arrived Bhavnagar Anchorage 07.06.24
News
MSC MICHIGAN VII
The 'MSC Michigan VII', which had prompted a multi-agency response in Charleston on June 5, had suffered a failure of its propulsion speed control systems as it headed toward the Arthur Ravenel Jr Bridge. The US Coast Guard (USCG) Sector Charleston command center watchstanders received a report at 12:17 p.m. from the Charleston Harbor Pilots dispatch that the ship was experiencing a malfunction with the systems controlling its propulsion on the Cooper River while outbound from the North Charleston Container Terminal. As a precaution, local law enforcement closed vehicle traffic to the Arthur Ravenel Jr Bridge and Fort Moultrie Beach was evacuated. The bridge reopened once the vessel safely passed underneath. The ship transited the river at speeds of between 15-17 knots as police scrambled to clear cyclists and pedestrians from the bridge before the vessel passed beneath it. The vessel has been issued a Captain of the Port order and remained stationary in port as of June 7. USCG Charleston Sector deputy commander Cmdr Randy Preston praised state and local officials as well as the vessel’s pilots for their work in ensuring the vessel’s safe transit. There were no reports of serious injuries associated with the incident. The USCG vessel and facility inspectors were currently conducting damage assessments throughout the port and federal aids to navigation in the area are being assessed to ensure there were no discrepancies as a result of this incident, and the incident is under investigation.
Chittagong
The trial transshipment of goods from India to its northeast, via the sea route, started on Tuesday after four containers bound for the region were unloaded from a merchant vessel at Bangladesh's Chittagong port, officials said on Tuesday. India and Bangladesh had signed an MOU for goods for northeast India transiting via Bangladesh's ports - a small but significant opening up of both Bangladesh's ports under the broader economic relationship between the two countries. Chittagong Port Authority Secretary Md Omar Faruk told on Tuesday: "The first ship under the trial run of transshipment of Indian goods to its northeastern states through Bangladesh arrived at Chattogram (Chittagong) port on Tuesday morning. "MV Shejyoti, carrying back to Chattogam 4 TEUs (20-feet equivalent unit) with 221 containers full of transhipment goods from India's Haldia port, reached the NCT-1 Berth, the outer anchorage of Chattogram port at around 1.25 a.m. But as night navigation is restricted in the port, that is why we started the navigation at morning," he said. MV Shejyoti had left the Syama Prasad Mukherjee port of Kolkata on July 17. Handling of the containers was completed before midnight and the container trailers started for Akhaura with an escort provided by Bangladesh's customs security. Shipping agent sources said the four containers under the trial transshipment contain iron rods and pulses. Those will head to Agartala through the Akhaura Land Port. The consignment of rods will be brought to West Tripura's Jirania from Agartala, while the pulses will go to Assam's Karimganj. Habibur Rahman of Mango Lines, the agent for the merchant vessel, had said that offloading may begin also on Tuesday after completing the formalities. Indian transshipment goods would enjoy a 28-day free-stay after offloading at the port as per the international transshipment agreement. Bangladesh will earn 254 takas from the scanning of each container loaded with transshipment goods. Bangladeshi importers also pay the same charge. Similarly, 30 takas document processing fee for each consignment of Indian goods will be levied, the same amount charged on Bangladeshi importers. Joint Commissioner of the Customs House S.M. Shamsuzzaman said the transshipped goods will have to pay police 50 takas per tonne as escort charge to reach the Indian border in Tripura from the port by road. Usually a 20 feet container carries a maximum of 30 tons of goods. According to this estimation, Bangladesh will realise around 1, 500 takas as escort charge for accompanying goods of a container to the border. Akhaura Customs Officer Harunur Rashid said they have taken necessary preparations for the transportation of the Indian goods, under the trial run. India is transporting goods to its northeastern states, using Bangladeshi ports, as per the agreement on "The Use of Chattogram and Mongla Ports for Movement of Goods to and from India" signed between Dhaka and Delhi in 2018 and a standard operating procedure (SoP) signed in October 2019. Earlier, the Indian government used the Ashuganj river port to transport goods for the Palatana Power Plant in Tripura through the Akhaura land port. On the new chapter in connectivity with Bangladesh via container shipping, India's Shipping Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that the transit route will open new opportunities for both countries. He said that it will provide an alternative and shorter route to connect the northeast region through Bangladesh, reducing distance and time taken in transportation of goods for India and is a win-win for both the economies. On the other hand, job creation, investment in the logistical sector, enhanced business services and revenue generation are advantages that will accrue to Bangladesh. Bangladeshi vessels and trucks will be utilised to move the Indian cargo, the Indian government said. India and Bangladesh have enhanced cooperation in shipping and inland water trade in recent years. Under the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade, in addition to the six existing Ports of Call, five more in each country have been added recently. Dredging of inland waterway routes is ongoing under an MoU, signed by the two countries on development of selected stretches of Bangladesh waterways. The trial transportation of goods to the northeastern states by road, via Bangladesh, had started earlier.
