International experts
to speak at cargo security, ISPS briefing
Two Singapore-based experts lead the lineup of speakers
to the International Ship and Port Facility Security
(ISPS) Code briefing being conducted by logistics
and transportation publication PortCalls on May 6,
2004 at the Hyatt Regency Manila.
The half-day briefing (7am to 1pm) aims to provide
an understanding of the ISPS Code, an International
Maritime Organization (IMO) initiative that has far-ranging
effects on the cargo community. The Code requires
all ships and port facilities that deal in international
trade to establish security plans approved by registered
security organizations.
Non-compliance will lead to ships being refused entry
in ports of IMO-member countries, causing delays in
shipments. The briefing will identify the commercial
advantages of ISPS Code compliance, and what affected
sectors need to accomplish before the Code is implemented
in July 2004.
Particular attention will be placed on cost implications
on businesses.
Col. Michael Chen, CEO of ST Education and Training
Pte Ltd and consultant of IMO, will talk about the
challenges of implementing the Code. In addition,
he will present a case study on the experience of
Singapore ports.
Nick Sansom, principal officer of the Southeast Asia
branches of UK P&I Club and of Thru Transport Club,
will present a paper on the business risk and insurance
impact of the Code. Control Risks Group deputy Philippine
manager Trevor Smith will talk about developing a
strategy for achieving ISPS Code compliance.
Ben Cecillo, assistant general manager for Operations
of the Philippine Ports Authority, will look at the
status of preparations of Philippine ports and terminals,
while Atty. Gloria J. Victoria Bañas, Deputy
Administrator for Planning of the Maritime Industry
Administration, will discuss the state of readiness
of shipping lines.
CEOs and other top management of ports and terminal
operators, shipping lines and other cargo service
companies are attending the briefing co-presented
by Harbour Centre, International Container Terminal
Services, Inc., and Eastern Telecoms.
For inquiries, call 551-1775, 551-3871 or 834-2416
or email info@portcalls.com.
EO designates single
body in charge of transport security
PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed last week
an executive order (EO) designating the Office for
Transportation Security (OTS) as the sole authority
responsible for the security of the country's transportation
systems, including civil aviation, sea transport and
maritime infrastructure, and land transportation.
Signed on April 28, EO 311 also provides for enforcement
provisions enabling the country to give effect to
international conventions such as the Convention on
International Civil Aviation, National Civil Aviation
Security Programme, and the International Maritime
Organization (IMO) International Ship and Port Facility
Security (ISPS) Code.
The latter takes effect on July 1, 2004. The OTS,
under the Department of Transportation and Communications,
will formulate, implement and coordinate transportation
security measures.
It will assume the functions of the National Civil
Aviation Security Committee; exercise operational
control and supervision over all units of law enforcement
agencies and agency personnel providing security services
in the transportation systems, except for motor vehicles
in land transportation; exercise responsibility for
transportation security operations including security
screening of passengers, baggage and cargoes, hiring,
retention, training and testing of security screening
personnel.
In addition, the OTS will prepare a security manual/master
plan which shall prescribe the rules and regulations
for the efficient and safe operation of all transportation
systems, including standards for security screening
procedures, and prior screening or profiling of individuals
for the issuance of security access passes.
In the maritime sector, the OTS is responsible for
"ensuring that the IMO-ISPS is implemented and that
a National Security Program for Sea Transport and
Maritime Infrastructure is formulated, developed and
implemented."
Commander Ronilo Hermes A. Bacolod, chairman of the
Maritime Security Study Group, told PortCalls the
EO was also created in response to earlier comments
regarding the absence of a proper mandate on the issuance
of the ISPS implementing rules and regulations (IRR).
"Part of the EO is the creation of an IRR to implement
the code and to cover maritime concerns," he said.
NEGOTIATIONS for the planned purchase by food and
beverage giant San Miguel Corp. (SMC) of Asian Terminals,
Inc's (ATI) Mariveles Grain Terminal (MGT) in Bataan
will reach its final stages within six months.
ATI chairman Richard D. Barclay told reporters at
the sidelines of ATI's annual stockholders' meeting
that some issues are still being ironed out regarding
the acquisition.
"We are still tidying up. It takes time… talking
about the transfer and things like the formation of
new companies," he said.
The purchase price for the country's most modern
bulk grain handler is P2.15 billion. Barclay said
the proceeds of the MGT sale will be used to finance
the ongoing modernization program at the South Harbor.
