Road Network News

Interferry – representing more than 270 companies and some 1,200 individual members from over 40 countries – is co-hosting a workshop at next month’s European Shipping Summit in Brussels to stress the importance of shifting more goods transport from road to short sea services, notably through better use of European Union funding to enhance the sector’s competitiveness.The workshop – ‘How to increase the share of maritime transport in Europe’s trade’  – takes place at 09:30 on September 19 in the Royal Museum of Fine Arts and is open to all interested professionals.

A shift to coastal shipping and rail could cut NZ’s freight transport emissions – why aren’t we doing it?According to a recent study, coastal shipping produces a fifth of the carbon emissions (well-to-wheel) of road freight. Rail also performed well, with about a quarter of trucking emissions.Despite this, trucking accounts for nearly 80% of New Zealand’s heavy goods transport, and a 94.5% share of the total emissions from heavy freight transport.The dominance of trucking follows the expansion of the road network…

Kongsberg Maritime on Wednesday announced it has signed a contract with Holland Shipyards Group to provide electrification and control systems with automated functionalities for up to four new all-electric ferries for the Swedish Transport Administration, with two firm for delivery and an option for two more.Kongsberg Maritime said it has been tapped to provide the ferries’ electrical systems, as well as a control system suite, including energy management, navigation, an all-new…

Lithuanian ship designer Western Baltic Engineering (WBE) is unveiling new designs for what it believes is the first ever electric pusher vessel for use on Europe’s inland waterways called the Electric Eel.Klaipeda headquartered WBE said the first electric pusher is due to be built next year for the Lithuanian Inland Waterways Authority, a public body operating under Lithuanian Government Ministry of Transport and Communications.WBE’s Head of Sales & Marketing Eglė Mikalauskienė…

More than $220 million in discretionary grant funding has been awarded to improve U.S. port facilities in 16 states and territories through the Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) Port Infrastructure Development Program, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao announced Thursday.“This $220 million in federal grants will improve America’s ports with nearly half the projects are located in Opportunity Zones, which were established to revitalize economically distressed communities,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L.

Allseas' giant Pioneering Spirit offshore construction and decommissioning vessel last week provided a stage for what is believed to be the Netherlands’ first drone to vessel delivery.Mobilizing in Rotterdam’s Alexiahaven for upcoming platform removal projects, the 382 meters long, 124 meters wide vessel last week received a special aerial package containing spare parts.The drone delivery was a test, set up by Dutch Drone Delta (a consortium promoting the use of drones), the Port of Rotterdam Authority and Allseas.

The global port management company, International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) said that its Honduran unit  Operadora Portuaria Centroamericana (OPC) is in talks with the government of Honduras to improve the facilities at Puerto Cortes, Central America 4’s (CA-4).Puerto Cortes, Central America 4’s (CA-4) largest port operated by OPC, can expect faster cargo movement in and around the terminal with OPC beefing up its partnership with Honduran authorities for improved and more efficient port services, said a statement."OPC is working with the Honduran government and Puerto Cortés authorities to enhance the port’s competitiveness and better serve its customers in the four-nation CA-4, comprising Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua.

The port of Antwerp is to invest 1.4 million euros over the next three years in projects aimed at making port-generated freight traffic smoother and more efficient. The seven projects that have been selected for financial support will together reduce the number of truck trips by up to 250,000 annually. The Flemish government in turn is building on the Call for Proposals by the Port Authority, and in the next few months it will release a further 1.4 million euros for projects to make transport in and around Antwerp more sustainable. “Mobility on the Flemish roads concerns all of us,” declared Antwerp Port Authority CEO Jacques Vandermeiren at the sixth Intermodal Event organised by the Port Authority.

The explosive growth of international boxships is challenging not only the physical infrastructure of North American ports, but also the very nature of the existing supply chains that they impact. The recent dialogue on container shipping has been all about so-called “mega-ships;” those vessels that with larger capacity than those that are already in service at any point in time. In the container trades, as in tanker and drybulk arenas, ocean-going vessels are one link, albeit an important component, within broader supply chains.

