THE PLIPDECO LESS THAN CONTAINER LOAD

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1 Shipping Association of Trinidad & Tobago SATT QUARTERLY July-September 2013 Inside this issue: Members Making News Members Making News Stakeholder s Forum Quarterly Recap On The Horizon Did You Know? Thought of the Quarter THE PLIPDECO LESS THAN CONTAINER LOAD (LCL) EXPORT INITIATIVE On the 14 October 2013 PLIPDECO will commence operations of its Less Than Container Load (LCL) Export Initiative. The Initiative will be offered specifically for cargo of CARI- COM origin being shipped to other CARlCOM territories and will provide exporters with the ability to ship cargo in volumes that are too small to fill an entire container. The main driving force behind this initiative is to allow for inc r e a s e d i n t r a - regional trade between T&T and Caribbean countries. The service will be facilitated for shipping lines that pres- ently call at the Port of Point Lisas. PLlPDECO will provide the LCL Warehouse facility to receive, store and stuff cargo into containers. For details on the proposed procedure and tariffs click here. PETROTRIN S EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION AWARDS CEREMONY SATT was not the only organization presenting awards to deserved recipients on the 14 September. Petrotrin held their Employee Recognition Awards Ceremony, at Hilton Trinidad, St Ann s. According to Energy Minister Kevin Ramnarine, the employees steadfast attendance to their duties powered the organization, providing the impetus with which to sustain Petrotrin s profitability. Petrotrin President Khalid Hassanali and its Chairman Lindsay Gillette were among the guests who shared in the employees milestones 20, 25, 35, 40, and 45 years. The star employees who had served faithfully for 45 years were Mervin Jack (Exploration and Production) Marshall Lai King, Charles Nehorah, Frank Providence and Reynold Ramsamooj (Refining and Marketing) and Freddie Jagessar (Human Resources). Source: Trinidad Express

2 STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION ON THE SHIPPING (AMENDMENT) BILL 2013 Originally carded for the 16 July, the stakeholder consultation of the Shipping (Amendment) Bill 2013 took place at the Capital Plaza on Wrightson Road, Port of Spain on the 11 September. The Association was represented by General Manager, E. Joanne Edwards who ensured that SATT s concerns were well documented for consideration. Despite newly appointed Minister of Transport, Stephen Cadiz s and by extension the Ministry of Transport s eagerness to have the bill passed within the next year, the Association cautioned/advised that the proposed Maritime Services Authority, as set Stakeholder s Forum out in the Amendment Bill 2013, should have a policy/bill of its own and requires further consultation to avoid a repeat of the current Maritime Services Division. Source: T&T Newsday & Business Guardian Page 2

3 TTCIC s PRE BUDGET PANEL DISCUSSION Shipping Services and Ship Repairs accounted for 8% of T&T s Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) which participated in a Government supported, SME Ratings Pilot Programme. The findings were released at the Trinidad & Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce s (TTCIC) pre budget panel discussion on the 15 July at the Chamber building in Westmoorings. In attendance was Group C Chairman Ian Deosaran. Based on the presentation compiled by Caribbean Information & Credit Rating Services Ltd (CARI CRIS), the growth of the SME sector is critical for economic diversification and sustainable employment. It was found that the major growth hurdles are: Quarterly Recap From investors' perspective Lack of liquidity is a problem exit strategy (74%) Lack of research coverage (52%) Differences in accounting standards and or poor quality of financial disclosure (38%) One tool to help bridge the gap to financial access is the SME Ratings. The report measures the SME's business and financial performance and its ability to sustain or improve its performance. Each rating is accompanied by a comprehensive credit report that highlights the firm's key strengths and weaknesses. As a result, SMEs from the pilot project have been able to use their ratings to: Renew existing credit lines with their bank Access new loans from the bank Negotiate lower interest rates Attract a joint venture partner Negotiate credit from international suppliers Procure new contracts Generally improve business operations Source: Access to finance Despite highly liquid banking sector, 70% of start-up capital come from personal savings/only 11% from commercial banks Bias towards mortgage and other fully secured lending Communication gap between SMEs and providers of capital Poor business practices Limited networks for marketing, and operational and technical support Page 3

