Dpw News

The Commander of the 13th Coast Guard District has received a request for a preliminary navigation clearance determination (PNCD) from the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program, aka Portland, Ore., to Vancouver, Wash., I-5 twin bridge (LLNR 11258).A PNCD is a first step in the U.S. Coast Guard Bridge permitting process. At the request of the Coast Guard the IBR team has prepared a navigation impact report (NIR) for the proposed new IBR Bridge. Based off an analysis of the NIR…

Konecranes Port Services, the team of crane and lifting engineers, software developers and product technicians, will retrofit electrification to a Model 2 Konecranes Gottwald Mobile Harbor crane in DP World’s Liège Container Terminal in Belgium, lowering the terminal’s local emissions and noise.The Port of Liège, strategically located along the Meuse river in eastern Belgium,  is the third-largest river port in Europe, directly linked to both Antwerp and Rotterdam.The DP World Liège Container Terminal (DPW LCT) is the only trimodal terminal in Wallonia, operating four barges to Antwerp every week.The Konecranes Gottwald Model 2 Mobile Harbor Crane was purchased in 2016 and has been working at DPW LCT’s South Terminal.

Ukraine-based Informall Business Group in its latest Black Sea Container Market review reports a rise of 8.70% in loaded containers handling in the Black Sea container ports of Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Russia and Georgia in 2018 as compared to 2017.Black Sea container terminals of the five countries handled 2927016 TEU in 2018, including empty containers, excluding transshipment. This review observes only full containers of the region – 2188153 TEU.In 2018, there was a laden container turnover increase in all countries of the Black Sea region. The highest growth was achieved by Ukraine and Georgia – 18,99% and 14,64%. At the same time, Bulgaria, Russia and Romania have achieved 4,52%, 3,94% and 0,35% growth of laden container turnover respectively.

Dubai-based port operator DP World says it has acquired additional assets in DP World Australia (DPWA), giving the firm a majority stake in its Australian terminals.The percentage of what has been acquired from Gateway Infrastructure Investments and other financial investors is still being finalized and subject to regulatory approval. However, it valued DPWA at an enterprise value of approximately AU$1.4 billion (US$ 997 million).Following the closure of the transaction, DP World Australia will become a consolidated entity within the DP World Group and is expected to be earnings neutral in the first full year of ownership. The acquisition is expected to close in Q1 2019.Corsair Infrastructure Partners (CIP)…

The Antwerp port community has drawn up an action plan to make container barge handling in the port more efficient. Container handling has come under heavy pressure in some shipping terminals over the past few months. The rapidly growing volumes and the ever larger sizes of seagoing ships calling at the port in combination with labour shortages have led to peak loads on the terminals, with long waiting times for container barges as a result. Since barge traffic is important for the port community as a whole, for sustainable transport of freight to and from the hinterland, serious efforts have been put into drawing up an action plan in the past few months aimed at making structural improvements in the short term.

DP World will partner with a Canadian pension fund in a $3.7 billion investment vehicle that primarily looks at brownfield projects in investment-graded countries, says Drewry Maritime Equity Research. The terminal operator will retain operational control of the fund with 55 percent stake, after seeding it with two west coast Canadian terminals (Prince Rupert and Vancouver). The pension fund Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ) will plough $640 million for the remaining 45 percent stake. Hence, the total start-up capital for the investment vehicle is $1.42 billion. DMER view: "We have earlier commented on DP World’s leverage that will not be able to support its ambition – 100m gross TEU capacity target by 2020.

The first container ship belonging to Iran's IRISL docked at Antwerp after departure Homburg. According to MANA, a cargo ship belonging to Iran's IRISL docked at Antwerp as her second port, becoming the first Iranian ship to reach Europe after a hiatus of over six years. The first container ship from IRISL’s fleet after six years arrived to the port of Antwerp, Belgium as 2nd European port on her own path to Europe. The MV.Azargoon one of container ship owned by IRISL fleet in late March with the loading and unloading of goods at the port of Hamburg, had left this port and arrived and berthed in port of Antwerp, Belgium. IRISL container ship fleet by implementing JCPA and after six years of sanctions…

In compliance with the circular, DP World ports shall not accept any Imports, Export or Transshipment cargo / containers arriving from or destined to other Iraqi Ports except those mentioned above. Therefore all Shipping lines and Agents are kindly requested not to accept bookings to/from Iraqi ports other than the above, via DP World ports. Should you require any further clarification, please feel free to contact our Customer Service department.

When it comes to port development, many governments now favour letting the market decide where expansion should take place, whereas most other transport infrastructure, such as roads and rail, remains centrally managed. The problem is that old habits die hard in shipping, meaning that the free market approach is sometimes a painful process, as discussed here in an excerpt from recent  Drewry Maritime Research. While some observers might argue that the Middle East has a reputation for vanity port projects – with governments building shiny new ports just because they can – the reality is that utilisation levels in many of the region’s gateways are high and new capacity is needed. However, this alone does not necessarily guarantee that the new ports will be used.

ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) dockers’ union representatives meeting in Chicago, USA, resolve to organise a global campaign highlighting the need for global network terminal operator (GNT) DP World to engage with unions over trade union rights/representation in a number of countries. The representatives agreed that action is required, particularly with regards the situation at London Gateway terminal, UK, where Unite the Union’s offer of cooperative working is being snubbed.

Union activists in India & Sri Lanka inspected flag of convenience vessels at ports across South Asia to help improve seafarers’ pay & conditions. Riding on the success of the first staggered week of action in October, dockers’ and seafarers’ unionists in India and Sri Lanka covered ports in the region including Chennai, Colombo, Haldia, Kochi, Kolkata and Paradip. Unions also inspected vessels at private terminals in ports owned by multinational companies, such as Maersk, PSA and DPW. Unionists visited 35 vessels and negotiations are ongoing in Korea to sign agreements on four vessels and in India to sign a fleet agreement covering five vessels.

Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA), the government authority charged with regulating, coordinating and supervising all aspects of the maritime sector in Dubai, has announced that the Cruise Ship Emergency Response Task Force, convened in September, 2011, to address the challenges presented by the introduction of ever larger cruise ships to the UAE waters, hosted the first cruise sector mass casualty table top exercise and drill last week. The Task Force, comprised of federal and local emergency responders…

According to reports, DP World, on target to achieve 40 percent growth in four years, will spend up to $3b to boost container traffic at the 52 port terminals it currently operates around the globe. Announcing the formal launch of Dubai World — the holding group comprising a collection of companies, including P&F World, the parent company of DP World — Sulayem said the diversified entity, which has seen the size and spread of business growing over the past couple of years, is geared to tap further huge potential for growth. Sulayem said DP World and its adviser Deutsche Bank were evaluating various offers for the six US terminals it acquired as part of the $6.8 billion take-over of Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company in February.

On March 2, the House Armed Services Committee will conduct a Hearing on the national security implications of the Dubai Ports World acquisition of P&O Ports. source: HK Law

THE UK's largest ports and ferries operator was reported to be a £3 billion takeover target of a Middle Eastern rival. P&O could receive an approach from Dubai Ports World (DPW) as soon as this week after it hired Deutsche Bank to advise it on a bid, according to The Sunday Times. The Middle Eastern firm is understood to have contacted banks about financing a bid for P&O, which owns 27 container terminals around the world including Southampton and Tilbury in the UK. Takeover interest in UK ports firms has spiralled this year with Mersey Docks & Harbour - the owner of ports at Liverpool, Heysham and the Medway towns of Sheerness and Chatham - bought by Manchester-based Peel Holdings for £780 million.

Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co (P&O) is close to recommending a more than $3B offer from Dubai Ports World (DPW), according to press reports. The Weekend Financial Times, which claimed DPW offered 430 pence for the British ports and ferries group, said the size of the liability in P&O's pension fund needs to be agreed before the board can recommend the offer. The Business however said the recommendation could come as early as Tuesday. Neither paper cited sources. A spokesperson for the company declined to comment. Source: Forbes

The controversy over the planned acquisition of six port facilities in New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Miami, and New Orleans by UAE-based Dubai Ports World (DPW) continues apace. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) issued a Press Release stating that he is asking the Administration to delay the acquisition until a detailed briefing is provided. Representative Chris Shays (R-CT) is seeking a new thorough federal review of the acquisition. Representative Clay Shaw (R-FL) plans to introduce legislation aimed at preventing foreign entities from operating U.S seaports. Meanwhile, the White House released remarks made by President Bush defending the Administration’s decision to not block the acquisition.

The U.S. Treasury Department outlinedthe history of the review of the proposed acquisition by Dubai Ports World (DPW) of various U.S. port facilities currently operated by P&O Ports. The review was performed by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). On February 23, the Senate Committee on the Armed Services was briefed in open session on the proposed acquisition. Ranking Member Carl Levin (D-MI) released a copy of his opening remarks. Chairman John Warner (R-VA) released a statement at the conclusion of the briefing. Subsequently, the White House released a Fact Sheet regarding the proposed acquisition. Later…

In its daily press briefing, the White House included a lengthy discussion of the process that led to the Administration’s approval of the acquisition by Dubai Ports World (DPW) of U.S. port facilities owned by P&O Ports. The White House also released a Fact Sheet outlining the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). Representative Nadler (D-NY) wants the process stopped until Congress can review it thoroughly. Representative Pallone (D-NJ) is seeking legislation to keep ownership of American ports out of the hands of foreign governments. Representative Saxton (R-NJ) indicated that a Congressional hearing would be held in the near future to examine the planned transaction.

The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs received a Briefing from Administration personnel on the Dubai Ports World (DPW) acquisition of the Peninsular & Oriental (P&O) company. Committee Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) issued a Press Release stating that she introduced a resolution calling for a thorough review and Congressional consultation before the transaction could proceed. Source: HK Law