FESCO ship capsizes at Istanbul berth

25.12.2024

Fifteen crew on the FESCO-owned container vessel Amnah were forced to jump ship as the loading of the vessel failed leading the ship to capsize.

Ten crew were rescued by emergency services and five others swam ashore unaided as the vessel listed sharply before coming to rest on its port side dumping freight containers into the water. One crew member sustained minor injuries and was transported to hospital.

The incident occurred at around 4 am local time on 23 December as the Comoros-flagged vessel, was being loaded at Istanbul’s Ambarli-Marport terminal. Local sources said the 1996-built, 508 TEU ship began to list as a result of “improper load distribution”.

Although the vessel was being operated by the Russian carrier FESCO, VesselsValue shows no P&I insurance is listed for the vessel.

A Turkish Ministry of Transport statement posted on X, formerly Twitter confirmed: “Fifteen personnel were evacuated from the Comoros-flagged container ship named AMNAH, which was lying sideways at Ambarlı Marport Port. The risk of marine pollution was brought under control by surrounding the ship with a floating barrier. Rescue operations began under the coordination of our port authority.”

The moment that the vessel capsized was captured on the port’s security cameras, which showed containers toppling into the water as dockers ran to escape the falling freight.

Turkish authorities have not said how the loading process failed, and they have not released details of what cargoes the vessel was loaded with and are now sitting in the shallow water at the berth, though protective barriers have been deployed to prevent the spread of pollution.

Ambarli Port is Turkey’s largest port in terms of container volume and the fifth largest by cargo tonnage. It is one of the few ports in the country capable of accommodating vessels exceeding 300m in length, and the privately owned port has been operational since 1994.

India Permits Crew to Depart After Year of Detention in Smuggling Case

23.12.2024

More than a year after Indian officials first detained a Vietnamese-managed bulker on suspicion of cocaine smuggling the crew of the vessel is being released. This came after the crew earlier this month staged a work stoppage to protest their long detention and repeated efforts by the shipping company to have the vessel released.

A total of 12 of the 21 crewmembers, according to The Times of India, were released this morning, December 23, in Paradip Port and will be permitted to travel home. Officials told the newspaper that their release came only after 11 replacements, seven from Vietnam and four from India, had boarded the ship named Debi. Nine additional crewmembers remain aboard the ship but will be released when their replacements arrive.

The ordeal began when Debi, a 37,196 dwt bulker arrived from Indonesia on November 30, 2023, and first went into the anchorage and then moved to the terminal in the Indian port. The 611-foot bulker is registered in Panama and managed by a company in Vietnam. It was scheduled to transport a cargo of steel plate to Denmark.

A longshoreman spotted packages concealed from view and attached to the underside of a crane and reported it to the port authority. An inspection recovered 22 kilos of cocaine, which was reported to be the largest bust in Paradip Port. It had been attached to the cranes with magnets.

Indian authorities detained the ship and seized the crew’s electronics to determine if they were involved in the smuggling. They have remained in detention although no legal charges were filed against the crew. One engineer after an altercation on the ship jumped in an apparent suicide attempt but was rescued. The crew finally went on strike in late November while the ship had been transferred to the dock for replenishment.

An Indian court had ordered the ship sold. According to the news reports, the court rejected a new appeal this month to have the ship released.

The ship will continue to be detained according to the newspaper reports.

New air cargo route links Xinjiang to UK

17.12.2024

The first air cargo route between Urumqi, the center of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Northwest China, and the British capital was officially opened on Saturday.

On December 14, a flight carrying about 50 tons of goods as part of cross-border e-commerce departed from Urumqi's Diwopu International Airport and headed for London.

According to the local customs office, the volume of cross-border e-commerce transactions through Diwopu Airport has been steadily increasing.

This direct cargo route between is expected to further strengthen the connection between Xinjiang and key European air transportation hubs, providing more comprehensive and efficient commercial logistics services for trade and economic cooperation between the two sides, the customs office added.

At present, 14 international cargo flights are operated at the said airport, among which seven air routes connect Xinjiang with Europe.

Multinational companies confident in China's healthcare supply chains

09.12.2024

At exhibitions, exhibitors usually showcase their latest or advanced technologies and equipment. However, at the 2nd China International Supply Chain Stimulation Exhibition /CISCE/, companies demonstrated their supply chain networks and the results of cooperation in this field.

CISCE is the world's first state-level supply chain exhibition. The event, which concluded Nov. 30, brought together industry leaders and experts from around the world, fostering global collaboration in manufacturing and supply chain.

