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Tag: Shipping

DP World trumpets European green credentials

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Innovation holds the key to reducing emissions and creating a greener and more sustainable trade and logistics industry in Europe, according to global end-to-end logistics and smart trade enabler, DP World.

DP World operates 20 terminals in 12 countries across the breadth of Europe, all of which are at various stages of their respective journeys towards implementing more sustainable operations.

The Netherlands

The business has an impressive story to tell in Western Europe where its Rotterdam World Gateway (RWG) terminal, located in the Netherlands, is on the pathway to be the first carbon neutral container terminal in the world.

The fully electric terminal – renowned for its high level of automation – boasts a number of new and existing green innovations and technologies, including 84 electric lift AGVs (automated guided vehicles) that operate on green electricity and 18 state-of-the-art cranes that capture and regenerate their own energy. The use of plastic and other oil-based packaging materials at the terminal has also been cut back and all of its waste products can now be fully recycled.

In addition, RWG is also the first deep-sea terminal that is ‘LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) ready’ and is capable of loading and unloading containers whilst the vessel is refuelling. The transition from using fuel oil to LNG as a sustainable fuel represents an important step in making shipping and the industry more sustainable.

Belgium

In neighbouring Belgium, DP World Antwerp (pictured) has its own set of impressive green credentials, as the first terminal in the world to publish its own sustainability report. Between 2017 – 2018, the report found that DP World Antwerp saved over 10.6 million kilograms of carbon dioxide over a four-year period, while the business simultaneously took over 90,000 trucks off the Belgian roads in the space of a year by offering greener intermodal options.

Its commitment to sustainability is exemplified in its investment in automated stacking cranes, wind turbines and a biogas plant. In addition, the new operations building at the dock – part of the business’ €200m investment plan at the port – harnesses residual energy to control the temperature of the building, making it almost energy neutral.

Denmark

Elsewhere in Europe, DP World-owned Unifeeder, based in Denmark, is a provider of the largest feeder and shortsea network in the region. The innovative firm recently introduced new state-of-the art live tracking technology – ‘Actual Emission Tracker’. The real-time tool calculates, on a micro level, the emissions of each individual twenty-foot equivalent unit, thereby giving businesses greater awareness, visibility and control over their overall emissions.

In September this year, Unifeeder announced its ‘ElbBlue’ vessel was carrying out a world-first trial voyage using liquefied Synthetic Natural Gas (SNG), a synthetic form of LNG that is carbon-neutal and generated from 100% renewable energy.

Turkey

In Turkey, DP World Yarimca recently purchased hybrid vehicles and installed solar panels at the terminal that are expected to generate 4% of its annual electricity needs, helping to reduce overall carbon output by over 220,000kg per year.

Rashid Abdulla, CEO, DP World – Europe and Russia, CEO, commented: “We are absolutely committed to doing all we can to help not only our own operations, but also our supply chain partners and customers, reduce their carbon footprints. We are making great progress in the region, which is largely due to the adoption of innovation and technology, which drives awareness and visibility of where action can and must be taken.

“Over the next decade, consumer choice and corporate procurement responsibilities will drive this type of emission tracking and data capture from being a ‘nice to have’ to a ’must have’ and we want to be at the forefront of driving that highly significant change in attitudes.

“Our terminals in Rotterdam and Antwerp are leading the way and we have a number of exciting green solutions that will be implemented in other areas of Europe over the next five to ten years.”

Europe

Another key part of the firm’s green strategy in Europe is to reduce the number of trucks on the roads, achieved through the increased accessibility of intermodal transport across inland Europe. As a result, DP World’s Inland business unit – which operates across Germany, France, Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands – offers resilient trimodal-transport solutions to its customers, acting as a bridge for the flow of trade between European deep-sea ports and its network of inland terminals.

The firm offers rail and/or barge infrastructure at approximately 95% of its terminals in the continent and is investing further across its portfolio, including further east at its ports in Serbia, Romania, Ukraine and Turkey, helping to create more sustainable routes stretching across mainland Europe.

