Original news was published on 24 March, 2017

US-based shipping firm Bermuda Container Line (BCL) has signed a contract to have a new, custom, container vessel built to service Bermuda.

The new ship is scheduled to be delivered in the first quarter of 2019, at which time BCL’s current container vessel, the 1990-built Oleander, will be retired.

BCL said that the new containership will be the most technologically-advanced vessel serving Bermuda.

The new ship will be outfitted to carry dry and refrigerated containers, trucks, cars and other wheeled equipment, along with over-sized project cargo. It will also be equipped with fuel-efficient main and auxiliary engines as well as leading-edge loading and cargo carrying capability.

Additionally, the new ship will incorporate the capability to convert to liquid natural gas (LNG) operation.

“In order to continue to meet the demands of today’s market and to maintain the fast, efficient service for which BCL is known, we needed to execute a plan to bring online an updated, upgraded vessel,” John Wight, Chairman of the Board of BCL, said.

*NEWS SOURCE

Original news was published on 23 March, 2017

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

With a cargo carrying capacity of 216,312 cubic meters, Mesaimeer is the sixth wholly-owned LNG vessel that will come under the management of Nakilat Shipping Qatar Ltd. (NSQL).

The transition brings the total number of vessels managed by NSQL to 14, comprising of 10 LNG and 4 LPG carriers.

Chartered by Qatargas, the vessel was built in South Korea by Hyundai Heavy Industries and delivered in March 2009.

The management of the vessel was transferred with effect from March 23 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

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 SGL SHIPPING AND LOGISTICS L.L.C joined our group from UNITED ARAB EMIRATES.

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

SGL SHIPPING AND LOGISTICS L.L.C
ADDRESS: Office#708, Damac Executive Heights, Tecom, Al Barsha Heights, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
CONTACTS: Syed Faisal Ahmed / Commercial Director
Shahzad Sohail / COO
Kashif Karsaz / CEO
TEL: +97144214775
FAX: +97144214776
WEB: www.seagoldlimited.com

COMPANY PROFILE

SGL Shipping and Logistics L.L.C established in 2008. SGL is one the leading freight forwarding, relocation and project logistics management company delivering cost-effective solutions throughout the Middle East. SGL with an aspiration of handling all transport and shipping activities. They provide end-to-end solutions demonstrating core competencies in domestic and international freight transportation and integrated logistics management. Their strong financial position, their global network, partnerships and their solid operational infrastructure have allowed them to provide their clients the quality service they deserve.

You can click here to review the services of our new agent.

VISIT WEBSITE (CLICK HERE!) | VISIT OPCA PROFILE (CLICK HERE!)

Original news was published on 21 March, 2017

Israeli container carrier Zim Integrated Shipping Services (ZIM) has added the Port of Wilmington to its Z7S service, North Carolina Ports said.

The weekly service is scheduled to start calling the port in June and connects South China, South East Asia and the Indian sub-continent to the US East Coast main ports.

The Z7S service is the first container service to call the Port of Wilmington using the Suez Canal, according to North Carolina Ports. Its rotation includes access to Da Chan Bay, Yantian, Cai Mep, Port Kelang and Colombo.

The shipping firm plans to deploy eleven 5,000 TEU vessels in the service.

ZIM is another returning ocean carrier to the Port of Wilmington after a slot chartering agreement with the CKYHE Alliance in early 2016.

To prepare for growth, North Carolina Ports ordered in January this year two New Panamax ship-to-shore cranes with an option to purchase two more from China’s Shanghai Zhenjua Heavy Industry (ZPMC) for the Port of Wilmington.

North Carolina Ports plans to invest over USD 120 million in its infrastructure over the next few years. The projects include the turning basin expansion, berth improvements, the expansion of the container yard and the addition of new cranes.

*NEWS SOURCE

Original news was published on 16 March, 2017

The Port of Djibouti has announced that its Doraleh Multipurpose Port (DMP) will be completed by the end of this month, with commissioning starting the next in April, after a total investment of over US$590 million.

Construction of the new 690-hectare facility, which will feature four separate terminals for handling containers, RO/RO, breakbulk and bulk recently received several new equipment units, including two quay cranes, 12 portal cranes and two rail-mounted gantry (RMG) cranes, all manufactured by the Chinese ZPMC.

