JUPITER SEA & AIR
SERVICES PVT. LTD, EGMORE – CHENNAI, INDIA.
E-MAIL : Robert.sands@jupiterseaair.co.in Mobile : +91 98407 85202
Corporate News
Letter for Tuesday - April 01,
2025
Today’s Exchange Rates
|
CURRENCY |
PRICE |
CHANGE |
%CHANGE |
OPEN |
PREV.CLOSE |
DAY's LOW-HIGH |
|
85.47 |
-0.32 |
-0.373003 |
85.64 |
85.79 |
85.40- 85.70 |
|
|
1.0827 |
0.0026 |
0.240714 |
1.0801 |
1.0801 |
1.0806- 1.0849 |
|
|
110.7646 |
0.061203 |
0.055286 |
110.7646 |
110.7034 |
110.7389- 110.7731 |
|
|
92.0865 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
92.4855 |
92.0865 |
92.0283- 92.494 |
|
|
149.166 |
-1.884003 |
-1.247271 |
151.05 |
151.05 |
148.705- 149.83 |
|
|
1.2939 |
-0.001 |
-0.07722 |
1.2949 |
1.2949 |
1.2923- 1.2973 |
|
|
103.879 |
-0.165001 |
-0.158588 |
104.049 |
104.044 |
103.765- 104.11 |
|
|
0.5674 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.5681 |
0.5674 |
0.5666- 0.5694 |
/// Sea Cargo News ///
Hapag
Lloyd to retrofit five container vessels to methanol
Together with Seaspan Corporation and MAN
Energy Solutions, Hapag Lloyd plans to cover five 10,100 TEU container vessels
to run on Methanol.
This project follows the successful test run
of a MAN S90 engine retrofitted for methanol use, carried out in Japan by MAN
Energy Solutions and Hitachi Zosen Marine Engine. The test proved that the
engine - originally built to run on
traditional fuel oil – could switch over to methanol without a hitch.
“With over 50 vessels in our fleet powered by
these engines, this breakthrough opens the door to a whole new world of greener
possibilities” said the German carrier in a statement.
Dr. Maxmilian Rothkopf, COO at Hapag Lloyd,
stated : “Our methanol retrofit project is another step on our journey to
decarbonize our entire fleet by 2045. By making these ships methanol-ready by
2026, we’re not only shrinking our carbon footprint – we’re also meeting the
growing demand for greener transport solutions from our customers”.
TecPlata
enhances connectivity to Asia with ONE’s new services
Ocean Network Express’ (ONE)’s two new
services, which have included ICTSI-operated TecPlata in their port rotations,
are expected to enhance the connectivity of the Argentinian terminal to Asian
markets.
ICTSI’s Buenos Aires terminal has been
integrated into ONE’s new East Coast South America Express 2 (SX2) service,
which links key ports in the Far East with major hubs on the East Coast of
South America. TecPlata connects to the SX2 network via the River Plate Express
(RPX), a dedicated feeder service linking Argentina and Uruguay through Rio
Grande.
ONE is set to launch the RPX service in May
2025.
“With our inclusion in this new service that
expands access to Asian markets, TecPlata reaffirms its leadership in
Argentina’s port sector by combining cutting-edge technology, operational
efficiency and sustainability,” said Juan Pablo Trujilo, TecPlata CEO.
Port rotations for One’s SX2 and RPX services
:
East Coast South America Express 2 :
Pusan – South China – Singapore – Rio Grande
– Santos – Santa Catarina – Singapore – Hong Kong – Pusan.
River Plate Feeder Service :
Rio Grande – Argentina – Uruguay – Rio
Grande.
HMM received first methanol powered newbuild in eco friendly vessel series
South Korea’s flagship ocean carrier HMM has
taken delivery of a 9,000 TEU, methanol powered container ship.
The new vessel is named HMM Green and is the
first of nine sister ships ordered in February 2023 from HD Hyundai Samho Heavy
Industries (seven vessels) and HJ Shipbuilding & Construction (two
vessels).
HMM Green will be deployed on the company’s
independently operated FIM (Far East Asia, India and the Mediterranean sea)
Service. Starting with this delivery, HMM will gradually receive the remaining
eight vessels by next year as part of its fleet expansion plan.
HMM Green will bunker bio-methanol, a
renewable fuel derived from waste resources, at the Port of Shanghai in China.