Abdulla continued: “Our Inland network is absolutely key to our strategy in Europe, with established rail networks in the UK and the vital Hinterland area in the northwest. However, our trimodal transport strategy stretches further east where our terminals in the Ukraine (DP World TIS Pivdennyi) and Turkey (DP World Yarimca) are already seeing the benefits of rail investment.”

A recent study revealed that, when using the same amount of fuel, trucks move cargo a fraction of the distance compared to alternative modes of transport such as rail and barge. The studied highlighted how trucks – operating off 4.5 litres worth of fuel – can only transport a ton of cargo 233 kilometres, whereas rail and barge achieve significantly higher distances of 768 and 1,041 kilometres respectively.

One significant example where DP World is looking to maximise barge use is on the River Danube, which passes through more countries than any other river in the world, thereby making it a hugely important trade route.

Barges on the Danube can transport goods all the way from south-west Germany, through several mainland countries, including Serbia – served by the DP World Novi Sad terminal, all the way through to DP World Constanta in the southeast coast of Romania, where it meets the Black Sea Basin connecting to Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East.

Abdulla added: “It is no secret that the industry must come together to make genuine and impactful sustainable changes as we look to achieve as a sector in supporting the net zero emission commitments made in the Paris agreement.

“At DP World we are very aware that we still have a long way to go, but we are excited by the progress made in recent years and we are in no doubt that we will be at the very forefront of that conversation in Europe.”

Maersk provides end-to-end logistics to Danish Crown

Posted on by Keith McKinley

A.P. Moller – Maersk has signed a global end-to-end logistics agreement with Danish Crown from 2021.

The three-year end-to-end agreement covers all Danish Crown’s business units, delivering solutions on ocean services, inland logistics and cold chain logistics. Access to the digital supply chain platform Tradelens, which is underpinned by blockchain technology, is also a core part of the agreement.

Vincent Clerc, A.P. Moller – Maersk Executive Vice President and CEO Ocean and Logistics, commented: “We are excited to be chosen as Danish Crown’s main logistics company. The food supply chain is highly demanding, but we will work hard to provide fast, reliable and dynamic supply chain solutions to Danish Crown as a modern end-to-end logistics company with fully controlled assets.”

Danish Crown is one of the world’s largest exporters and the number one supplier of pork in Europe. The Danish Crown Group is also the largest meat-processing company in Europe, and Danish Crown Beef is a key player in the European beef market, while the group’s trading company ESS-FOOD sells and distributes fresh and frozen foods worldwide. The agreement finally includes DAT-Schaub, which is a global market leader in casings for sausage production across the World.

With a significant export to Asia and a growing business in both North and South America it is key for Danish Crown to ensure a flexible and resilient supply chain to support their business needs and meet their sustainability targets.

Jais Valeur, Group CEO of Danish Crown, added: “There is no doubt that Maersk is at the leading the sustainability transition within container logistics, which very much aligns with our own ambitions to become the world´s most sustainable meat supplier in 2030. Maersk is a natural choice for Danish Crown, as our customers will expect that we are able to undertake the responsibility of all business activities in the food supply chain right from the Danish farmer to the dinner tables in Shanghai, Tokyo or New York.”

As one of the largest food exporters in the world, Danish Crown values an active partnership with a logistics leader such as Maersk, that can accelerate its business and reduce complexity.

Valeur concluded: “Through sheer business size and its extensive network, Maersk can offer a reliability in our supply chains which our customers are increasingly demanding. At the same time, we will get a partner in Maersk who understands and priorities the importance of an active collaboration in our daily business. This close collaboration is key and will ultimately service our customer’s needs into account.”

 

Reach stacker arrives at “the end of the world”

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Dirección Provincial de Puertos – Argentina (DPP) recently accepted delivery of a Konecranes Liftace reach stacker for its operations in Ushuaia, at the southern tip of South America. Arriving in July 2021, it joined one other Konecranes reach stacker already on-site.

The DPP oversees port activities in the Tierra del Fuego archipelago, including the port of Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. A multipurpose port serving cargo, fishing and cruise ships, it is also a base for Antarctic expeditions. It has had one 45-tonne Konecranes reach stacker in service since 2015, but due to a recent increase in container traffic, it felt it was time for a second lift truck to provide support.

