Ships & Ports Newspaper for January 11, 2023

1. Vol. 17 No. 1657 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2023
SHIPS PORTS
D A I L Y
...the voice of the maritime industry
Five
Five
prominent
prominent
maritime
maritime
industry
industry
deaths in
deaths in
2022
2022
Five
prominent
maritime
industry
deaths in
2022
Iheanacho
seeks policies
to favour
Nigerian
maritime
operators
Shanghai
Shanghai
retains
retains
world's top
world's top
container
container
port crown
port crown
Shanghai
retains
world's top
container
port crown
Importer in
trouble for
offering
NDLEA N8m
bribe at
Tin Can port
Nigeria's trade surplus
rises to $11.58bn
The Central Bank of
N i g e r i a ( C B N ) i n i t s
Economic Report for October
2022 released last week
showed that export receipts
rose year-on-year by 14
percent to $54.21 billion in
duringtheperiod.
In the report, CBN noted
that Nigeria's trade surplus
fell month-on-month by 93.7
percent to $50 million in
October 2022 from $750
million in September 2022
2022 from $47.46 billion in
the corresponding period of
2021.
The report also showed
that merchandise imports
rose by 1.47 percent to $42.61
billion from $41.99 billion
i g e r i a ' s t r a d e
Nsurplus rose year-
on-year by 69 percent to
$11.58 billion in the first ten
months of 2022 from $6.85
billion in the corresponding
periodof 2021.
September.
“Available data shows a
decline of 93.7 per cent in
trade surplus to $0.05 billion,
from $0.75 billion in the
preceding period. Aggregate
amidsthigherimportbills.
According to CBN,
import increased by 34.9 per
cent to $4.64 billion driven by
the rise in the import of
petroleum products to $1.24
billion from $120 million in
WINNER
BEST
MARITIME
MEDIA
AWARD
INSIDE
CONTINUES ON PAGE 3
Page
4
Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo (right) and the Deputy Governor of
PlateauState,Prof.SonniTyoden,whentheMinisterledapresidentialcommitteeforthe
verificationoffederalroadsrepairedbyPlateauStateGovernment,inJoslastweek.
Secretary-General, International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Kitack Lim (4th
right) receives the Secretary of State, Ministry of Infrastructure of Poland, Marek
Gróbarczyk (5th right) and his teamattheIMO secretariatin London, recently.
Former General Manager Public Affairs of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Chief
Christopher Abiodun Borha and his wife during his 70th birthday celebration in
Lagos recently.More pictureson pages 6 and 7.
L-R: Government Relations Manager of APM Terminals Apapa, Kayode Daniel;
Assistant General Manager Health, Safety and Environment (HSE), Nigerian Ports
Authority (NPA), Engr. Ezunagu Linus; HSE Business Partner, APM Terminals
Apapa, Ehiz Idiagi and Chief Port Safety Officer, Lagos Port Complex Apapa, Engr.
Apata Olusegun Joseph during the presentation of HSE Platinum Merit Award to
APM TerminalsApapa recently.

2. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2023
Exit of an
Icon
Our hearts are with the family of Otunba Olakunle Folarin at this me
on the demise of their patriarch. Otunba Folarin lived a long and
fulfilled life and now lives on in the hearts of those who loved him and
were touched by him. May his soul rest in peace. Amen.
Funeral arrangements are as announced by the family.
Management, Ships & Ports
Otunba Olakunle Folarin
Chairman, Nigerian Ports Consultative Council
Aged
81
81
Years

3. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2023
exception of 2021 when there was a marginal increase of just
about 20 vessels, the orderbook has been shrinking for the
last four years, bringing the orderbook to fleet ratio to about
4.2%, while the overaged fleet of vessels over 20years old
representsabout9% (>20,000dwt) ofthefleet.
The dry bulk prospects are tighter. On the one hand,
thereis persistinginflation,highinterestratesandarecession
looming over our heads, but on the other hand, China is
coming back on growth track. The United Nations is – with
the Black Sea Grain Initiative – trying to resist unnecessary
export restrictions in order to stabilise spiraling food prices
and save some of the damage done from the cascading effects
of the war in Ukraine. On the other-other hand (the dry bulk
Container shipping lines' humongous pro its
he world's biggest container lines are on course to
Tpost profits in 2022 that will top last year's record by
73%, according to a new forecast, buoyed by logistics and labor
strains that are squeezing capacity amid sustained US demand
for imports.
Net income last year will likely reach $256 billion based
on the 11 carriers. That represents an increase of $36 billion
from prior estimates and roughly equivalent to the more than
halfthegross domesticproductof Nigeria.
The profit increases are being driven by continuing
increases in the rates in contracts that cover the large majority
ofloadsactuallymovingon ships.
Two years of economic disruptions have transformed an
industry that carries about 80% of global merchandise trade
from a perennial money loser into one of the pandemic's most
surprising financial successes. Some are investing the cash
influx in new ships with cleaner-burning engines and more
digitallinkstoland-basedcomputernetworks.
The turn of fortunes, however, is fuelling critics beyond
the customers of ocean freight as inflation grips economies
fromAustralia to Germany and politicians look for scapegoats.
Some governments are increasing their scrutiny of shipping
companies' profits in defence of logistics workers whose
livelihoodsaren'tseeingasimilarlift.
In the UK, dockworkers at the country's busiest container
port are upset about wage gains that inflation is outpacing, so
they'rethreateningtostrikelaterthismonth.
On the West Coast of the US, longshoremen union leaders
kicked off ongoing contract talks in May by blaming foreign-
owned, billion-dollar shipping companies that gouged
American businesses by charging them 10 times the usual
shippingratesandhavecontributedtowardtheriseininflation.
As economies around the world slow in the third year of
the pandemic and with Russia's war in Ukraine worsening
shipping snarls, the rising tide of profits was expected to recede
for container carriers. But they're proving more resilient than
they have in recent history, where they've fallen victim to
boom-and-bustcycles.
Copenhagen-based A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S said it
expects record profit of $31 billion in 2022. Hapag-Lloyd AG,
ranked fifth, announced an improvement so strong that it now
rivalsVolkswagenAG asGermany's mostprofitablecompany.
The windfall comes despite an almost 30% decline in spot
shipping rates since January 2022. That's because only 10% of
ocean freight travels under spot-market terms — the rest moves
based on contracts between carrier and cargo shipper that spell
outratesandvolumesfor ayearormore.
Overall container-shipping pricing in the second quarter
was 2.84 times higher than levels measured two years earlier.
Average spot rates were 4.72 times higher, while contract rates
areup2.13 times.
The financial results published by the shipping lines show
the impact of customers protecting their supply chains by
negotiating long-term contracts,” according to a report
published by UK-based ContainerTrade Statistics. “The fear of
congestion in the supply chain has meant that corporates have
chosentoplaysaferatherthanriskaspot market.”
The container industry, where nine of the largest
companies are concentrated into three alliances that share
capacity on vessels, has also seen more pressure from
governments for charging soaring rates while performing a
servicewhereon-timedeliveryishoveringat40%.
