Hph News

Hong Kong's Hutchison Port Holdings Trust (HPH Trust) saw its fourth-quarter earnings fall 38.4 per cent on weaker revenue and losses from associated companies. The company announced an attributable net profit of HK$237.8 million for the three months to Dec 31 last year - down from HK$385.8 million in the same period a year earlier. The Trustee-Manager remains cautiously optimistic about the expected cargo volume for 2018. Major liners have announced plans to continue to invest and build more megavessels of up to 22,000 TEU and this potential excess capacity will likely put pressure on freight rates, and as a result, keep port tariffs in check.

Hong Kong Container port business trust Hutchison Port Holdings Trust (HPH Trust) has reached an agreement to purchase a majority stake in Huizhou International Container Terminals Limited (HICT) in Guangdong from the trust’s sponsor for about $86.26m. HPH Trust will acquire 65% and 15% of HITC equity interest, respectively through its subsidiaries, Yantian International Container Terminals (Phase III) Limited (YICT III) and Shenzhen Pingyan Multimodal Company Limited (PML). The company said that, upon completion of the acquisition, HICT will be jointly held by YICT III, Huizhou Port Group (HPG) and PML in the proportions of 65%, 20% and 15%.

Hongkong International Terminals Limited (HIT), COSCO-HIT Terminals (Hong Kong) Limited (CHT), and Asia Container Terminals Limited (ACT) have entered into a formal collaboration for the co-management and operation of 16 berths across Terminals 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9 at Kwai Tsing, New Territories, Hong Kong. The revenue and expenses from the management and operation of the facilities of the Combined Terminals will be allocated among the parties by reference to the respective designed capacity of the facilities owned by each party. In a confident response to the changing dynamics of the global shipping industry, which are reflected by the emergence of new strategic alliances between shipping lines…

The start of construction of the Stockholm Norvik Port and Norvik Logistics and Business Park was celebrated on 16th September. The ceremony was a well-attended and festive event for both commerce and the general public. Stockholm is one of Europe’s most rapidly growing capital cities and freight volumes are constantly increasing. To facilitate the sustainable and efficient supply of goods to the region Ports of Stockholm is building a new port for rolling goods and container traffic at Norvik, close to Nynäshamn. NCC will construct the Norvik Logistics and Business Park adjacent to the port, where companies will be able to establish their operations in a dynamic environment, in close proximity to the port, road network, railways and capital city.

For Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH), one of the world’s leading container terminal operators, Stockholm is strategically important. In April the final permit was obtained to begin construction of the new Stockholm Norvik Port. Ports of Stockholm will build and own the container terminal, while HPH will operate the terminal. Today HPH already operates the Container Terminal at Frihamnen, Stockholm. “We believe in the importance of Stockholm and the whole Baltic Sea area. After our already good cooperation at the existing container terminal, we are now intensifying our work with Ports of Stockholm. The Stockholm Norvik Port offers improved conditions to optimally serve the Stockholm region.

Hutchison Port Holdings Limited (HPH) subsidiary Barcelona Europe South Terminal (BEST) achieved a new record when it moved 7,760 TEU on the call of MSC Beatrice. A total of eight ship-to-shore gantry cranes were deployed simultaneously for the operation, achieving a peak Vessel Operating Rate of 221.3 moves per hour. Guillermo Belcastro, General Manager of BEST, said: “BEST is the only terminal in the Mediterranean capable of reaching this level of productivity thanks to its semi-automated operations, which are supported by HPH’s proprietary terminal operating system nGen and the efforts of our team. This high level of productivity…

China’s Cosco Pacific Ltd. will buy 35 percent of Euromax Terminal Rotterdam BV for 125.4 million euros ($143 million) for shares and loans amid an overseas expansion drive by Chinese companies. Euromax is indirectly owned by Hutchison Port Holdings Ltd. (HPH), which in turn is owned by Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing’s CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd. Cosco Pacific will pay 41.4 million euros and assume 84 million euros of debt equivalent to 35 percent of a loan, Cosco Pacificsaid in a statement. Euromax is principally engaged in the business of operating the Euromax Terminal Rotterdam, which is located in Maasvlakte I of the Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands. It is an automatic container terminal which commenced operations in mid-2010.

Terex Port Solutions (TPS) has received an order to supply two Terex ship-to-shore cranes (STS) to Tanzania International Container Terminal Services (TICTS), a member of Hutchison Port Holdings Limited (HPH), a leading port investor, developer and operator. The double-box boom structure STS will be manufactured at TPS’ site in Xiamen, PR China, and the machines are due to be commissioned by the end of 2016. New STS will help TICTS to increase handling rates further TICTS, situated in the capital Dar es Salaam, is Tanzania’s largest container terminal. As TICTS is the major logistics gateway to Eastern, Central and Southern Africa, it must meet the challenge of constantly increasing handling rates.

