[070113.EN.SEA] NYK To Stay Asset-light, Slow Steam Bulkers Like Boxships To Cut Capacity

JAPAN's No 2 container shipping line, NYK, sees a difficult year ahead for the marine transportation sector with supply and demand gap still impacting the containership business.

NYK president Yasumi Kudo, in his annual New Year's address, said he aims to develop slow steaming bulkers as it has done in its containership fleet to offset surplus capacity.

The company also said it wants to create long-term contracts by leveraging its fleet size which stands at an operational fleet of capesize bulkers on long-term contracts.

It aims to fully leverage low charter rates of vessels with its strong contract logistics capabilities in its logistics division, while expanding customers and trading volumes in the containership division and Yusen Logistics Co Ltd.

"Our competitiveness more than anything else is our cost base. What affects our cost levels more than anything else is the reduction of the 3 Ms: Muda, Mura, and Muri (Muda: non-value adding activities, [such as excess containerships] and Mura: unevenness in production or work activities, Muri: excessive burdens).

Globally, 2013 will be a year with all-time highest number of new containership deliveries, with 280-plus vessels, representing 1.80 million TEU. Of this, 100 large-scale vessels over 8,000 TEU capacity will account for 1.10 million TEU.

If such vessel numbers were to be introduced on Asia-Europe routes only, it would result in an annual increase in space of 5.5 million TEU to a current 14 million TEU annual cargo movement, said Mr Kudo.

Source : HKSG.

[070113.ID.BIZ] BUMN Diminta Ikut Bangun Rumah Murah

JAKARTA - Kementerian Perumahan Rakyat terus menggenjot pembangunan rumah murah Rp 25 juta. Pemerintah berupaya memberi penugasan pada BUMN untuk ikut membantu membangun rumah murah.

"Nanti kita minta BUMN, (misalnya) Adhi Karya, untuk bangun rumah tipe itu, kita undang dulu mereka. Mereka juga kan menganggap marjin itu juga kecil, tapi kalau penugasan, mereka mesti kerja," ungkap Menteri Perumahan Rakyat Djan Faridz saat ditemui di Jakarta, akhir pekan lalu.

Ia mengatakan, pengembang yang berniat untuk membangun rumah ini tak bisa mengharapkan untung yang besar. Seperti contoh Perum Perumnas. Menurut Djan, Perumnas lebih memilih untuk membangun rusunami karena marjin yang lebih menguntungkan.

"Perumnas bukan nggak sanggup, mereka sanggup cuma mereka melihat rumah MBR (masyarakat berpenghasilan rendah) ini kurang manis dari segi keuntungan. Dia inginnya rusunami," jelasnya.

Secara terpisah, Direktur Produksi Perum Perumnas Akmal Kusmantoro menjelaskan, pihaknya cenderung untuk membangun rumah dengan patokan harga Rp 1 juta/meter persegi, hanya untuk bangunannya saja. "Kalau usaha kan jadi susah kalau Rp 25 juta. Saya pengembang untuk bangun rumah itu katakanlah Rp 1 juta per meter. Bangunannya saja, belum termasuk tanah, listrik dan lain-lain," ungkap Akmal.

Hingga tahun ini, pemerintah menargetkan dapat membangun rumah murah seharga Rp 25 juta sebanyak 15 ribu unit di beberapa wilayah di Indonesia. Yang sudah dapat dipastikan ialah di wilayah Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) sebanyak 10 ribu unit dan kawasan waduk Jatigede sebanyak 800 unit.

Sementara itu, Kementerian Perumahan Rakyat mengaku program rumah murah Rp 25 juta masih berjalan terus. Tahun ini, pembangunan rumah murah untuk masyarakat berpenghasilan rendah tersebut ditargetkan 15.000 unit. "Anggaplah kita bisa bangun tahun ini sampai 15 ribu rumah minimal," kata Djan.

Ia mengatakan, saat ini pembangunan rumah murah sedang berjalan di Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT). Pembangunan rumah murah di NTT tersebut telah dilakukan sejak tahun lalu dan diteruskan di tahun ini hingga mencapai 10 ribu unit. Namun Djan tidak menyebutkan pasti berapa rumah murah yang sudah dibangun tahun lalu.

