Container Market in brief.

Freight rates in the Asia to Europe container trades have seen spot rates more than triple since late last year, and look set to rise further as lines impose more increases in the coming weeks. 


Most lines have announced their intention of seeking another $400 per teu on May 1, but APL and OOCL will be asking for $450 more. Shanghai’s container throughput also reached 7.5m teu in the first three months of this year, based on year on year growth of 3.5%.


Container imports to Europe increased 4 percent in February, while exports grew 8.89 percent, according to the latest analysis from Container Trade Statistics.  Rotterdam posted a 4% decline in volumes in the first quarter to 2.8m teu, despite a 1% rise in total box weights to 30m tonnes.


In Asia, Singapore handled 7.5m teu in the January-March period, up 6.6% on year. Inactive capacity now stands at 274 ships with a total intake of 492,000 teu, equivalent to 3.15% of the total fully cellular fleet, according to Lloyds List latest idle containership survey as of the 11th April 2012.


Braemar Seascope have reported that scrapping activity is picking up, with 35 ships sent to the breakers in the first quarter of the year, and almost a half coming from the 2,000 - 3,000 teu range. Braemar estimates that 120 ships of just over 193,000 teu will be removed this year, representing 1.2 per cent of the fleet.




That compares with 58 ship deletions of 83,900 teu in 2011, and a projected 65 ships of 134,500 teu are likely to be sold for scrap in 2013.




Source:  IMDO 

TIACA slams Frankfurt night-flight ban

The decision by the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig to uphold a night-flight ban at Frankfurt Airport will damage one of the world’s premier gateways for international trade and harm the local and national economy, said the Chairman of The International Air Cargo Association’s (TIACA) Industry Affairs Committee.

Despite strong industry protests, the court’s decision means the ban on flights at Frankfurt between 11pm and 5am will remain in force. The court also reduced the number of flights allowed in the hour before and hour after the night period.

TIACA has previously warned of the potential economic and environmental damage that would result from the night-time flight ban, a prime time for freighter movements that support fast deliveries of essential products throughout the day once they leave the airport.

The association said restricting freighter movements would reduce future investment by companies at Frankfurt Airport and could lead to job losses. It also warned of a negative impact on the environment from greater trucking operations if all-cargo airlines were forced to use other airports.

Consumers can also expect higher prices for everyday items due to higher supply chain costs, TIACA said.

Oliver Evans, Chair of the Industry Affairs Committee, said: “We are extremely disappointed by the decision.

“Slots are a major battle ground for airlines at major airports across the globe and in recent years to satisfy the requirements of passengers, all-cargo operations have been pushed into the hours of the day, and the night, when passengers don’t want to fly. The air cargo industry has adapted to this and made it work.

“Today, night-time cargo flights are part of a seamless supply chain that means consumers and businesses can plan their stock levels and production schedules with confidence. This is now at risk.

“Until courts, businesses, industry and members of the public start to understand how much they rely on air cargo, the danger is that the decision made in Frankfurt could be repeated at other major gateways.

“If this happens, it’s not only the air cargo that will suffer: local communities around those airports and national economies will also pay a higher price, both financially and environmentally.”

Source:  IFW

Hopes of profits fade for container lines

Any hopes of a profitable year for container shipping lines have been dispelled as they saw their average operating margins plummet further into the red in the third quarter.

Most carriers will end the year in the red, as Q4 results are expected to be even weaker.

Volumes and rates are said to be declining further due to the impact of the winter slack season, while operating costs remain under pressure from high bunker costs.

In a survey carried out by analyst Alphaliner, the average operating margins of the 15 major carriers included fell 9% in Q3, compared with an 8% drop in the second quarter.

It found that Hapag-Lloyd was the only shipping line that managed to avoid negative operating figures for the period, while the remaining 14 carriers posted losses of between 3% and 25%.

“The rising losses have created additional pressure to seek fresh cash injections among the carriers, as the industry braces for a prolonged downturn that could last for several more quarters,” said Alphaliner.

“The majority of carriers are currently recording negative ebitda, implying cash losses on their operations.

“The liquidity situation for a number of carriers has become more severe, with further deterioration expected in the fourth quarter,” added the analyst.