“We held a public tender to decide on our next reach stacker,” says Daniel Carracedo, General Services Director at Ushuaia Port. “Konecranes really stood out from the rest, and the performance of our first Konecranes truck has been very impressive. So we decided to order a second machine from them. Would you believe, a Konecranes technician came all the way to our remote port to help assemble it? The new lift truck was ready for operation within a week. It was a simple, fast and efficient process.”

“This new order from DPP demonstrates their satisfaction with the high quality of products and services that we consistently deliver to all our customers, no matter where they are located,” says Andrés Ramirez, Sales Manager Latin America for Konecranes Lift Trucks. “Local agent Secco has played a crucial role in helping us to build a solid relationship from the very start, always providing excellent local support, including spare parts and maintenance. We look forward to continuing our work with both DPP and Secco for many years to come.”

The new reach stacker that arrived in Ushuaia in July was a Konecranes Liftace 4532 TCE5, a sturdy 45-tonne machine able to stack up to five containers high. It features the OPTIMA cabin for comfort and visibility, a strong box-type chassis and a wide drive axle with a long wheelbase for high stability and safe handling, and a central greasing system to minimize mechanical wear and tear.

The truck uses a Tier 3 engine to maintain productivity while minimising fuel consumption and emissions. As the new generation of the earlier lift truck, most of the spare parts are compatible with both reach stackers, which adds convenience and reduces waste. Smart systems integrate with TRUCONNECT Basic, allowing a remote and almost real-time view of truck usage and easier maintenance planning.

Partnership aims to transform marine cargo insurance  

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Redkik, a global software company with the mission to simplify and improve the marine cargo insurance industry with technology, and Roanoke Insurance Group Inc., a leading transportation-related insurance broker, have announced a strategic partnership they say will be ground-breaking for all parties within transportation and logistics in the US.

By partnering together, the companies are offering on-demand, per-shipment insurance with instantaneous premium quotations at the time of freight being booked, together with dynamic pricing and policies tailored for customers’ specifics needs.

“Insurance for shipping is still determined the same way as 30 years ago, with little to no automation, and outdated IT solutions,” says Chris Kalinski, Founder and Chairperson of Redkik. “This results in low efficiency, double-keying, high overhead costs, and complexity for every party within the supply chain. Our mission is to bring intelligence to insurance and make it simple to secure goods and loads.

“Most annual policies are based upon 12-month forecasts and the policyholder has to pay the premium upfront. Redkik’s technology coupled with Roanoke’s insurance placement offering facilitates change to the old structure, and we are excited to present this ground-breaking, collaborative solution to the transportation industry.”

”Redkik’s technology provides intelligent API communication between transportation management systems and Roanoke’s cargo solutions,” adds Karen Groff, President of Roanoke. “It is a pleasure to work with inventor and innovator Chris Kalinski and his team.”

The new solution will be immediately available in the US market. The company will be launching in the European market and the rest of the world by the end of 2021.

First shipment expected on ‘Brexit-busting’ route

Posted on by Keith McKinley

The Port of Poole, in Dorset, is anticipating its first delivery via a new direct shipping route from Tangier in Morocco. The route has been established by maritime and transport specialist, United Seaways.

A shipment of 100 freights of organic seasonal fruit and vegetables is shortly scheduled northbound. The route will now run once per week and largely comprise the transportation of dry and refrigerated freight.

The link cuts overall journey times on goods to and from the UK to fewer than three days, compared to more than six days via road. It will be used to encourage British importers to source fresh produce and other products directly from Africa, and export companies looking to enhance their southbound trade to Morocco and the surrounding region. Trade relations between the UK and Morocco have a long-standing history of over 800 years, and it is anticipated the link will further strengthen ties between the countries.

The route has been in planning for over two years and will help bypass post-Brexit traffic congestion and import procedures on goods arriving via Europe. It will also significantly reduce emissions compared to current logistic chains by road.

In addition, the fallout from the current pandemic has caused global supply chain bottlenecks, shortages and disruption to the shipping industry, with sharp increases to ocean-going freight rates.

Alongside its strategic logistics partners, United Seaways will be able to offer the new direct line with the most competitive rates, significant emissions reduction, full logistics services including road haulage, door to door services, custom clearance services and warehousing services as demanded by exporters and importers.

