[090812.EN.SEA] Hapag Levies Low-sulphur Fuel Surcharges As UN Control Zone Imposed

GERMANY's big container carrier, Hapag-Lloyd, the world's sixth largest shipping line, has announced it will levy a US$25 per TEU low-sulphur fuel surcharge from September 3 for transatlantic services after the imposition of a United Nations emissions control zone was enacted off on August 1 off the US and Canada.

Meanwhile the State of Alaska fighting the application of the zone in court by suing the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the US Coast Guard and the State Department over the legality of new regulations, arguing that they are not legal until the Senate ratifies the amendment to the UN treaty on which they are based, which it has not yet done. Reuters reported.

Hapag-Lloyd already had a low-sulphur charge of $11 per TEU for ships calling north Europe where there has been a UN control zone in the Baltic Sea since 2006 and North Sea since 2007, reports American Shipper.

"Hapag-Lloyd will have to buy more expensive fuel with only one per cent sulphur content when sailing within 200 nautical miles of the North American coast," said a company statement accompanying the announcement.

This follows Geneva-based Mediterranean Shipping Company's (MSC) announced last month to impose a low-sulphur fuel charge last month.

Hapag Lloyd said the charge $25 per TEU will be applied to North America to North Europe bound cargo and $20 per TEU for containers moving between North America and the Mediterranean and Africa.

The Alaska lawsuit, filed in US District Court in Anchorage in July, challenges the new regulation, estimated to increase shipping costs eight per cent, contends that enforcement of the UN treaty amendment is not permitted without ratification by a two-thirds majority vote in the US Senate.

The treaty at issue is a 2010 agreement under the United Nation's International Maritime Organisation's (IMO) International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL). The US has signed onto MARPOL, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has accepted the 2010 amendment.

Source : HKSG.

[090812.ID.BIZ] Dahlan Rombak Direksi BUMN

JAKARTA - Roda restrukturisasi organisasi di tubuh Badan Usaha Milik Negara (BUMN) terus bergulir. Setelah PT Sarinah, kali ini giliran PT Jamsostek dan PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PT DI) yang mengalami perombakan direksi.

Menteri BUMN Dahlan Iskan mengatakan, di Jamsostek, Elvyn G. Masassya yang saat ini menduduki posisi direktur investasi, akan diangkat menjadi direktur utama, menggantikan Hotbonar Sinaga. "Masih banyak yang harus dikerjakan di Jamsostek," ujarnya, Selasa (7/8).

Menurut Dahlan, selain berasal dari internal Jamsostek, Elvyn dipilih karena memiliki kemampuan dalam pengelolaan investasi. Selain itu, Elvyn yang terlibat aktif dalam pembahasan terkait pembentukan Badan Penyelenggara Jaminan Sosial (BPJS), juga diharapkan bisa membawa Jamsostek melalui proses transisi. "Salah satu targetnya memang mempersiapkan (berlakunya BPJS) itu," katanya.

Terpilihnya Elvyn juga menunjukkan komitmen Dahlan untuk memberikan kesempatan kepada generasi muda untuk menjadi pucuk pimpinan BUMN. Saat ini, pria kelahiran Medan, 18 Juni 1967 tersebut memang baru menginjak usia 45 tahun.

Meski masih muda, Elvyn yang berlatar belakang bankir terkenal piawai dalam pengelolaan investasi.

Tercatat, Elvyn pernah menjabat sebagai Komisaris PT Bank Bali, Direktur PT Bank Permata Tbk, Corporate Secretary PT Bank Negara Indonesia Tbk, dan Direktur PT Tuban Petrochemical Industries. Di Jamsostek, Elvyn masuk jajaran direksi sejak Desember 2008.

Selain Jamsostek, BUMN lain yang bakal mengalami perombakan direksi adalah PT DI. Menurut Dahlan, perombakan tersebut merupakan bagian dari upaya menciptakan dream team di tubuh BUMN. "Selama ini, orangnya (direksi, Red) hebat-hebat, tapi sya meragukan kekompakannya," ujarnya.

Menurut Dahlan, sesuai dengan kebijakannya, Kementerian BUMN akan memprioritaskan orang-orang yang bisa bekerja sama untuk duduk di jajaran direksi. Sebab, kinerja BUMN tidak akan membaik jika manajemennya tidak harmonis. "Makanya, saya akan membentuk tim yang kuat," katanya.

Saat ini, jajaran direksi PT DI terdiri dari tujuh orang. Direktur Utama Budi Santoso, Direktur Administrasi Sukatwikanto, Direktur Keuangan Uray Ashari, Direktur Aerostructure Andi Alisjahbana, Direktur Teknologi dan Pengembangan Dita Ardonni Jafri, Direktur Servis Pesawat Budiwuraskito, dan Direktur Integrasi Pesawat Budiman Saleh. (owi)

Sumber : JPNN, 08.08.12.

