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Port of Newcastle bill ‘unshackles’ Restrictions over Container Terminal

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Archives, Global Logistics, Global Trade Daily, Ocean Ports

Port of Newcastle bill ‘unshackles’ Restrictions over Container Terminal

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The Australian government has passed a bill unlocking restrictions on the development of a container terminal at the Port of Newcastle.

The Port of Newcastle (Extinguishment of Liability) Bill 2022 establishes a process for the extinguishment of certain liabilities of the port’s operator.

The port, which mainly transports coal, has long planned to build a container terminal to increase container cargo throughput.

However, since 2013, the New South Wales (NSW) State Government has imposed a TEU cap on the Port of Newcastle in favor of containerized cargo travelling via the Ports of Botany and Kembla, owned by NSW Ports.

Port Botany and Port Kembla were privatized in 2013 under 99-year leases from the State of NSW Ports.

A 50-year Port Commitment Deed, implemented as part of the 2013 privatization, required the State of NSW to compensate the ports if container traffic at Newcastle exceeded a 50,000 TEU cap.

READ: Port of Newcastle welcomes appeal against ‘anti-competitive’ container terminal dismissal

Under the new bill passed on 8 November, the current restrictions on the port would be extinguished once the owners pay a new sale price – which will be determined by an independent person appointed by the government.

Independent Member for Lake Macquarie, Greg Piper, said the new bill will “unshackle the Port of Newcastle from controversial restrictions”.

“I’ve agreed to a government amendment to provide a clear path for the port to diversify into containers without the unfair penalties placed on it.”

“If we can remove that penalty, then the Port of Newcastle are ready to go out and seek investors to put in up to AUD2.4 billion ($1.6 billion) worth of investment to build this container port.”

The bill has received cross-party support from the Nationals in the Upper Hunter and Northern Tablelands.

The port inaugurated two new mobile harbor cranes in August.

The mobile harbor cranes are now in their final stages of commissioning and are expected to commence cargo and container handling this September.

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DP World Inaugurates two Super Post Panamax Cranes at Lirquén Terminal

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DP World has inaugurated two Super Post Panamax ship-to-shore (STS) cranes at its Lirquén Chile terminal.

The two new cranes, powered by renewable energy, will help increase port productivity by 30 per cent and reduce the operational carbon footprint by 11 per cent while accelerating the company’s efficiency and growth at one of the main terminals in the Biobío Region.

The Super Post Panamax STS cranes will allow DP World to service ships with up to 22 rows, and are supported by yard equipment such as Reach Stackers and port trucks to accompany the increase in productivity at the dock.

The project also includes the addition of modern Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology, which will speed up the process and improve the terminal’s safety.

Michael Spoerer, General Manager of DP World Lirquén, explained: “DP World’s Lirquén terminal is now poised to support additional economic activity through the port, expanding the world’s access to Chilean exports.

“This investment of nearly $45 million brings two of the most modern cranes in the world to our facility. As demand for goods increases across the region, we now have the capacity to handle the region’s largest vessels in the most sustainable manner.”

READ: DP World signs deal with Emirates Development Bank

DP World’s operations in Chile, through its terminals DP World Lirquén and DP World San Antonio, recently renewed its certification as the first port operator in South America to use 100 per cent renewable energy.

The company announced a $500 million investment at COP27 to cut carbon emissions by 700,000 tons as part of the Green Shipping Challenge (GSC).

Spoerer added: “This investment confirms DP World’s decision to enhance its commercial offer for containers on the West Coast of South America and to be a long-term strategic facilitator of cargo for Chilean importers and exporters.

“Productivity and efficiency at DP World Lirquén’s docks has grown significantly in recent years, thanks to investments, operational redesign and support from our workers, which have translated into benefits for our customers, both in containers, cellulose ships, ships with servicing the clean energy market and transportation.”

DP World Limited handled 59.6 million TEU terminals in the first nine months of the year.

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AD Ports Group, Iraq’s IDB Sign Port and Logistics Development deal

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AD Ports Group and the International Development Bank (IDB) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to review opportunities for ports and logistics projects that could enhance trade flows between the UAE and Iraq.

Being the only Iraqi financial institute licensed from the Central Bank of the UAE to provide wholesale corporate banking service, IDB aims to provide its services to corporate clients and support a range of landmark infrastructure projects in both countries.

As part of its strategy for growth and globalisation, AD Ports Group has signed a number of milestone agreements to explore opportunities for the management and development of ports and logistics assets across Iraq, including a 2021 agreement with General Company for Ports of Iraq (GCPI) to promote increased cooperation.

The agreement was signed by Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and Group CEO of AD Ports Group, and Dr. Ziad Khalaf, Chairman, International Development Bank.

The UAE and Iraq have continued to strengthen trade ties in 2022, with several trade agreements and development deals.

The World Bank estimates that Iraq’s economy will expand 6.3 per cent over the next two years.

Last week AD Ports invested $800 million to buy an 80 per cent stake in Global Feeder Shipping.

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DP World Launches New Technology Innovation Center in India

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DP World has opened a new technology centre in Gurgaon, India – its third this year following two in Hyderabad and Bangalore earlier this year.

The facility, located about 30 kilometers southwest of India’s capital New Delhi, will host over 240 people.

DP World will tap into India’s digital economy growth – set to reach $1 trillion by 2025 – nurturing resources to develop the latest available technologies, including blockchain, artificial intelligence and machine learning to automate trade flows.