In July, France's National Assembly narrowly rejected a
tax on windfall profits targeting energy and transport
companies. Before the vote, Marseille-based CMA CGM SA
— the world's third-biggest container line — raised a rebate to
750 euros ($765) from 500 euros for shipments to France from
Asia and added a discount on exports amid government
pressure tocurbinflationonhouseholdgoods.
In the US, President Joe Biden has blasted the container
carriers — the largest of which are based inAsia and Europe. In
June 2022, he signed the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, a law
passed with bipartisan support that directs the Federal
Maritime Commission to prevent carriers from unreasonably
refusing to fill open cargo space with US exports and
investigatelatefeeschargedbythecontainerlines.
The International Federation of Freight Forwarders
Associations, a Geneva-based organisation that represents
40,000 logistics firms, said the concern isn't only about container
ratesbutalsowhetherthemarketfunctionsfreeofdistortions.
The price shocks to shippers, consumers and supply-chain
intermediaries hinder recovery from the pandemic and other
economicshocks intherecentpast.
All affected jurisdictions globally should pay close
attention through their competition authorities to ensure the
market is not distorted, and put in place a mechanism to
intervene quickly to protect shippers and consumers
worldwide.
Factors that will shape shipping in 2023
ship supply side), the world fleet has increased by about 350
vessels year-on-year corresponding to a growth of about
2.8% while over the previous years it was about 3.1% (2021),
3.0% (2020) and 3.1% the year before that (2019). We hope
that this relatively small fleet expansion will provide a
resistancelevelforthefreightratesin2023.
The current dry bulk
orderbook, although has
expanded a bit as there has been
some order replenishment,
remains at about 7% of the world
fleet.
It is also notable that there
are now more than 500 vessels
over 25 years old in the global
fleet, and all the bulk carriers
older than 20 years represent
close to 12% of the world dry bulk
fleet. It was 10% last year and
9.5% theyearbefore.
In China, because of the
recent relaxation of COVID-19
restrictions, the surge in
infections is resulting in a
slowdown in activity across the
country but it is also resulting in
port congestions due to the
impaired workforce (agents,
pilots, stevedores, authorities
and other services) hit by the
illness.
So for the New Year,
shipping will be shaped by new tanker ton-miles, inflation,
high-interest rates, recession, the war in Ukraine, oil
sanctions, Energy Efficiency eXisting ship Index (EEXI)
Compliance, slow steaming and China's return to
consumptionandgrowth.
It certainly promises to be an exciting year. Welcome
2023!
The year 2023 has begun with most experts
expecting a mixed bag for the various shipping
segments. The United Nations Conference on Trade and
Development (UNCTAD) published a Global Trade
Update on December 13, 2022 highlighting that global
trade would hit a record $32 billion for 2022 despite the
w a r i n U k r a i n e a n d t h e
continuation of pandemic-related
lockdowns inChina.
However, as geopolitical
tensions, high energy prices and
sustained inflation persist, the
slowdown that began in the middle
of 2022 is likely to constrain
global trade in 2023. Enter China,
which for the past few weeks has
been scrapping the restrictions,
quarantines and other measures of
its very strict COVID-19 policy.
China's top leaders have signaled
shiftingtheirfocus backtogrowth.
In 2023, tankers are likely to
perform well, while we should
expect Russian oil product exports
to surge before the 5th of February
starting date of sanctions on ITS
petroleum products. It will be
interesting to see the new ton-
miles, for example how the
volumes moved from the Primorsk
toARAtradewillbereplaced.
On the back of a great market,
the tanker fleet grew by about 150 vessels or 2.5%, with
almost half being Aframax/LR2 size while about 50 were
MR tankers and about 35 Suezmaxes and VLCCs each. In
theLR1/Panamaxsector, thefleetcontractedby two vessels.
It is notable that the orderbook for tankers is smaller
today than it was at the beginning of 2022. In fact, with the
Vol. 17 No. 1657 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2023
SHIPS PORTS
D A I L Y
...the voice of the maritime industry
PUBLISHER/
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Bolaji Akinola, PhD
CONTRIBUTORS
Jite Eriabie
Oluwatoyin Amao
Enyeribe Anyanwu
WEB MASTER
Muyiwa Sonuyi
ADMINISTRATION
Oluwatosin Rotimi
Folasade Adedokun
Aminat Abdulkareem
DESIGN/GRAPHICS
Oluwaseun Mosaku
ADVERTISING/SALES
info@shipsandports.com.ng
©Ships & Ports Communication Company 2023

4. “A similar attempt to
ship 11.5kgs of the same
substance to the United
Kingdom was frustrated
when the consignment
concealed in a giant wooden
sculpture was intercepted by
NDLEA operatives of the
Directorate of Operations and
General Investigations
(DOGI) at a courier company
in Lagos. Curiously, the latter
emanated from Ghana with
Londonasdestination.
“ A t o t a l o f 3 , 6 7 2
kilograms of cannabis sativa
were recovered from two
locations and five suspects
arrested in Kaduna during
separateraidoperations.
“ A r r e s t e d a t a
warehouse at Rido village on
Wednesday 3rd January
include: Edward Emmanuel,
28; and Miracle Madu, with
298 bags of C/S weighing
3,576kgs.
“Investigations revealed
that the consignment was
moved from a southern state
to Kaduna in a petroleum
productbearingtruck.
“ A l s o , t w o o t h e r
suspects: Sunday Bassey, 29
and Jessica Daniel, 14, were
nabbed with 96kgs of same
substance at Gonin Gora area
of the state, while Sanusi
Isah, 30, was arrested on
Saturday 7th January at Giwa
area with over 12,000 tablets
of Tramadol 225mg and
Diazepam.
“In Kano, NDLEA
operatives on Saturday 7th
Jan. intercepted Kabiru
Abdulhamid, 40, with 119
blocks of cannabis sativa
weighing 73kgs at Semugu
area.
“A total of 28,400
tablets of tramadol and over
230kgs of cannabis were
seized in raid operations in
Festac town and Lagos Island
areasofLagosstate.
“Some of the suspects
arrested in the Lagos raids
i n c l u d e : R u k a y y a t
Eshinlokun; Pelumi Alejo
and Banna Maina who
specialises in distribution of
illicit drugs disguised as a
dispatchrider.
“In Imo State, a suspect,
Amechi Moses was arrested
in a follow up operation on
Friday 6th January following
the interception of 29, 800
tablets of tramadol 225mg in
a commercial bus along
Owerri – Onitsha road going
to Aba in Abia state,” the
NDLEAspokesmansaid.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2023
ImporterintroubleforofferingNDLEAN8mbribeatTinCanport
in an account for the
prosecution of the case.
While the importer, Cedrick
Maduweke is still at large,
one of his accomplices, Steve
Isioma Adigwe has been
arrested.
“The consignment was
hidden in a used Toyota
Sienna vehicle that arrived
the port along with three
other cars in a container
marked MSMU 5082733,”
Babafemisaid.
The NDLEAspokesman
also said that the agency
recorded many other seizures
of illicit drugs in various parts
ofthecountry.
