THE Maritime Industry Authority (Marina)
recently released new guidelines on the carriage of dangerous
cargoes in the domestic trade, putting more responsibility
on the master of the vessel and its owner in cases of accidents.
The new ruling takes effect early next month.
In the new Rules Governing the Carriage of Dangerous and/or
Hazardous Cargoes or Goods in Packaged Form for Ships Plying
Domestic Trade, Marina said that in the event of a ship abandoned
due to an incident/accident involving dangerous cargoes, or
a report from such a ship being incomplete or unobtainable,
the company, to the fullest extent possible, assumes the obligations
placed under the master by this regulation.
Dangerous cargo is defined as goods or merchandise in the
form of solids, gases, or liquids, which exhibit dangerous
properties and are taken on board a ship.
Failure to produce proper documentation will mean a fine of
P25,000 for the first offense to P100,000 and cancellation
of licenses and other safety certificates for the third offense.
With the new order, the special permit for the carriage of
dangerous cargo in packaged form or the type of special containment
specified for harmful substances shall no longer be issued.
Dangerous cargo manifest
The transportation of dangerous items will now be covered
by the dangerous cargo manifest, which will then be reflected
on the Master of Oath of Safe Voyage document of the vessel
captains.
The cargo should have a stowage plan and a copy of the plan
should be brought on board a vessel for the crew, and should
then be given to the stevedore at the port of discharge.
These documents shall be retained by the owners, charterers,
or agents of ships transporting or storing dangerous cargoes
for at least one year in case the government requires it.
“The Master shall ensure that all dangerous cargoes
carried on board are protected from any unauthorized access
and that such spaces where these cargoes are carried are properly
marked,” the new circular said.
All shipping companies, operators, charterers and personnel
involved are given six months from the effectivity of the
cir-cular to undergo training in hand-ling, carriage and stowage
of dangerous goods.
The ruling follows guidelines of the International Maritime
Dangerous Goods Code, especially on packaging and stowage
requirements, labeling, segregation, and the carriage of explosives.
No freight rate increase for now,
local carriers say
LOCAL shipping lines have decided to hold
off any increase in freight rates to cushion the impact on
shippers of an impending hike in trucking rates next month.
The Integrated North Harbor Truckers Association, WGA Truckers
Association, and Allied Trucking Group Philippines —
collectively known as North Harbor Trucking Association —
are jacking up their rates by 16% starting February 14, citing
as reason the rise in pump prices and spare parts. When implemented,
the rate to move a standard 20-footer within a 40-km radius
from Manila will be P5,917.77 from P5,100.
An official of the Philippine Liners and Shippers Association
(PLSA) said if there is any adjustment it would be related
to the bunker surcharge to cover rising fuel costs.
He added this is better because PLSA members can just easily
roll back the surcharge if fuel prices ease.
“We’ll have the trucking rates implemented first.
Let us see what will happen from there,” the source
said. “But as of the moment, we will continue to maintain
our regular freight rates in order not to burden shippers
too much,” the source said.
“Fuel cost has been one of the significant charges in
our operational cost, but we cannot just increase (freight)
rates because of the social impact,” he explained
Fuel costs currently eat up 30-35% of operational costs from
25% two years ago.
PLSA members twice increased last year the bunker surcharge
— by 12.62% in September and by 14.29% in December.
Freight rates, on the other hand, have not moved in months
despite the spiraling fuel cost.
AFTER growing 10% last year, the trucking
industry is betting on a 30% growth this year despite the
volatility of fuel prices.
The Confederation of Truckers Association of the Philippines
(CTAP) and the North Harbor Truckers said the expected influx
of cargoes is making them very bullish about their business.
“The trucking industry is getting rosy. We have increased
our growth projections aggressively this year as we expect
more and more cargoes to pass through our ports,” CTAP
president Col. Rodolfo De Ocampo told PortCalls.
The North Harbor truckers said they are also bullish this
year largely because of the active mining and construction
businesses.
They said they expect the domestic market to remain resilient
with increased loads for almost all domestic vessels.
In the first semester of 2006, domestic vessels were only
70-80% full but the percentage swelled to 95% by the second
half of 2007.
“We expect such performance to be even better this year.
Hopefully we will be able to fully recover from the slow business
of the past couple of years,” the group, whose members
include the Allied Transport Group (ATG), the Integrated North
Harbor Truckers Association and the WGA Truckers, said.
According to ATG, if fuel prices stabilize, truckers will
be able to register a bigger growth this year compared to
the last three years when they saw a negative revenue and
volume picture.
The price of diesel, the most commonly used fuel by trucks,
increased almost 15% in the last few months from P32 per liter.
