5 January, 2023

Liebherr Delivers Harbour Crane to Esbjerg

Posted on 5 January, 2023 by David Priestman

After a Liebherr LHM 600 mobile harbour crane could not be delivered due to an incident during transport in the Kiel Canal at the end of last year, Liebherr-MCCtec Rostock GmbH delivered a replacement unit at short notice. With the new LHM 800 High Rise, Port Esbjerg in Denmark now has two of the strongest mobile harbour cranes in the world.

The delivery took place only a short time after an incident in the Kiel Canal, in which an LHM 600 ordered by Port Esbjerg was damaged while passing under the Holtenau High Bridge. Liebherr-MCCtec Rostock GmbH sent service engineers and technical specialists to assess the situation on site and to assist with the recovery immediately after the incident. In addition, every effort was made to deliver a
replacement unit to Port Esbjerg as quickly as possible.

A partnership based on trust

“We have a long and cooperative relationship with the Port of Esbjerg. So it goes without saying that one of our top priorities after the incident was to deliver a new machine as quickly as possible. With a lot of commitment, the trust of our customer and a strong team, we succeeded,” says Roman Chopyk, Area Manager for Liebherr Mobile Harbour Cranes. With the early delivery of the LHM 800 High Rise, Liebherr is fulfilling its customer promise despite the circumstances and is helping the Port of Esbjerg to achieve its ambitious goals. A new LHM 600 will also be delivered as soon as possible.

“Liebherr’s strength and commitment to solve urgent and complex problems is of real value to Port Esbjerg, albeit it is the robustness and operability of these advanced cranes we treasure most,” says Dennis Jul Pedersen, CEO Port Esbjerg.

Third port worldwide

The first LHM 800 for Port Esbjerg was delivered in 2019. It is the largest and most powerful mobile harbour crane in the Liebherr portfolio. The high-rise-version allows the customer to lift project cargo up to a height of 92 metres. The LHM 800 meets the ever-increasing demand for mobile heavy-duty cranes in the maritime sector.

A major driver of this development is the wind industry. In a special heavy-lift version, the LHM 800 can lift loads of up to 308 tonnes. With the delivery of the second LHM 800, the Port of Esbjerg today already has the seventh Liebherr mobile harbour crane in operation. It will thus be the third port in the world to count two LHM 800s among its fleet. With this equipment, tandem lifts of up to 616 tonnes are possible. This means that even components of the next generation of offshore wind turbines can be handled quickly and safely.

The Port of Esbjerg is a European leader in handling wind energy components and plays a key role in the Danish offshore wind industry: 80% of the offshore wind capacity installed in Europe was shipped from the Port of Esbjerg.

About Liebherr-MCCtec Rostock GmbH

Liebherr-MCCtec Rostock GmbH is one of the leading European manufacturers of maritime handling solutions. The product range includes ship, mobile harbour and offshore cranes. Reach stackers and components for container cranes are also included in the product portfolio.

About the Liebherr Group

The Liebherr Group is a family-run technology company with a broadly diversified product range. The company is one of the largest construction machinery manufacturers in the world. However, it also offers high-quality, user-oriented products and services in many other areas. Today, the group comprises more than 140 companies on all continents. In 2021, it employed more than 49,000 people and generated a total consolidated turnover of over 11.6 billion euros. Liebherr was founded in 1949 in Kirchdorf an der Iller in southern Germany. Since then, the employees have pursued the goal of convincing their customers with sophisticated solutions and contributing to technological progress.

Liebherr Delivers Harbour Crane to Esbjerg

Posted on 5 January, 2023 by Keith McKinley

A partnership based on trust

Third port worldwide

About Liebherr-MCCtec Rostock GmbH

About the Liebherr Group

Role of Digital Logistics Intermediaries

Posted on 5 January, 2023 by David Priestman

What added value do digital logistics intermediaries provide, under what framework, and how do they interact with customers? Argentinian writer Gino Baldissare reports.

Technology is nowadays disrupting business more than ever, and international trade is not an exception. Digitalization of documents, as well as blockchain-based solutions for many responsibilities and functions, is one of the main boosters of that disruption.

What hub ports and airports mean to physical transportation, digital logistics platforms mean for all the information related to that transportation. It is in this scenario where new kinds of suppliers transform the concept of a logistics intermediary.

Who are the customers and what they can do?

The main concept behind these digital services is the possibility of managing all the necessary documents and data with multiple parties in one single platform. The market segment includes mainly freight forwarders, shipping lines, exporters, importers and customs brokers; each one of them making use of different services, as their roles in the global supply chain are different.

In terms of data and documents, we can identify three groups of functionalities:
· Assemble: generation and management of compliant shipping and trade information.
· Exchange: legal transfer and presentation of original electronic title documents.
· Storage: a full-time available information repository with comprehensive audit logs.

Digital Logistics

In practice this means, for example, that all events related to electronics Bill of Lading (eBL) or Certificate of Origin (eCOO) are identical to the paper process, but signing, attaching, sealing and transferring are now tasks replaced by some clicks in a digital platform.

How does this adds value to the business?

