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Tag: ports

Port Houston opens new container maintenance depot

Posted on by Keith McKinley

The Marino Group’s Marine Repair Services – Container Maintenance Corporation (MRS-CMC), a leading provider of intermodal services, has opened a new depot facility at Port Houston. The new facility will support global supply chain fluidity with an expansion of its storage, distribution, repair, and capacity services in the region.

Directly situated across from Port Houston Bayport Terminal and only a few minutes away from the Barbours Cut terminal, the new facility will supplement the company’s already-established maintenance & repair services at Port Houston, providing customers more service choices, including loaded container storage, empty container storage and repairs, chassis start/stop and repairs, grounded reefer pre-trips and genset rental programme.

“The opening of this state-of-the-art facility – which is unlike any other depot in the country – demonstrates our ongoing commitment to providing best-in-class solutions that address the demands of the marketplace as well as the needs of our customers,” said David M. Miller, Director, Southwest & Mid-South Operations at MRS-CMC. “As Port Houston continues to experience record-breaking container volumes, we see a market-driven need to expand our footprint in the region and enhance our capabilities.”

Port Houston is the largest Gulf Coast container port, handling 70% of Gulf Coast container traffic. It recently announced that as of mid-July 2022, it had handled just shy of two million TEUs, which is an 18% increase over 2021.

For over eight years, MRS-CMC has been operating out of two Port Houston terminals, offering Maintenance and Repair (M&R) services for chassis, containers, reefers and gensets. The new Houston depot facility will significantly expand its service offerings while also providing considerable benefits that address daily pain points for a diverse spectrum of supply chain stakeholders. The expanded roster of services include: Pre-pull programme service for warehouses and distribution centres, equipment storage capabilities and efficient grounded reefer and genset operations.

“As demonstrated by our new depot, which will provide much-needed storage and capacity solutions, our goal at MRS-CMC is to create a more connected supply chain and to provide solutions that help our customers succeed,” said Miller.

New governance at Port Boulogne Calais 

Posted on by Keith McKinley

In accordance with the decision of the Board of Directors of the Société d’Exploitation des Ports du Détroit (SEPD), François Lavallee has been elected Chairman of the Board of Directors, while general management of Port Boulogne Calais has been entrusted to Benoît Rochet.

While on creation of the SEPD, in 2015, it was a Chairman and Chief Executive Officer that was elected as head of the company, the Board of Directors wanted to change its governance by separating the functions of Chairman of the Board of Directors on the one hand and Chief Executive Officer on the other.

And so, since 13th August 2022, Lavallee, President of CCI Littoral – Hauts-de-France, has chaired the Board of Directors of SEPD. Lavallee is also First Vice-President of CCI Hauts-de-France and Managing Director of the Evariste Group.

General management of the company is now provided by Rochet. A graduate of the École Polytechnique and Chief Engineer at the Corps des Ponts, des Eaux et des Forêts, Rochet was previously Deputy Director General of Port Boulogne Calais.

He actively contributed to the adaptation of the Ports du Détroit to Brexit, as well as the construction and commissioning of the new port of Calais.

 

UPDATE: Felixstowe strike threatens UK supply chain

Posted on by Keith McKinley

On top of the current disruptions to UK trade caused by delays at the borders, a planned eight-day strike by workers at Port of Felixstowe later this month looks set to pile on further agony. With 50% of the UK’s inbound containers coming through the Suffolk port, the implications for businesses and consumers alike could be profound.

In light of a sharp increase in the cost of living, around 1,900 members of the Unite union say they will walk out on 21st August after rejecting a 7% pay offer from Felixstowe Dock and Railway Company. Unite described the pay offer “significantly below” the rate of inflation.

Bobby Morton, Unite’s national officer for docks,  said: “Strike action will cause huge disruption and will generate massive shockwaves throughout the UK’s supply chain, but this dispute is entirely of the company’s own making.

“It has had every opportunity to make our members a fair offer, but has chosen not to do so. Felixstowe needs to stop prevaricating and make a pay offer which meets our members’ expectations.”