“At the Lagos airport, a
freight agent Ogunsina
Damilare was arrested on
Friday 6th January following
a bid to export 1.5 kilograms
of skunk hidden in foodstuffs
to Dubai, UAE through the
SAHCO export shed of the
MMIA.
in Lagos on Sunday, said the
illicit drug was discovered in a
vehicle imported into the
country by one Cedrick
Maduweke.
“At the Tin Can port in
L a g o s , a s h i p m e n t o f
24.5kilograms cannabis
indica to Nigeria from
Montreal, Canada was
intercepted by operatives
while an N8 million bribe
offered NDLEA officers by
the importer has been secured
n i m p o r t e r
Areportedly offered
a bribe of N8 million to
officers of the National Drug
Law Enforcement Agency
(NDLEA) at the Tin Can
Island Port, Lagos, to allow
him take delivery of the
24.5kg of cannabis indica he
illegally imported into the
country.
NDLEA spokesman
F e m i B a b a f e m i , w h o
disclosed this in a statement
h e F e d e r a l
TOperations Unit
Zone A of the Nigeria
Customs Service (NCS) on
Thursday said it intercepted
156 trailer loads of rice;
656,414 litres of premium
motor spirit (PMS) other
contraband worth N13.908
billionin2022.
The acting Controller of
the Unit, DC Hussein Ejibunu
stated during a press briefing
in Lagos. He said that the anti-
smuggling unit lost four
officers and arrested 176
smuggling suspects out of
which seven were convicted
duringtheperiod.
Ejibunu also disclosed
that seven other suspected
smugglers are in detention:
two suspects handed over to
NDLEA, and one suspect
handed over to the police for
prosecution while 151 are on
administrativebail.
H e s a i d t h e u n i t
recovered shortfalls in duty
payments and achieved a total
collection of N878.344
million as revenue for the
government in 2022, saying
that the collected revenue
within the year under review
are, 7,354 kg and 4,975
tablets of Cannabis sativa,
2 3 3 c a r t o n s X 2 2 5
milligrams, and 82 packs X
225 milligrams of Tramadol.
It is pertinentto remindus that
these hard drugs fuel crime
and insecurity. For petroleum
products, this Unit seized
656,414 litres of premium
motor spirit (PMS); that is,
about 20 tanker loads of fuel
from economic saboteurs
who seek to impoverish the
majority of our country's
people by taking out petrol
subsidized for citizens'
benefit to be sold in other
countries.
“On a sad note, four (4)
of our officers namely: Late
inspectors of Customs TP
Astor, and A Onwueguzie,
and Assistant Inspectors of
Customs, Musa, R and
Bristol, E lost their lives in
a c t i v e s e r v i c e w h i l e
confronting smugglers last
year. Whilewefrownedatsuch
murderous acts, we also
ensured that those behind some
of the killings were arrested to
facejustice,”hesaid.
prevented from being
smuggledintothecountry.
“In terms of volume,
rice topped the list of our
seizures. We seized 93,102 X
50kg which amounts to about
156 trailer loads of rice. Even
our newly constructed
warehouse had an overflow
ofseizedrice,”hesaid.
According to him, a total
number of 108 automobiles
comprisingtrucks,tankers,cars
and motorcycles were seized
either as smuggled items or as
means of conveyance of
smuggleditems.
“Illicit drugs seized
would have been lost but for
the intervention of FOU 'A',
checking to be sure correct
duties were paid into
governmentcoffers.
However, he said among
the items seized last year
were foreign parboiled rice,
vehicles, drugs, textiles,
petroleum products and other
items in the import and export
prohibitionlists.
Aside from protecting
the national economy, he said
some of the seizures achieved
protection of citizens' health
because dangerous, expired
and harmful products were
export receipts rose by 11.9
per cent to $4.69 billion,
relative to $4.19 billion in
September 2022. Similarly,
merchandise import rose by
34.9 per cent to $4.64 billion,
f r o m $ 3 . 4 4 b i l l i o n i n
September 2022,” the CBN
reportsaid.
“Crude oil and gas
export receipts rose to $4.30
billion, compared with $3.81
billion in September 2022. A
breakdown reveals that
receipts from crude oil
export grew by 13.3 per cent
to $3.65 billion (77.9 per
cent of total export), from
$ 3 . 2 3 b i l l i o n i n t h e
preceding month.
“Similarly, the price of
Nigeria's reference crude, the
Bonny Light, rose by 3.5 per
cent to an average of
$96.56pb, from $93.25pb in
September2022.
“Gas export receipts
also increased by 9.6 per cent
to $0.64 billion (13.7 per cent
of total export) from $0.58
billion in the preceding
month.
“ N o n - o i l e x p o r t
earnings rose by 3.6 per cent
to $0.40 billion, from $0.38
billion in September 2022,
largely, due to sustained
favourable commodity prices
at the international market,”
itadded.
Emefiele
Ejibunu
CustomsFOUimpoundsN13bngoods,losesfourof icersin2022
CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE
Nigeria's trade surplus...
he Board of the
TNigeria Customs
Service has approved the
a p p o i n t m e n t o f t h r e e
Assistants Comptroller-
General of Customs and the
promotion of 1,490 senior
officers to various ranks with
effectfrom1stJanuary2022.
The new ACGs are Greg
Itotoh, Festus Okun and
ShuaibuIbrahim.
Some of the officers
promoted to the rank of
Comptrollers are the Customs
National PRO Timi Bomodi,
M u s a O m a l e , Z a n n a
Chiroma, Stanley Nwankwo,
Ajibola Odusanya, Paul
Ekpenyong, Abubakar Umar,
Maureen Ajuzieogu, and
M.O. Bewaji,amongothers.
I n a l l , 6 4 D e p u t y
Comptrollers were elevated
to the rank of Comptrollers;
168 Assistant Comptrollers
p r o m o t e d t o D e p u t y
Comptrollers; 89 Chief
Superintendent of Customs
promoted to Assistant
Comptrollers and 220
Superintendents elevated to
t h e r a n k o f t o C h i e f
SuperintendentCustoms.
A l s o , 1 0 7 D e p u t y
Superintendents were made
Superintendents of Customs;
3 0 2 A s s i s t a n t
and357InspectorsofCustoms
to Assistant Superintendents
ofCustomsII.
A s t a t e m e n t b y a
Customs spokesman said
1,252 men within the ranks of
Inspectors and Customs
Assistant cadres had earlier
been promoted to their next
ranks.
T h e C o m p t r o l l e r
General of Customs, Hameed
Ibrahim Ali, was said to have
congratulated the newly
promoted officers and charged
them to redouble their efforts
in ensuring the service
achievesitssetoutgoals.
Assistant Superintendents of
Customs II to Assistant
Superintendents of Customs I
Superintendents of Customs I
e l e v a t e d t o D e p u t y
S u p e r i n t e n d e n t s ; 2 2 3
Ali
Customsappoints3ACGs,promotes1,490others
suspects.
H o w e v e r , F M O T
spokesman Henshaw Ogubike
assured the public that security
agencies were making efforts
to rescue the kidnapped train
passengers.
“The Nigerian police are
on the trail of the criminals
and have mobilised with a
view to protecting the lives
and property of the remaining
passengers. The government
is saddened by this unpleasant
development and assures its
prompt response to the ugly
situation. Further details will
be communicated later,” he
said.
