YANMAR Cruises Into Alaska with Power to Spare
YANMAR only recently arrived in the Pacific Northwest with its mechanical 6AYAM-ET diesel engine. It looks like they are here to stay. In November of last year, YANMAR America and its guests officially opened the YANMAR EVO//CENTER in Acworth, Ga. Situated on 50-plus acres of land in Cherokee County, the new 50,000 square foot facility features six state-of-the-art product training labs with classroom and hands-on space, three classrooms, multiple meeting rooms, office space, a 250-seat auditorium, and myriad other amenities and features. The event was probably the most recent, visible manifestation of YANMAR’s steady march into the North American markets.
Pakistani Ship breakers Lauds 15% Duty on Import
Welcoming the latest policy, Ship breakers in Pakistan defended the imposition of 15% Regulatory Duty (RD) on the import of all steel billets, steel bars and wire rods. Describing the step as much needed and timely, the Pakistan Ship-Breakers Association (PSBA) lauded the imposition of RD. "The Pakistan Ship breakers Association salutes the Government of Pakistan for this bold move which has helped save hundreds of thousands of jobs as well as the local steel industry," it said in a statement. The government’s decision has come as a response to lengthy lobbying on part of the steel industry, which was trying to secure its survival in the face of international competition.
Standoff Does not Impede Ukraine's Steel and Grain Flow
Steel and grain exports continue to flow from key global supplier Ukraine via Black Sea terminals with ports operating normal schedules, despite concerns raised by the tense political backdrop, officials and traders said on Tuesday. Ukraine exports grain, steel, coal, chemicals, fuel and petroleum products, machinery and transport equipment. Its ports have shipped some 22.7 million tonnes of various cargoes since the start of 2014, roughly equal to turnover by the same date a year ago. Political instability and violence had caused some traders in Ukraine, the world's third-biggest maize exporter, to hold back from agreeing new contracts, while Russian maize export prices have been rising for two weeks.
MOL to Scrap, Lay-up, Bulkers
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President: Koichi Muto) today announced plans for scrapping or cold lay-up of 10 to 20 Capesize bulkers in consideration of this fiscal year's worsening market trends. The company scrapped four vessels and temporarily laid up 10 others last year. Up to now, the company has scrapped Capesize ships that were past 23 years or older, but will now scrap ships that are 15 or older. MOL has plans to scrap five vessels by the end of March 2013 and is considering the disposal of others. In addition, based on the current Capesize market conditions, MOL believes that the cold lay-up of about 10 ships for six months to one year will help restore an appropriate vessel supply-demand balance in the future.