In a statement, the Port of Felixstowe said: “We are disappointed and regret that despite our best efforts we have still been unable to reach an agreement with the hourly branch of Unite. During talks yesterday the port further improved its position offering a £500 lump sum in addition to 7%. The staff branch of Unite and the Police Federation of Felixstowe Dock and Railway Company have agreed to put a similar offer to their members.

“In contrast, the hourly branch of Unite has again rejected the port’s improved position and refused to put it to its members. We urge them to consult their members on the latest offer as soon as possible. There will be no winners from a strike which will only result in their members losing money they would otherwise have earned. Our focus has been to find a solution that works for our employees and protects the future success of the port.

The union has rejected the company’s offer to meet again.”

The last strike at Felixstowe was in 1989.

There is no news yet about whether talks are expected to resume.

R-LOGITECH reports record results

Posted on by Keith McKinley

R-LOGITECH S.A.M., a subsidiary of Monaco Resources Group S.A.M. and one of the leading international port infrastructure operators to the natural resources industry, has issued its first half 2022 earnings update for the period January 1, 2022 to June 30, 2022.

R-LOGITECH reports that revenue and earnings rose significantly in H1 2022. This performance came despite worldwide supply-chain challenges, inflationary pressures, ongoing COVID-19-related restrictions in China and the conflict in Ukraine. Specifically:

Revenues increased by more than 40% to €557.1m (H1 2021: €394m)

Adjusted EBITDA rose by more than 15% to €75.6m (H1 2021: €65.3m)

Cash and cash equivalents amounted to €76.6m (H1 2021: €95.5m) and unutilised long-term working capital lines to a further €27m

Operational and ESG Highlights:

Successful integration of newly acquired terminals at the Port of Hanko, Finland and Port La Nouvelle in France, where our subsidiary Euroports has been appointed exclusive operator under a 40-year concession

Implementation of bulk berth extension in Sierra Leone

Earnings driven by a strong increase in volumes from new and existing port terminal clients across multiple commodities and regions, as well as an excellent performance from the Company’s specialist logistics division

Ongoing roll-out of initiatives Group-wide aimed at reducing the Company’s carbon footprint, with the commitment to implement sustainability principals that follow the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC)

Frédéric Platini, CEO of R-LOGITECH, said: “We are very pleased with the performance of the business in the first half where we have benefited from a strong performance by our port terminals and specialist logistics business across all regions. Looking forward to the second half of the year, whilst watchful of the macroeconomic environment, we expect to further grow our revenues with new and existing customers, particularly in Europe and emerging markets.

“In addition to maintaining our excellent financial performance and our focus on delivering a world class service to our customers, we remain committed to reducing the environmental impact of our operations in line with agreed global benchmarks.”

 

Forto and Hapag-Lloyd deliver biofuel alternative

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Through a new partnership with Hapag-Lloyd, a leading global liner shipping company, Forto has launched a biofuel programme for ocean shipping customers who seek to reduce their transport emissions. Customers booking full container load (FCL) sea freight shipments with Forto can now add the use of advanced biofuel to their bookings, effectively reducing 100% of their transport’s greenhouse gas emissions. As Hapag-Lloyd has extended its biofuel strategy to work with selected key partners, Forto has delivered the first customer in Hapag-Lloyd’s biofuel programme.

Shipping goods with second- and third-generation biofuel options through Forto and Hapag-Lloyd is designed to make it easy for customers to reduce scope 3 emissions and achieve emission reduction goals. Forto supports customers throughout the process. When selecting a biofuel option, customers receive data-based visibility over the impact of biofuel on sea freight-related greenhouse gas emissions and certificates issued by a third-party monitored process.

Michael Wax, CEO and Co-Founder of Forto, said: “Making the shift away from the logistics industry’s reliance on fossil fuels is an essential step towards a greener future. We see it as our responsibility to continue to deliver transparent and credible solutions that can help our customers navigate this journey as they strive to reduce their environmental impact.

