[200211.EN.SEA] Rates Wobble As Robust Forecasts Clash With Low Utilisation

CARRIERS plan to launch new transpacific services charging higher rates from April based on optimistic growth forecasts for in 2011, reports maritime analyst Alphaliner.

But at the same time, utilisation has dropped to below 90 per cent since October to an overall 89 per cent in January against 96 per cent in the same month of 2010. Shippers say extra capacity afloat should keep rates down.

Big Transpacific Stabilisation Agreement (TSA) carriers report reduced load factors of 88 per cent to the US west coast and 95 per cent to the east coast. Alphaliner attributes this slack utilisation to a 25 per cent year-on-year increase in capacity deployed on the transpacific in January and February.

The situation will continue to worsen with an estimated 14 per cent annual capacity increase expected, said Alphaliner in line with more than 140 newbuildings to be delivered this year.

While shippers question the need for higher rates, transpacific carriers claim that rate hikes planned for this year are justified by growing cargo demand.

"Advance bookings and market data suggest a return to robust trade flows by late spring and early summer, with a possibility that vessel space and equipment will be tight at times leading into the peak season," said the TSA.

Representing leading carriers operating on Asia-US trades, the TSA is confident cargo demand will improve in 2011 as the US economy recovers and this growth would absorb new capacity entering the market, reports London's Containerisation International.

TSA says the Far East-US cargo volume increased 15.8 per cent year on year in January due to earlier Chinese New Year in the first week of February. This led to a positive transpacific trade volume forecast with a growth of seven to eight per cent this year, following the increase of more than 15 per cent in 2010.

This optimism is supported by London shipping consultants, Clarkson, whose analysts expect a 9.7 per cent increase in container demand in 2011.

Source : HKSG, 15.02.11.

[200211.ID.OTH] Faktor Tersembunyi Pemicu Gangguan Jantung

VIVAnews - Selain faktor genetik dan gaya hidup tak sehat, ada sejumlah faktor tersembunyi yang meningkatkan risiko terkena masalah jantung.

Ketahui apa saja masalah tersebut. Bicarakan dengan dokter jika Anda mengalami lima gangguan di bawah ini, seperti dilansir dari Prevention.

1. Masalah kulit

Jika Anda memiliki penyakit kulit seperti psoriasis, bersisik, kulit merah, bisa memicu peradangan di dalam tubuh. Sehingga memiliki penyakit kronis ini dapat meningkatkan kemungkinan penyakit jantung hampir sama seperti pada perokok.

2. Kurang tidur

Anda termasuk orang yang hanya tidur tiga hingga empat jam sehari? Tidur hanya lima jam sehari atau kurang berisiko terkena penyakit jantung lebih besar dan jauh lebih berbahaya, bahkan pada orang sehat.

3. Masalah gusi

Seseorang yang mengalami infeksi bakteri kronis pada gusi periodental, hampir dua kali lebih mungkin untuk mengalami serangan jantung fatal.

4. Komplikasi kehamilan

Mengalami preeclampsia (tekanan darah tinggi dan kandungan protein yang tinggi pada urin) saat hamil berisiko dua kali lebih besar mengalami serangan jantung di kemudian hari, dan juga risiko diabetes kehamilan hingga 70 persen.

5. Stres di tempat kerja

Wanita dengan tuntutan pekerjaan tinggi tapi sulit mengontrolnya berisiko 40 persen lebih tinggi mengalami serangan jantung dan stroke. Hal ini jika dibandingkan dengan mereka yang memiliki pekerjaan dengan tingkat stres yang rendah. (sj)

Sumber : VIVAnews, 18.02.11.

[190211.EN.SEA] Asia-Europe Supply Surplus To Be Short-lived, But Concerns Grow For Intra-Asia

OVERSUPPLY on the Asia-Europe trade is likely to be short-lived, according to industry sources, but fears for a supply and demand imbalance on the Intra-Asia trade are rising. Chinese-based shipping lines, China Cosco and China Shipping Container Lines (CSCL) management appear to be unconcerned with the possibility of excess capacity operating on the Asia-Europe trade this year, judging by comments made to UBS Securities.  According to a recent report by UBS analyst, Richard Wei, Cosco management believe that through the collective efforts of a number of shipping lines operating on the trade, that load factors will remain above 90 per cent this year, even with the expected influx of mega vessels. The positive outlook is shared by CSCL.  "Management think the large vessel delivery will only be a temporary concern to AE [Asia-Europe] rates because of cascading effects. By end 2011 when AE is gradually dominated by large vessels, the route will have [a] high entry barrier to small operators, and close cooperation will reduce rate volatility,” the article said.  But this cascading of capacity may see an intensification of competition in trades like the Intra-Asia trade, where a lot of vessels may be sent into, given the low entry barrier and continuing growth in that market, the carrier’s management said.  Looking at the wider container shipping market, RBC Capital Markets is less optimistic, arguing that supply will outpace shipping demand this year, thus forcing greater downward pressure on rates across all trades, which are already in decline.  However, the figures cited by RBC Capital are not overly alarming, and at least on the surface, give little indication as to whether ongoing rate drops should be expected this year.  Alphaliner has projected that the container carrying fleet will grow by 8.7 per cent this year, while demand will grow at less than eight per cent.

