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Tag: Shipping

German Border Controls to Cause Shipping Delays Costing Millions

Posted on by Will Priestman

Germany’s introduction of new border control measures on September 16 is expected to cause significant disruption, particularly for the logistics and transport sectors, likely causing shipping and freight delays. These measures will allow for spot checks on individuals crossing borders, primarily aimed at addressing irregular migration and strengthening security. However, shippers are raising concerns over the potential economic consequences, as delays could cost tens of millions of euros.

Freight Traffic in the Crosshairs

The new border checks could dramatically impact freight traffic, especially on major transport routes such as the Germany-Netherlands border. With an estimated 1,000 trucks crossing this border every day, logistics companies fear that waiting times could escalate sharply, affecting the timely delivery of goods. The German government claims the checks will be random and targeted at individuals, but industry experts are concerned that commercial vehicles may get caught up in these inspections, leading to severe delays.

For sectors like food, pharmaceuticals, and automotive manufacturing that rely on just-in-time delivery, the potential holdups could create severe disruptions in supply chains. The German Association of Freight Forwarders and Logistics (DSLV) has highlighted the risk to businesses, warning that even minor disruptions can lead to knock-on effects throughout Europe’s interconnected logistics network.

Shippers Call for Green Lanes

In response to the anticipated disruptions, shippers are advocating for the implementation of “green lanes” for freight vehicles. These lanes would allow commercial trucks to bypass some of the controls to avoid congestion and ensure critical goods continue to move smoothly across borders. Such an approach was successfully used during the COVID-19 pandemic to facilitate essential trade.

However, with the absence of formal agreements on green lanes, concerns are mounting over the economic impact of prolonged delays. According to estimates from industry insiders, each day of delay could result in costs running into tens of millions of euros. The European Union’s single market, designed to allow the free movement of goods, could be undermined by such unilateral measures, with ripple effects felt across the continent.

Economic Fallout Looms

Beyond direct financial losses, the delay of goods could have wider economic implications, particularly for industries reliant on cross-border trade. Supply chain interruptions could lead to stock shortages, increased costs for businesses, and lost opportunities for time-sensitive sectors.

While Germany argues that these measures are necessary to address the growing challenge of illegal migration, the transport and logistics sectors are urging for more balanced solutions. Without adjustments, the controls could damage Germany’s role as a key transit hub for European trade and further burden companies already grappling with inflation and global supply chain challenges.

As the start date for these border checks nears, the debate over their impact continues to intensify, with stakeholders pushing for alternatives that minimize the economic strain without compromising security.

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Crewless Ships – The Future Takes Shape in Maritime Logistics

Posted on by Will Priestman

Crewless ships transporting goods along coastlines, inland waterways, within cities, and even across the high seas – once a concept reserved for science fiction – are becoming a tangible reality. This vision took center stage at a recent forum hosted by HPC Hamburg Port Consulting (HPC) as part of its CONNECTING PORTS talk show series. Far from being a distant dream, this future is now actively taking shape.

The Growing Reality of Crewless Ships

Crewless ships, also known as unmanned or autonomous vessels, are being developed and tested across the globe. These ships leverage advanced technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and sophisticated sensor systems to navigate, avoid obstacles, and optimize routes – all without requiring onboard human crew. While fully autonomous vessels are still emerging, semi-autonomous and remotely controlled ships are already in operation.

Ørnulf Jan Rødseth, General Manager of the Norwegian Forum for Autonomous Ships (NFAS), highlighted Norway’s pioneering role, noting that semi-autonomous vessels are already in use. “Since spring 2022, the world’s first semi-autonomous container ship has been transporting mineral fertilizer from the Yara production facility in Porsgrunn to the regional export port in Brevik. The ship operates autonomously but still with a minimal crew of three, remotely controlled from a dedicated center,” he shared.