To offer this service and to overcome the present global supply chain disruption, current and future HGV driver shortages with the most competitive rates, United Seaways will shift from a RoRo service (unaccompanied cargo only) to RoPax service (accompanied cargo).

Captain Brian Murphy, Marine and Port Director at Poole Harbour Commissioners, said: “The Port of Poole has been working closely with United Seaways to get this ‘Brexit Buster’ service up and running. The service will provide a greener and more time efficient option for importers and exporters from both kingdoms and we look forward to receiving the first shipment from Tangiers shortly.”

United Seaways has also announced the appointment of Amine Laghidi as Board Member in charge of strategy, public affairs, maritime and foreign trade.  Laghidi’s career has led him to four continents where he held leading positions in the maritime, international logistics, finance, industry, infrastructures and energy private and public sectors.

These include senior roles at AP Moller Maersk Group and Colas/Bouygues Group, and agent representation of key multinationals in Morocco and Africa such as Jacobs Engineering’ JV with OCP Group/JESA and key global players in the agriculture and food sector.

He is currently a representative of the African and the Moroccan Business Associations including being President of the ASMEX-Rabat (Moroccan Exporters Association).

Port of Antwerp uses fixed-wing drones

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Port of Antwerp, in partnership with aerospace company Sabca, has conducted field trials of a fixed-wing drone fitted with a powerful camera. The aim was to evaluate the technology’s potential to enhance real-time safety and security by providing the port authority with detailed images of developing incidents.

Unique perspective

Thanks to a drone’s unique view it can make a significant contribution to the overall safety within the Port of Antwerp, which covers more than 120 km² and forms part of Belgium’s critical infrastructure. A fixed-wing drone can remain airborne for more than eight hours, taking pictures with a very powerful camera (30x zoom) from a height of 280 metres. The types of tasks that can be performed include inspecting infrastructure, surveillance and monitoring, incident management, berth management and the detection of oil spills or floating waste.

The collaboration, which also included the Waasland Emergency Assistance Zone and the Antwerp Fire Brigade Zone, tested out various use cases. The images recorded by the unmanned aircraft covered four realistic emergency situations: a container fire, the rescue of a person in distress on top of a windmill, the rescue of a drowning person and the rescue of a man overboard. They will provide insights into the possibilities of using drones within the port environment.

Building the port of the future

According to Port of Antwerp, the use of drones will play an increasingly important role in the port of the future as a means of maintaining safety. Cooperation with innovative partners, such as the aviation specialist Sabca, will form a key part of this.

The trials using the fixed-wing drone were carried out in close cooperation with the port’s safety partners. The experience gained in incident management will lead to even more efficient collaboration.

“Drones will be indispensable in the near future when performing high-risk tasks,” says Thibauld Jongen, the CEO of Sabca. “By carrying out these demonstrations in collaboration with Port of Antwerp, we are able to show that we can make various operations safer and more efficient by using unmanned aircraft for inspections, transporting goods and surveillance. Sabca is a specialist when it comes to carrying out complex assignments such as these, in which different partners cooperate with each other. We ensure that all systems are perfectly integrated so that the drones can collect and pass on the right information. We also use this expertise for other projects such as the automatic transportation of medical samples between hospitals, carrying out inspections of wind turbines at sea, measuring radiation at industrial sites and conducting surveillance assignments off the Belgian coast. By undertaking this joint exercise, Port of Antwerp is once again showing itself to be an innovative player that always seeks to play a pioneering role. We are therefore also grateful that Port of Antwerp decided to work with Sabca, a company also based in Belgium, in order to conduct these trials.”

Bob Spanoghe from Port of Antwerp explains: “Given the huge surface area of the port, drones provide us with leverage when it comes to carrying out our core tasks as a port authority. Our goal is to put in place an operational network of drones by 2022 in order to provide a ‘live feed’ of the various port activities. As a tool, this will enhance the work carried out by the entire port community. That will enable us to have a more accurate sense of what is going on within the port and as we work towards the achievement of a safe, efficient and smart port – the port of the future. This the first time that trials using this fixed-wing drone have been undertaken in a port environment and they have helped us progress yet another step further, including in the collaboration we have achieved with our safety partners.”

