Maxime Verhagen News

Eekels informs it has been awarded the TBI Innovation Prize 2013 for its “Slow Steaming” entry. The vote was taken at the TBI TOP250 and no less than 66% of those present voted for Eekels’ ingenious technical innovation. Eekels was one of the 3 nominees that had been chosen from 34 entries by a jury chaired by Maxime Verhagen (chairman of Bouwend Nederland, the Dutch Construction and Infrastructure Federation). Eekels explains that due to the economic downturn, the freight rates in the shipping industry have been under pressure.

The plan for making liquefied gas (LNG) available as fuel for shipping in the Netherlands has come another step closer. According to Hans Smits, CEO of the Port of Rotterdam Authority, an agreement with ECT will make land available for a ‘filling station’ between the Gate (LNG) and Euromax (containers) terminals. ECT and the Port Authority are still to work out the last details and sign the agreement. Smits revealed this at a meeting at which ten companies, including Vopak, Shell and the Port of Rotterdam Authority, signed a ‘Green Deal’ with Minister Maxime Verhagen (Economic Affairs).

Following a true maritime tradition, the new DWB was christened. The representatives and attendees each had a bottle filled with water from their own organisation or habitat symbolising their connection with the new facility. MARIN’s unique Depressurised Wave Basin (DWB) was officially inaugurated on March 19 by Maxime Verhagen, the Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation. Representing the combination of a depressurised towing tank with a wave maker, the DWB creates a world first.