[090515.EN.SEA] Hapag-Lloyd Back In Black With US$144 Million Profit As Revenues Soar 53pc

GERMAN shipping giant Hapag-Lloyd returned to profitability in first quarter with a profit of EUR128.2 million (US$144.4 million) from a year on year loss of EUR119.1 million. This year's profit was drawn on revenues of EUR2.3 million, which increased 53.3 per cent.

The increase in profit was achieved in a challenging market environment. But the drop in the average freight rate was largely a result of the consolidation of CSAV's container business, which had a lower average freight rate than Hapag-Lloyd.

Hapag-Lloyd generated a profit in the first three months of this year, and concluded the first quarter with a profit of EUR128.2 million (prior year period: EUR -119.1 million).

"This is a solid start to the year, in spite of the continued price pressure in many of the trades. This quarter we had support from favourable bunker price and a stronger US dollar, but most importantly this is due to the hard work of all Hapag-Lloyd employees," said the company statement.

The results include first synergies from the merger with CSAV's container business and initial savings from our comprehensive efficiency programme," said CEO Rolf Habben.

The average bunker consumption price was $377 per tonne in the first quarter of 2015, which was well below the previous year's figure of $595 per tonne.

Due to exchange rate effects and the consolidation of CSAV's container shipping activities, transport expenses increased by EUR436 million year on year to EUR1.84 billion.

Once translated into US dollars, they were actually $207 lower per transported standard container than in the first quarter of 2014.

"With an equity ratio of around 42 per cent (as at 31 March 2015), Hapag-Lloyd has a strong balance sheet structure. With a liquidity reserve of more than EUR1 billion, the company is well financed for the future.

Source : HKSG.

[090515.ID.BIZ] Peneliti UI Temukan Aplikasi Khusus Pengguna Commuter Line

Bisnis.com, JAKARTA--Tiga peneliti Universitas Indonesia (UI) menciptakan aplikasi berbasis Android yang dapat menampilkan informasi jadwal kereta dan posisi kereta rel listrik (KRL) serta laporan gangguan perjalan secara "real time".

Siaran pers UI yang diterima di Jakarta, Minggu, menyebutkan, aplikasi bernaman "KCJ Train" itu diciptakan oleh Dr. Nadia Yovani, M.Si dari jurusan sosiologi, M.Si, Himawan Pratama, M.Si (sastra Jepang) dan Tridianto Subagia, S.Kom (ilmu komputer), serta bekerjasama dengan PT. KAI Commuter Jabodetabek (PT.KCJ). Selain informasi, para pengguna KRL juga dapat menyampaikan keluhan melalui fitur surat elektronik atau email keluhan. Aplikasi ini juga dapat terintegrasi dengan media sosial seperti Facebook, Twitter dan Instagram.

Dalam "soft launching" aplikasi tersebut belum lama ini Nadia Yovani mengatakan, aplikasi ini dibuat berdasarkan penelitian ilmiah yang dilakukan tim peneliti selama dua tahun tentang kultur pengguna transportasi umum di Jepang dan Indonesia. Dana penelitian diperoleh dari hibah penelitian Biaya Operasional Perguruan Tinggi Negeri (BOPTN) Dikti.

Para peneliti membandingkan data perilaku pengguna transportasi kereta di Jepang dan Indonesia. Setahun pertama, tim peneliti mengumpulkan data di Jepang. Tahun berikutnya, pengumpulan data lapangan dilakukan di Indonesia. Dari hasil penelitian ini, dapat disimpulkan bahwa tingkat kepuasan pelanggan kereta sangat dipengaruhi oleh keberhasilan operator kereta dalam memberikan informasi selengkap-lengkapnya kepada pelanggannya.

Tingkat kepercayaan pengguna kereta terhadap operator kereta dapat terjaga melalui pengembangan saluran komunikasi dan informasi yang terpercaya serta efisien. "Untuk itu, kami berinisiatif membuat sebuah aplikasi yang memudahkan akses informasi kereta," kata Nadia. Lebih lanjut, tim peneliti UI mengatakan, PT. KCJ telah memiliki potensi kepercayaan konsumen dengan baik. Hal ini terbukti dari hasil survei bahwa 82,5 persen konsumen harian commuter line Jabodetabek memiliki tinggat kepercayaan yang tinggi pada media sosial yang dimiliki PT. KCJ.

"Maka dalam rangka mencapai target 1,2 juta penumpang pada tahun 2019, aplikasi 'KCJ Train' tepat untuk menjawab tantangan tersebut," ujarnya. Selama ini, sejumlah permasalahan praktik komunikasi yang dialami PT. KCJ di antaranya penumpukan fungsi media, cara berinteraksi yang kurang efisien seperti semua input (tweet konsumen) langsung dijawab meski berulang.

Aplikasi "KCJ Train" diharapkan dapat meningkatkan kepercayaan konsumen serta menciptakan pelayanan prima PT.KCJ. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa penelitian yang didasarkan pada kultur dan perilaku sosial masyarakat juga dapat diterapkan di dunia bisnis. UI berharap ke depannya akan semakin banyak kolaborasi yang tercipta antara dunia pendidikan dengan industri maupun dunia bisnis.