Annick De Ridder, Port Alderman: “We are pulling out all the stops for a safe port and drones will become indispensable for this in the near future, also in our port. Innovation and digitalisation are crucial to guarantee sustainable growth in the long term. Port of Antwerp is therefore the driving force behind inventing and realising solutions for the challenges of tomorrow. Moreover, the port is an ideal environment to test and further develop this innovative technology.”

CLICK HERE TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THE DRONE TRIALS

Stena announces LNG collaboration

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Stena Power and LNG Solutions, a subsidiary of leading shipping conglomerate Stena AB, and Global Energy Storage (GES), a developer and operator of energy storage terminals, have announced a strategic partnership to identify and advance LNG logistics and storage solutions.

Together the two companies bring the full range of LNG terminal and logistics expertise from floating storage and regasification units (FSRU) to onshore terminal and fixed jetty solutions. In addition, Stena owns three LNG carriers which it can deploy as Floating Storage Regasification Units (FSRUs) or floating storage, potentially together with innovative jettyless and/or offshore power solutions that do not require onshore facilities.

GES says that LNG is seen as a vital tool in enabling developing economies and emerging markets to switch from traditional sources of energy to lower carbon sources. These economies, such as those in Southeast Asia and Latin America, continue to have a strong demand for gas and power.

Peter Vucins, CEO of GES, says: “This is an exciting and important partnership for GES. We regard LNG as an important transition fuel, especially in emerging markets where there is a strong demand for gas and power and a structural need to switch from coal to lower carbon solutions such as LNG.

“We are also interested in exploring opportunities with regard to blue hydrogen production where LNG is combined with carbon capture to make low carbon hydrogen. The possibility to deploy existing LNG carriers with onshore terminal solutions means that we can move quickly to provide our customers with a full range of solutions.”

Göran Hermansson, Chairman, Stena Power and LNG Solutions says: “At Stena we offer wide-ranging, integrated LNG solutions that provide operational and commercial advantage with increased safety. Our work is underpinned by our values of care, performance and innovation.

“By working with Global Energy Storage, we can share our wide-ranging, industry-specific knowledge to better achieve our mutual objective of delivering more sustainable energy infrastructure solutions to communities across the world.”

 

 

Dunkerque scores highly in port user survey

Posted on by Keith McKinley

AUTF, the French shippers’ trade association (representing importers and exporters from all over France), has revealed its satisfaction index of the shippers’ perception of maritime transport. The document is the result of a survey entrusted to Eurogroup Consulting and carried out among a panel of industrial shippers and distributors from the chemical, agrifood and distribution sectors.

For the second consecutive year, the Port of Dunkerque has been clearly congratulated:

Whilst 57% of the participants in the panel were “very satisfied” or “satisfied” with French port communities in general, the figure reached 88% where Dunkerque is concerned.

67% of the participants believe that the level of service quality in the Dunkerque port community is improving, while 33% consider it stable.

The panel ranked Dunkerque-Port at the top of the most commercially active ports for shippers.

The measures implemented in recent years such as reverse charge VAT, the H24 customs clearance services in advance of unloading, the opening of the Cargo Community System (CCS) and even “the pooling of Terminal Handling Charges (THC)” have been prime movers in the continuous improvement initiative for the handling of goods.

Similarly, during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Port of Dunkerque as a whole took every step required to ensure port operations continued as normal while preserving the health of employees present on the quays.

Maurice Georges, Chairman of the Executive Board of Dunkerque-Port, commented: “In this period marked by major economic uncertainty, the Port Community of Dunkerque is delighted by the results of the survey and would like to warmly thank the shippers for their renewed confidence.”

 

Synergy takes over Maersk’s technical management business

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Synergy Marine Pte. Ltd., a subsidiary of Synergy Group, has signed an agreement to take over Maersk Tankers’ technical management business. This will strengthen Synergy Group’s position within technical management, and Maersk Tankers will become a service company focused on commercial management.

“Maersk Tankers has been transformed from a traditional tanker company into a service company over the past few years,” says Christian M. Ingerslev, CEO of Maersk Tankers. “The agreement with Synergy Group marks the next big step on our strategic course, offering both the technical and commercial businesses optimum conditions in which to thrive. Maersk Tankers will become a service company focused on the commercial management market, delivering financially and environmentally viable solutions for shipowners.”

