Singapore News

CMA CGM Launches Pharma Cargo Service

French container transportation and shipping company CMA CGM has announced the launch of a Reefer Pharma division that will focus on the temperature-controlled transportation of pharmaceutical products."For more than 40 years, preserving the integrity of shipped goods has been a top priority for the CMA CGM Group, particularly in terms of sensitive products such as medicines that directly impact public health and patients’ quality of life," said a press release from the company.For organising and closely monitoring the shipping of this highly sensitive cargo…

Petropoulos New Baltic Exchange Chair

Denis Petropoulos has been elected Chairman of the Baltic Exchange Council with effect from June 1, 2019. He replaces Duncan Dunn who has held the position since January 2018. Denis Petropoulos was a founding partner of Braemar Tankers Ltd and remains a significant shareholder at Braemar Shipping Services PLC. He most recently headed up Braemar's Singapore office for seven years, before returning to the UK.He has been a Baltic Exchange Member since 1999 and has held positions…

PSA, SATS Mull Multimodal Transport Hub in Singapore

Port and terminal operator PSA International and ground handler and in-flight caterer  SATS have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate in seamlessly connecting their sea and air transport services, with the goal of improving supply chain efficiency and boosting Singapore’s status as a multimodal transport hub.Under the MoU, PSA and SATS will work together on initiatives such as “yard-to-port” data linkages, network extensions between both companies, and enhanced track-and-trace capabilities.

Singapore Opens 24/7 Maritime Cybersecurity Center

Niam Chiang Meng, Chairman of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), opened a new 24/7 Maritime Cybersecurity Operations Centre (MSOC) yesterday (May 16). The MSOC will be operated by ST Engineering in its Hub.According to a press release from MPA, MSOC will conduct 24/7 monitoring and correlate data activities across all maritime Critical Information Infrastructure (CII). It will have the capability to (a) detect and monitor cyber-attacks by analysing activities in the IT environment…

CMA CGM Launches Reefer Pharma Division

CMA CGM Group, a leader in shipping and logistics, has announced the launch of its new Reefer Pharma division, specially dedicated to temperature-controlled shipping of pharmaceutical products and boasting advanced expertise.A dedicated team of experts in close proximity to customersFor organizing and closely monitoring the shipping of this highly sensitive cargo, CMA CGM provides its customers with a dedicated team of experts who ensure 24/7 monitoring from the Group's head office in Marseilles…

Yang Ming Establishes Indonesia Subsidiary

Taiwanese shipping company Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp. will form a new subsidiary with partners in Jakarta Indonesia named PT Yang Ming Shipping Indonesia Today (16th May 2019).PT Yang Ming Shipping Indonesia will have branch offices at Surabaya, Panjang, and Palembang. The company has nominated Benson Chou as President Director for the first term."Prompted by the rapid economic growth in Southeast Asia, global carriers begin to strengthen their regional services to meet the growing market demand.

Cruise: Asuka II Makeover in 2020

Asuka II, operated by NYK Cruises Co. Ltd., will undergo a 45-day makeover at the Sembcorp Marine Admiralty Yard in Singapore from the middle of January 2020. Asuka II is the nation’s largest cruise ship flying the Japanese flag (tonnage: 50,142 GT; capacity: 872 passengers).Features to be added during the dry dock include a large open-air bath, Western-style rooms featuring traditional Japanese-style tatami-mat sleeping areas, and a reading lounge where guests can enjoy a little quite time with books, smart devices, and computers.

Cosco Eyes PIL Takeover

After buying several container factories from its smaller competitor Singapore-based shipping company Pacific International Lines (PIL), China’s Cosco Shipping Holdings Co. is eyeing it as a potential takeover target.The Chinese state-run ocean carrier  had bought part of debt-ridden PIL’s container-manufacturing business, and executives at the Chinese carrier believe they could wrap up a deal for the entire business if family-owned PIL’s owners decide to sell, reported WSJ.Cosco…

Schulte Launches VC Fund for Maritime

Germany’s Schulte Group has launched a venture capital unit - INNOPORT - to identify investment opportunities in the global maritime start-up eco-system.The INNOPORT team, based in Hamburg, Limassol and Singapore, is headed by Yiannis Sykas, Director of Strategy and Product Development at Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM).INNOPORT will support high-potential early-stage maritime and logistics startups predominantly in Europe and Asia, with the flexibility to collaborate with startups from all geographic areas.“At INNOPORT, we want to build bridges and open doors wherever possible.

