Original news was published on 09 February, 2017

Imports at US major retail container ports are expected to rise by 4.6 percent during the first half of 2017 over the same period last year, shows the new monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

The increase is ascribed to the improvement of the nation’s economy and further growth of retail sales.

“This is very much in line with what we are forecasting for retail sales and consumer spending this year,” NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said.

“Retailers try to balance inventories very carefully with demand. So, when retailers import more merchandise, that’s a pretty good indicator of what they are expecting to happen with sales.”

Ports covered by Global Port Tracker handled 1.58 million TEUs in December, the latest month for which after-the-fact numbers are available. That was down 3.8 percent from November as the holiday season came to an end but up 10.2 percent from December 2015.
That brought 2016 cargo volume to a total of 18.8 million TEU, up 3.2 percent from 2015, which had grown 5.4 percent from 2014, the report said.

Furthermore, January was estimated at 1.59 million TEU, up 6.6 percent from January 2016. February is forecast at 1.53 million TEU, down 0.6 percent from last year; March at 1.43 million TEU, up 7.8 percent from last year; April at 1.56 million TEU, up 8.2 percent; May at 1.66 million TEU, up 2.3 percent, and June at 1.65 million TEU, up 4.3 percent.

Those numbers would bring the first half of 2017 to 9.4 million TEU, up 4.6 percent from the first half of 2016. That would be almost three times the 1.6 percent growth seen in the first half of 2016 over the same period in 2015.

“The United States is well placed in 2017 and is likely to outperform most of the rest of the developed economies,” Hackett Associates Founder Ben Hackett said.

“If the infrastructure investments promised by the new administration come about, we can expect stronger growth than in 2016, but that assumes good relationships with U.S. trading partners and no recourse to trade barriers that would result in a tit-for-tat response.”
 
*NEWS SOURCE

Great partners are going on to join Overseas Project Cargo Association from all around the world. Today it is our pleasure to share with you that APOLLO LOGISTICS LTD. joined our group from TAIWAN.

Let's welcome our new agent on board of Overseas Project Cargo Association !

APOLLO LOGISTICS LTD.
ADDRESS: 5F 8, No.33 Chein Kuo N. Road Sec. 2, Taipei, Taiwan
CONTACT: Aaron Wang / Executive Assistant
TEL: 00886 2 25156365
FAX: 00886 2 25156372

COMPANY PROFILE
Apollo Logistics Ltd. is an International Freight Forwarder and NVOCC established since 1987 with head office in Taipei, Taiwan and Shanghai, China. They are offering the full ranges of logistics services including: project shipment, cold chain logistics, sea freight, air freight, MCC operation, warehousing, customs declaration, domestics delivery, insurance, cargo become postal parcel for online store and packing.

Please click here to review brief introduction about Apollo Logistics Ltd. and their project shipment.

VISIT OPCA PROFILE (CLICK HERE!)

Good News...
 
Proud to share with you the professional performance of OPCA member BBA TRANSPORT SYSTEM, POLAND.

BBA TRANSPORT SYSTEM successfully executed the project cargo shipment from Poland to Norway.

Quote
As an OPCA member we are active in organizing oversize transports in Europe and overseas. In the middle of January we delivered bulky steel constructions from central Poland to the port of Havik located in Norwegian fiord. Transport was executed during harsh winter conditions. Temperature dropped down to minus 27 Celsius and a strong snow storm attacked Baltic sea shore during the vessel loading. Shipment was time sensitive as an assembling crew was ready to start job just the day after scheduled delivery. Cargo was delivered safely on time to Norway.

Z pozdrowieniami / Best Regards
Michał Pastwa
BBA Transport System
Tel: +48 537 780 600
Mob: +48 537 780 600
Fax: +48 22 463 47 49
WWW: www.bbats.pl
Unquote

Congratulations BBA Transport System for their excellent job.

Please click here to watch their excellent job.

Jerry Nilsson, Business Unit Manager for Air & Sea at NTEX, was one of 20 speakers who were invited to speak at a conference concerning dangerous goods that was held at Chalmers University of Technology 29th of November. – One of NTEX core values is to be a “Challenger” to challenge our competition, ourselves or the market in innovation, service level and development, said Jerry Nilsson.

