Hong Kong - Port & Shipping News

[HD5]

hkskyline : you can upload pics from the air? if u have.

[hkskyline]

Originally Posted by HD5

hkskyline : you can upload pics from the air? if u have.

Source : http://www.pbase.com/framewerkz/hkair

[hkskyline]

Dredging at Kwai Tsing Container Basin and its approach channel
Friday, July 27, 2012
Government Press Release Excerpt

The Government intends to carry out dredging works within an area of about 428 hectares of sea-bed at Kwai Tsing Container Basin and portions of the Northern Fairway, Western Fairway and East Lamma Channel to a level of approximately 17.5 metres below Chart Datum. The proposed works will enable unrestricted access for the new generation of ultra-large container ships to Kwai Tsing Container Terminals.

The works are scheduled to commence in late 2013 and be completed by 2016.

****************

[hkskyline]

Shipper warns of more trouble ahead
The Standard
Thursday, August 02, 2012

Pacific Basin Shipping (2343) sank into the red during the first half, reporting a net loss of US$196 million (HK$1.52 billion) as its roll-on/roll-off, or RoRo, fleet and the dry bulk division performed poorly due to the economic malaise in Europe.

The shipper earned a net profit of US$2.95 million in the first six months of 2011.

Chief executive officer Mats Berglund warned the firm faces even steeper losses during the second half as its routes remain centered on Europe.

The shipper did not declare any interim dividend, the second time it has done so since 2008.

"Our RoRo [vessels carrying automobiles and trucks] business has been hard hit by the severe weakness in Europe," Berglund said.

The RoRo and dry bulk businesses traditionally have accounted for the majority of the shipper's revenue.

In the first six months, the RoRo fleet recorded a utilization rate of 55 percent, chalking up a loss of US$8.5 million, up from a loss of US$5.3 million a year ago.

The core dry bulk shipping business earned a net profit of US$7.5 million, down 62.5 percent from a year ago.

Towage operations delivered a net profit of US$14.1 million, representing the largest contribution to the company's bottom line.

Berglund said the firm will shift its primary focus to dry bulk shipping from the RoRo business.

Shares of Pacific Basin fell 0.58 percent to HK$3.43 yesterday before the results were released.

[HD9]

hkskyline : show in pics all the container terminals of HK.

[hkskyline]

Originally Posted by HD9

hkskyline : show in pics all the container terminals of HK.

Left (west) - Terminal 9
Right (east) - Terminals 5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8
8 is the closest to the photo-taker






East side only

[HD9]

Beautiful.
thanks.

[hkskyline]

The Port of Hong Kong - Today and Tomorrow
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Government Press Release

Speaking today (August 20, Ontario time) at the 54th Annual General Meeting and Conference of the Association of Canadian Port Authorities in Hamilton, Ontario, the Deputy Director of Marine, Mr Tung Hon-ming, said that the Hong Kong port, strategically located on the Far East trade routes and at the centre of the fast developing Asia-pacific Region, has ranked the top three busiest container ports in the world in terms of total container throughput.

Mr Tung said that Hong Kong, as a marine centre in Asia, attracts local and international shipping companies to establish their bases. By the end of June 2012, there were 2,158 ships registered in Hong Kong with a total gross tonnage of 77.9 million.

"The port of Hong Kong is performing the gateway to southern China" said Mr Tung. "About 204,700 vessels entered Hong Kong waters in 2011, with about 400 liner services per week connecting to 500 destinations worldwide. Of these, about 220 were intra-Asia shipping services. These figures underpin Hong Kong's position as a regional hub port."

The Hong Kong port is renowned for its efficient cargo handling operations. The average turnaround time for container vessels at the container terminals is about 10 hours. The Hong Kong port handled 24.4 million TEUs of containers last year. The nine container terminals at Kwai Chung and Tsing Yi have a total of 24 berths and a total annual handling capacity of over 19 million TEUs.

"The Hong Kong port is an invaluable economic infrastructure of the city. It handles 90% of our freight in tonnage terms. The port and related sectors directly contribute 2.3% (US$5 billion) to Hong Kong's Gross Domestic Product and account for 2.7% (95,000 jobs) of total employment," Mr Tung added.

To strengthen the position of Hong Kong as a premier logistic hub in the region, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is exploring the development of the 10th container terminal and formulating the strategic development plan for Hong Kong port up to 2030. A bridge connecting Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macao is being built and will complete in 2016. A new cruise terminal will also come into operation next year.