Tahun ini akan direncanakan juga pembangunan rumah murah di kawasan Waduk Jatigede. Khusus untuk rumah di kawasan Jatigede, pemerintah membangun 800 unit rumah dalam bentuk bantuan. "Tahun ini di NTT 10 ribu, daerah lain, lalu di waduk Jatigede, itu kita mau bangun juga. Tapi mereka nggak beli, itu bantuan, buat penduduk yang kena gusur, ada 800 unit," jelasnya..

Menurutnya, rumah-rumah tersebut dibangun sepenuhnya oleh pemerintah, namun pengembang lain pun sudah banyak yang menggunakan konsep ini. "Kalau Rp 25 juta itu kita yang bangun, tidak melibatkan pengembang. Tapi pengembang yang pakai tipe rumah ini sudah menggunakan, Palembang sudah, Serang juga," katanya.

Djan menjelaskan, jenis rumah ini tak hanya murah, namun pembangunannya tak memakan waktu yang cukup lama, cukup 3 hari untuk membangun 1 rumah yang contohnya berdiri di pelataran parkir Kantor Kementerian Perumahan Rakyat, Jalan Raden Fatah, Jakarta Selatan ini. "Karena rumah ini sebetulnya mudah, cepat dan mudah, 3 hari (untuk) 1 rumah," jelasnya. (vit)

Sumber : JPNN, 07.01.13.

[060113.EN.SEA] MOL To Make Hong Kong Boxship Base, Singapore For Tankers, Bulkers

JAPANESE shipping giant Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) plans to use Hong Kong as the base of its containership business and Singapore as the hub for its tankers and bulkers while focussing on customer-centric sales activities.

In his New Year's address, MOL president Koichi Muto also said the MOL, Japan biggest shipping company, is facing another year of loss following 2012's largest loss in history of JPY27 billion (US$320 million), said its president.

The biggest problems facing the carrier have been free tonnages without committed contracts against a steep decline of dry and liquid bulk freight rates. It was able to stabilise rates in 2012 by rationalising its fleet size, reducing services and avoiding excessive pursuit of high space utilisation.

Mr Muto said he expects a firmer seaborne trade volume from emerging market countries in the second half of 2013 with freight rate recovery helping to right the supply-demand gap for vessels.

MOL aims to reduce its market exposure of free tonnages to weather market downturns by winning as much cargo as possible by leveraging MOL's reputation for trustworthiness and technological capabilities. It will scrap, sell and redeliver vessels as well as delay newbuilding deliveries.

MOL will continue to pursue environmental safety by the "4 zeroes" for preventing serious marine incidents, oil pollution, fatal accidents, and cargo damage by making improvements in both our hardware, such as vessels and equipment, and our intangible assets, such as seafarers' skills, ship management and our safety culture.

Source : HKSG.

[060113.ID.BIZ] Semester I 2014 Kereta Bandara Soekarno Hatta Beroperasi

JAKARTA—Kementerian Perhubungan menyatakan semester satu 2014 jalur kereta api menuju Bandara Soekarno Hatta bisa beroperasi.

Wakil Menteri Perhubungan, Bambang Susantono mengatakan pembangunan tahap satu jalur kereta api ganda telah seleai dikerjakan pada akhir tahun 2012.

“Double track [jalur ganda KA] dari Duri-Jakarta [menuju Tangerang] pekerjaan fisik selesai pada 31 Desember 2012,” ujarnya di Jakarta, Kamis (3/1) .

Bambang mengatakan pembangunan tahap dua akan dimulai pada 2013 yang akan menghubungkan stasiun Batu Ceper menuju Bandara Soekarno Hatta.

Bambang menjelaskan pada tahap tiga akan dilakukan pembangunan stasiun kereta api dalam bandara Soekarno Hatta pada 2013.

Dia mengungkapkan total anggaran pembangunan dan pengadaan sarana kereta api bandara menelan biaya Rp5 triliun.