GE HealthCare, along with more than 10 of its suppliers, exhibited advanced medical equipment, including MRI scanners and molecular imaging systems, as well as key components.

“Cooperating with GE HealthCare allows us to have opportunities to learn advanced technologies and industry practices,” said Han Shuang, project manager of Microfits /Beijing/ Technology, which manufactures CT components such as collimators.

GE HealthCare has seven factories across China. Zhang Yihao, president and CEO of GE HealthCare China, said a stable supply of medical equipment is essential to save lives, and China's supply chain contributes to global healthcare solutions.

“By promoting mutual growth, we can ensure a stable and efficient supply chain that connects China to the world and the future,” said Zhang Yihao, recognizing China's advantages in high-skilled talent, manufacturing and innovation.

This year, China has launched a series of policies and measures to expand openness in sectors such as elderly care and healthcare.

For example, the Chinese government unveiled a plan to allow hospitals to be established in some of the country's major cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, as well as the island province of Hainan, entirely with foreign investment, which will help expand the openness of China's medical sector. China has also made efforts to speed up the approval process of new types of drugs already introduced overseas.

At the expo, Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk introduced Wegovy, a weight loss drug containing semaglutide as a key ingredient.

It has attracted widespread public attention as the fight against obesity is one of the most pressing issues. After entering the Chinese market in November this year, the drug has become available on many e-commerce platforms and in hospitals on prescription.

“We are excited to participate in the exhibition and find new suppliers in the healthcare and life sciences industry. We will continue to work with our partners and better serve Chinese patients,” said Zhou Xiaping, senior vice president and president of Novo Nordisk's China region.

The pharmaceutical giant has worked with Chinese companies to build a state-of-the-art warehouse center in Shanghai to improve the reliability of the drug supply chain. The company has also launched obesity education courses through its online patient care platform.

The healthcare industry is characterized by wide coverage, long production chain, side effects and strong agglomeration, among other features. It is among the nascent industries of strategic importance with great growth potential.

According to a report released by the China Consumer Society in August, the revenue of China's healthcare industry will reach 9 trillion yuan/about $1.25 trillion this year. US$1.25 TRILLION/. The industry, which covers medical and health products, food, medical and health devices, and health management and counseling, is projected to exceed 17 trillion yuan by 2025 and 29 trillion yuan by 2030.

The Healthy Life exhibition zone at CISCE not only attracted global giants in medical equipment and pharmaceuticals, but also companies such as Starbucks, Procter & Gamble and Panasonic. These companies showcased their technologies and products in the fields of healthy food, health products and healthy aging.

Focusing on the “silver” economy, Panasonic demonstrated a smart electric bed with a back pressure-reducing system designed to help seniors lie down and get out of bed more easily. The company also unveiled a shower stall, handrails and seat equipped with watering cans to ensure the elderly are comfortable and safe while showering.

These products for the elderly are already being used in Panasonic's Yada neighborhood in Yixing City, East China's Jiangsu Province. This neighborhood is Panasonic's largest smart neighborhood for the elderly in China and the company's first neighborhood overseas.

Tetsuro Homma, executive vice president of Panasonic Holdings Corporation and group chief executive officer for China and Northeast Asia, said Panasonic will continue to integrate its expertise in senior care services and China's unique environment to expand the silver economy market.

He also noted that China has advantages in a stable, reliable and flexible supply chain, and that more than 6,000 Chinese suppliers provide Panasonic with raw materials, parts and finished products.

To contribute to the global pursuit of health and well-being, Chinese and international companies are forging closer partnerships to strengthen production and supply chains.

“Hand in hand with Chinese partners, we hope to make efforts to ensure the stability and development of global manufacturing and supply chains,” summarized Tetsuro Homma.

10 月份,中国国际货物和服务贸易额增长 6%。

02.12.2024

中国国家外汇管理局周五公布的官方数据显示,2024 年 10 月,中国国际货物和服务贸易同比增长 6%,达到 4.32 万亿元人民币。

按美元计价,上月中国国际货物和服务贸易出口总额为 3350 亿美元。以美元计价,上月中国国际货物和服务贸易出口总额为3,350亿美元,进口总额为2,734亿美元。该国录得 616 亿美元的顺差,从而录得 616 亿美元的顺差。美元。

其中,10 月份我国自中国出口商品总值近 2.15 万亿元,自中国进口商品总值近 1.61 万亿元。同时,顺差达到 5391 亿元。

上月,中国服务出口 2342 亿元,进口 3359 亿元。被动结余共计 1017 亿元。