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Tag: Shipping

Construction of Skandia Gateway on track

Posted on by Keith McKinley

The film “Skandia Gateway” shows how it will soon be possible for the world’s largest ship to enter the Port of Gothenburg fully loaded and provide increased efficiency and less climate footprint.

The fairway needs to be deepened to 17.5m if the world’s largest ocean-going vessels are to be able to call at the Port of Gothenburg fully loaded. This will prove crucial if Swedish industry is to have greater access to the world in the future. The Skandia Gateway project is already underway and construction is scheduled to begin during the first quarter of next year.

“We are keeping to the timetable and looking forward to breaking ground. At the moment we are working with technical solutions, calculations, risk analyses, and other preconstruction work. The environmental permit process is taking place in parallel at the Land and Environment Court. We hope to secure an environmental permit in time for commencement of construction at the beginning of next year,” said Jan Andersson, Skandia Gateway Project Manager at the Gothenburg Port Authority.

The permit application was submitted to the Land and Environment Court just before Christmas 2020, and during the spring additional documentation will be provided as necessary.

“Everything is proceeding according to plan and no unexpected opinions or objections have emerged. We are looking forward with confidence to seeing how the process will unfold as we move on to the main hearing,” said Kristina Bernstén, Skandia Gateway Sub-Project Manager, Environment, at the Gothenburg Port Authority.

Skandia Gateway has three funding bodies: the Swedish Transport Administration, the Swedish Maritime Administration, and the Gothenburg Port Authority. The port is responsible for the cost of reinforcing the quays and dredging the docks.

“We aim to build sustainably, which means that financial and environmental considerations are our first priority. We are choosing the construction materials carefully and we are conscious of the fact that the quays need to be fit for purpose for many generations to come. To ensure this, the focus in our technical solutions is firmly on life-cycle cost analyses with a 100-year horizon. A higher investment cost initially will be outweighed by lower maintenance costs over time,” said Jan Andersson.

A film has been made to show the need and the importance of having a deeper port area if Swedish industry is to develop in the future. The film explains the work behind increasing the depth of the docks and the fairway from the current 13.5m to 17.5m. Dredging 6km of fairway will result in the removal of 12 million cubic metres of clay. At Skandiahamnen, the existing terminal and 1.2km of quays will be reinforced to allow two ocean-going vessels to load and discharge at the same time.

The first phase in the construction of Skandia Gateway is scheduled for completion in 2026.

Click here to watch the film

P&O doubles Zeebrugge-Hull sailings

Posted on by Keith McKinley

P&O Ferries has introduced a second ship on its popular Zeebrugge-Hull route. The integrated ferry and logistics business has added MV Freya to its schedule on the North Sea Lo-Lo route in response to rapidly growing demand from British and European customers who need a fast and cost efficient way of transporting goods between the two markets.

The 117m container ship has the capacity to carry 650 TEUs. Together with sister ship Elisabeth, the addition of MV Freya will double capacity on the route and increase the number of sailings in each direction every week to six.

Thorsten Runge, Managing Director of P&O Freight Ferries Services, said: “We are delighted to introduce MV Freya onto our Zeebrugge-Hull route, which is already one of the most cost-effective ways to move goods between Europe and the north of Britain.

“We can guarantee that our customers will benefit from faster turnaround times, enabling them to exit the port as quickly as possible and continue their journeys on the excellent road links to the industrial hubs along the M62, M6 and M1 corridors.

“With the support of our parent company DP World, which is continuing to invest in its UK logistics infrastructure, we are committed to expanding our services to ensure the fast and efficient flow of goods between the UK and Europe.”

P&O is a leading pan-European ferry and logistics group at the heart of the Europe’s economy and a part of DP World, the leading provider of smart logistics solutions and enabler of the flow of trade across the globe. P&O Ferries is a major provider of freight transport and passenger travel services, sailing on eight major routes between Britain, France, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Holland and Belgium. Working closely with P&O Ferries, its logistics business P&O Ferrymasters operates integrated road and rail links to countries across the continent including Italy, Poland, Germany, Spain and Romania, and facilitates the onward movement of goods to Europe from Asian countries via the Silk Road.