ATI has an existing contract with the Philippine
Ports Authority and the provincial government of Bataan
to develop and operate the facility for 20 years until
2013.
Last year, MGT handled 1,679,024 metric tons of
grains, down 20% from the previous year due to lesser
local demand for grains.
Highlight Express is
top domestic airfreight forwarder in 2002
HIGHLIGHT EXPRESS (PHILS.) INC. held on to the number
one spot in the list of top domestic airfreight forwarders
for 2002, based on the latest data from the Civil
Aeronautics Board (CAB).
The forwarding company transported 3,175,779.20 kilograms
(kg) of cargoes throughout the country in 2002, up
31.62% from 2,412,880.50 kg carried in the previous
year.
Allied Brokerage Corp. managed to remain the second
best domestic airfreight forwarder in 2002, with 1,225,896
kg. This is despite the 17.61% decrease in its total
shipments from 1,487,889 kg in 2001.
At number five in 2001, ABX Pan Globe Logistics climbed
two notches to number three in 2002, carrying 1,231,481
kg, up 72.46% compared with 714,054 kg shipped during
the previous year.
Up a whopping 173.87% was Goetz Moving and Storage
Inc., which leapt to fourth place from tenth a year
before. In 2002, the company moved 1,152,309.65 kg
from 420,746 kg freight transported in 2001.
Argo International Forwarders switched places with
ABX Pan Globe Logistics, landing in fifth place with
1,106,021 kg. The volume carried is, however, lower
by 21.07% vis-a-vis 2001's 1,401,236.50 kg.
Germalin Inc. also fell two notches to number six
from its fourth position in 2001 despite recording
a 17.23% volume increase to 875,720.85 kg from 746,987.40
kg. New on CAB's 2002 top ten list was JRS Business
Corp. which transported 727,619.71 kg, replacing Transnational
World Forwarding Inc. in seventh place.
Aspac International Forwarders held on to the eighth
spot, transporting 647,682 kg, up 11.08% from 583,090
kg in 2001. Also new on the list were ninth and tenth
placers Airlift Asia Inc. (which replaced Libcap Marketing
Corp.) and DHL Philippines Corp. with 511,220.30 kg
and 240,868 kg, respectively.
TOP 10 DOMESTIC AIRFREIGHT FORWARDERS CARGO TRAFFIC FLOW CY 2001-2002
Chargeable
Weights in Kilograms
Ranking
AIRFREIGHT FORWARDERS
Total Cargo Flow (In/Out)
Previous Ranking
Variance
2002
2001
1
High Light Express (Phils.) Corp.
3,175,779.20
2,412,880.50
1
31.62
2
Allied Brokerage Corp.
1,225,896.00
1,487,889.00
2
-17.61
3
ABX Pan Globe Logistics Inc.
1,231,481.00
714,054.00
5
72.46
4
Geotz Moving & Storage Inc.
1,152,309.65
420,746.00
10
173.87
5
Argo Int'l Forwarders
1,106,021.00
1,401,236.50
3
-21.07
6
Germalin Inc.
875,720.85
746,987.40
4
17.23
7
JRS Business Corp.
727,619.71
-
-
-
8
Aspac Int'l Forwarders
647,682.00
583,090.00
8
11.08
9
Airlift Asia, Inc.
511,220.30
-
-
-
10
DHL Phils. Corp.
240,868.00
-
-
-
Source: Civil Aeronautics
Board (based on data available (as of April
15, 2004)
APL and PSA Corp.'s wholly-owned subsidiary
Portnet.com have together developed an Internet-based
cargo management system that maximizes space utilization
and allows faster handling of customers' cargo at
the port of Singapore.
The new technology, known as the APL
Transhipment Management System or "ATMS", was developed
by APL's IT team in partnership with the PSA team
in Singapore terminals where millions of twenty-foot
equivalent units (TEU) of APL cargo are handled annually.
Using ATMS, a cargo-status message is
retrieved from various load ports and transmitted
to the EZShip system, which searches for the best
vessel fit and automatically updates all necessary
loading details.
Finally, a report is sent electronically
to APL. "Previously, the management of transhipment
cargo could be time-consuming as it was done using
a combination of our sophisticated e-commerce platform
and some manual interventions," said Brian Lutt, APL's
President for the Asia-Middle East region.