· Better service to customers: using electronic documents allows to save time in managing tasks like amendments, replacements and re-issues, as well as reduces potential delays, errors and risks.
· Blockchain: as most of these platforms are blockchain-supported, all data and documents managed through them get benefits like source and ownership validation and transparency; which is critical when title documents are involved.
· Audits: a complete document storage accessible anytime and anywhere, improved by blockchain advantages; thus becoming a key point at the moment of, for example, Customs audits.
· Cost-effective: due to it being faster and cheaper to send documents digitally, there are real gains in costs and time, avoiding potential detention and demurrage charges.

How does it collaborate with customers?

One of the most important points is how the user interacts with these digital logistics platforms, flexibility being a key word. It has to do not only with streamlined processes and intuitive interfaces, but also with access and integration.

· Web-based: this involves minimum cost and investment, as no software installation is needed, nor integration required. The access is made in seconds through user and password, and the whole experience relies on a cloud-based web portal.
· Integrated: this enables interoperability through API for integration with existing in-house business and third party applications (carriers’ back-office systems, corporate ERPs and blockchains, etc.) to manage all kind of tasks. For example eBL events, such as notifications, title transfer, amendment and surrender.

Legal Framework and Standards

Like any other business field, in this sector the government regulations, at national and supranational level, are mandatory despite what it is required by private players in the market. In addition, there are some carriers, shippers and trade industry standards that are recommended to be met in order to become a provider.

Therefore, the technology behind these digital logistics platforms (security architecture, data-centres, information services, etc.) must be in compliance with different standards and regulations.
· Comite Maritime International (rules for Electronic Bill of Ladings)
· Rotterdam Rules (UN Convention on Contracts for the International Carriage of Goods)
· UNCITRAL (Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records)
· International Group of P&I Clubs: they insure most of the ocean cargo and vessels. Therefore, a shipment under an eBL issued by a system approved by these clubs can have their coverage.
· ISO 27001 (assurance, confidentiality and integrity of information and the systems that process it)
· General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
· SSAE16 Auditing Standard
· Disaster Recovery (DR): capability to ensure that the primary production datacentres can continue working even in the case of damages caused by major disasters.

Role of Digital Logistics Intermediaries

Posted on 5 January, 202331 July, 2025 by David Priestman

What added value do digital logistics intermediaries provide, under what framework, and how do they interact with customers? Argentinian writer Gino Baldissare reports.

Who are the customers and what they can do?

Digital Logistics

How does this adds value to the business?

How does it collaborate with customers?

Legal Framework and Standards

2022: Year of 10 Million Pallet Movements

Posted on 5 January, 20237 August, 2025 by David Priestman

Upholding its position as industry leader, between 1 January and 31 December 2022, the Palletways Group belonging to Imperial, a DP World Company, which operates in the UK, the Benelux, Germany, Iberia, Italy and Hungary, transported almost ten million pallets.

To further strengthen the network, ensure operational efficiency and enhanced customer service levels, last year the Group appointed 27 independent transport companies to work within the network with recruitment hot-spots in the UK, Iberia, Italy and Germany.

The Group also celebrated four years since it expanded its coverage across the continent with the launch of its Hungarian network in Biatorbagy. Since its launch in 2018, Hungary’s 110+-team have handled 550,000 domestic and international pallet deliveries, its 80-strong fleet have moved 240,000 tonnes of consignments – the equivalent of 10,000 fully-loaded trucks – which have covered more than four million kilometres. Members provide 100 per cent coverage across the country and the network handles the shipping requirements of more than 700 customers.

Luis Zubialde, Palletways’ CEO, said the Group is proud of its performance during 2022. “We’re encouraged with our volumes, particularly when set against the backdrop of numerous external factors including Brexit and the driver shortage.

“As we look ahead to 2023, with the prospect of global economic uncertainty and the knock-on effect on spend, I’m reassured with the resilience across the Group. I’d also like to commend our member recruitment team who have performed excellently over the past 12 months to strengthen our network. I know they’ll continue to do so as we look to increase our presence across the UK and Europe into 2023 and beyond.

“With several exciting developments in the pipeline for Q1 2023, including the launch of two new hubs in our Iberian and Italian networks, we remain focused on delivering an even greater service for our members and their customers.”

Network pallet movements

Rob Gittins, Managing Director for Palletways UK, added: “Our network of members in the UK worked exceptionally hard during 2022 to overcome a challenging market, while still providing excellent service. We also welcomed 11 new members to the UK network. It is this targeted recruitment of resilient and dedicated logistics companies that creates a buoyant and cohesive membership. Despite the economic outlook, I’m confident the robustness of our network will stand us in good stead during the next 12 months.”

Founded in the UK in 1994, Palletways specialises in the express delivery of palletised freight. It is Europe’s largest pallet network, with more depots and larger volumes than any other freight forwarder, handling more than 45,000 pallets every day which equates to one pallet every two
seconds.

About Palletways

Palletways is part of the Imperial Group. Founded in the UK in 1994, specialises in the express delivery of palletised freight. Palletways has Europe’s largest pallet network, with more depots and larger volumes than any other freight forwarder. Palletways handles more than 45,000 pallets every day. This equates to one pallet every two seconds.

Since its launch, Palletways has built a strategic network of over 400 depots and 20 hubs, serving 24 European countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Romania, Spain, Slovakia, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

As Palletways’ operations continue, we’re committed to keeping essential supply chains open, despite the challenge of COVID-19. Palletways’ top priority is the health and safety of our employees, customers and communities. That’s why we closely follow government and medical advice to put safety at the forefront of our daily activities.

Subscribe