Marc Holstein, Head of the Remote Operation Center at SEAFAR in Antwerp, expanded on this, describing how SEAFAR’s technology is currently deployed on over 40 vessels, primarily in inland waters, with most already functioning with reduced crews and remote control. “Three of these vessels operate on the Rhine between the Netherlands and Bonn. We’ve been running these systems for four years, integrating them smoothly into existing traffic flows, especially in Belgium,” he explained.

Turning to developments in France, Antoon van Collie, CEO of ZULU Associates, outlined new opportunities following a regulatory breakthrough. “Since May 2024, French authorities have allowed autonomous ships to operate within their territorial waters. We’re in advanced talks with the state waterway authority, VNF, aiming to launch unmanned or partially unmanned ships by next year,” he said.

A Broader Shift in the Maritime Industry

Autonomous ships are part of a broader transformation in the maritime industry aimed at increasing efficiency, reducing costs, and addressing crew shortages. With the global shipping industry facing rising fuel costs, stricter environmental regulations, and the challenge of recruiting qualified seafarers, crewless vessels offer compelling advantages. Not only can they operate with fewer crew members, reducing labor costs, but they can also maintain continuous operations with minimal downtime, thanks to automated systems and remote management.

The conversation also explored the potential for autonomous vessels in urban logistics. In cities like New York, small inland vessels might soon transfer goods to cargo bikes or electric vehicles for the last mile, while in Paris, ZULU’s hydrogen-capable vessels are already in use for urban deliveries. Van Collie suggested that similar concepts could be adopted in cities like Hamburg or Berlin.

In Norway, the food retailer ASKO has ambitious plans to move 50 truckloads per day onto the water by 2026 using two battery-powered, semi-autonomous ro-ro ships on the Oslo Fjord. “Ro-ro vessels require minimal infrastructure,” Rødseth noted, emphasizing their potential for streamlining logistics.

Addressing Safety and Operational Concerns

When asked about safety concerns, Holstein argued that remote operations could enhance safety by reducing fatigue among operators, who typically work shorter shifts than onboard crews. Autonomous vessels are equipped with advanced collision-avoidance systems and continuously monitor their surroundings, which can mitigate human error, one of the primary causes of maritime accidents. Rødseth added that automation helps reduce the strain of monotonous long-haul journeys, such as navigating the Pacific for a month straight.

The Road Ahead

While regulatory and technological hurdles remain, the momentum behind autonomous ships is undeniable. As more countries and companies invest in this technology, it is likely that crewless vessels will become a common sight on both inland waterways and the open seas within the next decade.

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Decarbonisation of shipping could create up to four million green jobs

Posted on by Will Priestman
  • Decarbonisation of the global maritime industry could support the creation of up to four million green jobs by 2050.
  • Demand for e-fuels is set to scale to over 500m tonnes by 2040, requiring additional 2TW of renewable energy generation capacity and £3.2 trillion of infrastructure investment.
  • This significant capital investment will see most green jobs created during the 2030s, to support renewable energy capacity building.
  • Majority of jobs likely to be distributed in the Global South, where conditions are optimal for the production of green fuels.
  • Based on Green Jobs and Maritime Decarbonisation, new analysis by the Global Maritime Forum and Arup.

Copenhagen, 9 May 2024 – The Global Maritime Forum has revealed the immense economic potential presented by the decarbonisation of shipping. New analysis, commissioned by the Global Maritime Forum and conducted by Arup, projects that the maritime sector’s transition to e-fuels could support up to four million new green jobs by 2050, double the number of seafarers serving globally today. Job creation will be seen across the three main phases of the supply chain: renewable energy generation, hydrogen production and e-fuel production.

The shipping industry is currently responsible for 3% of global CO2 emissions, equivalent to the annual emissions of Japan. As the backbone of the global economy – responsible for 80% of global trade – the industry has faced enormous pressure to rapidly decarbonise. In 2023, the International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s member states agreed an end date to fossil fuel consumption “by or around” 2050.