The conference is a venue where people who handle dangerous goods in different ways, can meet to exchange ideas and discuss issues that arise in everyday life. The organizers Dangerous Goods Management (DGM), Chalmers University of Technology and Säkerhets-
rådgivarna AB (consultancy company within dangerous goods) were responsible for one part each during the day.

Jerry Nilsson spoke during DGM’s part which dealt with cross-border transportation, but also import and export of dangerous goods.
– We discussed the trends in global trade and how the area has evolved from the early 90s to the present day. We also talked about the current problems with the transportation of dangerous goods, said Jerry Nilsson.

This was the first time that NTEX spoke at the conference, invited by DGM.
– They are our contracted security advisor and I have participated at several of their workshops, says Jerry Nilsson, who himself runs training programs for customers within the framework of NTEX Transport Academy.
– Our customer training is appreciated and allows us to share our knowledge, says Jerry.
The participation in the dangerous goods-conference is also a good opportunity to network and connect with other people that have broad knowledge in the field.
– It is instructive to listen to the other speakers and obtain a better understanding of the industry as a whole, and also to learn what we can do to make it easier for our clients, says Jerry Nilsson.

In total, more than 120 people participated at the conference and there were also speakers from Chalmers University of Technology, Swedish Transport Agency, Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, the Police, Military and the Swedish Coast Guard.

                                                                   Jerry Nilsson together with Joakim Nielsen, CEO and owner of DGM.

Original news was published on 05 February, 2017

Nakilat, the shipping arm of Qatar’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) sector, has assumed full ship management and operations of Q-Max LNG carrier Al Dafna from Shell Trading and Shipping Company Ltd.(STASCo).

With a cargo carrying capacity of 266,366 cubic meters, Al Dafna is wholly-owned by Nakilat and chartered by RasGas. Built by Samsung Heavy Industries, the carrier was delivered in October 2009 and has been in service ever since.

Al Dafna is the fifth Q-Max LNG vessel that will come under the management of Nakilat Shipping Qatar Ltd. (NSQL), bringing the total number of vessels managed by the company to 13, comprising of nine LNG and four LPG carriers.

The management of the vessel was transferred with effect from February 2, 2017 as part of the planned and phased transition agreed in October 2016 between NSQL and Shell.

Under the deal, the management of a total of 25 LNG vessels, including fourteen Q-Max and eleven Q-Flex LNG carriers, will be transitioned from Shell to NSQL.

*NEWS SOURCE

Good News...

Proud to share with you the professional performance of OPCA member MUSCAT INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING & LOGISTICS LLC, OMAN

Muscat International Shipping & Logistics LLC successfully executed the project cargo shipment from Sohar to Khassab.

Quote
Khassab Power Station Transformer Installation
Muscat International Shipping & Logistics LLC successfully completed transportation & installation on 25/1/2017 of  voltamp transformers 20 MVA x 4 Nos (approx 40 Ton each ) with accessories from Sohar to Khassab RAECO Power Station, Oman. Our team successfully transported 4 Nos transformers in 4 Nos low beds and accessories in 6 Nos flatbeds. Also mobilized 500 ton crane & 25 ton Crane from Muscat. All trailers has to cross 3 international borders (Oman & UAE) in order to reach in Khassab. Installation was critical, our trailers reached within 24 hours in Khassab Power Station. Transformer offloading & assembly was done through 500 ton crane to its foundation within 2 days. Each transformer has 10 units accessories which was installed with a 25 ton crane with expertise also.

Thanks & Regards,
Mithun K / Commercial Manager
Muscat International Shipping & Logistics LLC, Oman
Unquote

Congratulations Muscat International Shipping & Logistics LLC for their excellent job.
Please review pictures as below:

Original news was published on 31 January, 2017

The Port of Virginia set a new container throughput record in 2016, after handling 2.65 million TEU, an increase of 4.2 per cent year on year, with imports up six per cent and exports rising 2.6 per cent.

The Richmond Marine Terminal experienced its most productive year since the Virginia Port Authority began leasing the facility in 2010, and volumes were also up at the Virginia Inland Port in Front Royal, reported American Shipper.

"In 2016, we moved 106,000 more TEU than we did in 2015, which until now, was our highest volume year on record," Virginia Port Authority CEO John Reinhart said.