4 MSD s BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP invasive species are one of the four greatest threats to the world s oceans. During a three day workshop, (24-26 July) at the Old Fire Station on Hart Street in Port of Spain, organized by the I n t e r n a t i on a l M a r i t i m e Organization (IMO), the United Nations Regional Coordinating Unit for the Caribbean Environment Program (UNEP-CAR/RCU) and RAC/ REMPEITC-Caribe in cooperation with the Ministry of Transport, Maritime Services Division (MSD), participants gained practical knowledge on the required Port and Flag State Control Procedures under the Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention (2004). The course consisted of 5 modules covering 3 major themes: 1. The BWM Convention & Guidelines & other relevant instruments, principles & strategies of BW management; 2. The flag, port & coastal state aspects of BW management; 3. The monitoring & enforcement (CME) system. The training was designed to provide a common set of knowledge and skills to allow participants to take appropriate action when dealing with Harmful Aquatic Organisms & Pathogens (HAOP); aquatic organisms or pathogens which, if introduced into the sea including estuaries, or into fresh water courses, may create hazards Quarterly Recap to the environment, human h e a l t h, p r o p e r t y o r resources, impair biological diversity or interfere with other legitimate uses of such areas. In attendance was Ron Traboulay of National Energy w h o s i t s o n t h e National Ballast Water Committee. THE STAKEHOLDER RELATIONS COMMITTEE On the 14 August the Stakeholder Relations Committee met to discuss/finalize reform issues in the works. The proposed Droghers procedures were revised as outlined in the figure to the right. Feel free to submit your feedback to the Secretariat. Page 4

5 75 TH DIAMOND ANNIVERSARY GALA & AWARDS The biggest event on the Secretariat s calendar came to a close on the 14 September at the Port of Spain Ballroom at the Hyatt Regency as an enormous success. Presentations were made by the Association s President; E. Ashley Taylor, Minister of Trade, Industry & Investment; Senator Vasant Bharath, Director of the Maritime Services Division for the Minister of Transport; Beverly Phillip and feature speaker Principal Strategist of WorleyParsons; Robert West. Award categories and recipients were: Outstanding Contribution to the SATT & Industry ~ Mr. Colin Edghill ~ Capt. Rawle Baddaloo ~ Mr. Noel Jenvey ~ Mr. Cedric Stone ~ Capt. Bjorn Anderson ~ Mr. Michael Marshall Earliest President Living ~ Mr. Ignatius S. Ferreira First SATT President of the Caribbean Shipping Association ~ Mr. Michael Blackman Active Founding Member ~ Gordon Grant & Co. Ltd ~ Alstons Shipping Limited ~ Huggins Shipping & Customs Brokerage Ltd. Most Significant Financial Contributor ~ Seaboard Marine Leadership ~ Mr. Barry Antoni Service (Organization) ~ Trinidad & Tobago Pilots Association Service (Individual) ~ Mr. Rhett Chee Ping Vision ~ Capt. Rawle Baddaloo Innovation ~ Container Recovery & Billing Leadership Development ~ PLIPDECO Quarterly Recap The Secretariat extends a warm Thank You to all who helped make the event possible. Event sponsors were: Trinidad & Tobago Pilots Association, Maritime Industry Development Committee, Seaboard Marine, PLIPDECO, Trinidad Cement Limited, PATT, Caribbean Shipping Agencies, Gulf Shipping, National Energy, Bridge Control Services Limited, Arthur Lok Jack graduate School of Business, L.J. Williams, Gordon Grant, Alstons Shipping and Angostura. Look out for the Anniversary C o m m e m o r a t i v e f o r in-depth coverage and event pictures. CSA PORT AGENCY SEMINAR Right on the heels of the Gala, the Caribbean Shipping Association s (CSA) seminar at the Kapok Hotel took place over the course of 2 days, September. Geared towards ship Agents from all spectrum of the value chain, participants, both local and regional, received hands on training from Course facilitators Dr. Fritz Pinnock, and Dr. Ibrahim Ajagunna, Executive Director and Director of Academics of the Caribbean Maritime Institute respectively. Ships were among the many areas covered. Closing remarks were delivered by SATT President Mr. E. Ashley Taylor. The Role of the Ship Agent, The Agent s Legal Relationship, Critical Issues Relating to Ports and Considerations Relating to the Arrest of Page 5