Saturday. The passengers were
waiting for a 4p.m. train from
Igueben to Warri when the
terrorists struck, shooting
sporadically, abducting
passengers and leaving many
injured.
The
Edo State Commissioner
for Communication and
Orientation, Chris Nehikhare,
on Sunday confirmed that 31
intending passengers were
abductedduringtheattack.
Nehikhare, told reporters
in Benin that one abducted
passenger escaped from the
kidnappers, while the police
had arrested one of the
h e F e d e r a l
TGovernment has
described the kidnapping of
train passengers at Tom Ikimi
train station, Igueben in Edo
state, as an ugly situation that
would be responded to
promptly.
Director, Press and Public
Relations, Federal Ministry of
Transportation (FMOT),
Henshaw Ogubike, said this in
a statement on Sunday in
Abuja.
The Edo State Police
command confirmed the attack
on the train station, which it
said was carried out by persons
suspected to be herdsmen on
FGcondemnsattackonEdotrainstation

5. think that Nigerian operators
have been getting a fair share
in terms of optimising these
opportunities. There is a need
for government policies to be
specifically directed towards
creating opportunities for
Nigerians,” the former
Minister was quoted in a
newspaperassaying.
Captain Iheanacho also
asked the government to
ensure that only tested
professionals are appointed
into leadership positions in
theindustry.
“Summarily, we have
to put square pegs in square
holes and round pegs in
round holes. We need to
desist from having politics
influence things like this
e l s e , w e w i l l k e e p
pandering like lost souls,”
he said.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2023
APM Terminals Apapa wins NPA platinum safety award
ObasekisaysBeninRiverPortoncourse
award on behalf of the
company, said, “We are so
excited that we have received
the 2022 Nigerian Ports
Authority (NPA), Lagos Ports
Complex, HSE Committee
Merit Award. This great
honour is a demonstration of
our continued commitment to
improving health, safety and
environment, not just within
the terminal but also within
theportfacility.”
Since it commenced
operation at the Lagos
Port Complex in 2006,
APM Terminals Apapa
has invested more than
$ 4 3 8 m i l l i o n i n
d e v e l o p i n g
infrastructure, acquiring
equipment and improving
processes attheport.
The terminal is in the
forefront of digitisation of
portoperationsinNigeria.
In March 2022, it
c o m m i s s i o n e d a n e w
digitalised administrative
building in line with its
commitment of introducing
new innovations to help both
shipping lines and landside
customers achieve improved
supply chain efficiency and
flexibility in a cost-effective
manner. The building is the
first of its kind, thereby
setting a new standard for
portoperationinNigeria.
The digital technology
embedded in the smart
building has improved
c o n t a i n e r h a n d l i n g
operations and processing in
the terminal particularly in
e n a b l i n g e l e c t r o n i c
invoicing, electronic receipt
a n d o n l i n e p a y m e n t
p r o c e s s e s t h a t a l l o w
customers fast-track their
documentation.
The NPAHSE MeritAward is
a t e s t a m e n t o f t h i s
transformation.
“Ensuring that everyone
goes home safe after work is
p a r a m o u n t f o r u s .
Furthermore, it enables us to
be more efficient and give our
c u s t o m e r s a b e t t e r
experience, while adding
more value to the Nigerian
economy.”
APM Terminals Apapa
h a s r e c e i v e d s e v e r a l
commendations and honours
not just for its efficiency but
also for its sterling safety
records. Last year, the
terminal set a new safety
record at the port, as it logged
500 days without Lost Time
Injury (LTI). No Lost Time
Injury (LTI) means no injury
was sustainedon thejob by an
employee or contractor that
resulted in the person being
away from work due to his or
herinjury.
In addition, the terminal
h a s a d o p t e d m o r e
environmentally friendly
processes in keeping with its
green agenda. Last year, it
signed an MoU with FREEE
Recycle Limited, to recycle
its used tyres and eliminated
the use of single-use plastic
bottled water in order to
reduce its plastic waste
footprint.
Government Relations
Manager at APM Terminals
Apapa, Kayode Olufemi
Daniel, who received the
distinguished themselves in
area of health, safety and
environmentcompliance.
APM Terminals Apapa
received the highest award,
Platinum Merit Award, for its
c o n t i n u o u s e x c e l l e n t
performanceattheport.
Terminal Manager, Steen
Knudsen, thanked NPA for
recognising the terminal's
efforts.
He said, “In 2020, we
began a transformation
j o u r n e y , c h a n g i n g
fundamentally how we do
things in APM Terminals. All
aspects of our business are
being transformed, our
infrastructure, our processes,
service delivery and the
development of our people.
igeria's largest
Nc o n t a i n e r
terminal, APM Terminals
Apapa has received the
Nigerian Ports Authority
(NPA) Platinum Merit Award
for its excellent performance
in Health, Safety and
Environment(HSE) issues.
The HSE award came a
f e w d a y s a f t e r A P M
Terminalswas presentedwith
the award of Terminal
Operator of the Year by the
M a r i t i m e R e p o r t e r s
Association of Nigeria
(MARAN) inDecember.
The HSE Awards is an
annual event to acknowledge
and honour port operators
within the Lagos Ports
C o m p l e x t h a t h a v e
Edo State Governor,
Godwin Obaseki
has assured indigenes of the
state that the proposed
development of the Benin
River Port, Enterprise Park
and other projects to drive
industrial and economic
growth in the state are on
course.
Obaseki, who spoke to
journalists in Benin City,
noted that his administration
The design of the main
infrastructure network,
sewage system, among
others, is complete. Any
moment from now, it will be
inthemarket.”
On the progress of the
Benin River Port, the
governor said the project was
goingverywell.
“We have engaged
technical advisors and they
have done all the studies to
check the water flow, water
l e v e l s , a s w e l l a s
e n v i r o n m e n t a l i m p a c t
studies.
“That has given us the
idea of what it will cost and
the kind of cargo that is
likely to be taking that
route, and the viability of
the port. What has come out
of these studies is that it is
going to be a very, very
viable port,” a statement by
the Senior Assistant on
Media, Crusoe Osagie,
quoted the governor as
saying.
Park has beencompleted.
“We renamed it Benin
Enterprise Park, because we
want various businesses to
have access to it, not only
manufacturing. It is over
1,000 hectares of property.
We had to do the land
a c q u i s i t i o n a n d p a y
c o m p e n s a t i o n t o t h e
inhabitants.
“What we have done is
to phase the development.
Before the rainy season this
year, we will start developing
the first 50 hectares. We have
partnered with the Nigerian
Local Content Development
and Monitoring Board
(NCDMB), who has decided
to cooperate with us on the
first 50 hectares.
“That has also attracted
some of the large investor
groups that want to take large
chunks. Our role is to provide
thebasicstructure.
“There is a 95MW
power plant stationed there.
So, electricity already exists.
remains committed to
transforming the state into a
production hub to create a
modern state, where citizens
will be empowered through
initiatives that will prioritise
employment creation, skills
a c q u i s i t i o n a n d
entrepreneurship.