Weak operating results forced MISC Berhad to announce its exit from the container market, several other carriers, including CSAV and Zim Lines, are pursuing new cash injections and Maersk and OOIL have announced cutbacks in their Asia-Europe services.

Source: IFW

Green wind blows some good at Belfast

Belfast Harbour is to invest £50 million (US$77m) to develop a new terminal for the assembly of offshore wind turbines. 

The project is the largest in the facility’s 400-year history and will create 150 jobs and provide a major boost for the Northern Ireland construction industry.

The 20ha facility will initially support the construction of the West of Duddon Sands offshore wind farm – a 50:50 joint-venture between Danish state company Dong Energy and ScottishPower Renewables.

The terminal will open in 2013. The development is the first bespoke offshore wind installation and pre-assembly harbour in the UK, and is part of Belfast Harbour’s wider plans to create a renewable energy hub. 

Len O’Hagan, Chairman of Belfast Harbour, said: “This is one of the most important developments in the history of Belfast Harbour, providing a platform from which to market Northern Ireland as one of the UK’s leading green hubs.

“Dong Energy and ScottishPower Renewables are world leaders in renewable energy and their decision to invest in the Harbour is a major coup.”

The £50 million cost of the terminal will be funded entirely by Belfast Harbour which will, in turn, lease the facility to Dong Energy.







Source:   IFW

Court orders liquidation of SeaFrance

The Paris commercial court has ordered the liquidation of SeaFrance – but allowed the ferry operator to continue trading until 28 January 2012.
The court yesterday judged that the two takeover bids for SeaFrance – one from DFDS and LD Lines and the other from a co-operative of SeaFrance workers – were "unsatisfactory".

However, it has left the door open for new offers to be submitted before 12 December.

In its judgement, the court said the bid from DFDS and LD Lines made provision for an important number of job cuts (around half of the company’s permanent workforce) and that there was, “therefore, a risk of a serious industrial relations conflict".

It also remarked that the price offered for SeaFrance’s vessels was too low in relation to their real value, and that the takeover would also create competition issues.

As for the co-operative’s bid, presented by SeaFrance’s main staff union, the CFDT, the court said it was unable to approve a bid whose financing was “non-existent”.

A tense situation had developed at SeaFrance’s home port of Calais yesterday, when around 150 seafaring staff occupied the company’s vessels.

This was in protest to a management decision on Tuesday to cancel all the ferry operator’s services between Calais and Dover until further notice, pending the court’s decision.

The company said it had taken the step in order to guarantee the safety of passengers, staff and property.

A contingent of riot police had been drafted in to prevent the port being blocked and to maintain public order.

The court’s verdict was greeted with cheers by SeaFrance staff in Calais.

“This is a great relief, while at the same there is the feeling that we now have even more responsibilities on our shoulders,” a senior union official said.

“We must now roll up our sleeves and get to work on lobbying politicians, SNCF and the state in order to secure the financing of our bid for SeaFrance.”

The co-operative is thought to require between €25-30 million in start-up capital.

Asked by IFW whether DFDS and LD Lines would be making a new offer for SeaFrance, LD Lines MD Christophe Santoni said no decision had been taken.

In a joint statement, the two companies said their bid had "offered the best guarantee of an enduring future for SeaFrance”, and “regretted that this had not been recognised”.

Meanwhile, French Transport minister Thierry Mariani  said the judgement “did not close any doors and offered more time to save SeaFrance”.

Earlier in the week, Economy Minister François Baroin said France had decided to contest the European Commission’s decision last month to reject the recapitalisation plan for SeaFrance.

But he accepted that hopes of a successful appeal were slim.





Source;    IFW

New Cat and Dog regulations entering Ireland

Changes to Entry Requirements for cats and dogs from 1 January 2012

From 1 January 2012 the rabies vaccination requirement for pets entering Ireland is being harmonised with requirements throughout the European Union, although some additional requirements and advice with regard to tick and tapeworm treatment shall still apply.

see our pet services page at the following link for more details.

http://www.efl.ie/services/pets/index.php

                        

                                                                               

SWITZERLAND – IRELAND LINE

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