Achieving this target will require large volumes of scalable zero emission fuels, a significant share of which will be e-fuels based on hydrogen. Projections show that shipping’s demand for e-fuels could rapidly scale to over 500 million tonnes by 2040, rising to 600 million tonnes by 2050. Meeting such demand could require an additional 2TW of renewable energy generation capacity, and 1TW of hydrogen production capacity by 2050.

Maritime transition is a trillion-dollar market opportunity

The analysis, titled Green Jobs and Maritime Decarbonisation, focuses on renewable energy and fuel production linked to e-fuels, adopting an illustrative scenario where e-fuels become the energy source for international shipping. In this scenario, up to £3.2 trillion of investment is required to support the development of renewable infrastructure, hydrogen production, and fuel production facilities for e-ammonia for shipping.

This significant capital investment will have a dramatic impact on the creation of green jobs across the supply chain. It also has the potential to create immense benefits to the wider economy, furthering climate action, whilst also supporting the development of renewable energy projects and the uptake of green hydrogen across other sectors.

Jesse Fahnestock, Director of Decarbonisation, at Global Maritime Forum, said: “This research marks a critical first step in exploring the fundamental role maritime decarbonisation will play in the creation of green jobs within the energy sector. The analysis demonstrates the sheer scale of the potential to create large numbers of highly-skilled green jobs, in this instance driven by a single fuel. Many of these jobs will also be transferable to other sectors – supporting further decarbonisation beyond shipping.”

Creating green jobs across the supply chain

Providing shipping decarbonisation keeps track with the IMO’s ‘striving indicative checkpoints’, the new data provides an outline of the growth of green jobs from the 2020s through the 2040s for each of the main areas of the supply chain – renewable energy generation, hydrogen production and e-fuel production.

Due to the rapid scaling of e-fuel uptake during the 2030s, it’s predicted that this decade will see the creation of the most green jobs across each area of the supply chain – an upper bound range of between 1m and 4m jobs worldwide. This will be supported by over £2.2 trillion of capital investment in the development renewables and infrastructure, and a huge build-out of energy and fuel capacity – 1,500GW of renewable energy generation, 800GW of green hydrogen, and 530Mtpa of green ammonia.

Job numbers are likely to be smaller in the 2020s and ultimately reduce in the 2040s, as capital investment reduces. A large proportion of these jobs, however, will be transferable to other sectors and will ultimately support the development of wider renewable energy capacity; aiding decarbonisation efforts across other sectors.

Jeremy Anderson, Director of Just Transition and Sustainable Transport at International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), said: “The creation of new green jobs can help address economic inequalities between the Global North and Global South. However, green jobs must also be good jobs, with decent working conditions, labour rights, and a strong voice for workers.”

More attention required to map green jobs potential in maritime 

As trillions of capital investment gets funnelled into green fuels for the maritime sector, stimulating the creation of green jobs can help countries transition away from fossil fuels, whilst providing a direct, quantifiable contribution to a country’s economy.

Investments in the Global South in particular, where climate provides the greatest conditions for e-fuel production, have shown to contribute significantly toward higher job creation, relative to an equivalent investment in a country in the Global North. This suggests a higher potential for developing countries to leverage investments towards wider green job creation.

Connor Bingham, Project Manager at Global Maritime Forum and author of Green Jobs and Maritime Decarbonisation, said: “The huge levels of investment will impact all corners of the globe, helping many countries around the world provide opportunities to workers negatively affected by the transition away from more carbon-intensive industries. It’s vital that we further explore the different geographic implications, particularly in the Global South, to ensure we can unlock the enormous potential for economic growth across nations.”

The Global Maritime Forum calls for further research and analysis on the role of other future fuels, beyond e-fuels, in the creation of quality green jobs, as well as building a stronger understanding of the different geographical implications relating to the decarbonisation of the maritime sector.

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New AI-driven TOS at Duisburg Gateway

Posted on by Will Priestman

INFORM is poised to enhance the Duisburg Gateway Terminal (DGT) operations through its advanced AI-based solutions, ensuring a robust start as the terminal initiates operations and scales up. This partnership focuses on leveraging AI technologies to streamline intermodal logistics, pioneering Europe’s first CO2-neutral intermodal terminal in the heart of Duisburg’s port.