Proyek pengerjaan jalur kereta bandara tahap dua, tututrnya dalam proses tender dan sedang ditangani oleh PT KAI.

Pembangunan tahap III, paparnya,  meliputi pembangunan stasiun KA dan gedung parkir dalam bandara dikerjakan oleh PT Angkasa Pura II.

Lokasi gedung stasiun KA Bandara, imbuhnya berada ditengah terminal I dan II Bandara Soekarno Hatta.

Menurutnya pembangunan jalur kereta api menuju bandara Soekarno Hatta sebagai alternatif jika kondisi cuaca buruk dan untuk mengurangi kemacaten lalu lintas.

Dia menambahakan secara bertahap pada tahun 2016 dan 2017 pihaknya akan merencanakan pembangunan jalur KA Ekspress menuju bandara Soekarno Hatta.

Proyek jalur KA Ekspress itu, imbuhnya akan melibatkan pihak swasta melalui proses tender.  (faa)

Sumber : Bisnis Indonesia, 04.01.13.

[050113.EN.SEA] BIMCO Sees Growth Ahead Despite Serious Overcapacity Facing Shipping

THE Baltic and International Maritime Conference (BIMCO), the world's largest shipowner association representing 65 per cent of global tonnage, said it expects growth in container shipping this year despite the influx of new ships that were ordered in better times.

BIMCO recommends the industry be regulated globally, comply with environmental regulations, provide fair treatment and education to seafarers and build strong defences against piracy.

BIMCO president Yudhishthir Khatau voiced optimism that the "worst is behind us" and that the industry outlook remains positive.

"Against the background of a world economy struggling out of the financial crisis, positive global growth of both GDP and world trade at 3.6 per cent and 4.5 per cent, respectively, encourages BIMCO to suggest that 2013 will be the turning point in macroeconomic terms," said the BIMCO document entitled "Reflections 2013".

"But despite slow steaming, layups and the recycling of vessels, it is suggested that any balance between supply and demand will not be swiftly achieved. And while highly efficient eco-ships might appear attractive, they too add to the totality of a remarkably young world fleet," the report said.

BIMCO urged keeping regulation global and avoiding tendencies towards regional and local rule-making while eschewing local and regional calls for protectionism.

"The shipping industry is working hard to improve and demonstrate its sustainability in environmental terms, although emission controls are neither easy nor cheap," report said.

BIMCO said seafarers are "unjustly criminalised after accidents and more regularly treated with disrespect by shoreside bureaucracy. The entry into force of the ILO Maritime Labour Convention in August 2013, will be a further contributor to better and fairer treatment of this essential workforce".

On piracy, BIMCO said: "The fight against piracy needs much more than Best Management Practice or armed protection. A combination of political, economic, legal and diplomatic efforts, possibly supported by military action will be needed. Let us also remember around 150 seafarers still held in terrible conditions by Somali pirates."

Source : HKSG.

[050113.ID.BIZ] Penertiban Pedagang Stasiun : Penggusuran Kios Ilegal Tetap Dilanjutkan

JAKARTA-PT Kereta Api Indonesia menyatakan kegiatan penggusuran kios-kios  pedagang di sejumlah stasiun di wilayah Jabodetabek (Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, Bekasi) akan tetap dilakukan. 

Humas PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) Sugeng Priyono mengatakan pihaknya telah  menerima surat dari pihak Komnas Hak Asasi Manusia (HAM) pada tanggal 3  Januari 2013.

Sugeng mengatakan surat dari pihak Komnas HAM merupakan surat rekomendasi  terkait penertiban kios-kios pedagang di sejumlah stasiun kereta api di  wilayah Jabodetabek. 

 "Surat itu hanya rekomendasi, tidak terus [PT KAI] menghentikan penertiban  itu. Kita lakukan penertiban untuk pelayanan publik,"  ujarnya kepada Bisnis hari ini, Sabtu (5/1/2012). 

Sugeng menambahkan lahan yang digunakan para pedagang merupakan lahan milik  PT KAI yang dikontrak oleh para pedagang. 