[080812.EN.BIZ] EU Lobby Seeks European Commission To Thwart 'Unfair' China Solar Trade

A GROUP of more than 20 European solar manufacturers in Europe have formed an association, EU ProSun, to combat alleged unfair trade of solar technology from China which has "decimated" the industry in Europe.

Milan Nitzschke, EU ProSun's president said: "Not only is China clearly dumping cheap solar products in the EU but the government readily admits to subsidising its solar manufacturers for exports.

"China has no natural cost advantage over the EU given labour accounts for around 10 per cent of production costs, and it must import raw materials and equipment to produce their solar cells and modules."

EU ProSun members have called on the European Commission to investigate unfair trade practices by these Chinese manufacturers. They say Europe's solar industry is "being decimated by unfair competition from China leading to layoffs, and one major European solar bankruptcy every month. Unless the EU takes action, there will be no longer any manufacturing or R&D solar jobs left in Europe."

The US government recently determined that 12 categories of Chinese subsidies for its solar manufacturers were illegal, and Chinese exporters have dumped solar cells in the United States at margins between 30 per cent and 250 per cent, the American Shipper reported.

The US Energy Department estimates the Chinese government has provided its solar manufacturers with more than US$30.7 billion in subsidies, including low interest loans, free land and subsidized energy.

Four of China's largest solar companies - Yingli, Suntech, Trina and Canadian Solar - have hit back at EU ProSun's claims with a statement issued on behalf of the Solar Energy Promotion Alliance: "We re-emphasize that the Chinese solar industry does not receive alleged illegal subsidies or engage in dumping.

"Chinese solar products have been welcomed by global consumers, because of their high cost-effectiveness, superior product quality, and comprehensive after-sales service. The maturity of Chinese solar brands is marked by their complete abidance by fair competition principles."

Source : HKSG.

[080812.ID.BIZ] Ekonom : Pertumbuhan Ekonomi Indonesia Akan Melambat

JAKARTA: Pertumbuhan ekonomi pada semester I/2012 yang mencapai 6,4% dipandang ekonom tidak akan berlanjut pada semester kedua.

Head of Global Market HSBC Indonesia Ali Setiawan menuturkan pihaknya memperkirakan ekonomi Indonesia akan melambat di paruh kedua. "Kami memprediksi pertumbuhannya di level 6,1%," sebutnya, Selasa (7/8) malam.

Perlambatan ini, jelas Ali, karena masih ada dampak melemahnya ekonomi Asia, seperti terlihat di Cina dan India.

Pertumbuhan yang cukup tinggi di semester pertama, kata dia, disebabkan kuatnya sokongan dari konsumsi domestik sehingga dampak perlambatan ekonomi di regional Asia masih belum terasa. Namun, Ali menerangkan konsumsi dalam negeri masih akan tetap tinggi pada paruh kedua 2012.

Indonesia, papar dia, masih terlalu bergantung pada kondisi ekonomi negara lain, terutama ekspor impor. Hal ini membuat Indonesia rentan jika terjadi perlambatan pada negara lain.

"Perdagangan Indonesia dengan Cina defisit lebih dari US$1 miliar, dengan Jepang sekitar US$660 juta," sebut Ali. Dia memproyeksi defisit perdagangan ini masih akan berlanjut hingga akhir tahun dengan nilai lebih dari 1%. (Faa)

Sumber : Bisnis Indonesia, 08.08.12.

[070812.EN.SEA] Twenty Rescued Crewmen At Falmouth While MSC Flaminia Smoulders At Sea

TWENTY crewmen of the 6,732-TEU MSC Flaminia, rescued after a fatal explosion in the North Atlantic, have arrived at Falmouth in Cornwall while the ship has now been moved 360 nautical miles offshore escorted by salvage tugs with firefighting equipment.

Smit tugs have relocated the vessel's "waiting position" to about 360 nautical miles off the UK coast suggesting that its refuge port may be elsewhere. Earlier reports had the ship 100 nautical miles off UK shores.

The Falmouth Packet newspaper reported the crew - Germans, Poles and Filipinos - abandoned the 75,590-ton ship two hours before being picked up. Four transferred to the 6,402-TEU MSC Stella and sent for treatment in the Azores. One man died and another is missing, presumed dead.

The Mission to Seafarers in Falmouth welcomed survivors from the German-registered MSC Flaminia with one man confirmed dead and another missing with three in hospital in the Azores, reported BBC News.

The containership was travelling between Charleston and Antwerp when the explosion and fire occurred.

Falmouth Coastguard co-ordinated the rescue of the crew who were 1,000 miles west of Cornwall at the time.

Said Falmouth port chaplain Mark Mesley: "We can put them in touch with their families, we can also provide a certain amount of clothing and all sorts of practical help. The crew will no doubt be quite shaken so we'll just have to wait and see whether they want to talk about it."

