COVID19 SITUATION UPDATE

Week 25
18/6/2020

Inside this issue:

Jordan - Situation Update
After the Jordanian authorities announced resumption of domestic aviation movement between
Amman and Aqaba, The King Hussein International Airport was “well prepared” to resume domestic flights Aqaba Port Update 2
between Aqaba and Amman on Wednesday after flights were shut down due to travel restrictions to con-
tain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. The airport’s preparedness is completely in accordance with
the requirements and approvals of the Jordan Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission and arrangements have
been made for the arrival and departure of domestic flights operated by local airlines, including Royal Jorda- General Industry News 3
nian, Jordan Aviation and Fly Jordan, Physical distancing norms will be strictly followed and the entire termi-
nal will be disinfected before and after the arrival of every flight, while thermometers will be provided to
check passengers’ temperatures at a checkpoint along with other protective equipment including masks and
gloves,

This week, Aqaba Logistics Village (ALV), announced the launching of their new set of electronic
services to its customers, an important step that comes at a time where digitalization is no longer a luxury
but rather a necessity in the shipping and logistics sector. The E-services allows customers to track their
shipments and settle payments electronically with many other services expected to be added soon. ALV is
Aqaba Logistics Village is one of Aqaba Development Corporation’s business units, and working under the
ASEZA regulations.

The general situation of the country and the shipping & logistics sector in Aqaba has not changed.

General Country Update:

 As of Saturday, June 6. the nationwide curfew will be shortened, running from midnight until
06:00 (local time) “ digitalization is no
 Commute between governorates allowed without the need for a permit longer a luxury but
 Cancellation of the odd-even traffic system for vehicles rather a necessity in
 Land and sea borders remain closed, and flights in and out of Jordan are temporarily sus- the shipping and
pended.
logistics sector”
Shipping & Logistics Update:
 Aqaba Ports continue to operate on a 24/7 basis and all gate, yard and quay activities contin-
ue to operate as usual
 Crew changes not possible as all borders including sea, air and land borders are closed and
all flights are suspended into/out of Jordan until further notice.
 Vessel crew are not allowed to go ashore or even to come down on jetty as per official
instructions.
 All vessels calling Aqaba port are still required to be fumigated by specialized fumigation
companies selected in Aqaba before being allowed to commence operations in Aqaba as per
Jordan Maritime Commission guidelines
 Trucks are exempted from all curfews and are allowed to work on a 24/7 basis
 Borders between Jordan and Iraq (Karama borders)/ Syria (Jaber borders) / King Hussein
Bridge borders and Sheikh Hussein Bridge (for Haifa exports) / Saudi Arabia (Omari bor-
ders) are open for cargo transportation - only back to back trucking is allowed
 Customs in Aqaba and at all nationwide customs centers are operating at full capacity
 Import/export clearance processing at pre COVID19 levels with no delays reported
Page 2 COVID19
COVID19 SITUATION
SITUATION UPDATE
UPDATE

Aqaba Port Update

Further information and statistical data was received
this week from different terminals at Aqaba port sum-
marized in the below brief.
Breakdown of Vessels:
Below table shows total number of vessels by vessel
type calling Aqaba port between January and May in
2019 compared to the same period in 2020.
Dry Bulk vs. Liquid Bulk Volumes:
Despite the fact that the number of dry bulk vessels
dropped as shown in the adjacent table, the volumes
of dry bulk handled between January and May in
2020 are almost equal to the volumes handled in the
same period last year. This is due to significant in-
crease in coal shipments which will be presented
further in this report.

2019 (in 2020 (in

Cargo % Diff.
Vessel Type 2019 2020 % Diff. tons) tons)

Dry Bulk 116 96 -17% Dry Bulk 3960592 3967905 0%

Liquid Bulk 84 85 1% Liquid Bulk 3321679 2460793 -26%

General Cargo 44 37 -16%

RORO 121 138 14%

Containers 144 134 -7%

Total volume of liquid bulk on the other hand has

significantly dropped for the period January to May,
2020 compared to the same period in 2019. As the
figures will show further in this report, all forms of
liquid bulk cargo has recorded drops in volumes
handled this year.