New AI-based TOS solution at Duisburg Gateway

DGT is on trackto establish itself as the largest intermodal terminal in the European hinterland, with an ambitious annual throughput goal of 850,000 TEU. Located on the historical coal island in the port of Duisburg, the terminal is innovatively planned and will be operated exclusively with crane systems and vehicles without fossil fuels, sidestepping conventional terminal equipment to minimize its environmental impact. Covering 235,000 square meters in total, this terminal represents a monumental step in the logistics sector, handling up to 1 million containers per year across its six cranes and 12 rail tracks, with daily operations for 20 trains, around 400 trucks, and 6 ships. The first construction phase of the terminal will open in summer 2024, utilizing INFORM’s Syncrotess Intermodal TOS.

Sven Zölle, Managing Director at Duisburg Gateway Terminal GmbH, remarked, “Partnering with INFORM enables us to harness the full potential of AI in our terminal operations, setting a strong foundation for DGT’s operational excellence from the outset. As INFORM’s Intermodal TOS covers both the administrative parts of a Terminal Operating Systems and has a strong focus on optimization and automation, this partnership reinforces our commitment to environmental stewardship but also ensures that we remain at the forefront of technological innovation in the logistics industry.”

INFORM’s AI-Driven Solution: Elevating Terminal Operations

INFORM will implement its Intermodal TOS at DGT, leveraging a modular design that enables a high degree of automation and operational optimization. Key features include:

  • Barge Handling: Utilizing AI to streamline barge handling, enhancing throughput and minimizing operational delays.
  • Crane Optimization: Creation and optimization of crane jobs to refine the operations of six intermodal barge cranes, essential for the terminal’s efficiency. The TOS aims to organize crane jobs to substantially decrease handling times. Together, the goal is to stepwise introduce crane automation at DGT throughout the project.
  • Optimized Train Loading: Leveraging advanced algorithms to efficiently plan and execute train loading operations, ensuring optimal use of resources, and reducing turnaround times.
  • Stack Optimization: Employing AI to intelligently optimize container stacking, improving space utilization and accessibility while reducing re-handling.
  • Billing Module Integration: Facilitating the billing process with a tailored module that accurately captures services rendered, streamlining financial operations.
  • Booking Platform Interface: Facilitating seamless integration with the DXI platform to streamline combined transport bookings and enhance operational coordination.

“This expanded suite of services underscores our commitment to delivering a highly efficient, scalable, and sustainable operating environment for DGT, utilizing cutting-edge AI to optimize every aspect of terminal operations,” said Alex van Winckel, Director Strategic Relations and Sales at INFORM’s Terminal & Distribution Center Logistics Division at INFORM. “We are thrilled to partner with the team at DGT on this groundbreaking project.”

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Methanol-Powered Vessels

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Unifeeder Group has successfully completed a long-term charter agreement for two additional methanol-capable container feeder vessels. This follows the agreement for two initial vessels announced in October 2023, underscoring the group’s commitment to greener shipping solutions.

The latest agreement is in partnership with German-based ship owning group Elbdeich Reederei and Norwegian shipowner MPC Container Ships (MPCC), who are responsible for one vessel each. The 1250 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) vessels, scheduled for delivery in 2026, will be deployed on Unifeeder’s European network. The addition of these new vessels reinforces the group’s ongoing efforts to reduce emissions across its network. Simultaneously, Unifeeder is enhancing fuel efficiency throughout the fleet while increasing the utilisation of biofuels in its conventional vessels.

In alignment with its parent company, DP World, Unifeeder collaborates with industry partners to address the challenge of renewable methanol supply. This requires off-take commitments to establish production at the scale needed to replace conventional fossil fuels within the industry.