It is estimated that bio-methanol can reduce carbon emissions by up to 65%,
eliminate sulfur oxide (Sox) emissions and cut nitrogen oxide (Nox) emissions
by up to 80% compared to conventional bunker fuel.
HMM said all vessels in this series are
equipped with environmental technologies required by major global ports, so
they will be able to operate across all trade routes without restrictions. They
also meet EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime regulations.
One HMM official said: “This new vessel
delivery is expected to accelerate HMM’s goal of achieving Net-Zero by 245. To
enhance our competitiveness, we will continue to explore and adopt various fuel
options”.
Singapore and Rotterdam strengthen collaboration on Green and Digital Shipping Corridor
Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore and
Port of Rotterdam have signed a Cooperation Agreement to enhance the Rotterdam
– Singapore Green and Digital Shipping Corridor.
The two port bodies have brought together 28
partners across the entire container shipping value chain to drive the
deployment of sustainable fuels on the 15,000 kilo meter shipping route and
implement digital solutions for improved efficiency.
Boudewijn Siemons, CEO of Port of Rotterdam,
commented, “By bringing together parties across the entire value chain, the
Rotterdam – Singapore Green & Digital Shipping Corridor has helped to make
first, valuable steps towards the decarbonisation of international shipping
while also improving efficiency of trade and setting new industry standards”.
The ambition is to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions of large container vessels on the corridor by 20-30% by 2030, while
accelerating the adoption of global standards and solutions to facilitate
efficient port calls, flow of goods and enable paperless handling.
The collaboration is focussed on testing and
accelerating the adoption of sustainable fuels, aiming to make them available,
accepted and affordable for large scale use. According to the partners, the
emphasis will be on bio and e-variants of ammonia, methanol and methane, with
working groups established for each fuel type.
Since the inception of the corridor in 2022,
several first mover pilot projects have been carried out, including the first
successful bunkering of mass balanced liquefied bio-methane at the port of
Rotterdam. A similar trial is planned in Singapore in 2025.
Other achievements include the completion of
a Life Cycle greenhouse gas Assessment of green ammonia as a marine fuel and
strong support for the development and implementation of the Port Readiness
Framework of the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH), which
helps ports, assess their preparedness to supply sustainable marine fuels.
In the next phase, the partners plan to
conduct further studies and trials for the bunkering of bio-methane, methanol
and ammonia to support their future use along the shipping corridor. They also
aim to develop and mobilise financial instruments to address the cost barriers
associated with using low and near zero emission fuels.
On the digital front, both ports have
successfully trialled the exchange of port -to-port data to exchange vessel
arrival and departure timestamps. Both parties have also established
ship-to-shore data exchange infrastructure to enable efficient and secure
submission of port clearance information.
World’s Largest Bulk Export Port
The Port of Hedland is known as the
World’s Largest Bulk Export Port, located in the Pilbara region of Western
Australia. It is one of the biggest iron ore loading facilities in the world.
The port is constructed on a tidal island,
from which 3 causeways reach the mainland and one to a jetty, used to load iron
ore from Mount Goldsworthy.It is named after Captain Peter Hedland, the
first European who reached the harbour in 1863, anchoring his ship while
looking to offload cattle at a nearby station. At that time, Port Hedland was
known as Mangrove Harbour.
The port was developed to support the local
pastoral industries, and the first jetty was constructed in 1896. Its role
increased with the discovery of iron ore in Pilbara, leading to infrastructural
development.The Port was quite active during the Second World War and handled
war supplies including tantalite, tin, columbite and manganese which was mined
in Pilbara. In the 1950s, new manganese discoveries brought prosperity to the
town.
It is operated by the Pilbara Ports
Authority and has 19 berths, with a draft depth of 19.8 metres. Today, it is a
major export port for loading of iron ore. It has 12 berths in the inner
harbour, 4 of which are owned and operated by the Port Authority, 6 owned and
operated by BHP Billiton Iron Ore, and 2 owned and operated by Fortescue Metals
Group at Herb Elliott Port…
Approximately 1500 ships and more than
199,000,000 tonnes of cargo are handled at the port annually. The port has
massive storage and distribution facilities and offers pilotage and towage
services, bunkering and ship repair facilities and also allows customs
clearance.
The Port of Port Hedland plays a vital
role in the Australian economy. The port and its supply chain supported
8158 direct and indirect jobs, 74% of the full-time employment in the Town of
Port Hedland, and also boosted local income by $1.02 billion.
The port is expected to contribute an
additional $22.6 billion over the next decade through facilities including the
Lumsden Point General Cargo Facility.
