US containers screened at Karachi

US Customs has begun talks with Pakistan on expanding a pilot program for 100 per cent screening of all US-bound containers at the port of Karachi.

The success of similar exercise at the nearby Port of Qasim is believed to have prompted the US authorities to initiate the talks for Karachi port. The Port of Qasim was one of the seven ports that the US Congress wanted included in the secure freight initiative project of the US Customs & Border Protection agency, which has submitted two reports suggesting that 100 per cent screening is possible only at ports with low volumes to the US. Port of Qasim is one such port and among others are Southampton and Puerto Cortes in Honduras. But at ports handling larger volumes for the US, taking X-rays and radiation readings of every container is not practical because of the expense and logistical challenges of setting up inspection zones in ports without disrupting normal cargo flows.

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Brilliant year for Dalian

China’s largest crude oil terminal Dalian Port Co. rose the most in five months in Hong Kong trading after boosting its first half profit by 70 percent.

Dalian rose as much as 9.1 percent to US 54cents and traded at US 52cents this morning before 11 am. The benchmark Hang Seng Index rose 2.7 percent. “Dalian Port’s profit growth will be sustainable if oil prices fall in the second half and oil imports rise at a fast pace,” Roslyn Ji an analyst from Core Pacific-Yamaichi International told, referring to the 44 percent of first-half sales from handling oil and liquefied chemicals. Dalian Port reported a net income increase of US$32.08 million late last week. Gross profit rose 13 percent to US$57.6 million.

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Big maritime art show in Melbourne

The Mission to Seafarers Victoria will be once again hosting its annual ANL Maritime Art Prize competition and exhibition.

The exhibition promotes excellence in maritime and seafaring subjects in art. Over 100 works will be exhibited this year at the historic seafarers centre located in Docklands. Responding to the theme “The relationship between humanity and the sea”, the artists have created a collection comprising both contemporary and traditional artwork that will be available for public viewing. The Mission to Seafarers is an international mission of the Anglican Church which cares for the practical and spiritual welfare of seafarers of all nationalities and faiths. There are 230 Mission sites around the world and four centres in Victoria. Working round the year, chaplains, staff and other volunteers manage “drop-in” centres called Flying Angel Clubs in Melbourne, Portland, Geelong and Hastings that offer a safe and secure place where seafarers receive counselling and support. Approximately 1,000 seafarers a month rely on the services provided by the Mission and funding is predominately raised through the shipping industry’s support of events like the annual ANL Maritime Art Prize. Major Sponsors in 2008 are ANL, ASP Ship Management, Stolt-Nielsen and Wallenius Wilhelmsen.

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