Dry Bulk Breakdown

Cargo 2019 (tons) 2020 (tons) % Diff.

Grain 1016138 662720 -35%
Dry bulk vessels recorded a drop of 17% and this is
mainly due to the drop in Grain and Sulphur vessels. Sulphur 382689 324522 -15%
Potash 726040 783290 8%
General cargo vessels has also dropped by 16% taking
into consideration that general cargo is closely related Fertilizers 260238 287584 11%
to the general project construction industry in the Phosphates 1485354 1749768 18%
country which has been severely impacted during the
last couple of months as a result of the COVID19 situa- Coal 90133 160021 78%
tion.
Liquid Bulk Breakdown
While container vessels also recorded a drop in num-
ber of calls between January and May compared to the Cargo 2019 (tons) 2020 (tons) % Diff.
same period last year, this has not been reflected in the
total throughput handled by the container terminal as Crude Oil 1022932 876688 -14%
shown in last week's issue (throughput increased by Diesel 441570 347776 -21%
6%). This indicates that the average volume per vessel is
on the rise despite less number of calls. Benzene 584744 268181 -54%
Ammonia 93668 66697 -29%
RORO vessels recorded a percentage increase of 14%
which is in line with the increase in total RORO Phos. Acid 560038 385478 -31%
throughput handled between January and May of 2020 LNG 344591 263408 -24%
which was presented in last week’s issue.
LPG 236649 222438 -6%
Others 37487 30127 -20%