“Hapag-Lloyd has made a decisive investment in a commercially available biofuel product and their sustainability strategy is amongst the boldest steps towards the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the industry.”

Mirja Nibbe, Managing Director Area Germany and Central Europe for Hapag-Lloyd, added: “The biofuel offer for our customers plays an important role as a first step on our journey towards being net-zero. It is through close collaboration between Hapag-Lloyd and our customers to jointly tackle the challenges ahead of us. Thus, we are very happy to work together with Forto on this important topic.”

In November 2021, Hapag-Lloyd announced its new sustainability strategy with the target to be net zero carbon by 2045. As part of Hapag-Lloyd’s commitment to decarbonisation and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, the company has announced plans to reduce CO2e intensity (EEOI) of its entire fleet by 30% by 2030 as compared with 2019.

The new Forto biofuel initiative is the next step in the company’s strategy to drive transformation towards sustainable supply chains, with the ultimate goal of helping customers make the sustainable transport option their default choice. Forto’s range of sustainability solutions starts by providing customers with emissions visibility and information that empowers them to make impactful data-based decisions.

In addition to the biofuel programme, Forto offers CO₂e emission offsets for all modes of transport, and German-based Rail Pre- and On-Carriage intermodal volumes are transported using trains powered by renewable energy. The commitment to sustainable transport offerings is reinforced with the company’s own investments on top of those of the customers. Forto teams are trained to work together strategically with partners, customers and other stakeholders to explore sustainability options and find solutions that fit their needs.

 

ScottishPower ponders hydrogen hub at Felixstowe

Posted on by Keith McKinley

ScottishPower, with Hutchison Ports, is exploring the opportunity to develop, build and operate a multi-hundred MW green hydrogen production facility at the Port of Felixstowe – with the potential to decarbonise industry and transportation in the region.

Both companies have set out their vision to help create a greener port, which could provide clean fuel for customers at Britain’s busiest container port.

Plans are being developed to use green hydrogen for onshore purposes, such as road, rail and industrial use, with the potential to create liquid forms, such as green ammonia or e-methanol. This could, in turn, provide clean fuels for shipping and aviation, and create opportunities for cost-effective export to international markets.  The project aims to continue engineering and site development works to align with customer demand from 2025 onwards.

Being ‘homemade’, green hydrogen has clear benefits for the security of UK energy supply and is a safe, long-term energy solution that could be vital for those who cannot decarbonise their operations through renewable electricity alone.

As well as accelerating the potential for cleaner industrial processes at the port, green hydrogen is poised to transform the heavy transport sector, which is a significant emitter of the UK’s current carbon emissions.

Barry Carruthers, Hydrogen Director at ScottishPower, said: “This strategically important project could potentially create a clean fuels hub that could unlock nationally significant decarbonisation for the region, as well as playing a role in international markets. It’s perfectly located not far from our existing and future offshore windfarms in the East Anglia region, and demonstrates how renewable electricity and green hydrogen can now start to help to decarbonise road, rail, shipping and industry.”

Dr Therese Coffey MP, local MP for Suffolk Coastal, said: “I warmly welcome Hutchison Ports’ and Scottish Power’s joint plans to explore opportunities for a large-scale hydrogen hub at the Port of Felixstowe, providing green fuel at the UK’s largest container port. It’s schemes like this – and investment from industry as well as government – which is crucial for us to reach net zero by 2050.”

 

 

Shypple forms green partnership with Value Maritime

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Digital freight forwarding platform Shypple has formed a partnership with Value Maritime as a part of its sustainability mission: a clean future for the shipping industry. The initiative with Value Maritime supports Shypple’s clients in reducing their ecological footprint with a Filtree and Carbon Capture system. These services are available to Shypple users by September 2022.

There are 60,000 power-driven vessels around the world right now. It’s impossible to change all of these to battery power overnight. Together with Value Maritime, Shypple offers an immediate option for cleaner shipping with the ambition to have a Filtree and Carbon Capture system installed on hundreds of vessels by 2025.