The Berth 9 Extension at the Port of Felixstowe, the Port of Britain, has been opened by Dr Therese Coffey MP, Deputy Leader of the House of Commons. The 190-metre extension increases the port's capability to work two of the world's largest containerships simultaneously. More than eighty ships of 18,000+TEU have already been handled at the port in 2015, confirming Felixstowe's position as the port-of-choice for mega-ships in the UK. Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Coffey said, "I am delighted to formally open this latest extension of the Port of Felixstowe. An ever increasing proportion of UK trade is moving on these huge container ships and UK ports need to provide the facilities they require.

Thousands of port employees around the world have enthusiastically contributed their time and effort to a joint environmental initiative launched by marine terminal operators DP World, Hutchison Port Holdings Limited (HPH), APM Terminals, PSA International and Shanghai International Port Group (SIPG) – five of the world’s largest port operators, and joined by the Port of Rotterdam Authority (PRA). The week-long campaign from 14 to 21 September entailed joint activities to pioneer a green drive across operations worldwide, while bringing sustainable change to the communities they impact. In unifying their global resources to realise environmental benefits, the port operators developed various initiatives around three main themes: reuse and recycle, climate change and the community.

A new ambient-temperature food examination facility has been formally opened at the Port of Felixstowe, the Port of Britain, by Transport Minister, Robert Goodwill MP. The £4 million investment included a major refurbishment and expansion of the examination facilities and the provision of new offices for Suffolk Coastal Port Health Authority. “This new state-of-the-art facility will ensure that vital imported products stay as fresh as possible. Some 40 per cent of the food on our supermarket shelves arrives by sea, so it must be checked efficiently in the most hygienic conditions. “The new inspection facilities are built to an incredibly high standard – safe, clean and hygienic – to maintain the integrity of the food chain to the highest requirements of upcoming legislation.

Transport Minister Robert Goodwill MP has taken part in a round table discussion with transport leaders from the ports, road, rail freight and shipping industry at the Port of Felixstowe, the Port of Britain. Mr Goodwill’s responsibilities at the Department for Transport include ports and shipping but the meeting, convened by Hutchison Ports (UK) Limited, included discussions about the need for a joined-up approach connecting the maritime sector with other areas of transport policy. “We were delighted to welcome Robert Goodwill and leaders from across the industry to participate in these discussions. As trade and the ships that carry it continue to grow, further pressure is placed on transport infrastructure and transport operators.

Hutchison Port Holdings' (HPH) Hong Kong assets marked a significant milestone with cumulative throughput of 200 million teu. Excerpts from his speech: "For decades, Hong Kong has been a major hub port in the region. For the past 10 years (2005-2014), the average annual throughput at the Hong Kong Port was some 23 million TEUs. This is indeed a highly impressive performance having regard to the physical size of the Kwai Tsing Container Terminals. The efforts made by different parties operating the Hong Kong Port must be recognised. Hutchison International Terminals is a major operator of Hong Kong's container terminals. Today, HPH Trust is celebrating its milestone achievement of handling the 200 millionth TEU.

Three new ship-to-shore gantry cranes have been delivered to the Port of Felixstowe, the Port of Britain. Built by ZPMC in Shanghai, the new cranes will be operated on the port’s Berth 8&9 which are currently being extended to increase the port’s ability to handle the latest ultra-large container ships. The cranes are all designed to handle ships with containers stowed up to 24-wide and have a lift-height of 49.5 metres above the quay to allow them to work containers stacked up to 10-high on deck at all states of the tide. “The project to extend Berths 8&9 at the port, on which these cranes will operate, will allow us to work more mega-vessels simultaneously.

The Port of Felixstowe is creating an environmental corridor as part of the Go Green campaign launched by Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) and a number of other global port operators. The initiative at Felixstowe will include the refurbishment of part of a system of dykes within the port. The work will include the improvement of habitats for wildlife as well as enhancing green areas within a busy industrial complex by planting a mixture of trees, grasses and wild flowers. “The Port of Felixstowe has a long history of environmental achievements dating back to the creation of the Trimley Marsh Nature Reserve in the 1980s. Our participation in the Go Green initiative is the latest example of a commitment to the environment which…

The Port of Felixstowe, the Port of Britain has walked away with the coveted Rail Freight Group 2015 Customer Care Award for its continued and sustained improvement in customer service. This Award recognises the port’s commitment to delivering for its customers’ real needs by consistently making every effort to ensure continuity of service and minimum disruption to supply chains. “We are delighted to have been honoured with the prestigious Customer Care Award by the Rail Freight Group. In 2014 the prolonged Ipswich Yard track lengthening works caused an extended and unexpected period of disruption, posing many challenges for cargo owners, the port and freight operators.