Methanol-Power

Jesper Kristensen, Group CEO of Unifeeder Group, said: “Building upon our commitment to methanol-powered vessels last year, this marks another significant stride towards the green transformation of our fleet and operations. We anticipate the vessels to enter into operation in the next two years, advancing our steadfast commitment to sustainable solutions. We offer our customers alternatives that align with their sustainability journeys while making meaningful progress towards our own ambitious decarbonisation goals.”

The investment in the two new additional ships further supports Unifeeder Group’s ambitious decarbonisation plan. Surpassing the industry average, Unifeeder has committed to a 25 per cent reduction of emissions by 2030 and to reach net-zero by 2050 with no new fossil greenhouse gas emissions. It aims to achieve this by emphasising fuel-efficient practices, regular maintenance and refitting processes of the existing fleet and fostering a culture of learning and collaboration, sharing best practices across markets to drive effective carbon reduction strategies.

Unifeeder Group is part of DP World Marine Services, which announced in December 2023 it had reduced its carbon footprint by more than 16% in 2023 from its 2019 baseline of 2,118 ktCO2e by creating efficiencies across its operations. DP World also joined the First Movers Coalition, setting a target for 5% of its marine power to come from zero-emissions fuels by 2030, marking its commitment to decarbonisation – a sentiment echoed by the Unifeeder Group.

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Tanger Med Port Surpasses 8m TEUs

Posted on by Keith McKinley

In 2023, Tanger Med Port processed 8,617,410 TEUs (Twenty-foot equivalent), marking a growth of 13.4% compared to 2022. This remarkable achievement, equivalent to 95% of the port’s nominal capacity, was accomplished 4 years ahead of targets.

The outstanding performance is attributed to the successful operations of terminals TC1 and TC4, managed by Maersk-APM, and the continuous development of terminal TC3, operated by Tanger Alliance (A joint venture owned by Marsa Maroc with a 50% stake, in partnership with Eurogate holding 40% and Hapag Lloyd holding 10%). Additionally, 2023 witnessed record productivity levels, surpassing monthly peaks of 800,000 TEUs handled.

RO-RO TRAFFIC ON THE RISE

In 2023, 477,993 trucks were processed, representing a 4.1% increase from 2022. Industrial product traffic saw a significant surge of 14.3% compared to the previous year, offsetting a 7.7% decrease in agribusiness product traffic.

INCREASE IN NEW VEHICLE TRAFFIC

The two vehicle terminals in the port complex handled 578,446 vehicles in 2023, reflecting a 21% increase from 2022. This traffic primarily includes 341,758 vehicles for export, produced by Renault factories in Melloussa and SOMACA in Casablanca, along with 176,208 vehicles exported by the Stellantis plant in Kénitra.

RISE IN SOLID AND LIQUID BULK TRAFFIC

Liquid bulk traffic experienced a 6% growth compared to 2022, a total of 9,838,157 tons of handled hydrocarbons. Simultaneously, solid bulk traffic witnessed a 44% increase from the previous year, totalling 581,042 tons processed.

PASSENGER TRAFFIC: RETURN TO NORMAL

In 2023, Tanger Med Port Complex welcomed 2,700,747 passengers, marking a 30% growth from 2022. This traffic has returned to pre-COVID-19 crisis levels.

GLOBAL TONNAGE: SUBSTANTIAL GROWTH

Tanger Med Port Complex handled 122 million tons of goods in 2023, reflecting a 13.6% increase from 2022, with 21% in Import/Export. This recorded global traffic is highest at the Strait of Gibraltar and across the Mediterranean. This traffic also represents more than half of the total tonnage handled by all ports in Morocco.

MARITIME TRAFFIC ON THE RISE

In 2023, a total of 16,900 ships called at Tanger Med Port Complex, marking a 17% growth from 2022, including 1,113 mega-ships (over 290 meters), representing a 16% increase from the previous year. Tanger Med remains firmly focused on the future, ready to face new challenges and strengthen its position as a major logistics hub in Morocco and the Euro-Mediterranean region.