He said the design of the
main infrastructure network,
sewage system and other
components of the Enterprise
SpaintopsNigeria'sexportdestinationwithN873.6bngoods
France was Nigeria's
third export destination with
goods of N430.4 billion
exported in the third quarter.
Nigeria's export to the country
included crude, valued at
N413.8 billion, natural gas
worthN10.2billionandoilcake
and other solid residues,
resulting from the extraction
worth N4 billion, among
others.
On the flip side, Nigeria
imported goods worth
N108.3 billion from the
Western Europe nation. The
imports included premium
motor spirit (petrol) valued at
N34.07 billion, malt valued at
N5.8 billion, petroleum oils
obtained from bituminous
minerals and others worth
N4.67billon.
The Netherlands was
Nigeria's fourth largest export
destination in the third quarter
with goods valued at N420.4
billion. Major commodities
exportedduringtheperiodwere
crude oil worth N396.5 billion,
urea worth N6.6 billion and
superior quality cocoa beans
valuedatN4.9billion.
“The largest exported
commodity to India was
petroleum oil and oil
obtained from bituminous
minerals, crude worth N559.3
billion; natural gas liquefied
worthN46.3billionandleather,
prepared after tanning or
crusting,valuedatN2.9billion.
“On the other hand,
Nigeria imports from India
indicate that kerosene type jet
fuel ranked highest with a
value of N60.9 billion, this was
followed by gas at N49.3
billion, motorcycles and cycles
fitted with auxiliary motor and
petrolfuel,”thereportstated.
valued at N282.4 billion and
leather of goats valued at N3.2
billion.
On the other hand,
Nigeria imported mixed alkyl
benzenes and mixed alkyl
naphthalenes worth N10.7
billion and lubricating oil
worth N6.54 billion from the
southwestern European
country.
According to the NBS
report, Nigeria's second
largest export destination in
the third quarter was India
with export trade into the
country valued at N619.2
billion.
Aformer Minister of
Interior, Captain
Emmanuel Iheanacho has
called o n th e F ed er al
Government to create policies
“specifically directed towards
creating opportunities for
Nigerians” in the maritime
sector.
The foremost Master
Mariner and ship owner said
opportunities abound in the
nation's maritime industry
despite global economic
challenges.
“I mean the maritime
industry has been challenging
for operators but there is no
shortage of activities and
opportunities in the sector.As
long as people continue to
trade, they would continue to
require the use of ships, the
use of ports.
“Unfortunately, I do not
Iheanachoseekspoliciestofavour
Nigerianmaritimeoperators
pain has topped the
Slist of countries
where Nigerian goods are
exported, a report by the
National Bureau of Statistics
(NBS) hasshown.
Recall that Nigeria's
total foreign trade dropped to
N11.597 trillion from
N12.841 trillion in Q3 2022
with total exports at N5.933
trillion, re-exports valued at
N25 billion while total imports
wasN5.664trillion.
T h e r e p o r t t i t l e d
'Commodity Price Indices
and Terms of Trade Q3 2022',
which enumerates top five
exporting countries of
Nigerian goods, stated that
Spain ranked first among other
partner countries as the largest
export market for Nigeria
during the third quarter of 2022
with goods worth N873.6
billion.
The report stated that the
largest exported commodity
to the country was petroleum
and oil obtained from
bituminousmineralstothetune
of N580.2 billion, followed by
naturalliquefiedgas,whichwas
Iheanacho
Obaseki

6. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2023
FOTO NEWS
Ex-NPA General Manager, Chief Abiodun Borha celebrates 70th birthday in grand style
The celebrant with some staff of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
The celebrant, his wife and some guests.
The celebrant with some of his wife's colleagues.
Chief Borha on the dance floor.
The celebrant with members of Ikoyi Club 1938. Chief Borha with some friends.
The celebrant, Chief Christopher Abiodun Borha with his wife and daughter. The celebrant with some Maiyegun chiefs.
Former General Manager Public Affairs of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Chief Christopher Abiodun Borha, on Sunday 1st January clocked 70 years and
marked the landmark birthday in grand style at the prestigious Civic Centre in Victoria Island Lagos. Family members, friends and associates including former
colleaguesfromNPAattendedthebirthdaybash.ChiefBorha,whoholdsthetraditionaltitleofMayegunIwayaandEnvirons,treatedguestsatthebirthdaybash
to sumptuous meals, music, comedy and sundry entertainments in what would certainly be a night to remember for a long time to come. Aside serving as the
General Manager Public Affairs, Chief Borha also served as the General Manager Planning before his retirement from public service in 2003. He is now a
MaritimeConsultantservingasTransactionAdvisertothepromotersofanongoingdeepseaportproject.Seesomepicturesfromtheeventbelow.

7. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2023
The celebrant with a friend.
A band entertains guests.
Some guests at the birthday bash. Guests
A guest congratulates the celebrant.
The Maiyegun and his daughter.
Entertainment of guests. Cross section of guests.

8. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2023

9. The year 2022 has come and gone,
leaving in its wake a plethora of
deathsintheNigerianmaritimeindustry.
Five prominent people linked to the
industry that died in 2022 were Rotimi
Fashakin, Omoyeni Jolapamo-Olalekan,
Ngozi Obikili, Otunba Olakunle Folarin
andJulianaAbiodun Gunwa.
Rotimi Fashakin died on September
24, 2022. He was the immediate past
Executive Director Operations at the
Nigerian Maritime Administration and
SafetyAgency(NIMASA).
Fashakin, who served as NIMASA's
Executive Director from 2016 to March
2020, died in the United Kingdom at the
age of 59 after a prolonged battle with an
undisclosedailment.
He was survived by his widow, Busola
Fashakinandthreechildren.
According to family sources, Fashakin
was, until his death, studying Law at the
University of Buckingham, and was billed
tograduateinDecember2022.
Another death linked to the maritime
industry in 2022 was that of the daughter of
the founding President of the Nigerian
Shipowners Association (NISA), Chief
IsaacJolapamo.
Omoyeni Jolapamo-Olalekan, aged
47, was said to have died suddenly without
any prior ailment, at the Stoke Mandeville
Hospital,UK onSeptember23,2022.
She was said to have been hale and
hearty until a few days to her death when
she slumped and was rushed to the hospital
inanambulance.
The deceased was survived by her
father, husband, three daughters and many
siblings.
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA)
also suffered a major loss in 2022 with the
death of its General Manager, Corporate
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2023
Five prominent maritime industry deaths in 2022
retirement in 2018, died on December 13
attheageof64.
Her brother, Mr. Tayo Fadile, who
confirmed her death exclusively to SHIPS
& PORTS, said she passed away in UK
afteraprolongedillness.
The late Mrs Gunwa started her
working careerAT the Federal Ministry of
Transport before transferring service to
NIMASAin2002.
The deceased obtained a first degree
in humanities from the University of
Ibadan. She also had an M.Sc in Marine
Management from the Dalhousie
University Haliface, Canada and another
M.Sc in General MaritimeAdministration
from the World Maritime University,
Malmo,Sweden.
andGeneralPlanning,NgoziObikili.