Its evolution from a pastoral support port to
a world-leading facility in handling bulk exports shows its significance at
both the national and global levels.
India overtakes Sri Lanka as second largest tea exporter
According to data released by the Tea Board
of India, India has exported 254 million kg of tea in 2024, thus becoming the
second-highest exporter in the world. While Kenya retained the first
spot in global tea exports, India surpassed Sri Lanka to take the second spot.
Kenya exported over 500 Mkg of tea in 2024.
In 2023, India and Sri Lanka were
neck-in-neck in tea exports with around 231 Mkg, but in 2024 India overtook the
island nation with 24 Mkg more exports. India’s 2024 figures were also its
second-best export margins behind 2018 when it exported around 256 Mkg of tea.
India’s 2024 tea exports amounted to Rs 7,112
crore. While India’s export figures hovered around 200-225 Mkg for the
last several years, barring 2018, this impressive growth has provided the tea
industry with the hope to touch the 300-Mkg mark by 2030. India, on
average, produces 1,400 Mkg of tea every year.
The bulk of the export has come from the
orthodox segment, the growth of which has been supported by various schemes
launched by the Union and state governments in recent times.
“With the favourable export
policy by the Centre and support by the state governments, the industry is
hopeful of increasing its export basket in the years to come,” said Prabir
Kumar Bhattacharjee, secretary general of the Tea Association of India.
75% of US-Flagged Ships Diverted Around Africa Due To Security Concerns
The ongoing attacks by Houthi rebels in the
Red Sea have forced the majority of US flagged ships to avoid the waterway,
instead taking a much longer and costlier route around Africa. The growing
threat has also put US navy vessels at risk.
According to US National Security Adviser
Mike Waltz, 75% of American-flagged vessels have been rerouted away from the
Suez Canal due to security concerns. “Seventy five percent of our US flag
shipping now has to go around the southern coast of Africa rather than going
through the Suez Canal,” Waltz said during an interview on Face the Nation on
Sunday.
He also discussed the dangers faced by the US
navy in the region, revealing that the last time an American destroyer passed
through the Red Sea, it was attacked 23 times.In response, the US military
has carried out a series of airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen.
Waltz stated that these attacks have
eliminated key rebel leaders, including the head of their missile program, and
have also destroyed weapons production facilities and drone assembly sites.
Despite the US military response, the
Houthis remain defiant. The group claims their attacks on ships in the Red Sea
are an act of solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict in
Gaza. The
Houthis have also accused the US of killing over 50 people in recent bombings
on Yemeni soil. On Tuesday, they announced via Telegram that they had launched
drones and missiles at the USS Harry S. Truman, a US aircraft carrier in the
northern Red Sea. However, according to NBC, the attack was unsuccessful.
Waltz blamed the previous Biden
administration for not taking strong enough action against Houthis. He added
that weak military responses in the past allowed the rebels to grow bolder,
leading to the current crisis. “The Trump administration and President Trump
have decided to do something much harder, much tougher,” Waltz said. The
conflict has severely impacted global trade, as ships are now taking a detour
around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope.
This alternative route nearly doubles
the travel time between Europe and Asia, adding an estimated $1 million in
extra costs per trip, according to LSEG Shipping Research.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed
the crisis with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday. According
to a State Department statement, Rubio reaffirmed the US commitment to ensuring
safe passage in the Red Sea and taking decisive military action against the
Houthis.
A US Defense official also confirmed that
American forces continue to strike Houthi targets “every day and night” in
Yemen.
China
Develops Deep-Sea Cable Cutter That Can Disrupt Global Communication.
China has unveiled a powerful deep-sea
cable-cutting device capable of severing heavily armored undersea communication
and power lines.The
tool, developed by the China Ship Scientific Research Centre (CSSRC) and the
State Key Laboratory of Deep-Sea Manned Vehicles, is designed to operate at
depths of 4,000 meters (13,123 feet)-twice as deep as existing subsea
communication infrastructure.
This compact cutting tool is designed to
integrate with China’s advanced crewed and uncrewed submersibles, including the
Fendouzhe (Striver) and Haidou series, enhancing the country’s capabilities in
deep-sea operations.
The device has been developed for
civilian purposes such as seabed mining and salvage operations.
The new tool is specifically built to cut
through armored cables, which are strengthened with steel, rudder, and polymer
sheaths to protect the 95% of global data transmission that flows through
subsea networks.