"The new cruise terminal will attract home-porting operations and new shipping businesses to Hong Kong, and in turn benefit Hong Kong’s port and maritime-related sectors as a whole," Mr Tung said.

[hkskyline]

Welcome reception featuring Hong Kong as a global waterfront city
Monday, August 20, 2012
Government Press Release



As a prelude of the 54th Annual General Meeting and Conference of the Association of Canadian Port Authorities (ACPA Conference), a welcome reception, featuring Hong Kong as a waterfront city in the world, was hosted in the evening in Hamilton, Ontario, today (August 19, Ontario time).

The reception was attended by over 200 guests including ministerial officials from the Federal Government, representatives from the business and maritime & logistics sectors across Canada. A video entitled “Waterfront cities of the World - Hong Kong” was shown.

Speaking at the reception, Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Toronto (HKETO), Miss Gloria Lo, said that as the hub in the South Asia-Pacific Region and among the top three busiest container ports in the world, the well equipped Hong Kong port is a very important infrastructure for the logistic industry, which is one of the four pillar industries in Hong Kong. The cruise terminal to come into operation next year and the bridge connecting Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macao to be completed in 2016 will further enhance Hong Kong’s function and position as the regional hub port.

"With the full support of the Central Government of China under the 12th National Five-Year Plan, Hong Kong will continue to develop as an international maritime centre, and as a high-value goods inventory management and regional distribution centre," Miss Lo said.

"With the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangements signed between Hong Kong and Mainland China in 2003 and its supplements, business operations in Hong Kong, including those which are foreign-owned, could enjoy preferential treatment in entering Mainland markets in 48 service sectors, including the logistics service. Overseas enterprises are always welcome to leverage on all these advantages of Hong Kong in expanding and diversifying their business in Asia," Miss Lo added.

At the reception, Miss Lo gave an update of the annual Asian Logistics and Maritime Conference to be held in Hong Kong on November 8. She encouraged service providers and interested parties to participate in the conference, visits and other networking activities by joining a Canadian delegation which is co-organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the HKETO and the Society of Canadian Logistics. Last year, the inaugural conference had close to 650 participants from 14 countries and regions.

Tomorrow, the Deputy Director of Marine Department of Hong Kong, Mr. Tung Hon-ming, will be one of the keynote speakers at the ACPA Conference introducing the latest developments of the port of Hong Kong and promoting Hong Kong’s position as a regional hub port in Asia.

[hkskyline]

Statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the second quarter of 2012
Friday, September 7, 2012
Government Press Release

The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (September 7) released statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the second quarter of 2012.

In the second quarter of 2012, total port cargo throughput decreased by 6% compared with a year earlier to 69.1 million tonnes. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo dropped by 4% and 9% to 40.9 million tonnes and 28.2 million tonnes respectively.

For the first half of 2012, total port cargo throughput decreased by 2% compared with a year earlier to 133.6 million tonnes. Within this total, both inward and outward port cargo dropped by 2% to 76.8 million tonnes and 56.8 million tonnes respectively.

On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, total port cargo throughput decreased by 1% in the second quarter of 2012. Within this total, inward port cargo went up by 6%, while outward port cargo dropped by 9%. The seasonally adjusted series enables more meaningful shorter-term comparison to be made for discerning possible variations in trends.

Port cargo

Within port cargo, seaborne cargo decreased by 3% compared with a year earlier to 49.8 million tonnes, while river cargo also dropped by 13% to 19.3 million tonnes in the second quarter of 2012.

Within inward port cargo, imports and inward transhipment decreased by 3% and 4% in the second quarter of 2012 compared with a year earlier to 20.0 million tonnes and 20.9 million tonnes respectively. For outward port cargo, exports (including domestic exports and re-exports) and outward transhipment also decreased by 24% and 1% compared with a year earlier to 8.3 million tonnes and 19.9 million tonnes respectively.

Within port cargo, seaborne cargo recorded virtually no change in the first half of 2012 compared with a year earlier at 94.6 million tonnes, while river cargo decreased by 6% to 39.0 million tonnes.

Within inward port cargo, imports decreased by 6% in the first half of 2012 compared with a year earlier to 36.6 million tonnes, while inward transhipment increased by 2% to 40.2 million tonnes. For outward port cargo, exports decreased by 12% compared with a year earlier to 17.5 million tonnes, while outward transhipment increased by 4% to 39.3 million tonnes.