LGC Logistics’ container depot in
Laguna open for business
LGC Logistics has formally launched its first container yard/container
freight station for Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA)
locators in the Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon
(Calabarzon) areas.
Located in Carmelray Techno Park in Laguna, LGC Logistics
offers complete logistics services, including stripping/deconsolidation,
consolidation, delivery to end-user, inventory management
system, and a domestic freight system.
In an interview at the sidelines of the launch, LGC chairman
Alberto Lina told PortCalls the facility offers cargo clearance
even on Saturdays and Sundays, reducing waiting time for shippers
and translating to savings of 20% for them.
“In logistics, what is important is how fast you deliver
the goods to the company. With the facility, we will be able
to transfer under guard consolidation consigned to LGC from
the port area to the facility two days earlier compared to
the existing five days — or two days’ transit
time and one-day cargo releasing,” Lina explained.
“It will also answer the clamor of shippers for lower
logistics cost to cushion the effects of the strong appreciation
of the Philippine peso,” he said further.
“Initially, the facility will cater to the needs of
PEZA-registered companies in the Calabarzon area but will
eventually be marketed to non-locators,” Lina said.
PEZA director general Lilia de Lima lauded the operation of
the container depot, noting the facility addresses shipper
requirements for cost reduction and timely delivery. It also
complements PEZA projects such as the electronic import permit
system.
“PEZA supports projects that will reduce cost and this
facility… is one major step to reducing further the
cost of doing business in the country,” De Lima said.
Located 59 kilometers (km) from the Manila International Container
Port, 64 km from North Harbor and an average 15 km from neighboring
ecozones, the container depot features a warehouse floor area
occupying 6,000 square meters.
It has a dock leveler that provides easy access to palletized
items with the use of forklifts or hand palletes adjustable
to any height; a scissor lift that provides 100% zero-degree
plane transfer of items from containers or trucks to the warehouse
floor; a built-in ramp; and 24/7 security guards plus eight
units of strategically located closed-circuit television surveillance
cameras.
The facility also has a 500-square meter cold storage area.
LGC Logistics has formally launched its first container yard/container
freight station for Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA)
locators in the Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon
(Calabarzon) areas.
Located in Carmelray Techno Park in Laguna, LGC Logistics
offers complete logistics services, including stripping/deconsolidation,
consolidation, delivery to end-user, inventory management
system, and a domestic freight system.
In an interview at the sidelines of the launch, LGC chairman
Alberto Lina told PortCalls the facility offers cargo clearance
even on Saturdays and Sundays, reducing waiting time for shippers
and translating to savings of 20% for them.
“In logistics, what is important is how fast you deliver
the goods to the company. With the facility, we will be able
to transfer under guard consolidation consigned to LGC from
the port area to the facility two days earlier compared to
the existing five days — or two days’ transit
time and one-day cargo releasing,” Lina explained.
“It will also answer the clamor of shippers for lower
logistics cost to cushion the effects of the strong appreciation
of the Philippine peso,” he said further.
“Initially, the facility will cater to the needs of
PEZA-registered companies in the Calabarzon area but will
eventually be marketed to non-locators,” Lina said.
PEZA director general Lilia de Lima lauded the operation of
the container depot, noting the facility addresses shipper
requirements for cost reduction and timely delivery. It also
complements PEZA projects such as the electronic import permit
system.
“PEZA supports projects that will reduce cost and this
facility… is one major step to reducing further the
cost of doing business in the country,” De Lima said.
Located 59 kilometers (km) from the Manila International Container
Port, 64 km from North Harbor and an average 15 km from neighboring
ecozones, the container depot features a warehouse floor area
occupying 6,000 square meters.
It has a dock leveler that provides easy access to palletized
items with the use of forklifts or hand palletes adjustable
to any height; a scissor lift that provides 100% zero-degree
plane transfer of items from containers or trucks to the warehouse
floor; a built-in ramp; and 24/7 security guards plus eight
units of strategically located closed-circuit television surveillance
cameras.
The facility also has a 500-square meter cold storage area.
Synergy in action: Transmodal recently inked
an agreement to create a joint venture with Manquist Holdings
Pte Ltd, Jang Holdings, Inc, and Nayak Aviation Pte Ltd.
At the signing were, seated (L to R), Ronald Siong Kiat
of Manquist Holdings Pte Ltd., Capt. Jae Jang of Jang Holdings,
Inc, and Irene Manguiat-Tan of the TMI Group of Companies.
Standing (L to R): Efren Caboteja of Jang Holdings, Inc.,
Atty. Jean Paulo Primavera of TMI Group of Companies, Arvind
Madhav Nayak of Nayak Aviation Pte Ltd, and Barbie Rivadeneira
of Pacific Concord Container Lines
