The Hindu Business Line : Wheel-set imports

Some of the firms venturing into Concor-type operations — running container trains as well as inland container depots — may be required to import wheel-sets for the flats, for which they have placed orders with wagon manufacturers. This is because the two domestic wheel-set manufacturers, one each in West Bengal and Karnataka, are already fully booked for the Indian Railways and, therefore, will not be able to meet any additional demand.

As many as 14 firms have been given permission by the Railways to undertake Concor-type operations. Not all of them, however, are going for wheel-set imports. In some cases, it is for the wagon manufacturer concerned to arrange for the supply of the sets.

Meanwhile, the Railway Board is understood to have called a meeting on Tuesday to finalise the terms of the concessional agreements to be signed with the 14 firms. Except the flats, the Railways will provide every other item, such as the locomotives and the personnel for running them, the tracks, and the signalling and communications system.

Concor already pays the Railways a certain fee based on the number of boxes handled on a particular route. The longer the route, the higher the rate. Something similar may be worked out for the new operators also.

Load restriction

A statement from the Nhava Sheva Container Operators Welfare Association states that no freight-forwarder will be allowed to carry two loaded TEU containers at one time as their total weight will exceed the permissible limit.

The statement was issued in the wake of a Supreme Court order that State governments must enforce load restrictions on the carriage of goods throughout the country and that the load limit will be 23 tonnes per TEU/FEU.

As each loaded container, no matter whether it is a 20-ft container (TEU) or a 40-ft container (FEU), can now load a maximum of 23 tonnes, the rates for transporting 40-ft container will be almost the same those of a 20-ft container, the statement says.

Failure to adhere to the load restriction will attract stern action by the local law enforcing authorities. The Association is believed to have urged the authorities concerned to delay the implementation of the court order by 30 days so that the shipments en route are not penalised.

Pre-screening in Pakistan

Taking a steps towards participating in the Container Security Initiative, Pakistan signed recently a declaration of Principles with the US Customs and Border Protection.

Once operational, the programme will enable all maritime cargo bound for the US through the Port of Qasim to be pre-screened for terrorists and terrorist weapons. The Port of Qasim will use remote targeting with real-time imaging for a container examination process, while incorporating a live video transmission/feed to monitor the inspection process. Non-intrusive inspection and radiation detection technology will be used to screen high-risk containers before they are shipped to American ports. At present there are 43 operational CSI ports in Europe, Asia , Africa, West Asia, North America and South America.

Shanghai Port, the big mover

China's Ministry of Communications has reported the throughput figures for the country's top 10 ports for January 2006 and Shanghai port continues to top the list with a container movement of 1.62 million TEUs, up approximately 13.8 per cent year-on-year basis.

Other ports also reported impressive growth, ranging from a low of 8.4 per cent (Zhongshan) to as high as 47.8 per cent (Guanzhou).

Shenzhen, close to Shanghai, handled 1.48 million TEUs (up 12 per cent), Qingdao, 586,700 TEUs (15 per cent), Ningbo 500,000 TEUs (36.1 per cent), Tianjin, 427,000 TEUs (15.4 per cent), Xiamen, 348,600 TEUs (14.2 per cent) and Dalian, 230,000 TEUS (12.7 per cent). During the same period, Hong Kong handled 1.92 million TEUs, posting a growth of 1.1 per cent year-on-year basis, according to Hong Kong's Port Development Council.

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