Dia menjelaskan pihaknya melakukan penertiban dengan pedagang yang masa kontrak penggunaan lahan telah selesai. 

Dia mengungkapkan lahan yang masih dalam masa kontrak pihaknya akan  melakukan negosiasi untuk diberikan kompensasi. 

Dia menilai penertiban yang dilakukan oleh PT KAI, sesuai dengan UU nomor 23  tahun 2007 tentang perkeretapian dan peraturan presiden nomor  83 tahun 2011 tentang penungasan kepada PT KAI untuk menyelenggarakan sarana  dan prasarana kereta api bandara Soekarno Hatta dan kereta api commuter line  wilayah Jabodetabek.
 

Menurutnya berdasarkan kedua aturan hukum itu, pihaknya diwajibkan untuk  menyediakan sarana dan prasarana untuk keselamatan dan kenyamanan bagi  masyarakat yang menggunakan jasa kereta api. 

"Kita ikut sesuai aturan, untuk peningkatan ruang publik [agar] memberikan  keamanan dan keselamatan bagi penumpang. Kalau kita tidak melakukan  penertiban malah kita dianggap melanggar aturan," katanya. 

Penertiban kios-kios pedagang, tuturnya, dilakukan dalam rangka rencana  perluasan fasilitas perkeretapain di stasiun kereta api wilayah Jabodetabek. 

Menurutnya pihaknya akan melakukan perluasan peron, tempat parkir dan  fasilitas lainnya dengan membutuhkan lahan hingga tiga kali lipat dari lahan yang tersedia saat ini. 

Berdasarkan informasi sebelumnya pihak Komnas HAM dan sejumlah mahasiswa  mendesak PT KAI untuk menghentikan penggusuran kios-kios pedagang di stasiun  Pondok China Depok. 

Komnas HAM meminta PT KAI agar menunda proses penggusuran dan melakukan  mediasi dan ganti rugi sisa kontrak dengan sejumlah pedagang yang masih  berjalan.  (sut)

Sumber : Bisnis Indonesia, 05.01.13.

[040113.EN.SEA] ICTSI Quits Syria, Declares Civil War Unsustainable, Too Dangerous

MANILA's International Container Terminal Services Inc (ICTSI), through its subsidiary Tartous International Container Terminal (TICT), has announced its withdrawal from Syria because of the civil war.

"To continue operations in Syria under those circumstances was clearly unsustainable and dangerous to TICT personnel," said the ICTSI statement.

ICTSI had pulled out all its Filipino employees before the announcement. Under the Investment Agreement between TICT and Tartous Port General Company (TPGC), wars and civil disorders constitute a force majeure.

"The Syrian civil war is escalating, exposing everyone, both combatants and civilians," to increasing threats of death and destruction, said a company statement.

Writing off the TICT contract and remaining net assets in the 2012 consolidated accounts of ICTSI would amount to US$1.2 million. Furthermore, ICTSI would be saving US$4 million annually, in terms of port fees and cash operating expenses, from the termination of the agreement and write-off.

Since 2011, ICTSI had been operating under an extremely difficult environment in Syria. Economic and business conditions in Syria have been volatile as a result of trade sanctions by the European Union and the United States, and the closing for trade of the Syrian-Iraqi border, said a company statement, adding that Tartous, where TICT operates, should have been the gateway to Iraq.

The current crisis negatively impacted volume growth and forecasts. At the time ICTSI submitted its bid in 2005, Syria's container market was growing and on track as projected. But volumes fell four per cent in 2010, and 14 per cent by end 2011. The drop has set the Syrian container market back five to six years at 2006-2007 levels.

"TICT has also encountered policy setbacks from the Syrian government's strategy on public-private partnership (PPP). There were delays in government's deliverables under the contract. TICT and Tartous Port General Company signed an investment agreement in March 2007 under a PPP structure for the operation and development of the container terminal," said the company statement.

Until the start of the Syrian crisis, TICT had "diligently fulfilled all its financial obligations to TPGC. To date, TICT had remitted over US$13 million to TPGC in port fees and rentals. The annual investment fee and variable fee were paid on time," said the company.

Source : HKSG.