PIL Enhances Transpacific Services

The Singapore-based family-owned shipping company Pacific International Lines (PIL)  announced that PIL will be enhancing our Transpacific service by offering direct services from Vietnam to the U.S West Coast, with effect from end April 2019.America China Service 5 (AC5) will be adding Haiphong as first port of call with effect from 30th April 2019.Full rotation of America China Service 5 (AC5): Haiphong - Nansha - Hong Kong - Yantian - Long Beach - Oakland - Yantian - HaiphongPIL also launched a new string…

'ReCAAPing' April's Asian Piracy, Sea Robbery SITREP

Appended are highlights of the piracy and sea robbery situation in Asia in April 2019.

Rotterdam, Guangzhou Ports Sign Sister Deal

The representatives of the Port of Rotterdam Authority and the port authority of Guangzhou signed a partnership agreement.As per agreement signed at the Chinese port, both organisations will be sharing expertise and best practices in the field of port management. This partnership is in line with the Port of Rotterdam Authority’s strategic goals to share its knowledge and expertise with ports around the world and establish itself as a frontrunner in the development of new markets.The port of Rotterdam has a strong international reputation thanks to its outstanding port infrastructure…

PSA to Acquire Halterm, Penn Terminals

Singapore-headquartered port operator PSA International is all set to take over the Halterm Container Terminal in the Port of Halifax, Canada, and multipurpose Penn Terminals in Pennsylvania, USA.Both Halterm and Penn terminals are 100% owned by Macquarie Infrastructure Partner funds, a fund managed by Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA). The price was not disclosed.Halterm terminal at the Port of Halifax is the largest container terminal in Eastern Canada. Penn Terminals located in Philadelphia…

Konecranes Cranes for Winning Int'l Group

A fleet of specially-designed, durable and productive Konecranes Gottwald Mobile Harbor Cranes is enhancing supply chain efficiency for Winning International Group.The cranes play a critical role in Winning International Group’s supply chain, by loading 30,000 tonnes per day of bauxite from feeder barges onto a mother vessel, ready for shipment between China and West Africa.“Our Konecranes Gottwald Mobile Harbor Cranes have proven themselves in a rough open-sea environment. They have been custom-tailored to our bauxite handling application…

Ever Larger LNG Tankers Head for Panama Canal

A 'Q-Flex' LNG tanker, the world's second-largest class of liquefied natural gas carriers, is set to pass through the Panama Canal for the first time, the canal's CEO said, expanding the Americas to Asia trade route for the fast-growing commodity.The 'Al Safliyah', which can carry about 210,000 cubic metres of LNG, is on its way to Panama from the North Pacific after discharging a cargo from Qatar into Korea Gas Corp's (KOGAS) Tongyeong terminal on April 21, shipping data in Refinitiv Eikon showed."This is the first Q-Flex to transit the Panama Canal…

Trelleborg Fenders for Singapore Cruise Center Rehab

Trelleborg’s marine and infrastructure operation supplied its SCK Cell Fenders as part of a project undertaken by the Singapore Cruise Center to upgrade its infrastructure to accommodate the latest generation of cruise vessels at its international cruise terminal.HarbourFront’s two terminals, the International Passenger Terminal (IPT) and the Regional Ferry Terminal (RFT) host more than 5 million cruise and ferry passengers each year. With the ongoing trend of cruise lines increasing the size of their ships…

Singapore Investigating Bunker Tampering

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) is investigating bunker craft operator Southernpec (Singapore) Pte Ltd for equipment tampering during a bunkering operation, the agency said in an email on Monday.The MPA had previously suspended Southernpec's operator licence "with effect from 25 April 2019 until further notice," it said in a statement released on Saturday."MPA is investigating the bunker craft operator and supplier ...