The detailed port cargo statistics are summarised in Table 1.

The main countries/territories of loading for inward port cargo and countries/territories of discharge for outward port cargo are shown in Table 2 and Table 3 respectively.

Comparing the second quarter of 2012 with the second quarter of 2011, double-digit increases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Vietnam (+33%) and Indonesia (+16%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Singapore (-16%) and the mainland of China (-13%). For outward port cargo, double-digit increases were registered in the tonnage discharged in Singapore (+74%) and Thailand (+11%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in Taiwan (-20%), the mainland of China (-13%) and the United States of America (-11%).

Comparing the first half of 2012 with the same period in 2011, double-digit increases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Vietnam (+27%) and Indonesia (+10%). On the other hand, a double-digit decrease was recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Singapore (-20%). For outward port cargo, double-digit increases were registered in the tonnage discharged in Singapore (+60%), Thailand (+32%), Malaysia (+11%) and Indonesia (+10%). On the other hand, a double-digit decrease was recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in Taiwan (-21%).

The principal commodities for inward and outward port cargo are shown in Table 4 and Table 5.

Comparing the second quarter of 2012 with the second quarter of 2011, double-digit changes were recorded in inward port cargo of "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+12%), "machinery" (-12%) and "artificial resins and plastic materials" (-14%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit changes were recorded for "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+12%), "live animals chiefly for food and edible animal products" (-16%), "artificial resins and plastic materials" (-16%) and "stone, sand and gravel; metalliferous ores and metal scrap; and pulp and waste paper" (-24%).

Comparing the first half of 2012 with the same period in 2011, double-digit changes were recorded in inward port cargo of "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+12%) and "iron and steel" (-10%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit changes were recorded for "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+13%) and "live animals chiefly for food and edible animal products" (-15%).

Containers

In the second quarter of 2012, the port of Hong Kong handled 5.9 million TEUs of containers, representing a decrease of 7% compared with a year earlier. Within this total, laden containers decreased by 8% to 5.0 million TEUs, while empty containers also dropped by 2% to 0.9 million TEUs. Among laden containers, inward containers decreased by 10% to 2.5 million TEUs, while outward containers also dropped by 7% to 2.5 million TEUs.

In the first half of 2012, the port of Hong Kong handled 11.6 million TEUs of containers, representing a decrease of 2% compared with the same period in 2011. Within this total, laden containers dropped by 2% to 9.9 million TEUs, while empty containers also decreased by 5% to 1.7 million TEUs. Among laden containers, inward containers decreased by 3% to 5.0 million TEUs, while outward containers recorded virtually no change at 4.9 million TEUs.

On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, laden container throughput decreased by 9% in the second quarter of 2012. Within this total, inward and outward laden containers decreased by 8% and 10% respectively.

Seaborne and river laden containers decreased by 6% and 14% in the second quarter of 2012 compared with a year earlier to 3.8 million TEUs and 1.2 million TEUs respectively.

Within inward laden containers, imports and inward transhipment decreased by 17% and 7% in the second quarter of 2012 compared with a year earlier to 0.7 million TEUs and 1.8 million TEUs respectively. For outward laden containers, exports and outward transhipment decreased by 17% and 2% to 0.7 million TEUs and 1.8 million TEUs respectively.

In the first half of 2012, seaborne laden containers increased by 1% compared with the same period in 2011 to 7.5 million TEUs, while river laden containers decreased by 9% to 2.4 million TEUs.

Within inward laden containers, imports decreased by 11% in the first half of 2012 compared with a year earlier to 1.4 million TEUs, while inward transhipment increased by 1% to 3.5 million TEUs. For outward laden containers, exports decreased by 12% to 1.4 million TEUs, while outward transhipment increased by 5% to 3.5 million TEUs.

The detailed container statistics are summarised in Table 6.

Port cargo and laden container statistics are compiled from a sample of consignments listed in the cargo manifests supplied by shipping companies and agents to the C&SD.

Vessel arrivals

Comparing the second quarter of 2012 with the second quarter of 2011, the number of ocean vessel arrivals decreased by 4% to 7 800, with the total capacity also decreasing by 2% to 102.5 million net registered tons. The number of river vessel arrivals decreased by 9% to 40 120, with the total capacity also decreasing by 7% to 26.2 million net registered tons.

