Heerema's crane vessels to use wind energy

The switch from diesel generators should result in substantial improvement of air quality for residents of Rozenburg and Maassluis, says Rotterdam Port Authority

The initiative follows a MoU signed by the Port of Rotterdam Authority (HbR), Heerema Marine Contractors and Eneco in July 2018.

Henceforth Heerema will provide its crane vessels with clean energy while they are in the port. By switching off the diesel generators, total emissions will be reduced by the equivalent of the annual emissions of around 5,000 diesel cars.

Heerema’s SLEIPNIR and THIALF are the largest crane vessels in the world. They are regularly moored in the Calandkanaal for maintenance or to prepare for projects at sea.

Eneco will supply power from the wind farm on Landtong Rozenburg. Heerema’s crane vessels are often moored in the Calandkanaal in Rotterdam. The use of clean energy reduces noise and air pollution, significantly reduces CO2 emissions and improves the quality of life in Rozenburg and Maassluis.

To supply the power, an "e-house" measuring 16m x 9m will be built on Landtong Rozenburg together with several transformers. Eneco and HbR have set themselves the goal of providing vessels, in addition to those of Heerema, with shore power at other locations in the vicinity.

To get the project off the ground, the Municipality of Rotterdam has reserved a subsidy of €2M in its 2020 budget, provided that the e-house on Landtong Rozenburg is properly integrated into its surroundings in consultation with local residents.

It is not very common internationally for these types of large vessels to be connected to shore power, but "what makes the project unique is the direct supply of wind turbine power to these nearby seagoing vessels," says a joint statement from Eneco and HbR, which are respectively 80% and 20% stakeholders in aa new company, Rotterdam Shore Power BV.

Source: WorldCargo News

BGT’s new berths opened

Manila-based International Container Terminal Services Inc (ICTSI) has completed its US$250M development project at its Basra Gateway Terminal (BGT) in the port of Umm Qasr, Iraq.

The refurbishment of and opening of Berths 25 and 26, which are adjacent to Berth 27 which was inaugurated in 2016 gives BGT 600m of contiguous berthing line. With a draught alongside of 14m, the facility can accommodate neo-panamax-class vessels.

The investment in Berths 25 and 26 has included the purchase of three STS cranes, each of which can handle ships loaded with 21 rows of containers across the weather deck, and seven RTGs. The latter machines can lift one container over six.

The container-handling facility now features five STS cranes, 10 RTGs and a yard area of 50ha. It has an annual throughput capacity in excess of 600,000TEU.

Commenting on the company’s investment programme in BGT, ICTSI chairman and president Enrique K Razon, said: “We are pleased to lead the way for Umm Qasr to serve higher capacity container vessels, up to and including the so-called ‘new panamax’ class (14,000 TEU) vessels and open the door for cargo importers and exporters to benefit from the substantial scale economies from the deployment of these ships.”

In addition to expanding BGT’s container-handling capacity, ICTSI has improved its ro-ro facilities, developed dedicated warehousing and secure storage areas do that general and project cargo can be handled more efficiently.

Enrique K. Razon Jr., ICTSI Chairman and President (center, fifth from left), formally opens Basra Gateway Terminal’s two new deep-water berths, part of its US$250-million second phase investment program for its Umm Qasr port. Joining him are Dr. Safaa Al-Fayyadh, Director General of the General Company for Ports of Iraq - GCPI (7th from the left) and Chief Atheal Abid Ali Salman, North Port Director, Umm Qasr (fourth from the left).

Source: WorldCargo News

Hong Kong Seaport Alliance launches barge initiative

Hong Kong terminal operators come together in bid to make barge services more efficient.

The Hong Kong Seaport Alliance (HKSPA) has launched a series of new barge initiatives to improve service levels for barge handling at Hong Kong.

The HKSPA consists of four terminal operators: Hong Kong International Terminals, Modern Terminals, COSCO-HIT Terminals and Asia Container Terminals. Together the terminals operate 12 dedicated barge berths, handling 100 daily barge calls with cargo connections between more than 100 terminals in South China and over 200 international weekly vessel calls.

Hong Kong’s container volume has continued to drop this year, falling 9.5% in the first six months of 2019. HKSPA members are trying to arrest the decline where they can, including in the barge sector where the key features of the new barge initiative include the standardisation of operations policy across HKSPA’s barge facilities, single berthing arrangements by zone, and a “favourable dockage scheme”. The HKSA said the initiatives will improve efficiency and turnaround times for barge voyages, while incentivising barge operators to expand their operations.

Tony Tong, Chairman of Hong Kong Liner Shipping Association said, “We welcome the new barge initiatives of HKSPA which enhance the competitiveness of Hong Kong in serving the barge hinterland in South China and its position as a major transshipment hub. Barge volume is crucial to the logistics industry in Hong Kong and the new initiatives offer values to all stakeholders by streamlining barge operations and enhancing the economics and efficiency in operating barge cargo connection in Hong Kong. We look forward to working with the industry to strengthen the cargo volume here in Hong Kong.”

Ellis Chung, Chairman of Guangdong and Hong Kong Feeder Association added: “Improving the turnaround time of our barges is always the key to enhancing our efficiency and improving the product we offer to our shipping line customers. HKSPA’s adoption of the terminal neutral model and standardisation of operations policy is expected to shorten our turnaround time, improve our slot utilisation, simplify administration and provide us with more flexibility. HKSPA has taken a proactive approach in understanding our needs and concerns regarding adoption of best operating practice and improving the Common Barge Platform to simplify operational procedures. We are dedicated to collaborating with HKSPA to improve the competitiveness of barge services in Hong Kong”.

Source: WorldCargo News