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The Times Of India News

11 Jul 2017

APM Terminals Mumbai Adds New Arabian Gulf/Mediterranean Direct Service

French based CMA-CGM, a member of the Ocean Alliance, began the new INDIAMED service to Mumbai with the arrival of the 5,009 TEU capacity CMA CGM Virginia at APM Terminals Mumbai. The service, linking South Asia with ports in the Arabian Gulf and Mediterranean, was officially introduced on July 2nd, operating with vessels provided by CMA-CGM, its APL subsidiary, and Chinese-based Alliance partner COSCO. The weekly INDIAMED service provides the fastest transit times between India and CMA CGM hub ports in the Mediterranean and Arabian Gulf, and expands the transshipment network through the MEGEM (East Mediterranean to/from Middle East destinations) and MEDEX (West Mediterranean to/from Middle East and Indian Sub-Continent) services.

14 Oct 2016

Maersk Bullish on India

BRICS bloc export-import (exim) containerised trade with the world registered a growth of 5.8 per cent in the first half of 2016 as against de-growth of 2.2 per cent in the same period last year  was "led by India", reports Times of India quoting Maersk Line sources. Volumes should improve as GDP for BRICS is expected to increase to 5.7 per cent in 2017, an improvement over the previous forecast of 5.3 per cent. "China is expected to grow more than 6 per cent in 2017, India at 8 per cent, Brazil at more than 0.5 pr cent and Russia at above 1 per cent," it said in a release here. Meanwhile, the world's largest container shipping company…

24 Aug 2016

APL Strengthens Asia-Europe Service Network

APL today announced the launch of a new weekly service - the India Pakistan Europe (IPE) Service, directly connecting the key South Asian markets of India and Pakistan to major ports in Europe. The new IPE service builds on APL’s strong market presence and local expertise in India and Pakistan to enhance its Asia-Europe service offerings. “Europe is a premier trading partner and a major export market of South Asian countries. It is opportune that we expand our service coverage in Asia-Europe through the new IPE service, directly linking the major economies of India and Pakistan to Europe. As APL offers market connectivity, our priorities are also to provide reliable and timely cargo shipments across all regions,” said Eric Eng, APL Head of Asia Europe Trade.

19 Jul 2016

CMA CGM Adds Weekly India Port Calls

CMA CGM Group announced the launch of two new weekly services, EPIC 1 and EPIC 2, between the Arab Gulf, Pakistan, North West India and North Europe. The current Epic service will make room for the two new weekly services. EPIC 1 offering a direct connection between North Europe and Pakistan – North West India. • EPIC 2 offering a direct connection beetween North Europe and United Arab Emirates, Pakistan and North West India. The ship operators on both services allow CMA CGM to increase its departure frequency between the Indian subcontinent and North Europe, and enrich its ports coverage. In India with the addition of a weekly call in HAZIRA. In the United Kingdom with three weekly calls ( Southampton and Felixstowe on EPIC 1, London Gateway on EPIC 2).

21 Apr 2016

Indian Navy Plane Thwarts Pirate Attack

The Indian Navy, with the help of its long-range anti-submarine warfare aircraft, has thwarted a "piracy" attempt in the Western Arabian Sea, 800 nautical miles off Mumbai, targeted at a merchant vessel. According to a report in the Times of India, the P-8I, based at the naval air station INS Rajali at Arakkonam in Tamil Nadu, was on a routine surveillance mission over the Arabian Sea when it received distress calls from the merchant vessel, the Malta-flagged MV Sezai Selah, on the international Channel 16 distress radio on April 15. "The pirate mother ship and the two high-speed skiffs had come quite close to the merchant vessel. The…

11 Apr 2016

Cargo Traffic at India's State-run Ports Records growth

India’s major ports controlled by the union government recorded a 4.3% year-over-year increase in container throughput in fiscal year ended March 31, 2016, says a report in the Times of India. The irony is that while ports handled by the private sector witnessed a slowdown in shipments, the government-owned major ports saw an increase in their share of cargo traffic for the first time in seven years! According to the Data, the 12 major ports witnessed a 4.3% rise in cargo traffic, estimated at 606 million tonnes. The private sector players, which have an over 40% share, saw an under 1% rise. India's 32 prominent ports handled 1,080 million tonnes of cargo in 2015-16…

25 Aug 2015

India to Focus on Coastal Shipping

The Indian ministry of shipping unveiled its vision document for Coastal Shipping, Tourism and Regional Development on Monday at Dona Paula, Goa at the 16th meeting of Maritime States Development Council (MSDC), reports Times of India. The government will encourage Indian ship owners and operators to acquire roll-on-roll-off vessels, passenger ferries, car and truck ferries and cargo carriers. This is one of the key points that the central ministry of shipping has mentioned in its vision document for coastal shipping, tourism and regional development. The document that seeks to ensure that the maritime sector contributes to the country's GDP was released by union minister of shipping, road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari, who also chaired the meeting.

