Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Foreign shipping agents refuse cold store containers from Vietnam | Look At Vietnam - Vietnam news daily update

Foreign shipping agents refuse cold store containers from Vietnam

November 9, 2011 about Uncategorized

LookAtVietnam - Some foreign shipping agents have decided to refuse to
carry cold containers from Vietnam after the two reefer container explosions at
Tan Cang – Cat Lai port in April 2011.

The Cat Lai port on November 4 held a meeting with the representatives of the
shipping firms relating to the notices from the ports in the US and the EU which
have decided to stop carrying cold containers from Vietnam. At the meeting, the
representatives of the shipping firms agreed to find a foreign prestigious
inspector who will join hands with domestic agencies to examine and make
conclusion about the reasons behind the cold container explosions.
In late October, Tan Cang Saigon port received the notices from some foreign
shipping firms on the suspension of PTI technical check at the Cat Lai port, and
of the container gas-relating repairs.
The notices were released after the explosions of some cold containers, used to
carry frozen exports, from Vietnam. In April, two containers of a foreign
shipping firm exploded at Tan Cang – Cat Lai port. The explosions of the two
containers both occurred just 15-20 minutes after the plugging in to operate PTI,
killing one and injuring six.
One month after the explosions, the investigation team of the Tan Cang Port
Development Corporation made a conclusion that the explosion occurred because
the gas contained impurities.
In October, an explosion occurred in China with an empty cold container of a
shipping firm. After that, another explosion took place at a port in Brazil. The
shipping firms all said that the container packing was made in Vietnam.
The British Hutchison port informed on its website that shipping firms should
check cold containers which have been used in Vietnam in the last three months.
Once the cold containers from Vietnam get isolated and have to bear strict
control, this will lead to the required higher transportation time and higher
costs for enterprises.
According to the Vietnam Ship Agents and Brokers Association (Visaba), the US
and EU port authorities have put pressure on shipping agents, forcing them to
stop carrying the containers that use cold technique services in Vietnam.
The explosions occurred only at one port of Vietnam, but they have had big
negative impacts, which will bring big losses to Vietnam.
“If the current problem cannot be settled, shipping agents will shift to use the
cold container checking service in other countries instead of Vietnam,” the
representative of Visaba said. The ships leaving for the US, for example, would
drop into Hong Kong to have PTI check instead of using Vietnamese services.
If so, Vietnam will lose 15-20 dollars per every container which has PTI
checked.
He went on to say that it is necessary to verify the standards of the gas
suppliers who provided gas to the shipping firms whose container explosions
occurred.
If the Vietnamese competent agencies cannot show the convincing conclusions and
concrete solutions to the problem, Vietnamese cold containers would be added
into the black list, which will severely affect the exports from Vietnam, a
Japanese shipping firm has warned.
Ngo Minh Thuan, Deputy General Director of Tan Cang Saigon Port has committed to
use the exact gas products required by shipping firms from official suppliers
who can show origins and have certificates.
Regarding a long term solution, Tan Cang Saigon is considering importing gas
directly from foreign importers. From mid November, Tan Cang will begin
verifying the gas quality with a machine in order to supervise the gas quality
before charging gas to containers.
Source: VnExpress

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“I can’t say what made me fall in love with Vietnam - that a woman’s voice can drug you; that everything is so intense. The colors, the taste, even the rain. Nothing like the filthy rain in London. They say whatever you’re looking for, you will find here. They say you come to Vietnam and you understand a lot in a few minutes, but the rest has got to be lived. The smell: that’s the first thing that hits you, promising everything in exchange for your soul. And the heat. Your shirt is straightaway a rag. You can hardly remember your name, or what you came to escape from. But at night, there’s a breeze. The river is beautiful. You could be forgiven for thinking there was no war; that the gunshots were fireworks; that only pleasure matters. A pipe of opium, or the touch of a girl who might tell you she loves you. And then, something happens, as you knew it would. And nothing can ever be the same again.”
― Graham Greene, The Quiet American

Tips on Travel to Vietnam

It's always warm in Southeast Asia apart from high mountains, so leave the heavy clothing at home. Cotton and breathable fabrics are always better than synthetics -- although cotton does wrinkle a lot when traveling! December through April is roughly the dry season in that region, although it can still rain a little. December is a good time to go in terms of temperature -- cooler than in the humid summertime. Either way, wearing more clothing (shirt sleeves and long pants) is always more respectful towards the Asian culture, especially when visiting temples and rural areas.