LCL Service for Dangerous Goods

Posted on by David Priestman

The international transport and logistics provider cargo-partner has once again expanded its range of LCL solutions and introduced a new sea freight consolidation service for dangerous goods from China to Europe. The service is suitable for a wide range of products and industries, including automotive components, car batteries and electronic goods with various types of integrated batteries.

As shipping companies react to lower demand with blank sailings, cargo-partner has recognized the need to offer its customers more flexibility and respond to special requirements. To meet these challenges, the logistics provider has introduced a new weekly consolidated transport service for goods that are classified as DG Class 8 and DG Class 9 by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). This classification includes products such as various types of batteries, whole electric vehicles, handheld power tools, e-bikes and e-scooters as well as many other electronic devices with an integrated power source.

cargo-partner offers this service with weekly departures from Shanghai to Koper and average port-to-port transit times of 29 days. An additional door-to-door service includes pickup and consolidation from anywhere in China, deconsolidation at cargo-partner’s logistics centres in Budapest and Ljubljana, and delivery to any destination in Europe. In addition, the logistics provider can offer a range of ocean shipper’s and buyer’s consolidation options.

“Many of our customers are currently looking for a reliable solution for their import shipments from Asia – especially for industries that require specific battery components,” explains Felix Miletich, Corporate Director Product Management Sea Cargo LCL at cargo-partner. “With our dedicated LCL services for dangerous goods that include a wide variety of batteries, accumulators and other rechargeable cells, we can provide a stable and reasonable alternative to other forms of transportation.”

Additional air and road transport solutions for dangerous goods

In addition to this cost-effective LCL sea freight service, the transport provider also offers air freight and road transport solutions for DG cargo on request. cargo-partner long-standing experience in transporting dangerous goods from Asia to Europe and vice versa, as well as on other popular international transport routes, including door-to-door solutions, customs clearance and comprehensive logistics services through the company’s extensive warehouse network.

cargo-partner is a privately owned full-range info-logistics provider offering a comprehensive portfolio of air, sea, land transport and warehousing solutions. With 40 years of expertise in information technology and supply chain optimization, the company designs tailor-made services for a wide range of industries to create competitive benefits for its customers all around the world. Founded in 1983, cargo-partner generated a turnover of over 2.06 billion euro in 2022 and currently employs more than 4,000 people worldwide.

 

Unifeeder Invests in Methanol-Powered Vessels

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Unifeeder Group has signed a long-term time-charter agreement for two new methanol-capable container feeder vessels and has an option for additional two similar vessels.

German-based ship owning group Elbdeich Reederei will build and manage the 1250 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) vessels which will be delivered in 2026. Unifeeder Group plans to deploy the new vessels on its European network, where the new vessels will give a significant contribution to lower the emissions of the network.

Alongside parent company, DP World, Unifeeder is working with partners across the industry to find solutions to the challenge of renewable-methanol supply, which needs off-take commitments to build production at the scale that the industry needs to replace conventional fossil fuels.

In parallel to the delivery of the methanol capable vessels, Unifeeder will continue to improve the fuel efficiency of the entire fleet deployed and increase the use of biofuels on the conventional vessels in the fleet.

Jesper Kristensen, Group CEO of Unifeeder Group, said:

“This is another significant step towards the green transformation of our fleet and our operations. These new vessels can be deployed across our current and future networks, offering a flexible, greener solution to our customers. As the number of methanol-capable vessels increases in both our operations and those of our customers, my hope is that this drives an increase in innovation and production amongst methanol producers. This will then complete a virtuous circle and ensure we can operate more and more methanol capable vessels with the right colour of methanol fuels in our networks. Ultimately though, the greenest fuel is the fuel that is not burned. We strive to offer our customers solutions that support their own sustainability journeys and whilst these new vessels are part of the answer, efficient routing, securing high levels of vessel utilisation and dedicated capacity management across all of our offerings have major roles to play as well.”