Stolt joins zero carbon shipping initiative

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Stolt Tankers and Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping have signed a Partnership Agreement that formalises their joint working. With this agreement, Stolt Tankers becomes an official partner to the Center, committing to long-term collaboration around the development of zero carbon solutions for the maritime industry.

Through this partnership the two organisations commit to extensive knowledge sharing and to exploring future fuel pathways where Stolt Tankers brings valuable expertise around the challenges and safety aspects of handling fuels and chemicals both at sea and in terminals.

Other possible areas of collaboration include energy efficiency opportunities and new technologies where Stolt Tankers has a long history of looking across and beyond the shipping industry as a driver of innovative solutions. As a partner, Stolt Tankers will directly contribute through secondments of R&D- and shipping experts as well as test capacity of its own vessels in relevant demonstration projects and activities.

Lucas Vos, President Stolt Tankers, commented: “At Stolt Tankers, we are committed to working with other industry leaders, our customers and suppliers to build a zero-carbon maritime industry. I strongly believe that the knowhow, innovation and creativity needed for a greener future cannot be achieved by any one company alone and am excited to have joined the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping so that we can solve some of the decarbonisation challenges that our industry faces, together.

“Our team will bring valuable insights to the Center through our advanced knowledge and expertise, not only in the chemical tanker segment, but by leveraging the wider knowledge of our colleagues across the Stolt-Nielsen business. I am proud to be part of an organisation that is helping to create a sustainable future for all.”

In welcoming Stolt Tankers on board, CEO Bo Cerup-Simonsen says: “With Stolt Tankers, we are getting a partner with extensive knowledge and expertise in transport and handling of fuels and chemicals which is critical for assessing viable pathways for future fuels. They bring an innovative spirit which is evident in their operations, their impressive project portfolio and their commitment to a carbon neutral future for shipping. We look very much forward to the collaboration.”

Shipping’s road map to decarbonisation

With 70.000 ships consuming 300 tonnes of fuel each year, global shipping accounts for around 3% of global carbon emissions, a share that is likely to increase as other industries tackle climate emissions in the coming decades.

Achieving the long-term target of decarbonisation requires new fuel types and a systemic change within the industry. Shipping is a globally regulated industry, which provides an opportunity to secure broad-based industry adoption of new technology and fuels.

To accelerate the development of viable technologies a coordinated effort within applied research is needed across the entire supply chain. Industry leaders play a critical role in ensuring that laboratory research is successfully matured to scalable solutions matching the needs of industry. At the same time, new legislation will be required to enable the transition towards decarbonisation.

Hutchison acquires Rotterdam container terminal 

Posted on by Keith McKinley

APM Terminals (APMT) and Hutchison Ports have announced that Hutchison Ports Netherlands B.V., a subsidiary of Hutchison Ports, has signed an agreement to acquire the Rotterdam container terminal APM Terminals Rotterdam (APMTR) from APMT.

APMTR is located adjacent to Hutchison Ports’ existing ECT Delta terminal in the Maasvlakte area of Europe’s largest port. It has 1,600 metres of deep-water quay serviced by 13 ship-to-shore gantry cranes.

Commenting on the divestment, Rolf Nielsen, Head of Hub Terminals APMT, said: “We are pleased to announce our divestment of APMTR to Hutchison Ports. Over the past 18 months, the various parties have worked intensively and constructively together with all relevant parties, including APMTR’s works council and trade unions, to complete the transaction. The sale gives APMTR the best possible future with a good security for jobs for its employees.”

Commenting on the acquisition, Clemence Cheng, Managing Director of Hutchison Ports Europe, said: “We are delighted to strengthen further our presence in the Port of Rotterdam. We already handle the majority of containers in the port through ECT’s Delta and Euromax terminals. The addition of APMTR will further enhance our ability to offer a first class and flexible service to our customers.

