Expedition and freight forwarding solutions

The Suez Canal recently completed one of the most unique transits and the largest of its kind in the 154-year history of the waterway. A missive floating dock being transferred from Singapore to Turkey made its way north on November 7 and 8 after intricate planning.

The Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, Admiral Ossama Rabiee explained that the transit of the floating dock required several pre-transit procedures, starting with the navigation plan prepared by the Navigation Monitoring Center, followed by discussions and analysis of necessary navigation safety measures for the safe transit of the dock at the SCA's Simulation and Maritime Training Academy. An initial inspection of the dock was then conducted at the Suez Anchorage Area by a working group of pilots and tug masters.

The transit of the floating dock Dourado is considered a non-conventional transit operation as it was moved through guided by tugs without propulsion power. It is 91,000 tons and had a total transit length (including the dock and tugs) of 1,476 feet (450 meters) with a width of 295 feet (90 meters). As such, it became the largest floating unit to transit the Canal by towing.

The Suez Canal Authority highlights that the transit was only possible because of the canal expansion program as part of its southern sector development project. Before the expansion, the maximum allowable beam under the navigation rules was 70 meters for the transit. The expansion project added 40 meters to the canal’s width on the eastern side and also reduced water current effects. This enhanced navigation safety in the southern sector.

Despite the enhancements to the canal, the SCA notes the dock’s transit required precise maneuvering and careful monitoring of the water and air currents to maintain its navigational axis throughout the voyage.

As the dock was relying solely on tugs a speed restriction of a maximum of 4 knots was placed on the transit. Once the dock arrived in the canal’s southern anchorage, two escort tugs from Singapore, Hulk II and Maverick 1, were positioned at the front of the dock. Five SCA tugs and a lead boat were assigned with one tug placed on each side in the central position and the others providing rear support. The team also consisted of 16 canal pilots and 10 tug masters.

The dock moving as part of a northbound convoy required 24 hours to complete the transit of the Suez Canal.

In one of the more unique operations and a creative demonstration of the circular economy, the hulk of the fire-damaged car carrier Fremantle Highway is off to China to be rebuilt into a new vessel. It is one of the first times that such a heavily fire-damaged vessel is being repurposed emphasizing the need for additional capacity in the car carrier segment.

The ship brokerage firm Friday & Company based in the Netherlands is calling attention to the unique deal and its role in arranging for the transport of the vessel. They highlighted brokering a major charter deal between heavily lift shipping specialist Boskalis and the Chinese buyer of the vessels as well as clearing all the red tape to make the transfer possible for the vessel now named Floor.

Friday & Co detailed the operation to the publication Heavy Lift reporting it provided representation for its client during pre-loading preparations, and a marine warranty surveyor was engaged to address safety requirements and structural adaptations post-fire. The modifications to Floor’s structure following steel cuts altered its bending and twisting characteristics added complexity to the load-out process.

A fire broke out on the Fremantle Highway (18,549 dwt) on July 25, 2023, shortly after the vessel left Germany loaded with approximately 3,800 vehicles including up to 55 electric vehicles. One crewmember died in a poorly organized evacuation of the vessel, but the others made it to safety in the Netherlands. The fire burned for a week before the vessel was brought to Eemshaven and later to Rotterdam for the salvage operation.

The 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE), the world's first national-level import expo, will open next week in Shanghai, East China.

The upcoming CIIE, scheduled to be held from November 5 to 10, will feature representatives from 152 countries, regions and international organizations, with 297 Fortune Global 500 enterprises or industry leaders among the participants, a new historic high of its kind.

In the previous six such events, some 2,500 new products, technologies and services have been introduced and the total value in purchase intentions exceeded US$420 billion. THE TOTAL VALUE OF THE EVENT IS ESTIMATED TO BE US$420 BILLION.

CIIE aims to serve as a platform to publicize measures to promote openness and demonstrate China's confidence and determination, providing a convenient occasion to share its new development opportunities with the rest of the world. It has become a platform for expanding the country's high-level openness and a public good available to the entire global community.

China continues to pursue policies to promote foreign trade and attract foreign investment, creating new international competitive advantages and achieving mutual benefits with other countries.

In June 2023, the State Council of the People's Republic of China issued a circular stating that China plans to deepen reforms in some eligible free trade zones and Hainan Free Trade Port to ensure that they comply with international high-standard trade and economic rules in an effort to promote institutional openness. The eligible free trade zones /FTAs/ are located in the centralized cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin and the provinces of Guangdong and Fujian.

On October 25 this year, China published a document according to which lessons learned will be shared in other FTZs or even nationwide. The measures to be implemented in the pilot cover six aspects: trade in goods, trade in services, digital trade, personnel engagement, business environment and risk prevention and control.

China has established 22 pilot free trade zones /FTAs/ covering coastal, inland and border areas, which account for about 20 percent of the country's total foreign investment and foreign trade turnover. The foreign trade turnover of China's pilot free trade zones increased by 11.99 percent year-on-year in the first three quarters of 2024.

China has made sustained efforts to reduce tariffs. China has announced zero customs duties on 100 percent of taxable items from least developed countries that have diplomatic relations with China. The new regime will take effect on December 1 this year.

China also continues to pursue policies aimed at creating a favorable environment for foreign investors. On Friday, the 2024 version of the negative list for foreign investment access came into effect, which has been reduced by two articles related to manufacturing compared with the previous version.

The number of articles in the new document, which lists industries closed to foreign investors, has been reduced to 29.

This fully demonstrates China's active willingness to expand mutual benefits and clear stance in supporting economic globalization, said Jin Xiangdong, spokesman for the State Development and Reform Committee of the People's Republic of China, adding that further efforts will be made to enhance liberalization and simplify procedures for attracting foreign investment, as well as optimize services for foreign investors.