Car Terminal News

Greece has trimmed an investment plan by Piraeus Port Authority (PPA) to boost operations at one of Europe's largest harbours, rejecting proposals for a new container terminal.PPA, majority owned by China's COSCO Shipping , had submitted to Greece's shipping ministry an 800-million-euro plan, which included a new cruise ship terminal, a mall and four hotels in the port.PPA had also proposed to build a fourth container terminal that would boost Piraeus' total throughput to 10 million…

Turkey’s Oyak Group - owner of the country’s biggest steel producer, Erdemir Group - is to invest in a car logistics terminal in Yarimca port near Istanbul  in partnership with Japan’s Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK Line). According to a Reuters report, the investment will be $110 million. According to NYK press release, Süleyman Savaş Erdem, general manager of OYAK, and Koichi Chikaraishi, NYK representative director and senior managing corporate officer, were on hand for the signing ceremony held in Istanbul on April 5. NYK will participate in the port's construction, and the new terminal will be the first large terminal that is located in the suburbs of Istanbul and dedicated to finished cars.

The Piraeus Port Authority (PPA) has released its annual financial statement for 2015, showing post-tax profits of 23.8 percent. Earnings before taxes amounted to € 9.772.290,19 for the year ended 31.12.2015 against €8.891.464,98  in  2014 showing an increase of 9.91%. Profit after tax amounted to € 8.375.754,17  compared to € 6.763.882,84 showing an increase of 23.83%. The gross profit showed an increase of 13.9% compared to 2014 from € 22.958.410,89 to € 26.150.566,01. The President & CEO of PPA  John Kouvaris stated: "The PPA presents for another year a profitable financial use despite the ongoing economic crisis and realignments in the field of maritime transport…

With 1,300 new Indian-built Ford automobiles loaded onto the Grand Dahlia on August 27th for delivery to Mexico, a new era for the Indian auto industry and Gujarat Port Pipavav commenced. The 59,217 gross ton roll on/roll off (Ro/Ro) vessel was the first to call Western India’s fastest-growing port, operated as part of the APM Terminals Global Terminal Network. APM Terminals Pipavav announced the inauguration of Ro/Ro operations at the multi-purpose port last June after concluding an agreement with Japanese-based NYK subsidiary NYK Auto Logistics (NAL) India for finished car export services and the construction of a new automobile services terminal.

Honda’s division in Malaysia has opened East Malaysia Logistics Hub in Kota Kinabalu which will be operated and managed by logistics and shipping firm Giga Shipping. Pre-delivery inspection (PDI) management undertaken by Giga Shipping will include standard key management system, washing bays for vehicles to be cleaned before delivery to dealers, security system to prevent theft, parking lot management system, stock monitoring, a kaizen system to ensure that vehicles remain in good condition while in storage, and a thorough inspection facility. Giga Shipping currently operates Giga Car Terminal, which provides transit storage and handling facilities for most of Malaysia’s import and export auto marques within Westports. The terminal handled about 130,000 cars in 2014.

Automotive shipping and logistics provider Giga Maritime Group (GMG) has announced plans to invest in new IT infrastructure, the expansion and replacement of fleets, assets and vehicles as well as developing new car terminals, in an effort to hone the group's competitive edge and meet the demands of Malaysia's growing automotive industry. Datuk Kumar Prabakaran, the managing director of GMG companies Giga Shipping Sdn Bhd and Nexus Mega Carriers Sdn Bhd, said these investments are vital in order for the group to meet growth demands following the National Automotive Policy (NAP) announcement earlier this year. Malaysia aims to increase its total production of 1.25 million vehicles and boost annual exports to 250,000 units by the year 2020.

Ennore Port Limited (EPL), Chennai and Ford India Private Limited have signed an agreement for export of Ford cars though the Ennore port for a period of 10 years. Speaking on the occasion the Union Minister for Shipping Shri G.K. Vasan said that this is a part of series of initiatives by the UPA government for attracting investments in the infrastructure sector, particularly in ports and automobile sectors. The agreement provides for various volume based discounts on wharfage by EPL ranging from5-30% to encourage more exports through EPL. Ford India Private Limited has set up a modern integrated manufacturing facility at Maraimalai Nagar, near Chennai, for export of their automobile products.

Following a call for tenders in November last year, the Marseilles Fos port authority has chosen automotive logistics specialist TEA – part of the Charles Andre transport group - to develop and operate an import/export terminal for new cars at the Brule-Tabac quay in Fos. The decision was announced during a review of the port’s first five years under a revised management structure decreed by the French government in 2008. This established three governing bodies – the executive, supervisory and development boards – which are about to be renewed after completing their 2009-2013 terms of office.

Laden with a consignment of luxury vehicles for the South Africa market, the 231 metre ship mv Tijuca became the largest car carrier ever to sail into the Port of East London. The vessel is on its maiden voyage to the country with ports of call including Port Elizabeth and Durban. In East London the 13 deck ship took advantage of a recent expansion project which saw the berth at the car terminal deepened from 9.3 to 10.5 metres to accommodate larger vessels. East London Port Manager Jacqueline Brown said the vessel’s call highlighted the positive outlook in the new vehicles market.

On Feb. 5, NICE Systems (NASDAQ: NICE), announced that Transnet Port Terminals, the largest cargo terminal operator in South Africa, is expanding NICE's IP video surveillance environment at Durban Car Terminal and Ngqura, for a total of five port terminals. The new project is part of a national security upgrade initiative designed to improve security at South Africa's commercial ports and ensure compliance with the government's Key Points and Strategic Installations regulations for the security of national critical infrastructure sites. Transnet Port Terminals, South Africa's largest cargo terminal operator, operates 16 terminals at seven of the country's busiest commercial ports.

In 2005, 369 million tonnes of cargo passed through the port of Rotterdam, almost 5% more than in 2004 and a new record. The volume of cargo leaving the port grew faster than that of cargo coming in, with 9% and 3% respectively, with general cargo enjoying 7% growth – almost twice the growth of bulk cargo. Ores and scrap metals (-5%), crude oil (-1%) roll on /roll off (-9%) and other general cargo (-3%) arrived and left in smaller volumes. However, handling of agri-bulk (+1%), coal (+7%), other dry bulk (+4%), other wet bulk (+4%), mineral oil products (+27%) and containers (+10%) showed very positive figures. In numbers, container movements increased by more than 12% to 9.3 million TEU (container units of 20 feet).