Comparing the first half of 2012 with the same period in 2011, the number of ocean vessel arrivals decreased by 6% to 15 200, with the total capacity recording virtually no change at 206.5 million net registered tons. The number of river vessel arrivals decreased by 9% to 79 580, with the total capacity also decreasing by 5% to 51.3 million net registered tons.

The statistics on vessel arrivals in Hong Kong are given in Table 7.

Vessel statistics are compiled by the Marine Department primarily from general declarations submitted by ship masters and authorised shipping agents. Pleasure vessels and fishing vessels plying exclusively within the river trade limits are excluded.

Further information

More detailed statistics on port cargo, containers and vessels are contained in the quarterly report "Hong Kong Shipping Statistics".

The April - June 2012 issue of the report will be available by the end of September. Users can download this publication free of charge at the website of the C&SD (http://www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/su...tCode=B1020008).

Enquiries on port cargo and container statistics may be directed to the Shipping and Cargo Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 4889 or e-mail: shipping@censtatd.gov.hk). For enquiries about vessel statistics, readers may contact the Statistics Section under the Planning, Development and Port Security Branch of the Marine Department (Tel: 2852 3661 or e-mail: st-sec@mardep.gov.hk).

[OK8]

[brick84]

Amazing port.

[hkskyline]

Ships urged to use cleaner fuel as 400 die each year
The Standard
Thursday, September 20, 2012

About 400 Hong Kong people a year die unnecessarily from breathing in bunker fuel from ocean-going vessels that come to the city, research by a think-tank has found out.

The report, titled A Price Worth Paying, took five years to produce and is the first comprehensive study of the impact of emissions from container ships, cruise liners and oil tankers in the Pearl River Delta region, Hong Kong and Macau.

The study, released by Civic Exchange, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology's Atmospheric Research Center, and the University of Hong Kong's School of Public Health, has called on the authorities to mandate that ships use cleaner fuels.

The report, financed by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, showed that sulfur dioxide emitted from ships results in 519 people dying each year in the delta region, and 75 percent of them are Hongkongers.

A total of 93 die in the inner delta region, including Macau and Shenzhen, and 42 in the outer delta region including Jiangmen and Huizhou.

Using government pollution and Hospital Authority data in 2008 and computer simulation, the team found that "shipping is by far the most important source of sulfur dioxide pollution, more than that of vehicular emissions," Civic Exchange's head of transport and sustainability research, Simon Ng Ka- wing, said.

Lai Hak-kan of the HKU School of Public Health said the 384 deaths in Hong Kong a year as a result of the pollution by ships is "a very conservative estimate."

The team also found that 75 to 80 percent of all emissions, both within and beyond Hong Kong waters, came from container vessels, while cruise ships accounted for 10 percent. "If we are going to have bigger terminals to accommodate larger cruise ships, the emission problem will worsen," Ng said.

Emission hot spots are the container terminals in Kwai Chung, Shekou and Yantian on the mainland, and the main fairways cutting through Hong Kong - the East Lamma Channel, Ma Wan Channel and the Urmston Road waterway going to Shekou.

"Shekou and Yantian are basically our neighbors," he said.

"If there is a downwind, then a lot of pollutants are blown into Hong Kong."

Alexis Lau Kai-hon, director of the HKUST Atmospheric Research Center, said: "The take-home message is really that Hong Kong is affected substantially by marine pollution."

At 15 micrograms per cubic meter, Hongkongers inhale the highest level of the major pollutant, compared with 1-2 micrograms in Jiangmen, Guangzhou and Foshan, which are further inland.

"Secondly, the pollution is highest when the ships are at berth," Lau said.

The authorities should be asking ships to switch to 0.5 percent sulfur when berthed in Hong Kong waters, or mandate a 0.1 percent sulfur limit within local waters, he says.

The long-term goal is to designate local waters as an "emission control area" and require ships within 185 kilometers of Hong Kong to use 0.1 percent sulfur.

This would reduce deaths by 91 percent to 33 a year in the Hong Kong, the research found.

[DI.]