Global marine terminal operators DP World, Hutchison Port Holdings Limited (HPH), APM Terminals, PSA International and Shanghai International Port Group (SIPG) – five of the world’s largest port operators, and joined by the Port of Rotterdam Authority (PRA), have launched the first ever joint industry initiative of this magnitude to promote environmental awareness and make a sustainable difference in the communities in which they operate. The campaign will take place between 14 - 21 September this year with focus on three main themes: re-use and recycling, climate change and the communities in which the industry giants operate. A range of activities covering all three themes will be organised by the participating port operators’ local business units to tackle and raise awareness globally.

United Arab Shipping Company's (UASC) newest vessel, the 18,800 teu Barzan, has made its maiden call at the Port of Felixstowe, the Port of Britain. The biggest container ship in the UASC fleet, the mega-ship arrived at the UK's largest container port from Port Kelang in Malaysia. The Barzan is deployed on UASC's AEC1 service between Asia and North Europe. "We are delighted to welcome the latest vessel in the UASC fleet to the port of Felixstowe. Our investment in new infrastructure, equipment, systems and people has ensured that we are the clear port-of-choice for the latest generation of mega vessels employed on the Asian trade. "Our ability to handle these huge vessels will be further enhanced when the Berth 9 extension is completed at the end of the year.

Barcelona Europe South Terminal (BEST) handled the largest containership ever to call at the Port of Barcelona, the 16,600 TEU MSC LONDON and also set a new productivity record. The port discharged 618 containers and loaded 1035 in less than eight hours when working MSC LONDON, at a rate of 212.58 moves per hour. Individual cranes operated at rates of up to 45 moves per hour, one of the best in Europe, stated BEST, Hutchison Port's Spanish affiliate. The Port of Barcelona recorded in the year 2014 a total traffic of 46.3 million tonnes, 9%, with the highest volume of traffic in its history, surpassing the peak levels achieved in 2007, before the economic crisis.

In an unprecedented show of commitment for an environmental cause, DP World and Hutchison Port Holdings Limited (HPH) have joined hands to combat global warming in a Waste Reduction Campaign that will multiply the effect of their individual efforts to curb global greenhouse emissions. An estimated 11.2 billion tonnes* of solid waste is collected worldwide every year and its degeneration contributes to about five per cent of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. A joint DP World-HPH campaign, which will run from 19 to 21 September, has been established and follows the theme ‘Recycling Begins & Ends with You’. The campaign will see employees…

Hutchison Port Holdings Limited (HPH) subsidiary Barcelona Europe South Terminal (BEST), located at the Port of Barcelona, today held a ceremony for the arrival of three new Quay Cranes (QCs), part of the next phase of expansion to enhance the terminal’s ability to handle mega-vessels. BEST currently has 11 QCs in operation, all of them capable of handling mega-vessels. In attendance was HPH Managing Director – Central Europe, Clemence Cheng as well as local and national authorities including the Minister of Industry and Development, Ana Pastor; the Delegate of the Government in Catalunya, Maria de los Llanos Luna; the Counselor of Territory and Sustainability…

Jan Westerhoud, President of Europe Container Terminals (ECT), will step down and retire from the company effective January 1, 2015, the company announced today in a press release.   This decision was made in consultation with main shareholder Hutchison Port Holdings Limited (HPH), ECT noted. A successor will be named in due course.   Westerhoud has guided ECT through 10 years in which the industry has undergone tremendous changes. ECT has experienced a considerable growth in this period and has successfully developed new activities.

The South China Morning Post has reported Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing's Hutchison Whampoa Ltd is mulling the possible sale of a 40 percent stake of Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) to a quartet of state-owned mainland China companies. If it goes through, the move would underscore Hutchison’s recent tactic of monetizing port assets to free up capital to support other high-growing businesses. HPH is talking to a consortium of mainland Chinese companies as it is planning to a HK$160 billion ($20.6 billion) stake in its ports business. Hutchison holds an 80 percent stake in HPH, the world's largest container port operator by throughput with a foothold in 52 ports in 26 countries.