The Ministry of Shipping in India has taken up projects worth Rs 2,302 crore (USD 356million) for financial assistance under the Coastal Berth Scheme of the flagship Sagarmala Programme. The Ministry, after due appraisal in consultation with NITI Aayog and Department of Expenditure, has extended the period of the scheme for three years, upto 31st March, 2020 and expanded its scope to cover capital dredging at Major Ports and preparation of DPR for coastal berth project, in Oct 2017. The projects under Coastal Berth Scheme of the flagship Sagarmala Programme are distributed over eight states with the highest number of projects in Maharashtra (12 projects)…

Spain’s Port Authority of Valencia (APV) has unveiled plans upgrade three of its ports by 2020. The Business Plan approved at the last Board of Directors of the Port Authority of Valencia includes investments in its three ports 56.19 million euros during the year 2017 and plans to invest more than 177 million euros for the period 2018 2020. By enclosures, the Port Authority of Valencia will invest 35.44 million euros in the port of Valencia in 2017. Of these, a 25.55 million euro item stands out for the generation and conditioning of new berths and surfaces. Specifically, it is planned to invest 18.5 million euros for the dredging of the Prince Felipe and Levante docks and the improvement of the drainage of the Príncipe Felipe, Levante and transverse wharves of Costa.

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.

The Ministry of Shipping is planning to develop Paradip as a world class, globally competitive, smart industrial Port City, Joint Secretary (Ports) Pravir Kishn said. The rationale behind developing Paradip as a smart city is that it already has a Major Port and strong mineral resource presence in the region. These factors will make Paradip a hub for Micro Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME). The on-going Sagarmala programme and the expansion plan of the outer harbor will only increase the port traffic. The Smart City at Paradip will be built on a PPP basic and it will have Multi-modal Logistics Parks (MMLPs), Industrial Parks, Residential and Commercial areas, water management system, waste recycling centre & creek development programme for tourism.

India's Ministry of Shipping has formulated a revised Central Sector Scheme to provide financial support to Major and Non-Major Ports as well as State Governments for creation of infrastructure for movement of cargo and passenger by sea or National Waterways. This is in line with the Ministry’s port-led- development program-Sagarmala (India's maritime initiative) for creating better infrastructure and promoting costal shipping for saving logistic costs. Under the Scheme, projects for construction and up-gradation of exclusive coastal berths for coastal cargo and berths/jetties for passenger ferries; mechanization of coastal berths; capital dredging for operating non-major ports…

India’s premier container port, Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Navi Mumbai, has signed an agreement with State Bank of India and Development Bank of Singapore for External Commercial Borrowing (ECBB) to the tune of USD 400 Million at a “very competitive” interest rate to improve the infrastructure required for “doubling” its existing capacity to 9.85 Million TEUs annually. The ECB of USD 400 Million ( USD300 Million from the SBI & USD100 from DBS) will be primarily utilised by the JNPT, which has US Dollar denominated foreign currency earnings which can be leveraged for a low cost foreign currency borrowing, for expansion of its existing roads network connecting to its port project as the existing road network for evacuation of traffic is currently operated at a capacity utilisation of 100%.

US-based FedEx Corp. completed its €4.4 billion ($4.9 billion) acquisition of Dutch TNT Express, , with integration of the companies to start immediately. The companies say customers will interact with each company as they always have and once the integration is complete, FedEx says they will benefit from an expanded global offering. FedEx chairman and CEO Frederick Smith said the deal combines the world’s largest air express network and an “unparalleled” European road network. “This acquisition is a significant accomplishment and marks the beginning of a new era, filled with promise for our people, customers and shareowners,” said Smith.