The investment in these new ships supports Unifeeder Group’s ambitious decarbonisation plan. Putting its targets well above that of the industry average, Unifeeder has committed to a 25 per cent reduction of emissions by 2030, carbon neutrality by 2040 and net zero emissions by 2050. It aims to achieve this by emphasising fuel-efficient practices, regular maintenance and refitting processes of the existing fleet and fostering a culture of learning and collaboration, sharing best practices across markets to drive effective carbon reduction strategies.

Robert Frese, Managing Director at Elbdeich Reederei, adds: “We believe in methanol-capable vessels as part of a suite of solutions being deployed to reduce carbon emissions in our sector and are happy to contribute with this project to a greener future in shipping. We really look forward to operating these modern state-of-the-art container feeder vessels in our partnership with Unifeeder and hope other market participants will follow this example.”

The newbuilding project is the latest step in a series of efforts that have been undertaken between Unifeeder and Elbdeich Reederei to reduce emissions within the jointly-operated Unifeeder fleet. This includes the first test of Synthetic Natural Gas as a fuel on a commercial vessel, the continuous use of biofuels and various vessel modifications made to reduce the fuel consumption of existing tonnage.

Work Starts on Cherbourg Multimodal Terminal

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Hervé Morin, Chairman of the Ports of Normandy and Chairman of Normandy Council, has officially launched the construction work to build the multimodal terminal in the Port of Cherbourg. This investment is part of a vast rail-road transport scheme which, once completed, will connect the south-west of France to Great Britain and Ireland through Cherbourg-en-Cotentin. The latter portion is managed by Brittany Ferries and Ports of Normandy, and aims to significantly enlarge the Port of Cherbourg’s catchment area.

In 2022 the cross-Channel business amounted to about five million heavy goods vehicles arriving in France (Channel Tunnel traffic included). This business has been enjoying steady growth over the last decade (+25%). In addition to this structural growth, the freight ferry business is changing and new challenges relating to environmental issues, Brexit and the increasing size of vessels are emerging. Together, all these factors are tending to lead to less reliance on “road-only” solutions, and the emergence of unaccompanied loads and massive alternative land transport.

Consequently, Ports of Normandy has set itself five strategic goals:

  • Accommodate larger vessels
  • Consolidate and enlarge its catchment area
  • Rise to the challenges of Brexit and the EES border controls
  • Make possible a new and competitive land transport service that is both an alternative and complementary to road transport.
  • Contribute to providing more environmentally friendly transport

In 2020 Ports of Normandy called for expressions of interest (AMI) for the purpose of designating the users of the multimodal terminal in the Port of Cherbourg, the only cross-Channel terminal west of the Dover Strait that can be easily connected to the rail network. Brittany Ferries replied with a proposal involving a rail service between Cherbourg and Bayonne.

Through this service, Brittany Ferries aims to:

  • Bolster its productivity by reducing the number of tractor units shipped (optimise weight and volume carried) in order to increase the number of unaccompanied vehicles (trailers) carried across the entire maritime freight business.
  • Improve the environmental performance of shipping
  • Consolidate its position on long routes between Spain and the British Isles, and diversify its maritime services to include rail transport

This rail-transport project is part of a much larger strategy that is being developed by Brittany Ferries, and which includes the renewal of its fleet and the adoption of ever more eco-friendly propulsion systems. Brittany Ferries is now making an extra three rotations to Cherbourg with its new vessels – Galicia, Salamanca, Santona – as part of its strategy to increase its freight business. The Cherbourg rolling road project and its multimodal terminal complement this consolidation of the Roscoff-based operator’s services.

Brittany Ferries’ proposal is based on the LOHR system which:

  • Makes the trailers compatible with railway tunnels, a major constraint in France and the Iberian Peninsula
  • Enables the loading of trailers that cannot be lifted, which accounts for the majority of road trailers
  • Implements a competitive logistics system which makes loading operations simpler, quicker and safer
  • Makes possible connections to other French and European terminals (Sète, Marseilles, Italy…)

For Brittany Ferries, this project requires the creation of a rail terminal in Mouguerre (in the urban area of Bayonne) and a 950km rail route between Mouguerre and Cherbourg, as well as a daily return service with a carrying capacity of 42 trailers each way.

