Port News

The first Sustainability Congress was held on Tuesday 10 October with the launch of the fourth Sustainability Report which fully incorporates the 17 Sustainability Development Goals of the United Nations. On this occasion the Port of Antwerp community also presented its revamped website with case studies and the latest information on the sustainable transition currently being implemented by companies in the port. And to cap it all Antwerp Port Authority, the logistics service providers and transport operators in the port jointly signed the Operation Clean Sweep charter.

Port of Amsterdam, STC-Group Holding and Iskes Towage & Salvage signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Amsterdam with Port of Fujairah (PoF), one of the largest oil storage and bunkering hubs in the world. The agreement focuses on further strategic cooperation. Located on the east coast of the United Arab Emirates, the port of Fujairah has seen tremendous growth in the past decades, turning from a regional multi-purpose Port into an important part of the global oil supply chain.

Mexican port security officials have undergone training on complying with International Maritime Organization (IMO)'s International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS Code). Forty participants took part in the workshop in Manzanillo, Mexico (16-20 October), focusing on the practise of self-assessing compliance with regulations under the Code that apply to port facilities. The workshop included theoretical lessons, presentations on self-assessment processes and techniques, practical exercises, role playing and a visit to a port facility in Manzanillo.

APL announced the launch of a new Korea China Straits (KCS) service that will serve the key Asian markets of China, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. The weekly service will link Nansha in South China to the Straits of Singapore and Port Klang as well as Indonesia; offer superior transit between Indonesia and Manila; and call Lianyungang in Jiangsu where few carriers provide access to. The KCS service will reinforce APL’s footprint in Intra-Asia where the carrier seeks to fortify its presence as a leading ocean carrier.

The Port of Rotterdam Authority wants a new multi-fuel bunkering station for refuelling with LNG and other cleaner fuels. The anticipated location of the bunkering station is Krabbegors/Duivelseiland at Dordrecht Inland Seaport. The Port of Rotterdam Authority and PitPoint.LNG have therefore signed a declaration of intent regarding a joint investigation into the construction of such a multi-fuel bunkering station. “As operator of Europe’s largest port, the Port Authority sees…

Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) Executive Director Griff Lynch said the GPA increased auto processing capacity at Colonel’s Island Terminal by 50 percent over the past 12 months, all of which has been absorbed by processors and manufacturers. The Port of Brunswick now has an annual capacity of 800,000 vehicles. “Since last year, we’ve been implementing an aggressive growth plan, enabling GPA and our auto processing partners to win new customers and capture greater market share,” Lynch said.

The number of containers handled in the port of Rotterdam continues to grow. In the first nine months of 2017, the throughput of containers increased by 10.1 percent compared to the corresponding period in 2016, to a total of 10.2 million units (TEU). The port’s total throughput in that same period increased by 2 percent. In addition to containers, the key contributors to this overall growth were the agribulk and breakbulk segments. The port recorded a drop in the throughput of liquid bulk like mineral oil products.

U.K. shipbuilder Southampton Marine Services said it has delivered a newly constructed 20.45-meter multipurpose harbor workboat to Svitzer. The new vessel, named Svitzer Merlin, is the forerunner in Southampton Marine Services’ new Bulldog workboats range. A Bulldog 20, the workboat is a repeat Svitzer order for Southampton Marine Services, being similar to the Middlesbrough-based Svitzer Leven. Svitzer Merlin takes her place in the Svitzer fleet being based at Milford Haven, performing general port collection work and recycling of waste from ships at the port.

As marine shipping continues to support the growth of the Canadian and U.S. economies, St. Lawrence Seaway cargo shipments to-date for 2917 are 14 percent ahead of 2016 volumes. Total cargo tonnage from March 20 to September 30 reached 24.3 million metric tons – 3 million metric tons more compared to the same period in 2016, according to The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation. “Our results point to the strength of the Canadian and U.S. economies. Export shipments of mined products such as iron ore and dry bulk via the Seaway have grown dramatically this year…

Gothenburg Port Authority has opted to keep the Port Tariff unchanged for the third year in succession. The charges for 2018 will thus be on the same level as 2015. Port charges are levied on all vessels that call at the Port of Gothenburg. The charges are based on vessel type and gross tonnage, and are used to finance a range of activities, including fairway maintenance, traffic information and port safety. The Port of Gothenburg has opted for the third year in succession not to increase the charges set out in the Port Tariff.

Contanda Terminals LLC,  a  provider of bulk liquid storage and logistics services in North America, has announced a multi-year commercial agreement with the Port of Houston Authority for 339 acres of prime deep-water access property located on the Houston Ship Channel. The land acquisition enables Contanda to continue to develop its key strategic business objective of doubling its terminal storage capability over the next five years, and expanding into the bulk petrochemical and hydrocarbon markets. This will further strengthen the company’s presence along the U.S.

Major ports in India handled 326.4 million tonnes of cargo in the April-September period, an increase of 3.24% over the 316.1 million tonnes they handled a year ago. According to the data released by the ministry of shipping, seven out of the 12 major ports in the country recorded traffic growth in the first half of the current fiscal. Seven Ports (Kolkata, Paradip, Chennai, Cochin, New Mangalore, Mumbai and JNPT) registered positive growth in traffic during the period April to September 2017.