General Industry News
SHIPPING & PORTS COL-
LABORATION – BEYOND
COVID-19 - 12/06/2020
The importance of collabora-
tion between all maritime sec-
tors has been thrown into the
spotlight during the COVID-19
pandemic and will be needed
more than ever in the recovery
phase, IMO Secretary-General
Kitack Lim told a webinar on
ship-shore relations. Mr. Lim
highlighted ongoing challenges,
including the need for crew
changeovers for some 150,000
seafarers who need to leave
their ships. However, the pan-
demic has led to intensive col-
laboration on a digital and virtu-
al basis between the shipping
and port communities, as well
as with and between Govern-
ments and international organi-
zations. Many Governments had
acted in collaboration with
shipping and ports to address
crew change and other issues,
but more needed to be done. “I
would like to encourage all
Governments to pay attention
to these issues, which impact
not only on shipping but also
the global economy and the
global supply chain,” Mr. Lim
said.
The webinar speakers agreed
that the pandemic situation has
highlighted the relevance of
digitalization and new ways of
working, which should continue
beyond the immediate crisis
situation. One example is elec-
tronic data exchange, for infor-
mation which needs to be ex-
changed between ship and
shore. Electronic data exchange
is mandatory under IMO’s FAL
Convention. IMO is looking at
ways to support countries to
fully implement electronic data,
exchange and the recommend-
ed single window approach,
whereby all data is sent through
a single portal. For IMO’s regu-
latory work, the way ahead may
mean holding virtual meetings
to ensure the work on im-
portant agenda items, including
action on climate change and
safety issues, is advanced.
The webinar on Improving ship-
shore relations in the post
COVID-19 era. Ports and ship-
ping working together on de-
carbonisation, trade facilitation
and automation was organized
by the IAPH World Ports Con-
ference 2021. IMO Secretary-
General Lim participated along-
side Ley Hoon Quah, Chief
Executive, Maritime and Port
Authority of Singapore, and
Guy Platten, Secretary-General,
International Chamber of Ship-
ping (ICS).
Source: IMO
NIGERIA: VESSELS’
WAITING TIME AT LA-
GOS PORTS NOW HITS
50 DAYS
Palpable tension now hovers
around the Lagos and Tin-Can
Island Ports complexes as the
number of days each vessels
waiting to be called in to berth
at the different terminals has
now increased to 50 days.
Aside the increase in turn-
around time, about 1000 con-
tainer load of raw materials
meant for export are also
trapped along the port access
roads due to the chaotic traffic
situation caused by trucks car-
rying export cargoes.
Arising from these challenges
posed by congestion, the Exec-
utive Secretary of the Nigerian
Shippers’ Council, Barr. Hassan
Bello, midwifed an agreement
between AMP Terminal and the
Nigerian Railway Corporation
(NRC) on the evacuation of
cargoes by rail.
The Nigerian Ports Authority
(NPA) has also licensed more
barge operators for the evacua-
tion of imports by waterways.
A visibly angry Bello blamed the
congestion on importers who
have abandoned their consign-
ments inside the ports.
Bello revealed that a good num-
ber of importers have refused
to come forward for the clear-
ance of their consignments
because they are not sure of
when it would be delivered.
Bello who was represented at
the meeting between NRC and
APM Terminals, by the Direc-
tor of Regulators Service of the
council, Mrs. Ijeoma Ezedinma,
said: “Going forward, only ex-
port cargoes would be allowed
into the ports by road. Imports
are now to be evacuates either
by rail or barges
“The ultimate aim is to ensure
that imported consignments are
moved by rail or barges while
raw materials meant for export
that are trapped on the road
are to be allowed in by road.
“The Council will ensure strict
monitoring of the process of
the newly midwifed Standard
Operating Procedure (SOP) to
ensure efficiency and sustaina-
bility of the entire process.
“At the end, only export car-
goes would be allowed to ac-
cess the ports by road. With
this new arraignment, access
roads to the ports would be
traffic free. This will bring about
reduction in the cost of doing
business at the ports because of
the economics of demand and
supply.
“Whoever causes delay in the
new arraignment would pay for
it because we will be monitor-
ing. The council recently re-
ceived lots of complaints that
exports could not be moved
into the ports. Vessels are now
made to wait for about 50 days
at Lagos Anchorage before they
are called into berth at the
designated Terminal.
“We are not supposed to have
containers stacked inside the
ports. The ports have been
converted into warehouses
because most owners of these
consignments are not coming
forward.
“During the lockdown, a lot of
warehouses were locked. These
accounts for why importers are
reluctant to come forward” he
added.
The District Manager of NRC,
Lagos, Engr. Jerry Oche said
that the corporation would be
starting off with two trips per
day, adding that even though
the Corporation has the capaci-
ty to do four trips per day.
“A train made up off 19 wagons
can carry on each wagon one
40ft container while each can
carry two 20ft containers. That
is 38 trucks off the road per
day” he said.
Source: Daily Trust
Page 3
MUMBAI PORT HAN-
DLED 321 SHIPS, 9 MIL-
LION METRIC TONS OF
CARGO DURING COVID-
19 LOCKDOWN
The Mumbai port has handled
321 ships and nine million met-
ric tons of cargo during the
coronavirus-induced lockdown
period, a top official said to-
night. The port is fully opera-
tional now, the official said.
Six cruise liners have arrived in
the port since June 12 and
some more are scheduled to
dock to disembark Indian crew
members stuck on these
“floating luxury hotels” after
the pandemic halted their oper-
ations at various places across
the globe.
A total of 14 cruise liners are
to dock at the Mumbai Port
Trust to disembark 10,000
Indian crew members by June
28, Sanjay Bhatia said in a state-
ment.
“During the lockdown period,
Mumbai Port has continued to
handle large range of cargo such
as steel, sugar, pulses, fertiliz-
ers, cement, motor vehicles,
crude oil and chemicals, among
others, at its berths in Indira
Docks, Marine Oil Terminal-
Jawahar Dweep, Chemical Ter-
minal-Pirpau, and midstream.
The port handled 9.6 million
metric tons of cargo from 321
vessels,” Bhatia said.
He also said the port also con-
tinues to handle cruise liners at
its facility, enabling signing off of
Indian crew on board cruise
ships around the world.
“The port has been in the fore-
front in supporting the seafar-
ers by helping them sign off at
Mumbai Port,” Bhatia added.
“Till date, six cruise vessels
(have) berthed in the port and
more than 1,000 Indian crew
(have been) handled. One of
the huge cruise ships — Ova-
tion of the Seas — was (also)
docked in the port,” Bhatia
added.
Source: PTI
 Prepared By:
AbdulRahman Ali
Operations Manager
Gargour Shipping Company
abed@tgf.com.jo

For