ICS | Around the world news  

HIT for Hong Kong branch

Hongkong International Terminals

Hong Kong ICS branch took a welcome break from the office earlier this year to visit the Hongkong International Terminals (HIT) facility at the Kwai Chung container port area.

But this was more than just a chance to avoid office duties for the day; HIT is the flagship of the Hutchison Port Holdings Group, the biggest private container port operator. Despite concerns that the expansion of other ports in the region would have an adverse effect on Hong Kong’s activity, Hong Kong Port is still the busiest port in the world with 19.1 million TEU handled in 2002.

Covering 92 hectares and accessible via the Rambler Channel to the south, HIT operates 10 berths for ocean-going vessels with depths alongside from 12.5 metres to 15.5 metres and four berths for barges.

Opposite the existing terminals is the site of the ongoing expansion of the port, Container Terminal No. 9 which will eventually cover 68 hectares of land, having six ocean-going vessel berths. The branch was also allowed a look at the Ship Planning office, which is manned by ship planners at 12 networked Guider Ship Planning work stations.

The terminal receives details of the prospective cargo to discharge from the shipping companies via EDI links, and also the loading stowage instruction with details of the available space onboard the vessel from the carrier. With the assistance of the Guider Ship Planning System, the planner then arranges the stowage gang-split of the vessel so as to achieve the optimal vessel turnaround time in port. A typical cargo operation means a 6,000-TEU vessel may only stay in the port for 18 to 20 hours.

Southampton in the news
Southhampton Branch earned valuable newspaper publicity following two major events.

An open evening arranged in conjunction with the Southampton Institute aimed to explain to students and others interested in a career in shipping the importance of attaining a professional qualification. The speakers included Branch Chairman Derek Herd, Director General Alan Phillips and Shirley Wheeler and Catherine Alpin from P&O Nedlloyd, who covered the relatively new subjects of e-commerce and multimodal transport.

Some 50 students attended and at least a dozen declared an interest in undertaking the Institute examinations.

At a second event — the Branch’s 50th annual dinner, with a record 200 guests attending at the fivestar Grand Harbour Hotel in Southampton — P&O Chairman Lord Sterling of Plaistow was the guest speaker.

Customs Introduce IMO FAL forms
Following implementation of European Union Directive 2002/6/EC into English Law, the use of IMO FAL standard forms at UK ports will become mandatory with effect from 6 September 2003.

From that date current forms C13, Master’s Declaration, and C42, Crew Goods Declaration, will no longer be valid. Instead, agents will be required to complete five of the six IMO FAL forms, namely, Form 1, General Declaration (UK Customs Form C94), Form 3, Ships Stores Declaration (C95), Form 4 Crew Effects Declaration (C96), Form 5, IMO Crew List (C97) and Form 6 IMO Passenger List (C98). This latter form is only required for passenger vessels carrying less than 12 passengers.

Certain information, including that relating to vessel safety certificates, will no longer be required to be recorded. In fact, agents will only be obliged to obtain and record the information necessary to complete the forms.

Copies of the new forms and JCCC Notice (03)38 that provides further information on their use, are available from Jonathan Williams at Head Office (federation@ics.org.uk). Customs Notice 69 is being revised to cover the use of these forms and a new edition will be available shortly.

[ Back to contents ]