Unlike traditional cutting tools that
struggle against these reinforced layers, this new device is equipped with a
six-inch (150 mm) diamond-coated grinding wheel spinning at 1,600 rpm. This
high-speed rotation allows it to shatter steel layers without disturbing the
surrounding marine environment.
According to a peer-reviewed paper published
in the Chinese-language journal Mechanical Engineer on February 24, the tool
features a titanium alloy shell and oil-compensated seals to withstand extreme
pressure at 4,000 meters, where water pressure exceeds 400 atmospheres.
These features ensure the tool remains
operational even under prolonged use. The device is powered by a one-kilowatt
motor with an 8:1 gear reducer, balancing torque and cutting power while
preventing overheating.
Since deep-sea operations often occur
in near-zero visibility, the tool is designed to be operated remotely using
robotic arms. It incorporates advanced positioning technology to ensure precise
cable alignment…The
military research community has been closely monitoring these developments,
especially after the mysterious attack on Russia’s Nord Stream pipeline.
China has rapidly advanced its deep-sea
infrastructure in recent years, now possessing the world’s largest fleet of
crewed and uncrewed submersibles. The device has been successfully tested in
ground trials, cutting through 60mm thick armored cables.
Bhopal airport witnesses trial landing of B-777 300ER
aircraft
The
Raja Bhoj Airport at Bhopal witnessed the successful trial landing of the
Code-E Boeing 777-300ER aircraft for VVIP transport by the Indian Air Force on
March 25, 2025.
It
is reportedly the first airport in Madhya Pradesh to achieve this milestone.
The aircraft spans a length of 74 metres and has a wingspan of 64.8 metres.
The
airport underwent infrastructure upgrades and extensive groundwork and
structural modifications including an expansion of the runway turnpads and
taxiway, and authorisation from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation
(DGCA) facilitating it to accommodate B-777 300ER aircraft with restricted
take-off weight. Additionally, revisions were made to the air traffic
control procedures to meet the Code-E aircraft requirements.
The
move signifies the airport’s capability to handle wide-body aircraft, and marks
a milestone in the aviation history of Madhya Pradesh.
Air India’s first “refreshed” legacy ultra-long-haul B777 to join fleet by April
The
Tata Group-backed Air India will soon be
pressing its first “refreshed” wide-body B777 into service, sources told businessline.
The
airline had initiated a “heavy refresh” programme for its fleet of legacy
Boeing 777 aircraft last month to provide an upgraded ultra-long-haul flying
experience for its passengers. Sources said that the programme will enhance the
cabin experience of the airline’s 13 legacy Boeing 777s. However, Air India’s
leased 11 Boeing 777s are not a part of this exercise.
Last
year, businessline was the first to report that Air India was
planning a phased “hard or heavy” refresh programme for its fleet of ageing,
legacy B777 aircraft to ensure its passengers on the ultra-long-haul flights
have an elevated experience in the cabin till the time these B777 aircraft
undergo total makeover under the retrofit programme which has been delayed due
to global supply chain issues. “The refreshed Boeing 777 is expected to
join the fleet by next month. It is currently undergoing a makeover in
Singapore,” sources told businessline.
“By
the year-end all legacy 777s will receive a refresh. However, timelines are
dependent on supply chains...Notably, the programme includes changes to seat
covers, carpets, and curtains, in sync with Air India’s new branding aspects.
Features such as armrests, fascia, and trim panels, as well as overhead bins,
along with meal tables and stowage systems, will be also be refurbished.
The
refresh programme is expected to make a “significant” impact on the airline’s
ultra-long-haul passenger experience, as the B777s serve Air India’s most
high-profile international routes to North America and Canada. Presently, Air India’s B777 aircraft operate
on ultra-long-haul routes to cities in the US and Canada. The airline plans
to expand its global network gradually, with more aircraft gradually
strengthening its fleet.
With
its newly refreshed cabins, Air India aims to position itself as a competitive
player in the global aviation market, attracting both business and leisure
travellers alike.
ANA’s takeover of Nippon Cargo Airlines
delayed until May
ANA Holding’s takeover of freighter operator Nippon Cargo Airlines has been pushed back until May as the airline awaits regulatory approval. In its latest update on the deal, ANA Holdings said the share exchange would no longer go ahead on 31 March as planned, but would instead now take place on 1 May.
Nippon
Cargo Airlines Boeing 747FThe
deal has been pushed back several times as the company has sought regulatory
approval. "The share exchange will
be implemented subject to the approvals of the relevant authorities," ANA
Holdings said.