"The growth is significant - 8,800 TEU a month, on average - and we have responded with improved throughput in all facets of the operation, especially rail, where volume was 551,496 containers, an increase of 14 per cent when compared with 2015."

The port authority added that the fourth quarter was the best in the port's history, with double-digit volume increases, raising its market share of US east coast cargo volume to 14.5 per cent.

*NEWS SOURCE

Original news was published on 27 January, 2017

Russia’s shipbuilder Nevsky Shipyard has received a contract to construct a series of five dry-cargo vessels for LLC Paula Rise.

Under the agreement reached in late December 2016, Nevsky Shipyard will construct the ships of a RSD59 project, which feature a length of 141 meters and a width of 16.9 meters.

The 7,445 dwt vessels are designed for transportation of general and bulk cargo, including grains, packaged lumber, logs, scrap metal in bundles and rolls of large, lengthy and heavy cargo, coal, and certain dangerous goods.

The new dry-cargo ships will also feature removable hatch covers while opening and closing of each section will be carried out using a special gantry crane located in the bow bulkhead accommodation superstructure.

Nevsky Shipyard specializes in the construction of salvage vessels, tankers, dry-cargo vessels, tug-boats, run-about boats, auxiliary and supply vessels.

The shipyard also carries out construction of steel hull and steel structures, as well as modernization and renovation works.

*NEWS SOURCE

Good News...

Proud to share with you the professional performance of OPCA member STAR SHIPPING (PVT) LIMITED, PAKISTAN.

Star Shipping (Pvt) Limited successfully executed the project cargo shipment from Karachi to Site at Islamabad.

Quote
Moving Project from Karachi to Site at Islamabad

Crane Heads

From Shanghai to Karachi onward transportation to site

4 Pieces of
2896x 285x 175
2896 x285 x175

Star Shipping  knows every business is unique and every shipment is important. When those shipments are oversize or heavy, global or domestic, time critical or require special security, we’ll work with you to ensure their smooth transit using our Project Logistics capabilities. Just tell us what you need; we’ll develop a logistics solution to get the job done.

No matter the requirements, our logistics management professionals will analyze and engineer a supply chain solution specific to your project cargo needs to ensure delivery of the shipment on time and in safe condition.
 
Star Shipping carefully analyzed and planned the movement of each of these heavy-lift and over-dimensional shipments so they would reach their destinations on time and in good condition. For these moves, a carefully thought-through loading and discharge plan is an essential part of the project.

Kindly Acknowledge the safe receipt.

Kind regards
M.Kamran - Star Shipping - Karachi
Unquote

Congratulations Star Shipping (Pvt) Limited for their excellent job.
Please review pictures as below:

Original news was published on 26 January, 2017

South Korea’s Incheon Port Authority (IPA) has moved a total of 2.67 million TEUs in 2016, representing an increase of 12.7 percent from 2.38 million TEUs handled in 2015.

The figure was a result from continuous increase of cargo volumes in three months after reaching 250,000 TEUs in October, 253,000 TEUs in November, and 263,000 TEUs in December last year.

Among the total container cargo in 2016, imported goods recorded 1,373,587 TEUs, rising by 12.2 percent compared to the last year. Export cargo were up by 13.7 percent  from a year ago to 1,281,155 TEUs, while volumes of transshipment and coastal transportation recorded 15,669 TEUs and 9,290 TEUs, respectively.

By country, the imported cargo related to China increased by 12.8 percent to 794,659 TEUs, Vietnam imports surged by 22.7 percent to 134,659 TEUs, and that to Taiwan jumped by 38 percent to 36,920 TEUs.

On the other hand, the imported cargos related to Hong Kong decreased by 17 percent to 35,477 TEUs and that to Romania stood at 6,740 TEUs, plummeting by 39.8 percent.

“The Hanjin Incheon Container Terminal (HJIT) successfully opened last year in Incheon New Port and container cargos volume of Incheon Port recorded the highest score by attracting cargos from China and Vietnam where the FTA was enacted,” Yang Jang-seok, vice president of IPA, said.

He added that the port authority has an aim to reach the 3 million TEUs milestone.

*NEWS SOURCE