[samostalni]

Wow

[hkskyline]

LCQ16: Amount of insurance over for local vessels
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Government Press Release

Following is a question by the Hon Chan Kin-por and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung, in the Legislative Council today (October 24):

Question:

The Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) (Amount of Insurance Cover) Notice, made under the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) (Compulsory Third Party Risks Insurance) Regulation (Cap. 548 sub. leg. H), stipulates that the amounts of minimum liability cover for a local vessel carrying more than 12 or up to 12 fare-paying passengers are HK$5 million and HK$1 million respectively. On the other hand, the minimum amount of insurance cover against third party risks required for a vehicle is $100 million. Following the maritime disaster on October 1 this year in which 39 people died, there are concerns among members of the community about whether the coverage for a vessel is sufficient to settle the claims in the event of a major maritime disaster. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council whether it will review the risks of maritime traffic incidents and raise the amounts of minimum liability cover for different classes of vessels, with a view to providing more comprehensive protection to passengers on vessels; if it will, of the factors to be taken into consideration, and the expected time by which it can put forward a new minimum liability cover?

Reply:

President,

The existing requirements made under the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) (Amount of Insurance Cover) Notice are just the minimum liability cover. To our understanding, owing to operational needs, it is very common among vessel owners and operators to insure in excess of the statutory requirements. Nevertheless, in response to the vessel collision incident off Lamma Island on October 1, 2012, the Administration will review the regulatory measures governing navigation safety of passenger carrying vessels, including requirements on third party risks insurance.

As I have indicated in my response at the adjournment debate on "follow-up work relating to the October 1 maritime disaster" held on October 18, 2012, the Marine Department (MD) will convene a meeting of the Local Vessels Advisory Committee (LVAC) on October 26, 2012 to discuss, as a priority, ten items relating to vessel safety and regulation, including the proposal to increase the minimum liability cover of the compulsory third party risks insurance for better passenger protection. A dedicated working group comprising representatives of vessel operators, maritime insurance bodies and other relevant parties will be set up under the LVAC to conduct a review. The review will cover consideration of such factors as the number of past maritime accidents, experience in handling claims and the current situation. The working group will, upon completion of the review, submit recommendations to the Administration for consideration. The Administration recognises the urgency of increasing the minimum liability cover. We will proceed with the legislative amendment exercise once a consensus is reached with the industry. We hope that Members would support those amendments when they are ready.

[hkskyline]

HK Customs seizes ivory tusks from incoming container
Friday, November 16, 2012
Government Press Release



Hong Kong Customs yesterday (November 15) afternoon seized a total of 569 ivory tusks from a 20-foot container shipped to Hong Kong. The seizure was worth about $10.65 million.

Using risk assessment, Customs officers selected a container declared to contain "sun flower seeds" from a vessel arriving from Tanzania, Africa, for inspection.

Under X-ray examination the officers found the ivory tusks weighing 1 330 kilograms in the rear of the container. Covered by 478 bags of sun flower seeds, the ivory tusks were packed in 45 nylon bags and wrapped in plastic sheets.

The Customs' investigation is still going on to locate the smuggling syndicate members.

The Group Head of Ports and Maritime Command, Mr Wong Sui-hang, said today (November 16) at a press conference that Hong Kong Customs would continue to co-operate with the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department and other law enforcement agencies to enforce the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance and deter the trafficking of endangered species.

Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing unmanifested cargoes is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

In addition, under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance, any person found guilty of trading endangered species for commercial purposes is liable to a maximum fine of $5 million and imprisonment for two years.

[hkskyline]

Originally Posted by HD5

hkskyline : you can upload pics from the air? if u have.

Here is a better one I just found :

image hosted on flickr

Kwai Chung, Tsing Yi area by Simbon, on Flickr

This photo is looking southwards.

[hkskyline]

Statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the third quarter of 2012
Friday, December 7, 2012
Government Press Release

The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (December 7) released statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the third quarter of 2012.

In the third quarter of 2012, total port cargo throughput decreased by 2% compared with a year earlier to 69.4 million tonnes. Within this total, inward port cargo recorded virtually no change at 40.3 million tonnes, while outward port cargo decreased by 4% to 29.1 million tonnes.

For the first nine months of 2012, total port cargo throughput decreased by 2% compared with a year earlier to 203.0 million tonnes. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo dropped by 1% and 2% to 117.1 million tonnes and 85.9 million tonnes respectively.

On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, total port cargo throughput increased by 1% in the third quarter of 2012. Within this total, inward port cargo recorded virtually no change, while outward port cargo went up by 2%. The seasonally adjusted series enables more meaningful shorter-term comparison to be made for discerning possible variations in trends.

More and data tables : http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/2...1212070422.htm

[hkskyline]

image hosted on flickr

At the end of the day ... by jazzpic, on Flickr