CG Responds to Drifting Container Ship

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The Coast Guard is responding to a distress call from a container ship that lost propulsion in the Santa Barbara Channel.

The vessel Maersk Kawasaki was heading north through the channel when it lost propulsion due to an unknown cause.

The Coast Guard Cutter Blacktip, home-ported in Oxnard, was dispatched to the scene. Tugboats in the local area were also dispatched.

The Maersk Kawasaki is maintaining its current position with the use of thrusters located at the bow and stern of the vessel. There is no immediate threat to oil platforms or the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. The Coast Guard is monitoring the vessel's position through the Vessel Traffic Service and Marine Exchange.

The Coast Guard issued an urgent marine information broadcast advising maritime traffic in the area.

The casualty is under investigation.

PSA-Sical to develop second container terminal at Chennai

Chennai: Chennai Port trust has issued a letter of intent to the PSA-Sical Consortium for the development of a second container terminal over the restructured east and south quays to be complete by early 2008.The consortium, a joint venture by Singapore-based shipping port operator PSA and Chennai-based Sical Logistics, beat 11 bidders for the Rs 492 crore (US $109 million) project, will be in charge of the new 800,000 teu terminal for a period of 30 years.

Samskip Multimodal extends its online customer services

Samskip Multimodal Container Logistics has fully redesigned its existing electronic services and extended its online customer service capabilities.

Samskip now offers two different types of e-services: the new Service Web and direct EDI possibilities. Depending on the size, preferences and requirements of the customer, the most suitable e-service can be offered.

The Samskip Service Web is a web based application enabling customers to log on to their accounts anywhere and anytime to access information concerning their shipments with Samskip.

The Service Web provides a full service enabling online bookings, track & trace, overviews of shipments and invoices. The new online services should be regarded as a natural extension of the existing Samskip customer service teams.

The Service Web is previewed on www.samskip.com./introserviceweb. Jens Holger Nielsen, CEO of Samskip Multimodal Container Logisics, explained that "Samskip Multimodal Container Logistics is seeking constantly to ensure that we operate effectively and efficiently in a way where customers see us as easy to do business with. We are innovating our network, equipment and operational and customer oriented proceses to the benefit of our customers.

"The new Service Web gives customers more control, saving time and providing direct access to all information concerning their business with Samskip - anytime, anywhere."

Talking about the implementation of the Service Web for Samskip Multimodal Container Logistics, Rangnar Ragnarsson, CIO of Samskip, said:

"The existing interactive website really needed improvement in terms of user friendliness and functionality. Our technical team has been working hard preparing to release this new Samskip Service Web. We hope our customers will be happy to use it. Any feedbeck will be very welcome as we aim to keep improving and extending the online functionalities.

"Our EDI services have also been drastically improved and our goal is always to work swiftly to meet any requirements our customers might have in that area."

Besides the Service Web, Samskip also offers various EDI possibilities. EDI, which is short for Electronic Data Interchange, is especially attractive for those customers who ship large volumes with Samskip.

When using EDI the business system of the customer communicates direcly with the Samskip business system to exchange information on bookings, shipment statuses and invoices. EDI is known to result in faster, more accurate and reliable communication between companies.

Samskip employs about 1,400 people working in more than 20 countries worldwide and is active in multimodal container logistics; conventional and project cargo transport, reefer logistics and worldwide forwarding.

With its extensive pan-European multimodal transport service network, Samskip is able to move containers door-to-door between over 30 countries from Russia, Scandinavia and Iceland in the north to Spain, Italy, Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia in the south and center of Europe.

Samskip Multimodal Container Logistics delivers a reliable and excellent multimodal transport solution combining the best of short sea, rail, road and barge connections. The high frequency of sailings, the wide coverage of its multimodal network and its 33-pallet-capacity 45ft containers combine to provide a very competitive and environmentally friendly alternative to road transport. With its wide range of equipment such as reefers, curtainsides, 45ft, 40ft and 20ft containers and 45ft and 20ft flatracks, Samskip is able to transport all kinds of cargo.