Heavy rains near the Indian Ocean port of Mombasa have swept away a road and slowed transport to a trickle on the main trade route into east Africa, officials said on Wednesday. Mombasa port handles imports such as fuel and other vital goods for Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, South Sudan and eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Police officials reported tailbacks of more than 10 kilometres and said delays began at abound 10am local time when a temporary road about 50km from Mombasa was swept away. The road was being used as a diversion while the main highway leading to capital Nairobi was being repaired. "We have been stuck here for over six hours. We are not moving at all.

Shipping activity at Kenya's port of Mombasa, East Africa's biggest, rose by 11 percent in the first half of 2015 as vessel wait times fell, the national port authority said on Wednesday. Gichiri Ndua, Kenya Ports Authority managing director, said the performance reflected progress in the integration of east African countries to ease the flow of trade. The port, a major trade gateway to east Africa, handles imports such as fuel for Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, South Sudan and eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Kenya, which faces increasing competition from other countries like Tanzania and Djibouti in the bid to serve land-locked and rapidly-growing neighbours, said increasing port efficiency is central to its infrastructure plan.

The Habtoor Leighton Group (HLG) has been awarded a contract with revenue of AED263 million (AUD96 million) for the construction in Abu Dhabi of Khalifa Industrial Zone (Kizad) Area A Secondary Infrastructure (Phase 1B) for Abu Dhabi Ports. The methodology will include extensive dewatering, excavation, pipe-laying and road construction works. HLG has been involved in the construction of different phases of Khalifa Port and Kizad in Abu Dhabi and is very proud to again be selected by Abu Dhabi Ports to deliver this project. HLG CEO and Managing Director, Mr. José A. López-Monís, said: “This new award is a great achievement that proves the Group remains a preferred contractor for clients to whom HLG has demonstrated its ability to deliver complex and high quality projects.

Dublin Port Company today welcomed the decision by An Bord Pleanála to grant permission for the Alexandra Basin Redevelopment (ABR) Project which will transform Dublin Port’s infrastructure and enable it to service the economy for decades ahead. The project will increase the port’s ability to handle large ships by deepening and lengthening three kilometres of the port’s seven kilometres of berths. It will also deepen the port to provide an entrance channel with a depth of at least 10m. The ABR Project is the largest single infrastructure development project in the history of Dublin Port. The project is expected to take five years to complete, costing an estimated €230m.

The ICL Group's Phoenix Plan is breathing new life into the centuries-old salt and potash mines located in the Bages district of central Catalonia. The project covers various fields, such as building a potash and a vacuum salt plant, new rail accesses and a specialised terminal at the Port of Barcelona. The port terminal, involving a total investment of € 69 million, will enable worldwide exports of potash, a mineral essential for fertilising fields, and high-quality salt especially for the chemical industry, and other sectors. The new port terminal, which has been put out as a concession to Tráfico de Mercancías, S.A. (TRAM), a subsidiary of ICL Group…

A record 9.8 million passengers are using the River Thames‎, two years on from the launch of the Mayor's River Action Plan, it was announced today. The River Action Plan, launched in February 2013, details a host of measures designed to increase the number of river passengers to 12 million by 2020. Figures from January to December 2014 have shown very positive signs as passenger numbers on River Buses and River Tours increased to 9.8 million, compared to 8 million for the same period in 2013. The Mayor and Transport for London (TfL) have confirmed that a new developer led pier ‎will open at Plantation Wharf this year in order to meet the increased demand.

Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. (Boskalis) has sold its road maintenance company Aannemingsbedrijf De Jong en Zoon Beheer B.V. and the associated De Jong subsidiaries (De Jong) to the management and Foreman Capital.   The De Jong activities were taken over at the end of 2011 as part of the acquisition of MNO Vervat. De Jong is primarily active in the maintenance of the main road network and inland waterways in the Netherlands.   Boskalis' strategy in the Netherlands is focused on large and medium-sized integrated projects and an independent maintenance company does not fit in this strategy.   The proceeds of the divestment are expected to be around EUR 30 million and will not have a material impact on Boskalis' earnings.