“TheAuthority regrets to announce the
sudden demise on 12th October 2022 of
Mrs Ngozi Obikili who until her death was
General Manager, Corporate & Strategic
PlanningDivision.
“Her contributions remain an indelible
reference point in the annals of the
Authority and her global trade facilitation
efforts,”NPAstatedon itstwitterhandle.
One death that shook the industry was
that of Otunba Kunle Folarin who died at
theageof81.
Until his death on November 8, 2022,
Otunba Folarin was the Chairman of the
Nigerian Ports Consultative Council
(NPCC) and Chairman of the National
SeafarersWelfareBoard(NSWB).
“I am truly saddened by the death of
this great man. Otunba Kunle Folarin's exit
at this time will create a great vacuum in the
maritimecommunity.
“He was an accomplished maritime
expert and administrator, and a repository
of maritime knowledge. His death will be
felt far beyond the maritime industry,” the
Chairman, Seaport Terminal Operators
Association of Nigeria (STOAN), Princess
Vicky Haastrup said while commiserating
withFolarin's family.
Many other maritime industry
operators and stakeholders expressed
similar sentiments about the late Folarin's
contribution to the maritime industry,
describing his demise as a “sad loss” to the
industry.
“Otunba Folarin was steadfast in his
service to the maritime industry having
served in one of the most senior
management positions inAlraine Shipping.
He later devoted his life to the wellbeing of
seafarers through his selfless and
unparalleled service as Chairman of the
National Seafarers Welfare Board (NSWB)
and also as Chairman of the Nigerian Ports
Consultative Council (NPCC). The role he
played in the maritime industry will remain
indelible for many generations to come,”
Haastrup said, even as she prayed that God
Almightygrantshissoul eternalrest.
The late maritime icon will be buried
on January27,2023 inLagos.
Another shocking death in the
maritime industry in 2022 was that of a
former Director of the Nigerian Maritime
Administration and Safety Agency
(NIMASA), Mrs JulianaAbiodun Gunwa.
Gunwa, who served as the Director of
Marine Environment Management (MEM)
and Director Maritime Labour and
Cabotage Services of NIMASA before her
RotimiFashakin
OmoyeniJolapamo-Olalekan
JulianaAbiodun Gunwa
Otunba OlakunleFolarin
Ngozi Obikili

10. and18,830 in2020.
The Suez Canal, which
l i n k s t h e R e d a n d
Mediterranean seas, sees
about 10 per cent of global
trade. Its revenue is a main
source of foreign currency for
E g y p t , a l o n g w i t h
remittances of Egyptian
participation in the ICS will
provide Chinese shipowners
with a stepping stone, who
c a n c o n t r i b u t e t o
globalisation by constructing
a safe supply chain and
anotice.
O p e r a t i o n M a r e
Liberum will take place from
January5-9, 2023.
“Therefore, during this
period, CTF 151 will
coordinate an effort of
multinational assets, as
vessels, aircrafts, unmanned
elements, satellite systems
and maritime organisations
that will work together in an
area which encompass some
of the world's most important
shipping lanes, in order to
contribute to the free flow of
navigation, develop capacity
for regional leadership and
reassure the international
community,” CTF 151 said in
itsnotice.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2023
aheadfor oursector.”
Z h a n g S h o u g u o ,
Executive Vice President of
C h i n a S h i p o w n e r s '
Association, said, “China
Shipowners' Association's
CTF 151 is using the
o p e r a t i o n r e m i n d t h e
shipping industry to not to let
its guard down, including
continue following the BMP
5 instructions and navigate
through the International
Recommended Transit
Corridor (IRTC) despite the
r e m o v a l o f t h e H R A
designation.
“It is an achievement of
the CMF and EU NAVFOR
on its objective of reassure
the international community,.
However, this sense of
security might represent a
risk, because it can cause a
relaxation in the BMP5
procedures by merchant
vessels,” the task force said in
hina Shipowners'
CAssociation (CSA)
o f fi c i a l l y j o i n s t h e
International Chamber of
Shipping (ICS) from the
beginningof 2023.
CSA will join the ICS
Board, which oversees the
policy positions ICS presents
on behalf of shipowners'
worldwide with the shipping
industry's global regulators,
including the International
Maritime Organisation
(IMO) and the International
LabourOrganisation(ILO).
Given the importance of
China as a major shipping
nation,themembershipofCSA
confirms the legitimacy of ICS,
through its unique structure
comprising member national
(and regional) shipowner
associations to speak on behalf
oftheglobalindustry.
Emanuele Grimaldi,
Chair of International
Chamber of Shipping, said, “I
am delighted to welcome the
C h i n a S h i p o w n e r s '
Association to full ICS
membership. As a hub for
global shipping China plays a
major role in maritime
transport, including an
influential role on the
international stage. This
membership will strengthen
our ability to work together,
united as an industry,to tackle
the most pressing issues
facing shipping, such as
decarbonisation. The whole
of the ICS membership look
forward to working with the
CSA, and to enhance future
co-operation with the
Chinese shipping industry as
we address the challenges
multi-national
Anaval task force
tasked with combating piracy
in the Somali basin is getting
ready to conduct a five-day
operation aimed at increasing
naval presence and informing
the maritime community on
the continuing risks to
shipping despite a lull in
Somali piracy and expiration
ofakeyindustrydesignation.
The focused operation,
known as Mare Liberum,
comes as the shipping
industry has removed its
“High Risk Area” (HRA)
designation for the western
Indian Ocean, Gulf of Aden,
and southern Red Sea as of
January1,2023.
The operation is being
hosted by the Combined Task
Force 151 (CTF 151), which
is currently under the
leadership of Brazil. The task
force was established in 2009
with a specific piracy mission-
based mandate in accordance
with UN Security Council
R e s o l u t i o n s . Wo r k i n g
alongside European Union
Naval Force Somalia (EU
NAVFOR) and other partners,
The Indian Ocean HRA
was established in 2010 at the
height of Somali piracy,
when on average a ship was
attacked about once every
other day. But thanks to these
coordinated counter-piracy
efforts, along with increased
use of private armed security
guards, improving conditions
ashore, and the industry's use
o f B e s t M a n a g e m e n t
Practices 5 guidance, piracy
incidents started to fall off
rapidly and the free flow of
commerce has been mostly
re-establishedintheregion.
According to CTF 151,
the last attack by pirates in the
Somali Basin took place in
April 2019 and was ultimately
unsuccessful. The last
successfulpiracyattackwasin
Spring 2017, marking just the
firsthijackingsince2012.
CTF 151 helps to patrol the
I n t e r n a t i o n a l l y
Recommended Transit
Corridor (IRTC) through the
GulfofAden.
CTF says the operation
should serve as a reminder
that Somali-based piracy has
notbeeneradicated.
Naval task force sustains operation in Somali waters lull in pirate attacks
It said the Philippine
Coast Guard (PCG), after
careful consideration of
inputs from stakeholders
and counterparts with vital
involvement in securing the
S u l u - C e l e b e s S e a s
maritime security measure,
r e c o m m e n d e d
downgrading the threat on
the 'abduction of crew for
ransom in the Sulu-Celebes
Seas' from 'potentially high'
to'moderate'.