Value Maritime’s Filtree System filters sulfur, fine dust, and CO₂ from the exhaust gasses of vessels. The CO₂ is stored on the vessels in CO₂ batteries. These batteries are discharged at ports afterwards to be transported to the greenhouses that re-use the CO₂, to grow their crops, which is particularly relevant to Shypple’s perishable customers.

“The industry needs solutions now, not in the future. That is what we can provide at Value Maritime today, retrofitting vessels to be greener and much more sustainable. Our solution is available for installation on most  ship types immediately. It’s great to see a growing interest in sustainable solutions as carriers increase their efforts to contribute to a better environment,” says Maarten Lodewijks, Director and Co-founder of Value Maritime.

The shipping industry emits around 940 million tonnes of CO₂ every year. About 80% of the world’s trade comes by sea. As an innovative digital freight platform, Shypple takes the lead to reduce the footprint of the sector and  make a positive impact. Additional solutions and insights help the platform’s clients to simplify their logistics and reduce their environmental pollution.

Shypple believes it is important to improve the accessibility of cleaner shipping options. Shypple already provides users with accurate CO₂ numbers for every shipment and encourages their clients to join a reforestation programme to offset carbon emissions, or ship their goods with biofuel.

“We’re happy to announce this partnership as part of our commitment to a more equitable shipping industry,” says Jarell Habets, CEO and founder of Shypple. “We cannot ignore the social and environmental impact of global transportation. At Shypple, we stimulate our customers to reduce their ecological footprint, and thanks to this initiative with Value Maritime we tackle the problem right at the core. We share their ambition as a young, innovative, and sustainable-minded organisation that wants to innovate the industry with positive impact.”

The digital platform provides more transparency and green solutions to its users. Whether it is digital sustainability insights or additional instalments that make cargo journeys more environmentally friendly.

CLICK HERE to watch the video.

 

London Gateway sets volume record

Posted on by Keith McKinley

DP World has, for the first time, handled more than one million TEU in six months at London Gateway, a record for the port as the provider of smart logistics solutions continues to make major investments in the UK’s infrastructure.

Between January and June, London Gateway saw throughput of 1,013,000 TEU, a 10% increase on the previous best half-yearly performance set in the second half of last year. This performance contributed to a record volume of cargo for DP World’s ports in the UK, with a combined total of 1,937,000 TEU when factoring in throughput at Southampton, Britain’s second largest container terminal.

DP World – which operates ports, terminals and logistics businesses on six continents – announced last year a further £300m investment in a new fourth berth at London Gateway, which will lift capacity by a third when it opens in 2024. Globally, the company reported a strong volume performance for the first six months of the year, with throughput growing by 2.7%.

Group Chairman and Chief Executive of DP World, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, said: “Over the last 10 years, £2bn has been invested in the UK. London Gateway is one of the UK’s largest privately funded investment projects of the last 30 years and is set to grow further as part of Thames Freeport. Over the next 10 years around £1bn of further investment has been earmarked for the UK, making it our largest investment outside the Middle East.”

Ernst Schulze, UK Chief Executive of DP World, said: “This record performance illustrates our capacity to expand customer choice by introducing new sailings while continually improving our capability to deliver first-class services for all existing customers. We expect our UK business to continue to grow, fuelled by our rapidly expanding port-centric logistics park at London Gateway, one of the biggest facilities of its kind in Europe.”

“Operating two ports means we offer unrivalled flexibility and choice to customers. Volumes can be switched quickly and easily between locations, giving customers more control over their supply chains and increasing security of supply for critical goods coming into the UK. No other logistics business can offer this level of flexibility and certainty,” Schulze added.

The performance in the first half of the year was driven by a new international service, in addition to strong throughput from existing customers. Goods imported and exported – which saw strong growth in the first half of the year – included coffee, tea and clothing.

New Rail Service Connecting Scotland Globally

Posted on by Keith McKinley

MSC UK is delighted to announce a new rail service connecting Mossend in Scotland via Hams Hall, to Felixstowe and London Gateway. The new Mossend rail service builds upon MSC UK’s commitment to the Scottish market, customers, and ports, by complementing two existing weekly calls into the ports of Grangemouth and Greenock.

