….As Sinokor, Heung-A to Integrate Container Shipping Ops***
Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), a former charterer of MSC Kia Ora thatwas recently banned from Australian ports, said “the vessel was hired off immediately upon MSC becoming aware of the AMSA findings.”
MSC pointed out that it “does not oversee the maintenance, or the workforce, of the chartered vessel Kia Ora.”
The company added that AMSA’s investigation about crew wages is directed to the owner of the vessel.
Earlier this month, the Liberian-flagged containership was banned from accessing Australian ports for a period of three months.
This was a result of the inspection which revealed that Germany-based Vega-Reederei, the ship’s owner, failed to ensure that crew were paid their wages in full and on time, and that critical equipment was maintained.
Meanwhile, South Korean liner companies Sinokor Merchant Marine and Heung-A Shipping have decided to merge their container shipping services by the end of the year before joining forces with Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM).
The duo will ink a corresponding agreement in April when a joint office will also be established. The integration is expected to be completed by the end of 2019, the country’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) said in a statement.
Sinokor and Heung-A Shipping together account for 34 percent of Asia’s total fleet capacity excluding HMM and SM Line.
Last year, HMM agreed to become a strategic partner to Sinokor and Heung-A by creating an HMM+K2 consortium.
As explained, the plan is to enhance synergy effects in the container shipping sector through the collaboration between the integrated company, which focuses on Intra-Asia, and HMM, which has a central position in long-distance ocean routes.
In the second half of 2017, South Korean container carriers joined forces to form a cooperation body named Korea Shipping Partnership aimed at strengthening the country’s shipping industry following the collapse of Hanjin Shipping. The fourteen national carriers launched a cooperation council to overcome the crisis in the industry and seek new business opportunities.
The council removed three routes and withdrew eleven ships, among other restructuring measures.
World Maritime News