CELEBRITY SUMMIT
68 passengers of the 'Celebrity Summit' got sick in a norovirus outbreak during a recent cruise, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The ship had bon board 2,264 guests on a cruise that ended on Jne 7, 2024, along with five crew members. Their main symptoms were diarrhea and vomiting. The ship is currently sailing week-long Alaska voyages between Vancouver and Seward. In response to the outbreak, the cruise line isolated sick passengers and crew members and collected samples for testing, among other steps. There were an isolated number of cases on board and the impacted guests are no longer on the ship, which was also sanitized.
Beirut
A powerful explosion rocked Beirut port on Aug 4, 2020, killing and injuring dozens of people, and causing widespread damage. There was no clarity yet with regards to the cause of explosions, and what triggered it. The talk was of a firework factory which blew up. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pR88CECmTso&feature=emb_title
Chittagong
A total of 12 units of fire fighters brought the fire under control The blazing fire at the Chittagong port was brought under control on Wednesday evening 15 July 2020. Meanwhile, Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) has formed a five-member probe body, headed by Zafar Alam, Member (Administration and Planning) of the CPA, to determine the cause of the fire and the extent of damage. The CPA Secretary Omark Faruk confirmed the matter. “Although the fire has been brought under control, smoke is still billowing from the gutted goods,” said the Secretary, The blazing fire originated at Shed No 3 of the maritime port at around 4pm on Wednesday, according to the Fire Service and Civil Defence Control Room in Agrabad, Chittagong city. A total of 12 units of fire fighters brought the fire under control. According to the CPA, goods like foam, fabrics, machineries, papers, and soda meant for destruction were stockpiled at the No.3 shed of the port. AIS/Station/ BDCGP
DALI
The owner of the 'Dali' has hired a firm to lobby in Washington regarding proposed changes to liability law, according to federal lobbying records. Grace Ocean Private Ltd., the Singapore-based owner of the 'Dali', retained the services of Blank Rome Government Relations on May 2. Five Blank Rome staffers will monitor and report on legislation pertaining to the bridge accident at the Port of Baltimore, as well as lobby concerning proposed changes to the Limitation on Liability Act of 1851, the document said. The 'Dali'’s owners invoked that law in court filings as they seek to limit their legal and financial liability for the bridge collapse.
MSC ANNA
The world’s largest container ship 'MSC Anna' has become a significant challenge for importers in Karachi. The ship arrived on June 19, 2024, with 19,000 containers, overwhelming the port’s capacity to handle such a large volume. Due to insufficient arrangements at the port, thousands of containers remained stuck, threatening timely clearance. Despite a week having passed, the containers could not be grounded, jeopardizing their clearance within the stipulated time. Consequently, there were fears of heavy detention and demurrage charges for importers. The port authorities were critiziesed for their lack of preparation. The port administration failed to take necessary measures to ensure timely clearance of the containers.