The Port of Corpus Christi lives up to its moniker ‘Energy Port of the Americas,’ as the movement of energy in and out dominates the port’s history and future. John P. LaRue, Executive Director, Port Corpus Christi recently visited Maritime Reporter’s headquarters in New York to discuss the nearly $50 billion in investment projects driving the port forward. “Let’s just start with what we are and what we are not,” said LaRue. “We are not a container port. Up until a few years ago we were an oil import port (serving) three refineries: Citgo, Valero and Flint Hills Resources.

One of three vessels that has grounded in the Port of Durban today due to inclement weather has been successfully refloated and remoored alongside. Port teams remain on scene attending to the remaining vessels. TNPA has also managed to contain containers that had blown into the bay. At this stage vessel movements in the Port of Durban remain suspended until futher notice. No severe disruptions have been reported thus far at the Port of Richards Bay. TNPA earlier invoked a Business Continuity Plan (BCP) at its head office and the Port of Durban to ensure that it manages the situation closely.

Marine functions at South Africa’s largest port have partially resumed after severe weather halted operations and caused heavy damages at the port earlier this week. The Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) said the storm blew containers into the bay, broke mooring lines in the channel and caused three vessels to run aground in the Port of Durban on Monday. Sounding surveys indicate that there is some obstruction on the seabed that could pose a risk to navigation. As of 6:30 p.m. local time on Wednesday, TNPA declared 80 percent of the navigable area of the port safe for marine operations, and operations have commenced only in channels that are confirmed to be clear from obstruction.

Reinforcing its three-decade-long presence in North America, transportation and logistics firm Bahri took part in Breakbulk Americas, being held from October 17-19, in Houston. The Bahri booth at Breakbulk Americas was opened by Mr. Sultan bin Abdullah Al-Angari, Consul General of Saudi Arabia in Houston, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on the first day of the annual event in the presence of Amal Al-Ruwaii, Director for Trade and Investment, Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in United States of America…

New statistics out today show that containerized import volume at the Port of Oakland increased 12.6 percent last month. The Port reported that it handled the equivalent of 79,135 20-foot import containers. A search of records indicates that it was the largest September import volume in the Port’s history. “This is the peak season for container shipping, when we expect higher import volumes ahead of the year-end holidays,” said Port of Oakland Maritime Director John Driscoll. According to Port data, last month’s import surge topped the previous September record of 77,071 containers.

To better respond to our customers’ needs in the dynamic East Africa market, CMA CGM will upgrade and broaden its service offering connecting India and Middle East Gulf to East Africa. Swahili Express service remains unchanged. A wide range of intermodal solutions to Eastern Africa domestic and cross border destinations service offering is proposed by CMA CGM Group in addition to the maritime services.

The Coast Guard, Texas General Land Office, and Bouchard Transportation representatives continue to respond Sunday to an oil discharge from a barge that caught fire and was extinguished on Friday three miles off the jetties of Port Aransas, Texas. Response efforts continue to minimize impact to the environment and the maritime community, which has enabled the Coast Guard to reopen the impacted ship channels. Discharge from the barge cargo tanks appears to have stopped following the removal of 2,500 barrels of oil-water mix from the barge through lightering operations.

The Port of San Diego is preparing to welcome 83 cruise calls during the 2017-2018 cruise season, with a wide variety of itineraries visiting this inspiring destination. This season Holland America Line remains a strong presence on San Diego Bay along with continued growth from Disney Cruise Line. On Thursday, October 5, the Disney Wonder will be in port, along with Holland America Line’s Nieuw Amsterdam. Approximately 242,000 passengers are expected this year, up from last year’s 224,000. The number of cruise calls remains about the same.

Indian flagged vessel owning unit of Dubai-headquartered Transworld Group Shreyas Shipping and Logistics (SSL) announced that the company has taken deliveries of its three vessels. In a stock exchange filing the container feeder owning and operating company said that it has taken deliveries of M.V. SSL Ganga (container vessel - 1500 teus), M.V. SSL Brahmaputra (container vessel - 4200 teus) and M.V. SSL Balaji (multipurpose vessel - 650 teus). The company has also entered into Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for sale of one vessel - SSL Sagarmala.

ZIM is pleased to announce that starting November 2017, ZIM’s popular Seven Stars Express Service (Z7S) will add a call in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, offering unique advantages to customers, said a company press release. The service includes: Direct access to New York Maher terminal, Unique product linking Kaohsiung and Wilmington, NC, Fast transit time from Wilmington and Savannah; A premium product for USA exports to Taiwan, Calling Terminal 5, Pier 77/78 in Kaohsiung, for easy access from main manufacturing areas and End of the week departure from Kaohsiung.

Task Force 70 Public Affairs (NNS) - The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group arrived in Busan for a port visit, Oct. 21. The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) with embarked staff of Commander, Task Force (CTF) 70, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15 staff and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, and the guided-missile destroyers USS Stethem (DDG 63) and USS Chafee (DDG 90) pulled into Busan after participating in Maritime Counter Special Operations Force Exercise (MCSOFEX) 2017. The focus of the bilateral training exercise was to increase the readiness of U.S.