"Taking
into consideration the time to complete the review of the business combination
that will result from the share exchange by the relevant authorities in China,
etc., the company decided to change the effective date of the share exchange
from 31 March to 1 May."
ANA
first announced its plans to purchase Boeing 747-8 freighter operator NCA from
the NYK shipping group in March 2023 and had originally anticipated it would
complete the deal on 1 October 2023.
However,
the takeover
date has now been pushed back five times.
In
January, Japan’s
Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) gave its approval for the deal
after initially rejecting the proposed takeover because of concerns it
would restrict competition on services from Japan to the Chicago area and the
Los Angeles area.
To
appease the regulator, the two companies agreed that they would provide a block
space agreement (BSA) to rival freighter carrier Polar Air Cargo and appoint a
lawyer and an economist to monitor the agreement.
Since
then, it has been announced that the Polar Air Cargo joint venture between DHL
and Atlas Air Worldwide will end. Atlas will continue to hold the Polar AOC,
and Atlas has confirmed that Polar will continue to operate in certain markets
with certain services, including the BSA arrangement.
NCA
is currently owned by shipping group NYK, which decided to sell NCA to ANA
due to the ongoing costs of
running the cargo airline. NCA currently operates a fleet of eight 747-8 freighter
aircraft and owns five 747-400 freighters that are operated by ASL and Atlas
Air.
ANA
said at the time the deal was announced that the takeover would dramatically
enhance its international air cargo network and products and services based in
Japan. All Nippon Airways operates six Boeing 767 freighters and two Boeing 777
freighters.
It
is understood the two airlines would continue to operate on separate operating
certificates.
Levu
Air Cargo freighter set for return to lessor
Source:
SmartLynxLevu
Air Cargo's Airbus sole A321 freighter will be returned to its lessor after
SmartLynx decided to exit freighter operations.
The
Brazilian airline launched
operations in November, operating an Airbus A321 passenger to freighter (P2F)
aircraft on behalf of DHL Express that it had dry leased from SmartLynx
Airlines.
But SmartLynx
Airlines recently announced it would phase
out its A321 freighter operations by mid-2025.
In
response to Air Cargo News' (ACN) enquiry about how this decision
will impact Levu Air Cargo’s A321P2F leased from SmartLynx,
a SmartLynx spokesperson said that "the aircraft is still part of the
SmartLynx fleet, however, due to the phase-out of the A321F fleet, SmartLynx
will soon exit the lease agreement with the lessor".
SmartLynx
currently has 10 A321P2Fs in its fleet, but no other freighter types.
Therefore, the move would see it cease to have any freighters.
According
to Planespotters, Levu's A321F, registered as PS-LVU, is currently parked. Brazilian publication AEROIN recently stated
that PS-LVU is leased from Cross Ocean Partners. The aircraft has been in
Manaus since December, with no departure date scheduled, according to
Planespotters.
Levu
Air Cargo has not recently commented on plans for its operations, but Air
Cargo News has requested comment from Levu Air Cargo on the matter.
Data
from Planespotters shows that it is due to take delivery of two more A321P2Fs,
though there is no information on where these aircraft are due to be acquired
from.
In
May last year, DHL Supply Chain announced a partnership with Levu Air
Cargo for the launch of a domestic air transport solution for cargo in Brazil.
The
project was expected to receive an investment of €90.5m and include the
deployment of four cargo aircraft. ACN is awaiting an update from DHL on the
partnership.
Levu
Air Cargo is headquartered in Campinas, one of the primary air hubs in Brazil.
It also has bases in Recife, Belém, and Manaus.
I hope you have enjoyed reading the above news letter.
Robert Sands
Joint Managing Director
Jupiter Sea & Air
Services Pvt Ltd
Casa Blanca, 3rd Floor
11, Casa Major Road,
Egmore
Chennai – 600 008.
India.
GST Number :
33AAACJ2686E1ZS.
Tel : + 91 44 2819 0171
/ 3734 / 4041
Fax : + 91 44 2819 0735
Mobile : + 91 98407
85202
E-mail : robert.sands@jupiterseaair.co.in
Website : www.jupiterseaair.com 1Branches : Chennai, Bangalore,
Mumbai, Coimbatore, Tirupur and Tuticorin.
Associate Offices : New
Delhi, Kolkatta, Cochin & Hyderabad.
Thanks to : Container News, Indian Seatrade & Air Cargo News.
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