21 Jul 2015

China Far Ahead of India in Submarine Race

Global military reported that recently a Chinese “Yuan” class conventional submarines docked news in Pakistan, once again hurt the Indian Navy submarine fleet. The Hindustan Times said terms of size, the Chinese Navy submarine force is four times that of India, and in recent years the Chinese submarine upgrading, performance is more old-fashioned non-Indian Navy submarine cannot match. India now plans to lease a second nuclear attack submarine from Russia and the government has just approved a Rs 90,000-crore ($14 billion) plan to build six nuclear attack submarines in Vishakapatnam says a report in Times of India. India is rushing to counter China by building conventional and nuclear submarines with German, French and Russian help.

09 Jul 2015

India to Lease New Nuclear Submarine from Russia

India is in final talks with Russia to lease a new nuclear attack submarine, giving a much needed boost to its depleting underwater fleet, the Times of India reported. A decision, according to Indian analysts, will be taken during a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin at the BRICS summit in Ufa. The Modi-led government is looking to lease a newly built, customized submarine, unlike in the past when older vessels were refurbished and handed over to India. India has the 'Chakra 2' Akula class nuclear submarine in service that is considered to be one of the deadliest non-US attack boats in the world. This submarine - a refurbished Soviet era boat - has been taken on a 10-year lease from Russia in 2012.

10 May 2015

US Pulls Sri Lanka out of China Maritime Net

US has begun to wean Sri Lanka away from China’s maritime security net by incorporating Sri Lanka into their Indo-Pacific region maritime security program, says the Times of India. The US State Department said last Tuesday that United States will collaborate with Sri Lanka to act against the attempts of claiming land or maritime regions through intimidation or use of force. This would respond to the intimidation caused by China towards the controversial islands on the South China Sea. “The United States and Sri Lanka are working together to oppose intimidation or the use of force to assert territorial or maritime claims,” the US State Department’s Deputy Spokesman, Jeff Rathke, said in Washington.

29 Mar 2015

India May Add Japanese Soryu-Class Submarines to its Fleet

India is reportedly considering a project to incorporate six Japanese Soryu-class diesel-electric submarines into its fleet, says The Japan Times. The Defense Minister of India Manohar Parrikar has expressed his readiness to consider acquiring Soryu-class diesel-electric submarines used by the Maritime Self-Defense Force. The reports in Indian media say it is not a purchasing plan. The proposal was sent asking the Japanese Government to 'consider the possibility' of building the six stealth submarines in India. This is what Parrikar said: “We are very much interested in Japan’s technologies.” But it is not clear if India would want to buy.

18 Feb 2015

India's $8 Billion Warships Project on Track

India's government has cleared a $8 billion plan to build the country's most advanced warships, defence sources said, just months after ordering new submarines to close the gap with the Chinese navy in the Indian Ocean. Since taking over last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has signalled his resolve to build a strong military after years of neglect that military planners say has left India unable to fight a two-front war against China and Pakistan. India's navy has been rattled in recent months after Chinese submarines docked in Sri Lanka, just off its southern coast, underlining the growing reach of the Chinese navy after years of staying closer to its shores.

09 Feb 2015

India to Raise $2B in Foreign Funding for Ports

The Mumbai cargo terminal (Photo courtesy of the Mumbai Port Trust)

The Indian government is planning on raising $2B in overseas funding for major port expansion, the Economic Times of India reported today. The funding will also be used to construct rail and road projects to connect the ports to the country's interior. Indian officials told the Times that the proposal is soon to be finalized, and funds will be used to invest in 12 major ports. Officials also added that the plan will require approval from the Finance Ministry and the Reserve Bank of India.

29 Jan 2015

India Seeks Submarine Cooperation with Japan

The government of India has put forward a proposal of over Rs 50,000 crore ($6 billion) project to construct six stealth submarines in India. India is especially interested in acquiring the latest diesel- electric Soryu –class submarines, according to a report in the Times of India. The 4,200 tonne Soryu submarines, jointly manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, may not meet the Indian requirements but it may become a serious contender for the program called Project-75 India if Japan agrees to bid in the project. India is looking to manufacture these submarines in India under the newly launched ‘Make in India’ program.

19 Dec 2013

Private Maritime Security Ship & Crew Still Detained in India

Photo credit owners

The Madurai bench of Madras high court has dismissed the bail plea of the 35-member crew of the US-based anti-piracy ship 'M V Seaman Guard Ohio', which has been detaind by Tamu Nadu police since the vessel was arrested in October 2013, reports 'The Times of India'. Captain Dudinik Valentyn and 34 others were booked under the 'Arms Act' and the 'Essential Commodities Act' and were also accused of illegal purchase of diesel from local agents. At the [High Court] hearing the bench passed orders dismissing the bail application after accepting the contentions of the government side.

