to join the Exchange.

With annual sales of Euro 6.1 billion, nearly 32,000 employees and about 1,000 offices around the world, the Stinnes subsidiary Schenker is one of the world's leading providers of integrated logistics services, offering land transport, air and sea freight as well as comprehensive logistics solutions and global supply chain management from a single source.

17/04/02 MOL announced the establishment of MOL (Chile) Ltda. in Santiago, Chile.

In the past, the Santiago Representative office of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines South America (MOLSAM) has functioned as the regional control center in the West Coast of South America (WCSA), but with the establishment of MOL (Chile), this local company will be charged with improving current service qualities, sales activities, and cost competitiveness through the management of all agents on the WCSA.

Thus, in South America, MOL established a business structure made up of MOL (Chile), as supervisor for WCSA, and MOLSAM in Sao Paulo, as supervisor for the East Coast of South America(ECSA). Both are under the control of MOL (America) Inc in U.S.A., which manages both North America and South America.

Brief Profile of MOL (Chile): Name: MOL (Chile) Ltda. - Location: Santiago, Chile - Launch of Operation: April 5, 2002 - Capital: US$100,000

Business: Regional office in West Coast of South America, in control of MOL Liner/Non-Liner business

Coverage Area: Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Colombia (Coverage area of Columbia is only for liner activities on the Pacific Coast)

Management: Gerente General: Kenichi Nagata

For further information, please contact: Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd., Masaya Yamada, Liner Administration Team, Liner Administration Department, Liner Division, Tel: 81-3-3587-7131, Fax: 81-3-3587-7728, Email: ladmo@mail.mol.co.jp

15/04/02 The Classification and certification company Det Norske Veritas - DNV - has initiated a project to analyse security and protection against terrorist attacks in Cruiseliners and Passenger ships with the goal of certifying the security of ships, ports and terminals.

The events that took place on September 11th 2001 have led to a focus on terrorism and protection against terrorist attacks.

Cruiseliners and Passenger ships may also be a target for terrorists. DNV has initiated a project to analyse security thoroughly, with the goal of certifying the security of ships, ports and terminals. The risk for a terrorists attack will allways be present. DNV's task will be to help minimise this threat within the business areas in which it participates.

DNV bases its risk assessment of possible terrorist attacks on cruiseliners on the ship's movements at sea and its stay in port. The focus on guards and security must be particularly thorough when the ship is in port, since attacks may then be carried out from the air, land or sea. Cruiseliner owners have made great efforts to ensure the safety of their passengers and ships and their focus has been further strengthened following the events of last September. Port authorities have also intensified their work in this field.

DNV has long experience and in-depth knowledge of the worldwide cruise industry. DNV has also grown to become a major global player in the field of certification and is one of the world's three biggest certification bodies, measured by the number of ISO 9000 and 14000 certificates issued.

DNV aims to combine its roles as a leading classification company and a leading certification company to provide increased security for ports and ships and thus for passengers. It is therefore preparing a separate security-certification system that can be used to establish, operate and document security measures.

12/04/02 Various Cargo Airlines has recently implemented a fuel surcharge for air cargo shipments to offset the trend of increased fuel prices in recent weeks

Between others:

1- The Cargo Division of United Airlines announced for all domestic and international shipments tendered on or after April 19, 2002, a fuel surcharge will be assessed to offset escalating costs of jet fuel. The surcharge fees will be based on actual weight at a rate of USD $0.05 per kilogram for all air cargo shipments from the United States to international destinations. For shipments originating outside the United States, the applicable fees will be based on the local currency equivalent in countries that do not require prior governmental approval.

2- American Airlines Cargo announced that it is applying a fuel surcharge for air cargo shipments to offset the trend of increased fuel prices effective April 17, 2002. The fuel surcharge was first applied in February 2000 when fuel prices reached similar levels and adjusted as those prices fluctuated through last year. In December 2001, the surcharge was withdrawn as oil prices declined.

The surcharge will be applied at a rate of $0.05 per kilogram for all air cargo shipments from the U.S. to international destinations. Most shipments originating in non-U.S. countries will have surcharges based upon local currency.

3- British Airways World Cargo Implements Fuel Surcharge effective from 22nd April 2002. This follows the recent publication of the company's fuel surcharge index,designed to provide transparent operations with its customers. The surcharge will be GBP0.03/kg in the UK and local currency equivalents elsewhere. This will be reviewed continually and British Airways World Cargo reserves the right to change this decision at any time.

4- Cargolux Airlines will introduce a fuel surcharge effective 19 April 2002. The surcharge will be 0,05 euros per kilo based on actual weight (or equivalent to local currency). The surcharge will be implemented across the Cargolux network according to local legislation.

Cargolux is dedicated to provide a high quality air cargo service to its world-wide customers, but has to react to changing market conditions, such as higher fuel costs, which are a major part of the cost structure.

5- Air France Cargo has announced the introduction of a new Fuel surcharge The triggering thresolds are calculated with regard to an Index 100 based on the C.P.D.P. (Comité Professionnel du Pétrole).

6- MARTINAIR CARGO, the Dutch carrier and freighter specialist will introduce a fuel surcharge of EUR 0.05 per actual kilogram. The effective date of introduction will be April 25, 2002.