“We will continue to serve Maersk Line’s existing business at the terminal and will work with the workforce to develop the customer and volume base to meet growing demand.  We have the opportunity to redevelop and enhance the facility in the future and look forward to continuing to grow our business in the port.”

 

project44 expands network coverage in China

Posted on by Keith McKinley

project44, a leader in advanced visibility for shippers and logistics service providers, will expand its real-time shipment tracking services in China, giving clients the same transportation visibility it offers across mature markets such as North American and Europe.

This expansion will focus the company’s resources on Asia-based visibility to fulfil its vision for global end-to-end visibility across all modes of transportation.

With logistics events in Asia continuing to send shockwaves across western markets, the opacity of Asia’s trucking markets has emerged as a weak link in global supply chains. As the economic recovery picks up pace, global supply chains are under pressure to improve agility, predictability, and efficiency.

At the same time, truckload markets in Asia have been modernising rapidly as old trucks go out of service and China continues to incentivise the scrapping of old trucks. Newer trucks are equipped with electronic logging devices, paving the way to connect these trucks (with necessary data privacy provisions) to supply chain networks. These developments allow project44 to provide the foundational data needed to translate early indicators into important levers for supply chain resiliency.

The move by project44 to ramp up visibility in China has garnered broad support across the industry: “Over the past year, Gartner has seen a dramatic increase in interest for Real-Time Transportation Visibility (RTTV) in the Asia Pacific,” said Bart A. De Muynck, Research Vice President, Transportation Technology at Gartner.

“The sheer size of the Asia Pacific region combined with the diverse cultures spread across it creates unique challenges for transportation. Organisations that operate complex global supply chains often favour visibility solutions that can be implemented and utilised worldwide.

“project44 is recognised as a leader by Gartner for its strong presence in both North America and Europe. Enterprise shippers that operate in Asia will benefit from project44’s expanded carrier coverage in China.”

“Building a more predictable global supply chain to increase on-time delivery and customer satisfaction is key to Lenovo’s business strategy,” said Renée Ure, Chief Operating Officer, Lenovo Infrastructure Solutions Group. “It’s critical to understand when materials are arriving from our suppliers to our factories across the world. project44’s expansion into the Asia Pacific region will give us further end-to-end visibility into our global supply chain to help us deliver on our promises to our customers.”

“CNHi is a truly global company in 180 countries. The recent state of global transportation has proven challenging, in part because it is difficult to manage our supply chains that span so many countries when disruption is high and visibility is so fragmented,” said Dror Noach, Vice President of Global Logistics, CNH Industrial. “Gaining better visibility of both domestic and inbound flows going into our Asian manufacturing plants, especially China, could be quite beneficial for us. We believe project44’s efforts to expand coverage in this region can help us improve assurance of supply and increase our efficiency.”

project44’s best-in-class network already connects truckload carriers on every continent and nearly all containerised ocean freight moving between them, however, getting visibility into Asia’s trucking market remains a challenge for shippers. Its increased focus on Asian markets allows project44 to increase saturation outside of mature transportation markets and into Asia’s ground transportation networks.

“At project44 we want to be wherever our customers need us, which means being connected to carriers all over the globe. For the first time ever, shippers can have a true global view of their supply chain network in a single platform”, said Jett McCandless, CEO and Founder of project44. “With our expansion into the Asia Pacific, we are considering the capabilities, regulations, and intricacies within each country which is key to delivering value to our current and future customers.”

By expanding visibility in Asian markets, project44 will help buyers of Asian goods increase the resiliency of their supply chains. And in the process, project44 will extend visibility to domestic Asian shippers and logistics service providers who demand the same real-time transportation visibility enjoyed in western markets.

P&O Ferries ‘takes back leadership’ on Dover-Calais route

Posted on by Keith McKinley

P&O Ferries has announced the return of a fifth ro-ro ship on its Dover-Calais route in order to take back market leadership on the English Channel.

Pride of Burgundy – a 28,000t vessel with capacity to carry 120 lorries – will return to the vital arterial route in June 2021, restoring the P&O Dover-Calais fleet to its pre-pandemic strength of five and expanding options for customers looking to transport goods between Britain and the EU. The ship will sail in freight-only mode.