6 CSA s 43rd ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION The Caribbean Shipping Association s (CSA) 43rd Annual General Meeting, Conference and Exhibition will be held at the Sheraton Panama Hotel on 7 October. On The Horizon As part of the exhibition, more than 300 maritime industry executives will be transported across the isthmus by train to Colon and a visit to the Panama Canal Expansion project. The 43rd AGM, Conference and Exhibition, will end with the CSA s annual Gala Banquet and Awards. The event will be highlighted by the announcement of the annual Caribbean Port Awards. Time has also been set aside for networking activities thus allowing participants to meet and discuss business matters and to initiate contact with potential partners, Participants CSA members and Observers are expected from more than 20 countries in the Americas and Europe. Want to make a last minute registration, click here. INTER-GROUP MEETING With the return of the Group Meetings in June, it was thought by some members that an open Group meeting would help facilitate an understanding and appreciation of the mandates and limitations faced by the Groups and allow for the discussion and possible resolution of common operational problems. On the Agenda as well is a legislative update of all pending amendments affecting the Industry. A Senior Legal Consultant from the Maritime Services Division has also been invited for a briefing. The meeting is scheduled for 17 October at 8:30am. All are invited. Page 6

7 THE STORY BEHIND THE WOODFORD SQUARE FOUNTAIN In 1831, before the abolition of slavery in Trinidad, a Scot named Gregor Turnbull arrived to take up a position as a clerk in a local firm called George Reid & Co. By the time Emancipation was declared in 1834, Turnbull returned to Scotland and established himself as a merchant in Glasgow, laying the foundations of his ship owning activities. He purchased two sugar estates; St. Helena and Santa Margarita in Naparima and then the estate and factory at Brechin Castle. Gradually, he acquired other estates and so his enterprises prospered both in Trinidad and England. These properties would go on to form the Caroni Sugar Estate (Trinidad) Limited in In 1845 indentured labourers were bought up from India and China under Government regulations. Turnbull played his part in both their transport and employment. In Trinidad, Turnbull's trading and shipping interest were carried on with local partners. In Port of Spain, the firm was Turnbull, Stewart & Co. while in San Fernando, the supplying of estates and the conduct of the sugar business was done through Turnbull Ross & Co. Both firms were established before 1845 and the two locations were linked by a fleet of sailing lighters which formed the shipping and waterfront business of Turnbull. Important functions of that firm included the reception and dispatch of the sailing ships in Gregor Turnbull's fleet, the distribution of imported merchandise for the various estates and business houses, the shipment of sugar and disembarking the immigrants. For many years the company operated two local coastal services and cargo from Port of Spain. They first sailed a course northwards to the islands situated in the narrow channel between Trinidad and Venezuela stopping at Carenage while the second sailed along the Gulf of Paria to Cedros stopping at San Fernando and La Brea. The pattern of his enterprises was, Trinidad plantations and factories, trading as Turnbull & Co. produced the raw sugar which was shipped in the Glasgow sailing ships of Gregor Turnbull & Co, dispatched by Turnbull Stewart & Co, Trinidad, who arranged consignments as agents and on arrival, Gregor Turnbull & Co. as merchants sold the sugar to refineries thus completing the chain of production from planter to buyer. This very shrewd businessman played a major role in the development of the sugar and shipping industry in Trinidad and he is remembered as one of the founding forefathers of the economy of the country. In April of 1879, Gregor Turnbull died. The following was taken from the Port of Spain Gazette, April 19, It is but part of a lengthy obituary which was written about the deceased two days after his death. "For him it may be said that he never took up a single property, either as purchaser, mortgagee or supplier, which was not immediately beneficiary to by the connection. Bold but prudent, Mr. Turnbull never entered into any business in a half hearted way; what he took up he carried through. A determined man himself, he had the rare virtue of inspiring others with similar determination. And we question much, if the greater part of Mr. Turnbull's success in life may not be traced to that greatest factor in all success determination of character. Of his public gifts, two may be mentioned, the handsome fountain which adorns Brunswick Square (now Woodford Square) which he presented to the town and his return to the Colonial Chest the sum of pounds, out of his contract for carrying coolies in 1869." Did You Know? Page 7

8 Thought of the Quarter Page 8