According to the Hamburg ship managers, NSB Niederelbe Schiffahrtsgesellschaft, conditions aboard the partially burnt out ship repelled firefighters, who were unable to board due to bad weather.

However, NSB said the weather was expected to improve which may allow boarding parties to re-assess the condition of the listing ship, which has taken on much water in the course of quelling the blaze, which continues to smoulder in No 7 hold.

NSB said that a decision to enter a sheltered coastal area is expected in the next few days, presumably after the salvors have provided a further onboard update, reported Containerisation International.

Source : HKSG, 07.08.12.

[070812.ID.SEA] Proyek Kalibaru : Kemenhub Jamin Netralitas Studi Konsesi

JAKARTA: Kementerian Perhubungan menjamin netralitas dan tidak akan ada tekanan dari pihak manapun dalam proses studi pemberian konsesi proyek terminal Kalibaru di Pelabuhan Tanjung Priok-Jakarta Utara.

Kepala Komunikasi Publik Kemenhub Bambang S.Ervan mengatakan, Kemenhub masih patuh dalam koridor perundang-undangan yang berlaku termasuk pada Keppres Penunjukan Pembnagunan Terminal Kalibaru.

"Kami bekerja sesuai Kepres tersebut.Soal konsesi juga merujuk pada undang-undang yang berlaku sebagaimana bunyi Kepres itu," ujarnya kepada Bisnis, hari ini Jumat (3/8).

Dia menyatakan hal itu menanggapi tudingan National Maritime Institute (Namarin) yang menyatakan Kemenhub menyandera proyek terminal Kalibaru.

"Tolong buktikan jika kami menyandera proyek itu. Namarin sebagai LSM kok menjadi corongnya Pelindo II ? Ini ada apa ya?.Harusnya semua pihak berfikir jernih, jangan memakai cara-cara tekan menekan seperti itu," ujarnya.

Bambang mengatakan, pemerintah memberikan konsesi pada suatu proyek pelabuhan mesti diikuti perhitungan yang matang.

"Lamanya waktu konsesi juga bisa bervariatif tergantung penilaian pemerintah dan pihak yang terkait lainnya. Bisa 20 tahun, 30 atau 50 tahun"ujarnya.

Untuk penilaian masa konsesi di Terminal Kalibaru inipun, kata dia, Kemenhub sudah melibatkan seluruh instansi terkait, tetapi memang prosesnya belum selesai.

Bambang mengungkapkan, sebenarnya sudah ada rekomendasi dari tim independen (lembaga surveyor) kepada pemerintah dan Pelindo II, mengenai perhitungan waktu konsesi pada terminal Kalibaru.

"Tetapi hasil rekomendasi itu ditolak oleh Pelindo II.Ini kan aneh?" ujarnya.

Kendati begitu, Bambang belum bersedia menyebutkan hasil rekomendasi dari tim independen lembaga surveyor nasional tersebut.

Sebelumnya, Direktur Namarin Jakarta Siswanto Rusdi menyatakan,  pembangunan Pelabuhan Kalibaru mulai memperlihatkan tanda-tanda ketidakjelasan.

Sesuai dengan jadwal yang sudah diungkapkan oleh media massa, groundbreaking seharusnya sudah dilakukan Juli lalu namun hingga kini kegiatan itu mangkrak.

Hal ini diakibatkan oleh belum adanya keputusan Kementerian Perhubungan belum juga terkait batas waktu konsesi yang diminta oleh Pelabuhan Indonesia II selaku pelaksana proyek.

"Dengan sikapnya yang hingga saat ini belum memutuskan batas waktu konsesi, Kemenhub sesungguhnya telah menyandera proyek Pelabuhan Kalibaru," ungkap Siswanto,yang juga  juru bicara Tim Pengawas Independen Proyek Pembangunan Terminal Peti Kemas Kalibaru,melalui siaran per-nya.(K1/Bsi)

Sumber : Bisnis Indonesia, 03.08.12.

[060812.EN.SEA] Troubled Horizon Lines Widens Loss To US$29.8 Million In Second Quarter

JONES ACT carrier Horizon Lines has announced a second quarter net loss widening to US$29.8 million against a loss of $4.5 million in the same period last year.

EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation) was $15.2 million for the second quarter compared to $19.7 million in the previous year.

"Horizon Lines experienced a 3.6 per cent improvement in container volume during the second quarter relative to the year-ago period," said president and CEO Sam Woodward.

Container volume totalled 59,768 revenue loads, compared with 57,677 a year earlier. Revenue per container averaged $4,269, up from $4,079 a year earlier. Per-container revenue net of fuel surcharges rose 1.1 per cent to $3,174.

Looking ahead, Horizon forecasts that 2012 container volumes will increase modestly, in the one per cent to two per cent range, and that container rates, net of fuel surcharges, will rise slightly from 2011 levels, due to the continuing slow economic recoveries in its markets.

Source : HKSG.