Fortescue Named Second Tug Operator at Port Hedland
SYDNEY, May 30 (Reuters) - Australia's Fortescue Metals Group Ltd has won a tender to become the second provider of marine towage services at the port of Port Hedland, the world’s busiest export terminal for iron ore.
Fortescue, which ships 155 million tonnes of iron ore through the port, and is acquiring its own fleet of freighters, said a subsidiary, Pilbara Marine Pty, was granted a towage license by Pilbara Ports Authority, creating a second service provider and additional capacity at the port.
Fortescue was named on a shortlist in 2014 to win the licence, along with Maersk subsidiary Svitzer Australia.
The sole licence is held by the port's biggest user - BHP Billiton . A tender for the second operator was open in 2014 following pay dispute between Teekay Shipping, which operated the licence for BHP, before being replaced last year.
BHP could not be reached for immediate comment.
Port figures show more than 435 million tonnes of iron ore was shipped via Port Hedland last year, with almost 6,000 vessels moving in and out of port waters.
Fortescue said its licence will run for 15 years and is expected to come into effect in 2019.
Fortescue in 2014 announced plans to buy eight iron ore freighters from China for around $500 million, saying the carriers, each capable of carrying between 250,000 and 260,000 tonnes of iron ore, would improve loading efficiencies. (Reporting by James Regan; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)
(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016.Posted On:31-May-2016
Credits: gcaptain.com |
Seafarers aboard SCI ships go on a hunger strike
Over 200 Indian seafarers working aboard 15 ships owned and operated by Government of India owned, The Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) have gone on a hunger strike with immediate effect.
The agitating seafarers have also approached, India’s largest and oldest trade union, National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI) for an urgent intervention and pressing assistance.
Mr Abdulgani Serang, General Secretary cum Treasurer, NUSI, "Our trade union has assured full support to the agitating seafarers. Unfortunately, SCI has yet not implemented the latest National Maritime Board India agreement which was signed on April 2, 2016 in spite of our repeated advice and communication."
The latest National Maritime Board India agreement assures 30% increment in wages and payment of the past arrears to the Indian seafarers. This agreement was signed by NUSI and the Indian National Shipowners Association (INSA).
"All members of INSA have executed the clauses of National Maritime Board India’s latest agreement. However, SCI has not yet implemented the agreed clauses although being a member of INSA. The seafarers were assured that SCI will implement the revised wages and also the arrears after the SCI Board of Directors meeting held on 26th May, 2016. We regret to note that SCI deliberately did not discuss and formalize the revised wages and arrears payable to seafarers in their Board meeting. This has led to serious situation and seafarers have already started agitation on board the SCI ships namely M.V. Goa, M.T. Swarna Godavari, Col. S.P. Wahi, M.T. Desh Gaurav, SCI Urza, M.V. SCI Mukta, SCI Ratna, R.V. Samudra Kaustubh, M.T. Desh Suraksha, GTV Samudra Sarvekshak, SCI Johnson, etc," added Mr Serang.
The first National Maritime Board of India agreement was signed in 1957 and since then, both INSA and NUSI have been signing the revised agreements at regular intervals for protecting the financial rights of Indian seafarers.
Source: MarexMediaPosted On:31-May-2016
Credits: www.hellenicshippingnews.com |