Themoderatethreatlevel
implies that 'incidents are
possible to occur but are
relativelylesssevereinnature'.
The ReCAAP ISC
updated its advisory to all
ships to consider re-route
from the area as an option
based on its prerogative, as
the threat of abduction of
crew in the Sulu-Celebes
Seas has diminished since
January 2020 due to
s u c c e s s f u l m i l i t a r y
operations and robust law
enforcementinitiatives.
“For ships transiting
the area, the ship masters
and crew are strongly
encouraged to exercise
extra vigilance and report
all incidents immediately to
the Operation Centres of the
Philippines and Eastern
Sabah Security Command
(ESSCOM) of Malaysia,”
notedtheregionalinitiative.
Also, ReCAAP ISC
advised the ship master and
crew to report all incidents
of piracy and armed robbery
against ships to the nearest
coastal State and flag State,
exercisevigilanceand adopt
appropriate preventive
measures taking reference
from the Regional Guide 2
to Counter Piracy and
Armed Robbery Against
Ships inAsia.
Ship robbery in
A s i a n w a t e r
increased by nearly 4% in
2022 compared to the
previousyear.
No fewer than 80
i n c i d e n t s w e r e a l s o
recorded in the region in
2022, compared to 77 in
2 0 2 1 , a c c o r d i n g t o
ReCAAP Information
SharingCentre.
Data shows that a
n u m b e r o f i n c i d e n t s
occurred at the Straits of
Malakka and Singapore
while Indonesia, India,
B a n g l a d e s h , a n d t h e
Philippines are also on top
of thelist.
Straits of Malacca and
Singapore were top of the
list with 55 incidents
reported in 2022 compared
to 50 incidents in 2021 and
34 incidents in the previous
year.
Whereas no incident
was reported in 2021,
Bangladesh emerged again
as another hotspot for
robbers in 2022 with five
incidents reported, similar
tothatin2020.
Reported incidents in
Indian waters remained at
five in2022.
However, there is a
good sign in Indonesia,
which achieved to control
the robbery incident in its
waters, with nine incidents
reported in 2022 against 13
in2021 and22in2020.
The Philippines have
also performed well with
only four incidents reported
in 2022 against 11 in 2021
and13 in2020.
The ReCAAPISC in its
latest weekly report termed
the continued occurrence of
incidents in Singapore Strait
as 'areasof concern'.
Ship robbery incidents
on the rise in Asia
China Shipowners' Association joins ICS
making the Chinese shipping
industry heard. Chinese
shipowners will grow
t o g e t h e r w i t h o t h e r
international maritime
companies. CSA also hopes
to make use of the ICS
information platform to
provide more assistance to
t h e C h i n e s e s h i p p i n g
industry, and also the
necessary support for the
transition to low-carbon
greenshipping.”
Established in 1993,
CSA is a voluntary trade
organisation composed of
owners, operators and
managers of merchant ships
e n g a g e d i n w a t e r w a y
transportation and relevant
shipping related entities
registeredinChina.
TEU, maintaining its crown
as the world's number one
container port for 14
Shanghai retains world's top container port crown
The newly opened
Northeast Asia Empty
Container Distribution
center effectively improved
service capacity for the
industry.
To b r i n g r e g i o n
advantages into full play,
Shanghai port newly
established or operated
s e v e r a l c o n t a i n e r
companies at Huai'an,
Lianyungang, Jiangxi,
Wuhan and Lvsi, jointly
providing comprehensive
services for the nation's dual
circulationstrategy.
consecutiveyears.
However the Chinese
port only saw marginal
growth over 2021 when it
handled47 millionTEU.
As at end of November
2022, Shanghai port's
largest rival, Singapore had
handled34.02 millionTEU.
Playing a key role in
Belt and Road Initiative and
the integrateddevelopmentof
Yangtze river delta, Shanghai
port has deepened cooperation
with other ports and promoted
cooperation between port and
shippinglines.
In 2022, container
volume at Shanghai
port exceeded 47.3 million
gypt earned nearly
E$8 billion from the
Suez Canal in 2022, an
increase of 25 per cent from
the previous year, the head of
the international waterway
saidonMonday.
A statement quoted
Osama Rabie, chairman of the
Suez Canal Authority, as
saying the increase in revenue
was as a result of the
waterway's expansion in
2014-15.
The statement followed a
meeting between Rabie and
President Abdel Fattah El Sisi
inCairoearlieron Monday.
Rabie reportedly told the
President that the number of
vessels that transited the Suez
Canal in 2022 reached 23,583,
compared to 20,694 in 2021
Egypt generates $8bn from Suez Canal in 2022
expatriatesandtourism.
Its increased revenue
should be welcome news at a
time when Egypt is suffering
a foreign currency crunch
that forced the government to
impose restrictions on
imports for months, before
relaxingthemrecently.
Shouguo

11. comprehensive offering to a
wide array of industries. As
such, Martin Bencher really is
an excellent fit to Maersk and
our integrator strategy,"
Maersk's regional Managing
Director in Europe, Karsten
Kildahl,said.
The enterprise value of
t h e t r a n s a c t i o n i s
approximately US$61 million
on a post-IFRS16 basis as
announced on 5 August 2022
assuming an unchanged
foreignexchangerate.
subject to a decades-old
U.S. trade embargo, never
compensated it for the
takeoveroftheproperty.
It sued the four cruise
lines in 2019 in the U.S.
District Court for the
Southern District of Florida.
Bloom in March held that
the companies were liable
for damages under the
Helms-Burton Act, also
known astheLibertadAct.
According to the U.S.-
Cuba Trade and Economic
Council, a non-profit that
provides information on
relations between the two
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2023
orwegian Cruise
NLine must pay
$110 million in damages for
use of a port that Cuba's
government confiscated in
1960, a U.S. judge ruled on
Friday, a milestone for
Cuban-Americans seeking
compensation for cold-war
eraassetseizures.
The decision by U.S.
District Judge Beth Bloom
in Miami follows her March
ruling that the use of the
HavanaCruisePortTerminal
constituted trafficking in
confiscated property owned
by the plaintiff, Delaware-
registered Havana Docks
Corp.
“Judgment is entered in
favour of Plaintiff Havana
Docks Corporation and
against Norwegian Cruise
Line Holdings, Ltd,” reads
thedecision.
“Plaintiff is awarded
$ 1 0 9 , 8 4 8 , 7 4 7 . 8 7 i n
damages,” it says, adding
that Norwegian should also
pay an additional $3 million
inlegalfeesandcosts.
Cuban President Miguel
Diaz-Canel has harshly
criticised the Helms-Burton
Act, describing it as an extra-
territorial violation of
internationallaw.
Havana Docks had also
sued cruise lines Carnival,
Royal Caribbean and MSC
under the Helms-BurtonAct,
which allows U.S. nationals
to sue over use of property
sincetheColdWar.
B u t t h e T r u m p
administration in 2019
ordered a halt to all such
cruises amid efforts to
pressure Cuba over its
support for Venezuelan
President Nicolas Maduro,
an ideological adversary of
Washington.