Source : CSM, 28.01.11.

[190211.ID.LOG] Pengusaha Logistik Desak Perbaikan TPK Gede Bage

JAKARTA: Asosiasi Logistik dan Forwarder Indonesia (ALFI) meminta pemerintah untuk segera membenahi fasilitas dry port di Terminal Peti Kemas Bandung (TPKB) Gede Bage guna memperlancar arus barang ke Pelabuhan Tanjung Priok.

Sekjen ALFI Siti Ariyanti Adisoediro mengatakan pihaknya telah berdiskusi dengan Divisi Litbang Kementerian Perhubungan, Kementerian Pekerjaan Umum, PT KAI, dan perwakilan TPKB Gede Bage untuk menemukan solusi dalam mengatasi inefisiensi arus barang Gede Bage-Tanjung Priok.

“Kemarin [17 Februari] kita sudah diskusi untuk dapat menentukan langkah-langkah guna mempercepat arus barang dari TPKB Gede Bage ke Tanjung Priok,” ujar Ariyanti kepada Bisnis hari ini.

Menurut Ariyanti volume barang yang melalui TPKB Gede Bage terus merosot sejak tersedianya Tol Cipularang yang menghubungkan Jakarta-Bandung. Kata dia, perlu ada langkah-langkah yang dilakukan pemerintah untuk dapat menghidupkan kembali TPKB Gede Bage.

“Masalah utamanya adalah adanya missing link antara Stasiun Pasoso dengan Pelabuhan Tanjung Priok, sehingga barang harus diangkut dua kali [double handling] dan menyebabkan inefisiensi proses logistik,” paparnya.

Ariyanti menjelaskan dalam diskusi tersebut seluruh pihak telah menyetujui adanya pembangunan infrastruktur untuk kereta api antara Stasiun Pasoso sampai Pelabuhan Tanjung Priok agar tidak lagi terjadi double handling.

Menurut Ariyanti, pemerintah harus sadar bahwa Tol Cipularang tidak selamanya bisa mengakomodasi arus barang, karena itu TPKB Gede Bage yang memang sudah memiliki fasilitas dry port yang mumpuni perlu dikembangkan dengan optimal.

“Jadi kita minta supaya TPKB Gede Bage dapat didukung oleh infrastruktur barang yang memadai, supaya proses logistik ke Pelabuhan Tanjung Priok bisa lebih efektif,” ujarnya. (arh)

Sumber : Bisnis Indonesia, 18.02.11.

[180211.EN.AIR] IATA: UK Policies 'Will Destroy Legacy' Of British Aviation

THE International Air Transport Association (IATA) has UK aviation policy and called on the British government to transform air transport competitiveness through tax cuts, regulatory reform and bring an end to crippling climate change taxes.

IATA director general Giovanni Bisignani blasted Britain's "punitive policy" on climate change carbon emissions, particularly its Air Passenger Duty now weighing down the industry with GBP2.7 billion (US$4.3 billion) in taxes.

"Any industry can only take so many knocks before the damage is permanent. The government's policy pillars of excessive taxes, inefficient airport regulation and limiting growth will destroy the UK's proud aviation legacy," he said.

Speaking to the Aviation Club in London, Mr Bisignani noted that aviation supports 1.5 million British jobs along with US$76 billion in economic activity.

The World Economic Forum's Travel and Tourism Competitiveness report ranks the UK last out of 133 countries for cost competitiveness, 129th on fuel prices, and 121st on ticket taxes and airport charges, he noted.

"While the global industry was cutting costs and improving efficiencies, the regulator allowed BAA a 50 per cent increase for Heathrow charges. He was even more generous for 2008-2013, with an 86 per cent increase," he said.

On capacity, Mr Bisignani said: "With the decision to abandon plans for a third runway, London Heathrow is becoming a secondary hub. Heathrow has two runways limiting growth compared to other major European hubs with greater runway capacity: Amsterdam has five while Paris, Madrid and soon Frankfurt will have four.

"If building 2,000 metres of runway takes decades, building or upgrading 650 kilometres of rail will take lifetimes. And it will probably take more money than the Chancellor of the Exchequer could write a check for", he said.

On climate change, he said: "This is potty. For an industry that generates nearly $600 billion in revenues the margins are pathetic. The 2.7 per cent margin that airlines earned last year does not even cover the cost of capital, which is around seven to eight per cent. And the margin will shrink to 1.5 per cent this year."