In 2019, P&O Ferries’ share of ferry freight volumes on the Dover Strait was more than 50%. P&O Ferries has since become part of DP World, a leading global provider of smart logistics, which reported robust financial results for 2020 with revenue growing by 11% to $8,553 million.

David Stretch, Chief Executive of P&O Ferries, said: “I am delighted to welcome a fifth ship back to our Dover-Calais fleet which will increase flexibility for customers and enable us to deliver a cost-effective freight service on the English Channel as the economy returns to normal.

“Dover-Calais is a vital trade route both for the UK and EU economies as well as the thousands of businesses which rely on our services and we aim to return our market share back to where it belongs.

“My message to our freight customers is simple: P&O will do everything it can to continue being the brand you can trust to deliver your goods from beginning to end, with the aim of solving the most complex logistical challenges using our integrated ferry and logistics assets.”

Mike Bhaskaran, DP World’s Chief Operating Officer – Logistics and Technology, added: “We are the leading provider of smart logistics, enabling the flow of global trade. I would like to thank everyone at P&O Ferries who has worked hard to keep trade flowing during the last 12 months and am excited by the opportunities which the arrival of a fifth ship on Dover-Calais brings, both in terms of our offer to customers and also returning P&O to growth.”

 

Samskip drives forward with commitment to sustainable marine biofuels

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Global multimodal logistics company Samskip has increased its commitment to greener shipping through a new formal agreement with sustainable cargo initiative GoodShipping to run part of its fleet on marine biofuels and significantly reduce carbon footprint.

The initial usage of biofuels will enable a CO2-reduction of up to 45%, with plans to scale up to a CO2-reduction of up to 80% for any given voyage later in 2021. This initiative underlines the company’s longstanding dedication to take a leading role in reducing CO2 emission within the sea freight industry.

The Samskip Endeavour, an 800TEU capacity containership which normally runs on traditional fuels, had the honour to kick-off the partnership by using sustainable biofuels in its recent sailings. By bunkering sustainable biofuels, Samskip enables cargo owners to reduce their ocean carbon footprint significantly in their supply chains.

Two years ago, it was also the Samskip Endeavour that was the first ever vessel to be biofuel-bunkered through the GoodShipping initiative, demonstrating the viability of biofuels as a marine alternative to fossil fuels. Made from sustainable waste streams, the fossil-free bio-residual fuel equivalent product has proved to be a successful substitute for conventional marine fuels as part of the vessel’s operations between the Netherlands and Ireland.

Under the renewed agreement, also in partnership with GoodShipping, biofuels supplier GoodFuels is supporting Samskip’s plan to rapidly extend the use of biofuels on more of its vessels this year. GoodFuels’ second-generation sustainable biofuels consist of certified feedstock, labelled as waste or residue. There are no land-use issues, no competition with food production or deforestation during the production process.

“Sustainability runs through Samskip as a core value from every perspective. Therefore, we take great pride in and welcome the collaboration with GoodShipping to strengthen our deep partnership, becoming one of their fulfilment and innovation partners,” says Ásbjörn Gíslason, CCO and Deputy CEO at Samskip.

“We always aim to build a better future and to leave a positive footprint on our planet. By playing a forward-thinking and pioneering role in the energy transition, our customers can now benefit from a simple and easy means of decarbonising their cargo streams. We get to pioneer advanced marine biofuels, and the environment benefits from an immediate carbon reduction.”

“This announcement marks yet another important milestone in our journey beyond the fossil default,” says Katarin van Orshaegen, Commercial Lead at GoodShipping. “Reducing fuel emissions and consumption is a vital next step for the maritime transport industry, so we are extremely pleased to have found a stable fulfilment outlet for our sustainable cargo streams with Samskip, deepening a long-term partnership that is helping to change the way our market thinks about future fuels.”