The technical management business, which has been part of Maersk Tankers since 1928, maintains vessels to ensure their safe, efficient and cost-competitive operation. It employs close to 3,300 people, of which 140 work onshore. Synergy Group, a leading ship manager founded in 2006 and with 14,000 seafarers and more than 1,000 shore-based employees, has been carefully chosen as the new owner to grow and develop the technical management business.

“At Synergy, we have always strived to provide high-quality services to our ship-owning partners,” says Captain Rajesh Unni, founder and CEO of Synergy Group. “Being considered the right owner of Maersk Tankers’ technical management business is testament to our beliefs and philosophy of working towards creating a platform for high-quality and technically adept services. The crew’s well-being is paramount, and we are committed to providing sustainably responsible services.”

Under the agreement, Synergy Group will take over the entire technical management business of Maersk Tankers. This includes customer and supplier contracts, as well as the technical management of 82 vessels, including the vessels in Maersk Product Tankers. More vessels mean access to more data, which Synergy Group will use to optimise vessel performance and reduce the environmental impact of shipping.

The vast majority of the employees in Maersk Tankers’ technical management business will become part of the Synergy Group, which will strengthen the company’s presence in Denmark, Singapore and India.

Following the takeover, the two companies will work together on the management of the vessels in Maersk Product Tankers.

The takeover of the technical management business is expected to be completed during November 2021.

PortXchange joins The Climate Pledge

Posted on by Keith McKinley

PortXchange Products B.V., the Netherlands-based digital solutions provider for predictable and sustainable shipping, is joining The Climate Pledge, an initiative co-founded by Amazon and Global Optimism, which calls on companies and organisations to be net zero carbon across their businesses by 2040, 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement.

The maritime transport industry is responsible for around 3% of anthropogenic greenhouse gases (GHG) emitted globally, releasing around 1,076 million tons of CO2 into our atmosphere every year. Therefore, the entire shipping logistics chain has a significant impact on the planet, which is only increasing as our consumption patterns continue to grow.

Sjoerd de Jager, Managing Director at PortXchange, said: “Joining the Climate Pledge was a logical extension to what we do, as we really believe we can turn the climate crisis into climate action. As the first shipping technology company to join the pledge, we aim to take a leadership role by promoting digitalisation and decarbonisation amongst our shipping partners, such as port authorities and the cities they serve. We want to inspire a movement of shipping businesses looking to do the same.”

As part of the Climate Pledge, PortXchange commits itself to:

  • Measure and report GHG emissions on a regular basis
  • Implement decarbonisation strategies in line with the Paris Agreement through real business changes and innovations, including efficiency improvements, renewable energy, materials reductions and other carbon emission elimination strategies
  • Neutralise any remaining emissions with additional, quantifiable, real, permanent, and socially-beneficial offsets to achieve net zero annual carbon emissions by 2040

PortXchange has already acted on all three commitments:

  • Preparing an annual footprint analysis
  • Implementing a travel policy where employees attend online international meetings and conferences as much as possible
  • Implementing Travelperk, a business travel platform, which features Greenperk that advises on the most environmentally friendly travel mode and lets your company offset 100% of the carbon emissions generated during business travel automatically through its platform on a per-trip basis. For office commuting, PXP subsidises the use of public transport for those who cannot commute by bicycle

PortXchange’s main aim is to support its customers to reduce emissions and improve operational efficiency by developing digital tools that can be scaled across ports globally.

Last year, the Company made a public commitment to the environment by building digital solutions that support a reduction in the shipping industry’s carbon footprint.

Through the company’s application, there is an emissions tab which shows users the amount of GHG emissions saved by using PortXchange’s platform as well as guidance on how to reduce CO2 and NOx levels by having vessels arrive at the port just-in-time. The Company, together with Netherlands-based research organisation TNO, is also developing an algorithm to measure and monitor CO2 emissions for ships on passage towards the port and at anchorage, which adds value to port authorities in their pursuit to reduce emissions in the ports and the cities they are part of.

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