Sumber : Bisnis Indonesia, 26.04.15.

[080515.EN.SEA] Fast And Courteous Matson Loop Mocks Maersk Belief That Shippers Won't Pay

JONES Act carrier Matson Inc posted a more than seven fold increase in first quarter year-on-year net profit to US$25 million, drawn on revenues of $398.2 million, an increase of 1.5 per cent.

"Performance improved across all lines of business, led by continued levels of exceptional demand for our expedited China service," said Matson president and CEO Matt Cox, whose experience appears to contradict mega carriers like Maersk who say shippers won't pay for faster service.

Mr Cox also spoke of "modest yield improvements" in Hawaii and Guam, and further improvements in Logistics operations and SSAT.

"In addition, lower bunker fuel prices positively impacted our results, primarily due to timing differences as fuel surcharge collections outpaced fuel expenditures," he said.

"Our businesses are performing well and continue to generate substantial cash flow that, combined with our strong balance sheet, provides ample capacity to close our pending Alaska acquisition, fund new vessel construction commitments, and comfortably sustain our dividend," said Mr Cox.

"We continue to be encouraged by our prospects in Hawaii, and in a strengthening broader economy that will produce volume growth in our Jones Act markets and in logistics," he said

But Mr Cox worried about new vessel capacity expected to enter our core Hawaii market in the second quarter of this year.

"We expect our Hawaii container volume for the year to be relatively flat with 2014. Our premium expedited service offering from China is expected to remain in high demand. Overall, we remain well positioned to deliver 2015 operating results moderately higher than those we achieved in 2014."

Hawaii container volume was flat year on year as modest westbound market growth was largely offset by lower eastbound backhaul, said the Matson statement accompanying the results.

"China volume increased 5.1 per cent, reflecting continued strong demand for the company's premium expedited service; and Guam volume decreased five per cent due to the timing of select shipments. Hawaii automobile volume decreased 31.5 per cent primarily due to certain customer losses.

"In addition, the company incurred $0.2 million in legal and other expenses related to the molasses released into Honolulu Harbour in September 2013," said the company.

This refers to the aftermath of $2.1 million fine and other expenses related to the molasses spill which afflicted last years results.

Source : HKSG.

[080515.ID.BIZ] Pemerintah Pertimbangkan Aktif Kembali di OPEC

Bisnis.com, JAKARTA - Pemerintah mempertimbangkan untuk kembali aktif dalam organisasi negara pengekspor minyak atau the Organization of Petroleum Producing and Exporting Countries (OPEC), kendati Indonesia telah menjadi negara pengimpor minyak.

Menteri Energi dan Sumber Daya Mineral (ESDM) Sudirman Said mempertimbangkan untuk kembali aktif di OPEC. Untuk tahap awal, Indonesia akan menjadi peninjau (observer).

Ke depan dia mengarahkan untuk menjadi anggota. "Masuk sebagai peninjau dulu, supaya kita berinteraksi dengan pasar," katanya dalam konferensi pers, Kamis (7/5/2015).

Dia menjelaskan tidak masalah meskipun saat ini jumlah ekspor minyak Indonesia terbilang sedikit. Menurutnya, Indonesia masih memegang peranan penting meskipun menjadi negara importir neto minyak.

"Kita menjadi salah satu pembeli terbesar," tambahnya.

Dengan menjadi peninjau, jelasnya, Indonesia akan berinteraksi dengan negara eksportir minyak. Alhasil, Indonesia akan mengetahui arah pasar minyak mentah.

Dia mengemukakan bagi negara importir minyak, semakin dekat dengan penjual minyak maka akan semakin baik. Selain itu, kedekatan dengan penjual juga akan menutup celah bagi pemburu rente.

Lebih jauh, Sudirman menambahkan saat ini sebagian besar impor minyak Indonesia dibeli dari pasar spot. Dia mengharapkan agar 70% pembelian minyak oleh PT Pertamina (Persero) berupa kontrak jangka panjang, sementara sisanya 30% dibeli spot.

Seperti diketahui, Indonesia telah menjadi anggota OPEC sejak 1962, kemudian mengumumkan keluar pada Mei 2008 ketika Kementerian ESDM dipimpin Purnomo Yusgiantoro.

Purnomo beralasan Indonesia keluar karena telah menjadi negara pengimpor minyak seiring dengan turunnya produksi minyak nasional. Keanggotaan Indonesia di OPEC nonaktif per Januari 2009.

Selain mempertimbangkan untuk kembali aktif di OPEC, Sudirman akan melawat ke negara-negara pengekspor minyak seperti Iran, Irak, Kuwait, Rusia, dan Azerbaijan. Pihaknya bahkan telah bertemu dengan Presiden Iran yang meminta adanya kerja sama komite Indonesia-Iran.

"Apalagi Iran mau dibuka embargonya," tambahnya.