Jonathan Burke, Operations Director at MSC UK commented: “We are very pleased to announce that, together with our partners GB Railfreight (GBRf) and Maritime, the new service launched last week will add greater flexibility for our customers to move cargo to and from anywhere in Scotland and connect to global trade routes via the ports of Felixstowe and London Gateway.

This latest enhancement to MSC UK’s long established and market-leading intermodal network offers great value to our UK customers by seamlessly connecting their cargo across road, rail and sea; delivering an efficient and cost-effective solution that helps contribute to our customers’ sustainability goals.”

Intermodal transportation is a core focus for MSC, and the company continues to make significant investments in this area to strengthen its inland solutions offering. Its fast-growing road, rail and barge network offers customers all over the world a flexible and effective way of moving cargo inland and contributes to the decarbonisation of global supply chains.

John Smith, CEO of GB Railfreight added “GBRf is delighted to begin this exciting new venture with MSC. We are committed to working with partners to ensure that we provide a first-class service. One that demonstrates the commercial value of collaborating with GBRf, delivers wider sustainability benefits for every region across the UK and grows the rail freight industry.”

The train service will run 6 days a week and enhance rail and road capacity for MSC UK’s customers, complemented by the company’s door-to-door haulage services designed to provide support at all stages across customer supply chains.
John Bailey, Managing Director – Intermodal and Terminals, for Maritime Transport Ltd said: ‘We are pleased that MSC UK have decided to utilise both of our terminals at Mossend and Hams Hall to launch this service. Our continued investment in intermodal services and infrastructure means the two sites, which form part of our growing network of seven fully open access terminals, offer excellent coverage and rail connectivity throughout the UK.

Jonathan continued: “This exciting enhancement to our intermodal offering ensures we can collect or deliver customers’ cargo from anywhere in Scotland and connect seamlessly to the ports of Felixstowe and London Gateway and mainline services to destinations around the globe.”

As a national leader in shipping and logistics, with knowledgeable support from local teams in Glasgow, Liverpool, London and the UK Head Office in Ipswich, MSC UK is confident that the new rail service will deliver success for all parties involved.

Imperial Logistics celebrates 50 years at Fürth

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Imperial Logistics, owned by DP World, has marked 50 years of logistics services and transport operations at the port of Fürth in Germany. The port is a handling centre for construction materials and agricultural goods for well-known companies in the region. Imperial is set to continue its role that started with the arrival of the first goods via the Main-Danube canal, north-west of Fürth, 50 years ago, on 15 July 1972.

The port of Fürth is mainly a handling centre for construction materials and agricultural goods such as granite, sheet metal, timber and fertilisers.

Mohammed Akoojee, Group Chief Operating Officer, Logistics at DP World and Group CEO at Imperial, said: “I would like to congratulate the Imperial team at the port of Fürth on this significant milestone anniversary. The port and our business location have been a reliable partner for 50 years when it comes to handling bulk commodities and steel products on inland waterway vessels, railway wagons and trucks.”

Rashid Abdulla, CEO of DP World Europe, said: “With 50 years of experience in the logistics industry in Europe, it’s clear that Imperial Logistics not only has the skills but also the tenure and track record of being a supply chain leader. As a key part of the DP World Logistics business, Imperial provides comprehensive infrastructure that helps us to create the supply chain solutions that make it faster, cheaper and easier for businesses to get their products to their customers. I congratulate the business and all my colleagues on reaching 50 years at Fürth, and look forward to the next 50 together.”

The business site in Fürth is part of the industrial business, in which Imperial, an integrated provider of logistics and market access services, has combined its services for sectors such as the steel and construction industries as well as engineering and plant construction.

Imperial handled some 160,000 tonnes of different bulk commodities at the port of Fürth last year. Inland waterway services accounted for about 46,000 tonnes of this figure, trucks for more than 95,500 tonnes and the warehouse building, which measures 8,000 sq m, handled more than 18,000 tonnes.

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