Construction of the multimodal terminal

After holding a public consultation in April 2020 and successfully rerouting the Boulevard Maritime to free up the 2-hectare site required for the construction of the multimodal terminal, Ports of Normandy will launch the construction work on the terminal in September. The works have been carefully planned to ensure no traffic disruption. The terminal is expected to enter service in September 2024.

An industrial grouping comprising OFFROY (Groupe NGE), NGE GC (Groupe NGE) and DNA CONSULT will undertake the construction work on behalf of Ports of Normandy in accordance with the following schedule:

  • September 2023: work starts
  • October 2023 to March 2024: civil engineering works on the terminal dock
  • April 2024: construction of the facilities
  • November 2023 to April 2024: railway construction work
  • January 2024: construction of a building for inspecting the trailers
  • February to May 2024: road construction work, the entry and exit flows having been entirely redesigned during the construction of the multimodal terminal in order to ensure that traffic moves freely
  • July 2024: work ends

The line will open thereafter. After a period of gradually increasing the operating load, the line will be able to process about 20,000 trailers inbound or outbound through the Port of Cherbourg.

For Ports of Normandy, this project represents an investment of €13m, funded by Normandy Council (€1.7m), Manche Council (€850k), the Cotentin Urban Area (€285k) and self-funding (€8.7m). The European Union is also funding the project to the tune of €1.4m (included in the aforementioned €13m). As for Cherbourg Port, the investment amounts to €4m, bringing the total to just over €17m.

Hervé Morin, Chairman of Ports of Normandy, says: “Concerns for the environment, the increasing size of vessels and Brexit are all having a profound impact on cross-Channel traffic. Ports of Normandy and Brittany Ferries have decided to rise to the challenge of these issues by developing an alternative mode of transport. This ambitious project will ensure a greater catchment area for the Port of Cherbourg and thus allow it to pursue its development, without compromising the cross-Channel traffic passing through Dieppe and Ouistreham. Instead, it is offering an alternative and complementary solution that is environmentally friendly.”

Valencia Deploys Hyster Fuel Cell ReachStacker

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Hyster, the global provider of container handling solutions, has developed and shipped a hydrogen fuel cell Reachstacker to the Port of Valencia in Spain. The ReachStacker is part of the H2Ports project, which aims to introduce hydrogen-powered vehicles and equipment in port operations.

This Hyster ReachStacker is an innovative zero-emission solution that uses a Nuvera fuel cell to convert hydrogen into electricity. The hydrogen is stored on-board in high-pressure tanks and can be refilled in 10-15 minutes. The on-board hydrogen fuel cell charges the batteries, which power the electric motors and hydraulic systems enabling the ReachStacker to lift laden containers with similar performance to a diesel alternative.

Thanks to its Nuvera Fuel Cell Engine, the hydrogen fuel cell ReachStacker offers several advantages over its conventional diesel-powered machines. It reduces greenhouse gas emissions, noise pollution and operating costs thanks to the elimination of the diesel engine, transmission and other mechanically-driven components.

The Hyster ReachStacker will be tested and validated in live operation at the MSC terminal in Valencia, one of the largest container terminals in Europe. The H2Ports project, funded by the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH-JU) and coordinated by the Fundación Valenciaport, involves several partners from the port community, industry and academia.

Jan-Willem van den Brand, Director Global Market Development at Hyster, said: “We are proud to be part of the H2Ports project and to contribute to the development of zero-emission solutions for port operations. The hydrogen fuel cell ReachStacker is a breakthrough innovation that demonstrates our commitment to sustainability and customer satisfaction. We look forward to seeing it in action at the Port of Valencia and to receiving valuable feedback from the end-users.”

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