Sumber : Bisnis Indonesia, 08.05.15.

[070515.EN.SEA] China Cosco Quells CSCL Merger Talk - Posts Q1 Loss of US$166 Million

CHINA Cosco Holdings reported a first quarter loss of US$166 million - a 45 per cent improvement on the loss reported during the same period last year - just hours after being forced to deny reports for a second time that the carrier would be merged with China Shipping Container Lines (CSCL).

China's state media reported on April 16 that Beijing was planning to consolidate several of its state-owned giants that would include the merger of China Cosco, CSCL, Sinotrans and China Merchants Group. This increased the share price and forced the first denial from China Cosco, reported Newark's Journal of Commerce.

"Up to now, neither the company's controlling shareholder nor the company has received any information, in written or oral form, related to the above rumour from any government departments. Neither the company's controlling shareholder nor the company has expressed any such intention to any departments or enterprises," China Cosco told Hong Kong and Shanghai shareholders on April 29.

For the first quarter that ended on March 31, the container volume handled by China Cosco's fleet of 183 vessels reached 2.34 million TEU, an increase of 12.8 per cent year on year.

Total throughput of the group's container terminal business rose by 6.6 per cent compared to the first quarter of last year to 16.47 TEU. The Bohai Rim terminals handled the largest share of the group's throughput, although they posted relatively flat growth of 1.1 per cent in the first quarter year on year. Operating revenue grew 4.4 per cent to $2.3 billion.

The group's Pearl River Delta terminals handled 4.4 million TEU in the first three months of the year, up 12.7 per cent, while 2.5 million boxes flowed through the Yangtze River ports, up 4.2 per cent year on year.

China government subsidies for scrapping 22 old and inefficient vessels saw the carrier gain $9 million during the first quarter, although the disassembly and decommissioning of the vessels saw the shipping line shouldering a non-operating expense of $55 million.

Source : HKSG.

[070515.ID.BIZ] City Branding: Pemerintah Daerah Dinilai Perlu Tiru Langkah Negara Bagian AS

Bisnis.com, JAKARTA – Sebagai negara kepulauan yang punya banyak keunikan, Indonesia dinilai perlu mencontoh Amerika Serikat dalam membuat city branding untuk mempromosikan potensi pariwisata.

Vice President Corporate Communications PT Garuda Indonesia Pujobroto menyatakan city branding perlu dilakukan untuk mengangkat potensi pariwisata masing-masing daerah.

“Kalau contoh di luar negeri ada Amerika Serikat di mana masing-masing state sangat mengembangkan dan memperkenalkan potensinya, seperti Michigan misalnya dikenal sebagai state industri mobil. Indonesia juga punya banyak provinsi yang tiap provinsinya punya kekayaan dan keunikan yang potensial, masing-masing harus mengembangkan potensinya,” kata dia, Selasa (5/5/2015).

Hal ini disampaikan Pujobroto dalam jumpa pers bersama CEO Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Indonesia Chapter Poernomo Siswoprasetijo tentang seminar City Branding yang akan digelar pada 11 Mei 2015 di kantor Garuda di Cengkareng.

Seminar tersebut digelar PATA Indonesia Chapter bekerjasama dengan Kementerian Pariwisata dan PT Garuda Indonesia serta PT Jababeka.

Pujobroto menekankan pihaknya sangat mendukung seminar tersebut mengingat city branding juga akan mampu mengerek kinerja industri penerbangan.

“Kalau daerah bisa berkembang dan ekonominya meningkat, kami sebagai perusahaan penerbangan juga bisa mengembangkan network penerbangan yang ada,” tuturnya.

Sumber : Bisnis Indonesia, 05.05.15.

[060515.EN.SEA] Maersk Tigris Iranian Claimant Warns of Possible Vessel Auction Or Even Sale

The Iranian claimant in the Maersk Tigris case warns vessel could be put for auction if compensation is not paid by Maersk Line, while the Danish company says it has still no received written confirmation of court rulings or ship arrest warrant.

Speaking to Iranian media managing director of Pars Tala'eyeh Oil Products Co, Hamidreza Jahanian, claimed his company was owed $10m in compensation, nearly three times the $3.6m Maersk said last week it understood Iranian courts had awarded in the case. The case relates to containers sent to Jebel Ali Port in 2005 according to Maersk, while Jahanian said it was in 2003.

The FARS News Agency reported that Jahanian said the ship would released if Maersk pays compensation, however, if it does not assets or even the ship itself could be sold. This is despite as Maersk underlined in a separate statement on Monday it does not own the Maersk Tigris, which it charters from Rickmers Group. “Maersk Tigris is a time-charter (T/C) vessel managed and crewed by Rickmers Shipmanagement.

The crew is not employed by Maersk Line and the vessel is not owned by Maersk Line,” it stated. “Maersk Tigris and its crew are thus not in any way party to the cargo case, which allegedly according to the Iranian authorities is the reason behind the seizure of Maersk Tigris.”

Source : SNTR - Vessel Tracker.