"ATMS allows us to make instant decisions
if, for example, cargo needs to be reallocated to
another vessel or service, which is particularly important
to manage cargo flow in today's tight-space environment."
With increasingly global sourcing, ATMS provides significant
benefits to APL's customers, who need a quick and
reliable route to market for their products.
The system enables APL to find space
for customers' cargo on an appropriate sailing faster
and more efficiently than ever before. In addition,
APL offices throughout Asia and the Middle East can
now directly monitor their cargo connections at Singapore.
ATMS integrates PSA's online automated
transhipment system, EZShip, with the APL mainframe.
This means APL has online, 24-hour access
to a complete breakdown of its transhipment cargo
at the port, and APL cargo controllers have up to
three extra days' lead time for managing relay cargo.
Security Bank
launches CheckRight automated checking account
SECURITY BANK CORP. recently introduced
its latest innovation, the CheckRight automated checking
account which is designed to streamline the manually
tedious check preparation and reconciliation process
so that companies can productively focus on building
their businesses.
An interest-bearing peso checking account,
CheckRight comes with a software package that allows
the system's user to enter check payments information
conveniently through a user-friendly computer interface
or by direct upload from the company's accounts payable
system.
CheckRight also allows companies to
prepare customized reports easily by exporting CheckRight
data directly into their accounting systems or to
other off-the-shelf computer applications.
CheckRight's on-line, real time automatic
reconciliation feature makes the tracking of checks
instantaneous and effortless through account statements
sent via e-mail or through the internet via Security
Digibanker, the Internet-based corporate banking system
of Security Bank Corporation.
Through Digibanker, companies can also
instantly move funds from their other Security Bank
accounts to fund the CheckRight account.
There is no limit to the number of users
a company can enroll, or the number of companies that
can be enrolled in one system installation. CheckRight
possesses adequate data and system security features
that protects it from unauthorized use and secures
a company's payment database through encrypted databases
and secure user IDs.
Companies can easily avail of CheckRight
as it makes use of commercially available technology
commonly found in business offices: a personal computer
with Pentium-class microprocessor, an inkjet or laser
printer and an Internet connection.
With a minimum opening balance of P50,000.00,
the customer receives a software package for check
payments automation and a product kit, which contains
a pad of 100 corporate check sheets along with vouchers
and acknowledgment receipts.
Clients in the shipping, transport and
logistics industry who want to avail of CheckRight
are encouraged to contact the nearest Security Bank
branch.
In the Malate area, the Security Bank
branch is located M. Adriatico cor. San Andres Sts.,
Malate, Manila with telephone numbers 522-1185 and
524-8112 and fax number 521-0745. Contact person is
Ms. Lizza Mauricio, Branch Manager.
ICTSI subsidiary rises
to the challenge of a New Europe
INTERNATIONAL Container Terminal Services,
Inc. (ICTSI) has laid extensive plans to cater to
the surge in container throughput anticipated at its
Baltic Container Terminal (BCT) in Gdynia, Poland
following Poland's formal accession to the European
Union on May 1, 2004.
"We are already seeing a significant
upturn in traffic this year," said Jan Mors, BCT executive
vice president, "and there is every indication that
this will continue to grow at a strong rate over the
course of the year and beyond."
This view is supported by both general
economic indicators and by Poland's Economy Minister,
Jerzy Hausner. Gross domestic product rose by an annual
rate of 6% in the first quarter of the year, up from
4.7% in the last three months of 2003.
Further, Minister Hausner, speaking
at the recent annual meeting of the European Bank
for Reconstruction and Development in London, indicated
that the Polish Government's target of 5% growth for
2004 was now well within reach. "Poland is already
back on the trajectory of high economic growth," he
said.
In 2003 BCT, the ICTSI subsidiary acquired
under a Polish Government privatization initiative
in May 2003, handled a total of 304,745 TEU, up 23%
over the previous year. This year, signs are that
another significant double figure increase in throughput
will be achieved.
To cater to long-term growth, ICTSI
plans to double container throughput at BCT to around
one million TEU with a total investment of US$100
million. Thomas E. Falknor, ICTSI Ltd. senior vice
president and BCT president, said,
"Last week we announced orders placed
for the first phase of the comprehensive equipment
acquisition program we are implementing at BCT. We
are also at an advanced stage with the deployment
of new state-of-the-art container terminal management
systems.
