OOCL launches new intra-Asia service, NYK establishes logistics subsidiary in Myanmar, Cavotec wins 10m euros in port equipment orders, and Braemar SA opens dedicated office in Turkey.
Ocean carrier Orient Overseas Container Line will commence a new weekly service between ports in China and Ho Chi Minh, Singapore, Jakarta and Laem Chabang called the Central PRC/Southeast Asia Service (CSS).
OOCL will operate the CSS with four vessels, with the first sailing from Ningbo April 5. The full port rotation of the service will be Ningbo, Shanghai, Xiamen, Ho Chi Minh, Singapore, Jakarta, Singapore, Laem Chabang, Ho Chi Minh, and back to Ningbo.
NYK Line, along with the Phee Group and Silverbird Auto Logistics Ltd., has established NYK Silverbird Auto Logistics Ltd. (NSAL), a comprehensive logistics provider that will operate finished-car inland transportation services, in Myanmar.
According to a statement from NYK, NSAL will provide storage, pre-delivery inspection, customs clearance and transportation for finished vehicles.
The ocean carrier said of the move, “The economy in Myanmar has been growing dramatically, recording GDP growth of 14 percent in 2014, and the demand for automobiles has also increased. By establishing NSAL, in addition to the pure car carrier service to Yangon provided by NYK, NSAL offers short-distance transportation to Yangon city from the port of Yangon, and medium- to long-distance transport to certain cities, such as Naypyidaw and Mandalay, which are located in the center of Myanmar.”
Engineering group Cavotec has been awarded “significant” orders for its crane technologies and shore power systems, according to a statement from the company. Cavotec estimated the orders have a combined value of 10 million euros (U.S. $10.84 million).
The group won a total of five orders from port equipment manufacturer ZPMC, including cable reels that will supply electrical power to 72 automated stacking cranes for use at the Pasir Panjang Terminal at the Port of Singapore (PSA). Cavotec will also provide 28 spreader cable reels for ship-to-shore container cranes at the PSA terminal; deliver power and spreader cable reels for four more ZPMC STS cranes for use at PSA International’s terminals at Port of Genoa in Italy; gantry reels for eight electric rubber tyred gantry (ERTG) cranes for a container berth at Port of Mersin in Turkey; and three gantry reels and three spreader reels for three STS cranes at Port of Lome in Togo, which is operated by TIL, the terminal operating business of MSC.
In addition, Cavotec won orders to supply cable equipment for 11 automated Konecranes RTGs and motorized cable reels for five STS container cranes for Pelindo, the port authority of Indonesia, and eight sets of motorized cable reels for three separate applications for crane manufacturer Kalmar.
The company also announced orders for its Alternative Maritime Power systems from unnamed European and Greek shipowners.
Marine consultant Braemar SA opened a new subsidiary and office in Instanbul, Turkey. The company said its new office, which will be supported by Braemar staff already based in the region, will currently reside in the Besiktas district of the city, but will soon move to a new facility in the Kadikoy district.
Braemar also announced the hiring of Uluç Mӧrek as its resident staff surveyor and manager of the Istanbul office. Fluent in both Turkish and English, Uluç is a qualified naval architect and marine engineer with significant experience working in vessel repair and conversion.
“We regularly undertake surveys, risk management instructions and consultancy assignments in and around Istanbul and the establishment of an office there with staff surveyors on site will enable us to better serve both our local and our international clients,” said Managing Director Nigel Clark in a statement.
“We are seeing an increased level of activity within the Eastern Mediterranean/Black Sea region in general, and within Turkey in particular, and our new Istanbul office will complement our existing regional offices in Varna (Bulgaria) and Piraeus (Greece),” he added. “Together these three offices will be able to offer the full range of our marine surveying, casualty investigation, consultancy, marine warranty and risk management services to clients on a local basis. We see Turkey as a key location for our services going forward and we expect to recruit further staff surveyors for the Istanbul office in the near future.”