Mr Bisignani called for an immediate end to the unjustified burden of Air Passenger Duty and for the UK and Europe to cooperate on a global framework for economic measures coordinated through ICAO. 

Source : HKSG, 14.02.11.

[180211.ID.SEA] Pelindo III Pacu Produktivitas

JAKARTA: PT Pelabuhan Indonesia III (Persero) memacu produktivitas bongkar muat dengan meningkatkan investasi pengadaan peralatan maupun pembangunan terminal baru dalam rangka memperbesar kapasitas pelabuhan.

Buktinya, selama 2010, nilai investasi PT Pelindo III  untuk memacu produktivitas bongkar muat dan meningkatkan kapasitas pelabuhan melonjak 56,6% dari Rp461,2 miliar pada 2009 menjadi Rp722,6 miliar.

Jarwo Surjanto, Direktur Utama PT Pelindo III mengatakan lonjakan investasi selama 2010 tersebut terjadi karena perseroanya fokus kepada upaya peningkatakan pelayanan, percepatan arus barang dan produktivitas bongkar muat.

Menurut dia, dengan investasi sebesar itu, hasilnya cukup menjanjikan karena laba perseroan tumbuh positif dibandingkan dengan 2009. “Laba tumbuh sekitar 7% dibandingkan 2009,” katanya, hari ini.

Dia menambahkan kinerja PT Pelindo III selama 2010 tumbuh positif. Arus kunjungan kapal di lingkungan perseroan pelat merah itu mencapai 229,6 juta gross tonnage (GT) atau naik dibandingkan tahun sebelumnya sebanyak 210,5 juta GT.

Sementara arus peti kemas juga meningkat dari 2,9 juta TEUs pada 2009 menjadi 3,2 juta TEUs di 2010. “Adapun arus barang melonjak dari 110,9 juta ton menjadi 114,9 juta ton,” tegasnya.

Di sisi lain, kinerja keuangan perseroan juga tumbuh positif. Pada 2009, pendapatan tercatat sebanyak Rp2,51 triliun, naik menjadi Rp2,76 triliun di 2010. Sedangkan laba bersih tahun 2010 tercatat sebesar Rp519 miliar. (sut)

Sumber : Bisnis Indonesia, 17.02.11 (Catatan: maaf, kemarin ngga terbit karena antar tamu Komut dan Diopsar keluar kota, thanks).

[160211.EN.SEA] Arm Ships Against Pirates, But Only With Professionals: Expert

A BRITISH security contractor, who wrote "SAS Handbook" has co-authored a report for GAC Protective Solutions, on how to fight Somali pirates, which concludes that the best way is to rely on firms like his own Hereford-based security company, AKE Ltd.

"There needs to be a clear understanding of what constitutes appropriate weaponry that will provide deterrence, and where deterrence fails be capable of neutralising a determined attack," said AKE chief executive Andrew Kain, a former member of the Britain's Special Air Service Regiment.

Mr Kain, whose firm's headquarters is near the main SAS barracks in Hereford, England, near the Welch border, says not to be too impressed with the Somali pirates main armament, the AK-47 and the RPG, but at the same time warns against a do-it-yourself approach in fighting pirates.

"The chances of anyone firing from a moving skiff and hitting what they are aiming for, is very low. A hit with even an RPG7, to do any serious damage, would have to be luckiest shot in the world, and would certainly not be the result of deliberate aimed shot at a specific point on the vessel," he said.

"The RPG7 is a rocket propelled grenade, with very limited capability and effect. The AK47 is a superb close quarter battle weapon, ideal for insurgents, pirates and many others, because of its simplicity and functionality. However, it is a very inaccurate weapon, with little penetration capability," he said.

"Where weapons are deployed, it is absolutely critical that those employed to operate them have the appropriate skills and experience and are also current in weapon use. This requires a category of weapons that can be described as 'specialist'. Pistols, shotguns and single shot rifles are not capable of providing a deterrent. Neither are they capable of effectively stopping a determined armed attack," he said.

Mr Kain also said it was important that the weapons look impressive and be highly visible to pirates, but warned that such choices belonged to experts.

"We can testify to the difficulties experienced by most professional soldiers in achieving hits over 100, 200 and 300 metres, when firing from a stable ground platform against a stationary target. The difficulty increases when there is movement at both ends at which accuracy is replaced by luck," said Mr Kain.

"To achieve and maintain control, the industry needs to institutionalise a better understanding of the actual risks confronting it. It must also have the means to communicate this knowledge to individual ship's masters, officers and crews, so that all can, and do, understand the actual risks and how to mitigate them," Mr Kain said.

Source : HKSG, 14.02.11.