05/04/02 NYK Line enhanced Europe-East Coast South America Service

NYK Line (Nippon Yusen Kaisha Line) announced the enhancement of their Europe-East Coast South America Service (the SAS Service) which will take effect from May, 2002.

Since January 2001, the service has been provided on basis of slot charter with CSAV, and NYK Line have now come to an agreement with CSAV, Montemar, Contship and Senator, to form a new consortium. The new service will offer a fixed-day weekly service with seven 2,500 TEU vessels, and NYK Line will be providing and operating one vessel.

It is planned that the new service will call at Rotterdam, Tilbury, Hamburg, Antwerp, Le Havre and Bilbao in Europe, and Rio de Janeiro, Santos, Paranagua, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Rio Grande, Itajai and Salvador on the East Coast of South America.

NYK Line have an established and comprehensive service network both in Europe and the East Coast of South America and this enhanced service will ensure further commitment to their customers by offering increased space availability and a more reliable service.

NYK Line General Agents in Argentina are

Messrs. Agencia Marítima Multimar

Tel: 54 11 4328 3111

E-Mail: multimar@multimar.com.ar

04/04/02 Qantas will stop direct flights to Buenos Aires and Joins oneworld™ Partner Lan Chile for South America Services between Sydney and Santiago de Chile.

Qantas announced that it would codeshare on services operated by oneworld™ partner Lan Chile between Sydney and Santiago, Chile, from 1 July.

            

Executive General Manager Sales and Marketing John Borghetti said Qantas would codeshare on three services each week between Sydney and Santiago via Auckland.

"Through the oneworld™ alliance, Qantas and Lan Chile have been working together to provide customers with the benefits of a comprehensive network, linked frequent flyer programs and smooth airport transfers.

"The addition of Santiago services to the Qantas network is a further strengthening of our relationship with Lan Chile, which will provide connections from Santiago to other South American destinations including Argentina and Brazil." The new services to Santiago will replace Qantas flights to Buenos Aires in Argentina.

Mr Borghetti said the number of passengers travelling between Buenos Aires and Australia had decreased significantly as a result of Argentina's political and economic turmoil.

"South America is an important market for Qantas, and for Australia, and by working with Lan Chile we are able to increase the number of services between Australia and South America," he said.

 

02/04/02 The International Ship Suppliers Association (ISSA) published the latest edition of its Ships Stores Catalogue. Completely revised and available in CD

It comes in both hardback and CD form, both of which have been completely revised. Although this is not the first time that it has been published on CD, ISSA has had ShipServ, its preferred e-commerce partner, redesign and upgrade the CD version.

        

While retaining the standard ISSA seven digit codes, the rest of the hardback catalogue has been completely revised with more information, a revised index with better descriptions and new sections. For the first time many items on the CD are illustrated.

The International Ship Suppliers Association - ISSA is the international association representing nearly 2,000 ship suppliers throughout the world. It has 38 national associations of ship suppliers as full ISSA members and associate members in 44 other countries where no national association exists.

Its members and the goods and services they offer can be found in every major port in the world.

The Association was formed in 1955. One of ISSA's declared aims is to provide a better understanding between buyers and suppliers through consultation and communication.

The advent of e-commerce and its explosive growth within the maritime e-procurement world led ISSA to devise a Preferred Partner Programme. Currently two e-commerce solution providers providing full e-commerce solutions on-line for both ship managers and ship suppliers.

ShipServ.com

iShipExchange.com

ShipServ empowers the catalogue ShipServ has made the CD catalogue easy to use and has integrated it with its on board requisition generator, ShipLink Lite, which is bundled for free on the CD and acts as a "shopping cart" for the catalogue. Ships' crew can easily find any one of 35,000 items in seconds and then add it to a requisition. This integration improves accuracy and helps the supplier to deliver the product that the ship wants.

Purchasing managers and suppliers will also find the two products useful as same can be used as the basis for requests for quotes, quotations or orders.

ShipServ ShipServ is the leading supplier of Ship Supply Management software and solutions. It has 185 contracted customers (extensive list on www.shipserv.com) including 25 leading shipowners / managers and 160 suppliers.

ISSA Stores Catalogue - The ISSA Ship Stores Catalogue is recognised as the pre-eminent tool when it comes to storing ships.

From an anchor to a match, a tea-spoon to a length of steel, the ISSA Catalogue categorises and numbers some 55,000 line items of ship stores.

The 2002 Edition of the ISSA Ship Stores Catalogue completely revised has been produced in full colour it is an easy-to-use format with all the stores a ship requires. The new edition is laid out logically to include dedicated sections for:

- Cabin Stores - Bridge Equipment - Deck Equipment - Engineering spares and equipment Safety

The Catalogue comes in 3 formats:

The printed book

-The companion CD-ROM

-On-line

-Printed Catalogue

The ISSA Catalogue is available from: Kelvin Hughes Limited, New North Road, Hainault, Ilford, Essex IG6 2UR, UK.

Tel: +44-208-500-1020 - Fax: +44-208-501-4572

E-mail: cams@kelvinhughes.co.uk

NOTICIAS DE MESES ANTERIORES (NEWS)