DMP is also equipped with eight mobile rubber-tyred cranes manufactured by the Chinese equipment company XCMG, according to Logistics Update Africa of India.

Upon completion of the project, which is being jointly financed by Djibouti Port SA (DPSA) and China Merchant Holding (CMHC), DMP will feature a total of six berths with a length of 1,200 metres and a water depth of 16-18 metres in phase one.

Port of Djibouti handled a total of approximately 987,400 TEU at its existing container facilities, with the DP World-managed Doraleh Container Terminal (DCT) handling about 914,300 TEU and the Port of Djibouti (PDSA) handling around 73,100 TEU.

*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 CHRISSLOGIX (PVT) LTD joined our group from SRI LANKA.

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

CHRISSLOGIX (PVT) LTD
ADDRESS: 120/11C, Vidya Mawatha, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka
CONTACTS: Christopher Perera / Chairman & Managing Director
Sithira Wickramasekera / Executive Director
Suraj Suraweera / Executive Director
Dilan Nanayakkara / General Manager
TEL: +94 11 7820100
FAX: +94 11 7820101
WEB: www.chrisslogix.com

COMPANY PROFILE

Please click here to download our new member's project shipments summary.

VISIT WEBSITE (CLICK HERE!) | VISIT OPCA PROFILE (CLICK HERE!)

Original news was published on 14 March, 2017

Manila-based port operator International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) and global port operator group PSA International (PSA) have formally opened Puerto Aguadulce, a joint venture terminal in the Port of Buenaventura, Colombia.

The first phase of the USD 550 million multi-user container and bulk handling facility can handle mega container vessels with capacities of up to 18,000 TEUs, and is seen to further spur the Colombian economy. Puerto Aguadulce is operated by Sociedad Puerto Industrial de Aguadulce, the joint venture company of ICTSI and PSA.

“We have always been bullish on Colombia and believe that its economy is a key driver in pushing the Latin American market into the future. Exports from Colombia such as coffee and sugar remain in high demand. We at ICTSI want to be a partner in the country’s economic journey by offering top-notch port equipment, facilities and technology to facilitate this growing economy,” says Martin O’Neil, ICTSI Executive Vice President.

“The terminal is ideally positioned to be a hub for international trade. It was built and designed to meet the current and future requirements of customers and partners, with whom we are going to work with to offer high levels of services and productivity,” says Miguel Abisambra, Puerto Aguadulce CEO.

ICTSI and PSA signed the agreement to jointly develop, construct and operate the terminal and its ancillary facilities back in September 2013.

The terminal had its soft opening late in November last year, servicing its first container vessel – the MSC Sasha.

Puerto Aguadulce is equipped with neo post-Panamax quay cranes and can service new generation container vessels with capacities of up to 18,000 TEUs.

Under its first phase development, the terminal has an annual handling capacity of 550,000 TEUs operating two container berths. The bulk terminal, on the other hand, is set to have a capacity of two million tons annually.

*NEWS SOURCE

This notification sent by OPCA U.A.E. member Vishal Saxena from ADSO LLC to the attention of all fellow members.

With effect from 17th March 2017 the Knowledge & Innovation Dirham Fee amounting to AED 20 will be collected for all registration service applications whose basic charge is AED 50 and above.
Previously AED 10 was collected. Below you can download the details of old and new implementation.

Please click to review for more details >>>
Implementation of Knowledge Innovation Dirham Fees for Registration services.pdf
Concerning Innovation Dirham Fee.pdf

Original news was published on 10 March, 2017

Authorities at the port of Ghent in Belgium have announced the launch of a breakbulk service from the port to Guinea in West Africa.

The new service was driven by collaboration between Belgian transport firm and the French African Maritime Agencies Guinea. The semi-shipping service will operate a direct connection between the port of Ghent and Kamsar every four to five weeks.

The new service will carry general cargo, project cargo and containers via specialized multipurpose vessels. Vessels will be equipped with their own heavy-lift cranes with capacities of 60 to 160 tons.

“Ghent Port Co. is delighted with this new line for breakbulk. The loading dock of Stukwerkers in Ghent Grootdok will be the main loading point, but other ports can also be approached route on request,” a spokesperson for Ghent Port said.

*NEWS SOURCE

Please review the project pictures as below: