North Sea Port News

A German environmental group has lodged a complaint calling for the operating licence of a new floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal at Wilhelmshaven to be shortened by a decade citing its discharging of chlorine and risks to Germany's climate targets.Germany plans to use so-called Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRUs) to import LNG as it weans itself off of piped Russian gas. The group, Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH), said in a complaint to the commercial regulator in the state of Lower Saxony that the licence for the unit at Wilhelmshaven should end in 2032, not 2042.

Norway's Höegh LNG is in talks to supply more of its floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs) to several European countries seeking alternatives to Russian gas, its CEO said.The sharp drop in piped Russian gas exports to Europe in the wake of the Ukraine war has resulted in a dash for FSRUs to allow diversification with liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports.Höegh LNG has already committed five vessels, half of its FSRU fleet, to European projects, and combined they will provide 25-35 billion cubic meters (bcm) per year of regasification capacity next year, Erik Nyheim said in an intervi

Germany on Tuesday completed construction of its first floating terminal for liquefied natural gas (LNG) at the North Sea port of Wilhelmshaven as it scrambles to secure more LNG and move away from Russian pipeline gas."The new LNG landing place is a big step towards a secure energy supply," said Lower Saxony economy minister Olaf Lies in a statement.A floating storage and regasification (FSRU) unit will be moored at a now expanded pier before the end of this year and enabled to regasify LNG arriving on special tankers…

The U.S. is spanning a sea bridge over the Atlantic to support Ukraine with crucial equipment in its war against Russia, a senior official said on Friday, as a huge cargo ship at the Belgian port of Antwerp got ready to set sail for Germany.Carol Petsonk, the United States' Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs, was shown around the loading dock of the vehicles carrier "Arc Integrity" where the military gear was tied with straps to the floor."What we see is the vessel's carrying two types of equipment: One is the personal vehicles, belongings of service members who are going to serve in U.S.

Germany will show solidarity with European Union countries seeking alternatives to Russian gas and oil, for example helping eastern states without ports in the North or Baltic Seas access liquefied natural gas (LNG), Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Thursday.Speaking after meeting with Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, Scholz said many countries faced an even bigger challenge than Germany in reducing reliance on Russian energy imports.Russian gas imports that arrive via pipeline account for more than 90% of gas consumption in the Czech Republic…

Hydrogen company Tree Energy Solutions (TES), backed by Belgian investor group AtlasInvest, said on Wednesday it would build an LNG terminal in the German North Sea port town of Wilhelmshaven, business newspaper Handelsblatt reported on Wednesday.The terminal is down to receive investments of 25 billion euros by 2045 and scheduled to go into operation in three years, Handelsblatt added, and could bring up to 30 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Germany in the first few years."Our Wilhelmshaven project will account for 10% of the total annual primary energy demand of Germany by 2045…

Towage operator Svitzer Europe announced it will start a new towage operation in Germany’s third-largest North Sea port from January 1, 2021. To fully service customers at the seaport of Emden, Svitzer will deploy two tugboats: the Svitzer Valand, a tractor tug with 45 tons bollard pull and part of the organization’s existing European fleet, and the newly purchased Svitzer Vestri, an azimuth stern drive tug with 60 tons bollard pull. Vestri is a newbuild from Turkish shipbuilder Med Marine…

Industry stakeholders at PortPIC stressed the importance of more innovation, collaboration and aligned initiatives to shape sustainable solutions for in-water cleaning.This was the main message from the inaugural In-Port Inspection & Cleaning Conference (PortPIC) held last week, organized by Jotun and DNV GL.In his opening address, Geir Axel Oftedahl, business development director, Jotun Marine Coatings raised the issue of biofouling and emphasized, “There’s an increasing focus…

The global leader in offshore wind Ørsted has opened the operations & maintenance (O&M) base for the Borssele 1 + 2 offshore wind farm in Vlissingen, the Netherlands. The opening was organized together with Energy Port Zeeland.All construction work and maintenance will be coordinated from the new base, which is located in Vlissingen-Buitenhaven at the North Sea Port. Borssele 1 + 2 will be operational at the end of this year.The maintenance location was officially opened by deputy Jo-Annes de Bat of Zeeland, alderman John de Jonge van Vlissingen, CEO Daan Schalck of North Sea Port, director Erik de Bruyn of Cordeel Netherlands and director…

The first ship-to-ship liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering in the port of Ghent took place in a joint effort between the North Sea Port and Titan LNG, the LNG solutions provider for the shipping and marine industries.Titan LNG delivered around 150 tons of LNG to The Fure Valo, an LNG powered tanker, built in 2018 and owned by the Swedish company Furetank. Last year Titan LNG delivered LNG by truck-to-ship, as the first in the North Sea Port of Ghent.Eric de Jong, Manager Logistics Titan LNG said: “This LNG bunkering marks the expansion of LNG delivery in the ports of Europe. We are very pleased with the support of North Sea Port, to fulfil our mission to make LNG available everywhere.

North Sea Port and Lineas are joining forces to increase efficiency with 12 new rail connections to the European hinterland.According to a press note from the cross-border port that consolidates the port areas of Vlissingen, Terneuzen and Ghent, this is a significant expansion of the volume of rail transport from the port.A new rail connection between Interface Terminal Ghent and the Lineas Main Hub in Antwerp allows goods to be shipped via the international rail network of Lineas.The 12 new destinations are Madrid, Granollers (Barcelona) and Tarragona (Spain), Hendaye (France), Schkopau (Germany), Lovosice (Czech Republic), Curtici (Romania), Malmö (Sweden), Milan (Italy), Wels and Vienna (Austria), and Basel (Switzerland).

Honda Motor Europe Logistics in Ghent intends to deploy barges for the transport of its parts and final products. Honda began transporting containers from the port of Antwerp to North Sea Port via inland shipping.By doing so, the car manufacturer is investing in ‘green’ transport. North Sea Port encourages businesses to invest in sustainability wherever possible. The modal shift – a focus on less transport by road and more transport via inland shipping, rail or pipelines – is a vital aspect of these efforts.At least 1,420 containers arriving from countries such as Japan, Thailand, the USA, Mexico and China reach their final destination in North Sea Port via inland shipping each year.

Luxembourgish multinational ArcelorMittal invested 13.3 million euros in two new customised port cranes and the biggest of the two cranes, which has a maximum height of no less than 85 metres, sailed to North Sea Port.By bringing in the two cranes, the company is preparing for the arrival of the New Lock in Terneuzen. By 2022, the first vessel will sail through the larger lock, making Terneuzen, Ghent and the ArcelorMittal Ghent company port accessible to major Capesize seagoing vessels - vessels that have a loading capacity of no less than 120,000 tons."North Sea Port is of course delighted with this investment, which the company is using to ‘anchor’ itself even further into the port…

The ship Balao docked at Verbrugge Terminals in Vlissingen, in North Sea Port, carrying a cargo of fruit. This was the first ship to arrive as part of this logistical service provider's first permanent intercontinental shipping line.The ship was carrying fruit such as bananas and pineapple, among other things. In this line, goods will be loaded in Cartagena and Santa Marta, Colombia and in Puerto Limón, Costa Rica. From South America, the ships will then sail to the European ports of London, North Sea Port and Rotterdam.For Verbrugge, this is the first intercontinental shipping line to be handled at this port. Each week, ships from the shipping companies Streamlines and Hapag-Lloyd will sail from South America to Vlissingen in North Sea Port.

The Scaldia solar park officially opened in North Sea Port, the logistical heart of Europe. The firm ib vogt installed more than 140,000 solar panels, making this the largest solar park in the Netherlands.The official opening took place with the symbolic starting of the generator, getting the largest solar park in the Netherlands up and running.The Scaldia solar park is located in the municipalities of Borsele and Vlissingen. For Zeeland, the facility is important to achieving its climate objectives: over 30 years, the solar park will avoid 738,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions.As the biggest land owner, North Sea Port supported the development of the renewable energy project…

The largest port in Europe the Port of Rotterdam Authority has been awarded the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) Award 2018.The award was made in recognition of the port's engagement with the city or wider community through the creation of a good workplace environment for its current and future employees and the demonstration of its investment in a diverse and inclusive environment, facilitating mutual respect, non-discrimination and personal development.The ESPO Award was handed out by the Deputy Director-General of DG Move, Maja Bakran, during a ceremony at “Palais des Académies” in Brussels.At this occasion, Maja Bakran said: "We truly see the ports at the heart of our transport system and you can count on our continuous support.

Terex Port Solutions (TPS) delivered a Terex Liftace 5-31 reach stacker to the north-east England based terminal, Port of Blyth, UK. The machine became operational at the south harbour of the North Sea port in December 2015. The cost effective, service friendly and ergonomic reach stacker will operate the twice weekly container service and stack yard. The machine will also be used for client port training purposes. With a wheelbase of 6,200 mm, the Terex Liftace 5-31 reach stacker offers a maximum load capacity of 45 t in the first container row and 31 t in the second container row. It features travel speeds up to 25 km/h and a maximum lifting speed of 0.45 m/s. The engine of the Liftace 5-31 reach stacker conforms to the EU Stage IV (EPA Tier 4 final) emission standard.

The Port of Esbjerg's 650,000 sq. m expansion of  Østhavn (“East Harbour”) opens to consolidate its position as a leading North Sea port for the wind turbine industry. The opening ceremony was attended by the Mayor of Esbjerg, Johnny Søtrup and the Danish Minister of Transport, Henrik Dam Kristensen. Representatives from the wind turbine industry will be the first to move into the new area, which features facilities specially designed for testing, pre-assembly and shipping of offshore wind turbines.

Roswitha Engert-Zöller and her husband, Capt. Albrecht Zöller, dream of riding a working towboat on the Mississippi River. But their life cruising through picturesque European villages aboard their family owned and operated power barge would be the envy of most North American mariners. The opportunities for owner-operator vessels are the norm on Europe’s inland waterways, rather than the exception as on America’s rivers. Rivers and canals have been important to the commerce of Europe since the Middle Ages. Horse drawn barges carried farm products to local markets while others helped to carry the riches of the Mediterranean and beyond to the burgers of Northern Europe.

Although it has a tradition of "keeping a low profile", China Ocean Shipping (Group) Company (COSCO) has provided something of a beacon for the industry in nurturing a seminal, safety-related development. Its bold decision to fit a multi-function navigation support and tracking system, the product of Sino-British technical collaboration, aboard every unit of its near 500-strong fleet, undoubtedly advances the cause of digital chart-based electronic navigation. The resultant Global Navigation Intelligence System (GNIS) combines a raster chart display with meteorological, tidal, current and port data, plus route planning and fleet tracking, as well as search and rescue capabilities within a software and hardware regime which caters for the evolution of the various technologies.