Geest Line acquired

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Seatrade Group and Jamaica Producers Group Limited have created a joint venture to acquire Geest Line Limited, the operator of one of the leading shipping lines in Europe serving the Caribbean and Latin America markets for over 65 years.

Geest Line sees this acquisition as a positive development as both JP and Seatrade have strong track records in the trade and the regions served by the company and know the trade well. Geest Line will continue to operate independently in serving its existing customers and markets whilst looking for further opportunities to extend its trade.

Seatrade, headquartered in Curacao, is a worldwide leader in reefer vessel shipping services.

JP, headquartered in Kingston, Jamaica, is a publicly listed company with global interests in Caribbean logistics services, port terminal operations, specialty food and drink production and agribusiness.

Yntze Buitenwerf, President of Seatrade, and Jeffrey Hall, CEO of JP, noted in a joint statement: “Geest Line is a company with a rich history of delivering excellent service to its customers on both sides of the Atlantic over the last 65 years. We look forward to working alongside Capt. Peter Dixon, Geest Line Managing Director, and his highly professional team in the UK as we continue this legacy and support Geest’s next stage of growth.”

Enhanced deep-water berth at Felixstowe

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Hutchison Ports Port of Felixstowe has further enhanced its deep-water berth capacity following the successful completion of strengthening and dredging works to Berth 7 on Trinity Terminal.

Berth 7 – one of the Port of Felixstowe’s nine container berths – has been dredged from 15.0m to 16.5m below Chart Datum and the berth box widened from 55m to 70m.

Chris Lewis, Chief Executive Officer, Hutchison Ports Port of Felixstowe, said: “The Port of Felixstowe is ever-progressive and continuously invests in its infrastructure, equipment and people, with the view to enhancing its customer offering. As the number of ultra-large container ships continues to grow we will continue to improve and upgrade our facilities to meet the needs of our customers.

“Berths 8 and 9 are designed for a maximum depth of 18m, and the next phase of development will see further increases to the depths at Berths 6, 8 and 9. The deeper berths are being complemented by dredging planned by Harwich Haven Authority to increase the depth of the approach channel to up to 16m, further reinforcing Felixstowe’s position as the country’s number one deep-sea container port.”

The berth upgrade, together with a programme to extend the outreach of 10 ZPMC quay cranes to 23 boxes wide on Berths 6 and 7, are in direct response to the increasing size and depth of the world’s largest container vessels, keeping Felixstowe at the forefront of the UK logistics and supply chain.

The 19,630 TEU Manila Maersk, operated on the 2M AE6/NEU3 service to Asia, was the first vessel to use the deeper berth. With a departure draft of 15.6m, the vessel was the deepest-ever to be berthed on Trinity Terminal.

Boskalis Westminster Limited was the appointed dredging contractor for the project and used a combination of backhoe dredger, the ‘Nordic Giant’ with a bucket size of 13 cu m, and trailing suction hopper dredgers to undertake the works.

The 19,630 TEU Manila Maersk was the first vessel to use the Port of Felixstowe’s deeper Berth 7.

Ship affected by Suez blockage arrives in Barcelona

Posted on by Keith McKinley

The MSC Ambra container ship, the first affected by the blockage of the Suez Canal to reach the Port of Barcelona, has docked at the BEST terminal and is operating normally.

This vessel will move 9,000 containers, including imports, exports and transshipments. In the coming days, staggered arrivals are expected of other container vessels that had to stop at the Canal for days while it was blocked and which have therefore delayed their call at the Port.

A total of three ships affected by the Ever Given accident are expected to arrive this week: MSC Ambra, Milano Bridge and CMA-CGM Centaurus. The Port of Barcelona container terminals – BEST, APMT Barcelona and Port Nou Terminal – are ready to operate all of these ships with the usual speed and efficiency. The staggered arrival of the container vessels, according to current forecasts, will ensure that operations are able to continue unaffected.

A total of 14 container vessels have changed their date of call at the Port of Barcelona due to the blockage of the Suez Canal. Forecasts suggest that the arrivals of the seven regular services from Asia will return to normal in less than two weeks.

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