I can also now announce that we have
just agreed with the Port Authority of Gdynia on a
long-range infrastructure expansion program that will
include both additional quay and container yard area."
"In short," said Falknor, the senior
executive within ICTSI with overall responsibility
for BCT, "we are meeting the near-term requirements
of the marketplace, and have laid extensive plans
for the future with the one million TEU capacity mark
no longer a constraint to us as a result of the agreement
regarding new quay and yard areas recently concluded
with the Port of Gdynia Authority."
The first phase equipment acquisition
covers the purchase of a Panamax dimension ship-to-shore
quay crane from Kone for delivery in June 2005, four
one over five stacking rubber-tired gantries (RTG)
from Kalmar for delivery in August this year, and
eight terminal tractors for phased delivery up to
June 2005.
Additionally, an order has been placed
with Busicar for the supply of 11 40-foot terminal
trailers in two batches, one in June 2004 and another
in May 2005. In conjunction with the first phase of
the equipment acquisition program, BCT will be raising
eight of its RTGs from one over three to one over
five configuration.
This will further compliment the capacity
growth of the terminal.
EXPORT earnings for March 2004 went
up 7.1% to $3.35 billion from $3.129 billion during
the same period in 2003.
Receipts from merchandise exports for
January to March 2004 increased 6.3% to $9.192 billion
from $8.65 billion during the same month last year.
Electronic products, accounting for 67% of the aggregate
export revenue in March, registered an increment of
9.8% to $2.243 billion from $2.042 billion last year.
Among the major groups of electronic
products, components/devices (semicon-ductors) conquered
the groupings with a 47% share to total exports. After
recording a slump during the first two months of the
year, semiconductors grew 6.4% to $1.576 billion from
$1.481 billion during the same period a year earlier.
Articles of apparel and clothing accessories
remained as the country's second top earner with a
combined share of 5.4% and an aggregate receipt of
$179.04 million or 6.3% lower than $191.09 million
a year earlier.
Other products manufactured from materials
imported on consignment basis, ranked third with total
revenue of $60.65 million reflecting a 14.5% negative
growth from $70.93 million during the same period
of 2003. Total receipts for the top ten exports reached
$2.691 billion, or 80.3% of the total exports.
Accounting for 20.2% of the country's
aggregate income for the month, exports to Japan valued
at $678.03 million, accelerated 41.9% from last year's
reported figure of $477.88 million. The US followed
with a 16.8% share. Valued at $561.68 million, exports
to US went down 15.4% from $664.21 million.
The Netherlands emerged as the third
biggest market for the month as shipments of local
goods amounted to $391.85 million or 11.7% of the
total. Receipts picked up 56.1% from $250.98 million
compared with the same period in 2003. Hong Kong accounted
for 8.7% of the total receipts, with $290.17 million
reflecting a 5.8% increase from $274.24 million during
the same period last year.
Other top markets for March 2004 were:
Singapore, $214.02 million; Taiwan, $211.11 million;
Malaysia, $208.79 million; the People's Republic of
China, $176.78 million; Germany, $101.47 million;
and the Republic of Korea, $92.16 million.
THE Philippine Ports Authority (PPA)
said Davao ports are reporting higher collections
and greater investment inflows.
The Port Management Office of Davao
said it has generated higher-than-expected port revenue
collections last year. Davao port saw revenues of
P258.39 million, slightly higher than the revenue
goal of P257.47 million. Collections from wharfage
dues (P88.87 million) represented the bulk of revenues.
Other revenues were from dockage (P45.23
million), port dues (P41.55 million), and share of
arrastre/stevedoring income (P41.10 million). Meanwhile,
Sasa port also in Davao City is the recipient of multimillion
investments.
Two major projects are lined up for
the year: the construction of a reefer rack structure
and a transit shed. The P31.8-million reefer rack
structure will be able to hold 144 refrigerated containers.
At present, there are 60 existing operational
outlets in the port. Construction is expected to be
completed before end of the first semester. In addition
to fixed infrastructure, Sasa port is also the beneficiary
of additional port equipment. Filipinas Port Services,
Inc., one of the port's accredited cargo handling
operators, recently purchased a Kalmar Contchamp 45-tonner
reach stacker to keep pace with market expansion.
Earlier, the cargo handler purchased
a 42-tonner reach stacker.