28 Oct 2013

Indian Navy's New Warship Runs Aground

INS Kamorta: Photo credit Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers

The 'INS Kamorta', the first in a class of Indian Navy's ambitious Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Corvettes, under construction at the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) shipyard ran aground on in the River Hooghly near Geonkhali in East Midnapore, while on sea trials, reports 'The Times of India'. Citing Navy officers, the newspaper reports that as the ship was negotiating the bends and bars of the Hooghly, its engines seem to have failed. Its steering gear also got jammed and it moved away from the navigation channel and got grounded near the shore at Geonkhali.

15 Oct 2013

Detained Security Mothership Probed by Indian Government

'MV Seaman Guard Ohio': Photo courtesy of Owners, AdvanFort

Taking a serious view of the suspicious movement of the American-owned ship, 'MV Seaman Guard Ohio' in Indian waters, the Central Indian Government seeks a report from the Tamil Nadu Government on the vessel which was detained for carrying arms and buying diesel fuel without authorization in India, reports 'The Times of India'. The home ministry conveyed to the Tamil Nadu Government and other agencies involved in probing the case to find out details of the ship, the crew members and its armed guards and also its purpose of cruising in Indian territorial waters.

16 Aug 2013

Divers Try in Vain to Enter Stricken Indian Submarine

INS Sindhurakshak: Photo credit CCL Brian Burnell

Indian Navy personnel tried all through Thursday, in vain, to enter 'INS Sindhurakshak', the submarine which sank with 18 crew in three metres of water at the Colaba naval dock after a series of blasts nearly 48 hours ago, reports 'The Times of India'. A large amount of muddy seawater had entered the diesel-powered Kilo class submarine, hampering visibility, and the heat of the explosion had melted parts of the 16-year-old vessel's internal hull, deforming its hatches and preventing access to compartments reports 'The Times of India' citing India Navy sources.

13 Aug 2013

Indian Navy Submarine Explodes, Catches Fire

INS Sindhurakshak: Photo in the public domain

A loud explosion accompanied by a fire rocked Indian Navy submarine 'INS Sindhurakshak' docked at the high security naval dockyard in Mumbai early on Wednesday (14-08-2013) reports The Times of India, citing government officials. Many sailors on board the submarine reportedly jumped off to safety, but an official defence ministry statement added that there was a likelihood of some personnel being trapped inside. The Times of India reports that at least 6 fire tenders of Mumbai Fire Brigade and Mumbai Port Trust were rushed to assist the naval fire brigade to douse the conflagration…

10 Jun 2013

Indian Board to Review Offshore Vessel Deal

The Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Board is expected to take up a proposal to place orders with the Netherland's IHC Offshore & Marine BV for a well stimulation vessel for about $244 million against the company's budget estimate of $150 million. The reservations over the contract stem from the fact that IHC Offshore & Marine was the only bidder that was technically qualified and it quoted a price of $254 million for the vessel, or nearly 70% higher than ONGC's estimate, reports 'The Times of India'. Sources indicated to the newspaper that the proposal may not find an easy passage in the board, with a section of the management holding the opinion that the contract should be retendered to avoid vigilance complaints. Source: The Times of India

01 Apr 2013

Prosperous Times For India's Ship Breakers

The continuing slump in global shipping is translating into brisk business for scrap yards at Gujarat's coastal town of Alang in India. Alang, which receives one out of every two ships destined for breaking, has retained the top slot amid stiff competition from Pakistan, Bangladesh and China, reports TNN. With freight rates dropping 98% in less than six months of the peak shipping period, Alang is expected to surpass the 435 ships demolished in 2011-12. Doehle Danautic India (DDI), the largest managers of ship breakers in India, who handled 131 of the 435 vessels that were scrapped in India in FY 2012, expect that the demolition business will peak this year and continue to be good until 2015. Source: TNN

10 May 2012

Ex-'Exxon Valdez' Refused Entry by India

Exxon Valdez Aground: Photo credit NOAA US Govt.

The ship, now known as the "Oriental Nicety," entered Indian waters last week and was headed for Gujarat, when the Supreme Court gave its order, according to a news report in 'The Times of India'. The ship was bought recently by the Hong Kong-based subsidiary of an Indian shipbreaking firm and was being taken to the coastal town of Alang, the hub of India's shipbreaking industry, for dismantling. After the court's order, Gujarat maritime authorities and the state's pollution control authorities withdrew the permission they had granted to the company to anchor the ship near the Alang beach.

15 Oct 2012

Asia's Biggest Shipbreakers Keep Doors Shut

Alang ship-breakers decide to keep their facilities shut in protest against the arrest of shipbreakers arrested for culpable homicide. Three ship-breakers were booked for culpable homicide after six labourers were killed in a fire on an oil tanker on October 6. Those arrested included the owners of Kiran Ship Breaking Company Ram Krishna Jain and Vipin Jain along with the manager Rajesh Jugud, reports 'The Times of India'. It was the first time that ship-breakers have been booked and arrested under these charges. If convicted, they face a minimum of three years jail and a maximum life imprisonment. Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) has sealed off the site of the tragic ship dismantling blaze as their investigation continues. Source: The Times of India