T h e T r u m p
administration also allowed
U.S. citizens to sue third
parties for using property
seized by Cuban authorities,
a provision of the Helms-
Burton Act that had been
waived by every previous
president since the law's
1996 passage.
Havana Docks says
Cuba, which has been
seizedinCubaafter1959.
The ruling could fuel
more lawsuits by Cuban
exiles pursuing claims,
which according to one
estimate are worth $2
billion, over asset seizures
under late Cuban leader
FidelCastro.
It may also serve as a
reminder to multinational
firms of the complications
that can come with doing
business inCuba.
U.S. cruise ships in
2016 began traveling to
Cuba for the first time in
decades following a detente
negotiated by former
President Barack Obama
that eased some provisions
of a U.S. embargo in place
U.S. judge ines Norwegian Cruise Line $110m for using Cuban port
c o u n t r i e s , t h e 5 , 9 1 3
certified claims for property
seized in Cuba represent
nearly$2 billioninliability.
Forty-four lawsuits
have been filed under Title
III of the Helms-BurtonAct,
theorganisationsaid.
“For those current
plaintiffs of Cuban descent,
(the decision) will give
t h e m a m o m e n t o f
satisfaction,” said John
Kavulich, the group's
president. “It'll give them a
moment to say 'You can run
but you can't hide,'” said
Kavulich.
MSC announced
the reshuffling of
its Angola service, adding
Pointe-Noire in Congo
Republic and Matadi in
Democratic Republic of
Congo (DRC) to the port
rotation,fromJanuary2023.
MSC makes Congolese port transshipment hub in Sub Saharan Africa
according to MSC, which
noted that covering Pointe-
Noire on the Angola service,
also represents new business
opportunities for cargo
coming from North Europe
andtheMediterranean.
"Indeed, cargo from the
main cities of these markets
will transship via Lomé,Togo
and be directly discharged to
CR and DRC," said MSC,
which highlighted, "the
interconnectivity between
Angola and Namibia, and its
key trade markets is going to
strengthen Intra-Africa and
internationaltrade."
MSC believes that the
addition of Pointe-Noire in
the Angola service will add a
significant advantage forAsia
and Indian markets in the
region.
T h e S w i s s / I t a l i a n
container line said the
Congolese port will serve as a
key transshipment hub for
cargo destined to Angola and
NamibiainAfrica.
Stopping the transship
via Lomé will reduce by 11
days the transit time to the
main Angolan port of
Luanda, and Namibe, as well
as Walvis Bay in Namibia,
Evergreen pays workers
generous bonuses, causes
strike at airline af iliate
at EVA and Evergreen
Airline Services, the group's
ground handling company,
which reportedly got at
most three months of their
salaries, incurred the latter's
wrath. Some of the EVA
staff, particularly ground
crew, were given only one
month's salaryasabonus.
About 100 of the
airline's 300 ground staff
staged a walk-out from 1 to
2 January, causing flight
delays affecting 4,000
travellers at Taipei's
T a o y u a n A i r p o r t .
Temporary workers had to
be mobilised to help handle
luggage and clear cabins,
even Evergreen Airline
Services chairman Chen
Yo-yu was on hand to help
out. The situation mirrored
that in December 2021,
when some EVA staff
resigned after receiving
bonuses of just TW$10,000
(US$361 atthetime).
Container freight rates,
which were still at a
historical high in the first six
months of 2022, resulted in
Evergreen achieving a net
profit of US$9.91 billion in
the first nine months of
2022.
Taiwanese mainline
o p e r a t o r
E v e r g r e e n M a r i n e
Corporation has paid its
e m p l o y e e s g e n e r o u s
bonuses of up to 52 months
of their salaries, prompting
a strike by staff at its
affiliated airline EVA
Airways.
Despite the correction
in freight rates since mid-
2022, Evergreen is set to
report higher earnings for
that year. Taiwanese media
reported that many of
Evergreen's lowest-earning
staff, who earn around
TW$40,000 (US$1,300)
monthly, received a one-
t i m e y e a r- e n d b o n u s
amounting to more than four
years of salaries, exceeding
the maximum 40 months of
bonuses paid out to the same
category of employees in
2021.
While companies are
t i g h t - l i p p e d o n
remuneration, Taiwanese
media, citing sources, have
a l w a y s r e p o r t e d o n
businesses that dish out
bumperbonuses.
T h e d i s c r e p a n c y
between what the liner
operator paid and what staff
Maersk completes acquisition of Martin Bencher Group
.P. Moller - Maersk
Ahas completed the
acquisition of Martin
Bencher Group, a Danish
project logistics expert with
capabilities within non-
c o n t a i n e r i s e d p r o j e c t
l o g i s t i c s a n d g l o b a l
operations.
"With the addition of
Martin Bencher, we are
strengthening our ability to
offer project logistics
services to our global clients
while providing a more
supply chain congestion
started to ease.
A n a l y s t s S e a -
Intelligence reported that
container line reliability
r e a c h e d 5 6 . 6 % i n
Container line schedule reliability improves in second half 2022
fromSeptemberonwards.
The 56.6% schedule
reliability for November
2 0 2 2 m a r k e d a 4 . 7
p e r c e n t a g e p o i n t s
improvement over the
previous month. The line
with highest schedule
reliability was MSC 63.4%
in November, followed by
Maersk with61.7%.
T h e n e x t e i g h t
carriers recorded schedule
reliability of 50%-60%,
while four lines recorded
schedule reliability of
40%-50%.
The lowest level of
schedule reliability was
reported by Yang Ming at
42.5% in November 2022.
Average delays in late
v e s s e l a r r i v a l s a l s o
improved in November 2022
dropping 0.58 days month-
on-monthto5.04days.
“ B o t h s c h e d u l e
reliability and average
delay are now better than
the 2020 level as well,”
Alan Murphy, CEO of
S e a - I n t e l l i g e n c e ,
commented.
November last year as a
marked in improvement
was seen in the second half
of 2022. The report covers
over 60 carriers on 34
differenttradesworldwide.
The numbers were a
major contrast to January
2 0 2 2 w h e n s c h e d u l e
reliability languished at
just 30.9% and none of the
top 14 containers achieved
areliabilityof50%.
Schedule reliability
languished in the mid-30's
percentage range for much
of the first half of 2022
improving to around 40%
by mid-year and has seen
significant improvement
Global container
line schedule
r e l i a b i l i t y s a w
c o n s i d e r a b l e
i m p r o v e m e n t i n t h e
second half of 2022 as
The hackers threatened
to publish all the port's data
which they have accessed if
they do not receive US$1.5
millionby January18.
“After successful work
with the Portuguese Port
Authority, in our hands are
all financial reports, audits,
b u d g e t s , c o n t r a c t s ,
Hackers attack Port of Lisbon, demand $1.5m
information about cargoes,
ship logs with all the
information on the crews,
personaldataofcustomers,all
port documentation, all mail
correspondence, all contracts
and much more. The entire
date (sic) will be published in
case of failure to contact us,”
thehackerswrote.
ackers at LockBit
Hclaim that they
have taken down Port of
Lisbon's website and have
stolen files and data from the
computer systems of the
Portugueseport.
T h e c y b e r a t t a c k
reportedly occurred on
December25, 2022.