Charity Helps Cadets Achieve Career at Sea

“Coming from a small town, my cadetship allowed me to go further and experience much more than I ever imagined I could.”Rachel Vassallo, 23, from South Shields, is one of the 70 students who have received a Sailors’ Society scholarship since 2015 to help achieve a career at sea.Rachel began her training in September 2015, starting at South Shields Marine School.“I had only been on one ship before and that was the Shields Ferry,” she said.“Learning about topics such as celestial navigation and ships stability was quite daunting but with training on firefighting…

Seagull Maritime Acquires Tero Marine

Seagull Maritime announced that they have acquired a majority of the shares in Tero Marine. Tero Marine, headquartered in Bergen, Norway, has developed fleet management software for the shipping industry for more than three decades. The company’s flagship, TM Master, is recognized as one of the leading brands in the business. Today, TM Master is a crucial tool for shipowners all over the world, not only as an instrument for planned maintenance (and asset management), but also as a business intelligence resource.Tero Marine is growing fast and has currently more than 55 employees…

Johor Port, Petronas LNG Sign Services Pact

Johor Port Berhad has signed an agreement with Petronas LNG Ltd. to provide marine services for vessels that receive gassing up and cooling down (GUCD) services at PLL’s Regasification Terminal Pengerang.According to a press release from integrated multi-purpose port facility located at the southern tip of Peninsular Malaysia, the signing of the Marine Services Agreement by Johor Port Bhd and PPL enables the provisioning of marine services and attractive tariff for vessels that…

Singapore Mega Port on Track for 2021

Singapore on Tuesday said its plans to build the world's biggest container terminal in a single location were on track, as it held a ceremony to mark a milestone in the initial construction phase of the mega-project.Tuas Terminal is set to open progressively from 2021, six years after work began, and it is expected to be capable of handling 65 million twenty-foot long shipping containers per annum when fully completed in 2040.Once completed, the terminal is slated to become the world's largest container terminal in a single location…

Eastland Port Posts Strong 2018

The commercial shipping port in New Zealand, Eastland Port achieved an annual tonnage throughput of just under 2.9 million tonnes of cargo in the year to March 2019, slightly down on last year’s record-breaking result.“The 12-month period was another very strong year for throughput at Eastland Port with vessels taking this district’s export product to South Korea, Japan, China, and Singapore,” says general manager Andrew Gaddum.In the year to 31 March 2019, 140 ships handled 2,956,071 tonnes of cargo at Eastland Port.

MOL Buys Reliance Ethane Carrier Fleet

Japanese shipping giant Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) will buy Reliance Industries (RIL) stakes in Singapore-based Reliance Ethane Holding (REHPL) which has a fleet of six very large ethane carriers (VLECs).RIL has 100% holding in six limited liability companies (LLCs) which own the VLECs. "MOL and a strategic minority investor have signed binding definitive agreements for an investment in the six special purpose limited liability companies each owning a VLEC," said a statement from the Mukesh Ambani-led Indian conglomerate holding.Transaction closing is subject to regulatory approvals.

Asia: Robbery Reduced by 52% in Q1

A total of 10 incidents of armed robbery against ships (comprising nine actual incidents and one attempted incident) were reported in Asia during January-March 2019 compared to 21 incidents (comprising 15 actual incidents and six attempted incidents) during January-March 2018.This accounts for a 52% decrease in the total number of incidents reported during January-March 2019 compared to the same period in 2018, said ReCAAP ISC's Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia for the 1st Quarter Report…

Piracy, Sea Robbery Situation in Asia in Q1 2019

Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia 1st Quarter Report January to March 2019Overall SituationA total of 10 incidents of armed robbery against ships (comprising nine actual incidents and one attempted incident) were reported in Asia during January-March 2019 compared to 21 incidents (comprising 15 actual incidents and six attempted incidents) during January-March 2018This accounts for a 52% decrease in the total number of incidents reported during January-March 2019 compared to the same period in 2018The number of actual incidents has also decreased by 40% during January-March 2019 c

Bahri Expands Footprint in Asia-Pac

The National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia (Bahri) has announced the expansion of its market presence in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region’s maritime industry.The stronger presence will help the company gain deeper insights into market trends as well as customer needs in chemicals and logistics sectors in Singapore and the wider APAC region, said a press release from the logistics and transportation company.The expansion will also enable Bahri Logistics and Bahri Chemicals, two of five business units of the company…