DP World’s presence in the Indian technology market has grown rapidly to more than 450 employees and the opening of three offices in 2022.

The company aims to reach an employee headcount of 700 by the middle of next year.

READ: DP World divests stake to Indian Infrastructure Fund in $300 million investment

“At DP World, we are focused on developing cutting-edge applications and solutions to solve real-world trade problems,” said Pradeep Desai, DP World’s Chief Technology Officer.

“Across the industries in which we operate in, trade is moving from analogue to embrace new digital solutions. Our teams will be able to build and trial new solutions – from conception to execution – helping to automate the flow of trade.

“We are investing heavily in end-to-end logistics, trade finance, e-commerce and market access, all for benefitting cargo owners. In addition, efficiencies can be achieved in supply chains by using IoT to run operations, digital twins to monitor activities and movement of cargo via alternate modes of transport using optimization techniques.”

During COP27 in Egypt, DP World announced it will invest up to $500 million to cut CO2 emissions from its operations by nearly 700,000 tons over the next five years.

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South Africa releases plans for South African Shipping Company

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The Department of Transport of South Africa has released the first draft of the South African Shipping Company Bill 2022 slated to establish the country’s first national carrier.

South African Shipping Company (SASCO) follows the government’s target to bolster its maritime sector amid supply chain disruptions brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Plans to establish a state-owned national carrier have been on the cards since 2017.

READ: South Africa looks for investors to greenify ports

According to the bill, all ships would be flagged in South Africa and will operate alongside logistics services and infrastructure.

SASCO will also engage in tanker services, bunkering services, container services, bulk cargo services, and coastal shipping services – on top of traditional carriage of export and imports.

Funds will be provided under an Industrial Development Fund (IDC) and through the government itself.

Specific details on the financing are yet to be defined.

The Department of Transport said meetings with stakeholders will commence this month to explore interest and commitment to the shipping company.

Works at container terminals around South Africa ground to a halt last month as liners omit calls around the nation’s ports.

The congestion is a result of strike action from the United National Transport Union (UNTU) and the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU) in a walkout over a pay dispute that rolled on for months.

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New Intermodal Terminal Operator at Port of Gothenburg

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One of the terminals at the Port of Gothenburg is getting a new operator.

Arken Intermodal Terminal at the Outer Ports will be operated from now on by the terminal company Gothenburg Roro Terminal.

The recently signed lease agreement comes into force on 11 December and is valid for three years.

The Arken Intermodal Terminal comprises an area of 65,000 square metres adjacent to the Port’s container and ro-ro terminals.

The terminal is used for the transshipment of containers or trailers between ships, trains and trucks, for onward transport into the Swedish hinterland or out into the world.

With its seven railway lines with a total track length of 3,360 metres, the terminal is focused primarily on handling rail traffic.

As of 11 December, operations will be taken over by an operator that is already well-established at the port, Gothenburg Roro Terminal.

The company has been running the port’s biggest ro-ro terminal since 2012, where the majority of the port’s total of about 600,000 ro-ro units per year are handled.

The terminal has 16 departures per week to the UK and many of the major freight hubs in Central Europe. The ro-ro terminal and the Arken Intermodal Terminal are immediately adjacent to each other.

READ: Port of Gothenburg surpasses 220,000 TEU in Q3

“There are many new opportunities that this will enable us to realise – not least when Arken’s link to intra-European ro-ro shipping becomes clearer,” said Maria Franksen, CEO of Gothenburg Roro Terminal.

“For example, we’ll be able to link up the terminal’s extensive rail traffic from Norrland to the upcoming green shipping corridor via Ghent, for onward transport to Turkey.”

The terminal is of the open access type, and with a total capacity of 90,000 units a year.

The Arken Intermodal Terminal is a relatively new addition to the Port of Gothenburg’s range of terminals.

It became operational at the turn of the year 2017/2018, when it replaced a previous terminal in central Gothenburg. This relocation brought major benefits in the form of higher capacity, a better geographical location in relation to industry and a better adapted road infrastructure to and from the terminal.

The move meant that around 100 trucks a day could be moved from the city centre, resulting in both shorter queues and lower emissions in the area.

Last month the Port of Gothenburg debuted its Circle K charging and hydrogen filling station.

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Lekki Port Completes Work to become Nigeria’s First Deep Seaport

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China Harbor Engineering Company Ltd (CHEC) has handed over Lekki port, Nigeria’s first deep seaport, to the government following completion.

The port will meet the needs of Nigeria’s economic development, said Cui Jianchun, Chinese ambassador to Nigeria in an interview with Chinese state media Xinhua.

As a commercial project of tripartite cooperation between China, France, and Nigeria, Lekki port is of great significance for promoting the Belt and Road cooperation in Africa, said the ambassador.

READ: Lekki Port receives second ship with handling equipment

The container terminal is equipped with a 1,200-metre-long quay as well as 13 quay cranes and has a capacity of 2.5 million TEU.

The Lekki Deep Sea Port was constructed by CHEC and is the first of its kind in Nigeria.

The $1.6 billion project was announced as part of the Nigerian federal government’s wider plan to develop six new deep sea ports in the south-west and south-south areas of Africa, to be carried out via public-private-partnerships.

“This new port will position Lagos as a new maritime logistics hub not only in West Africa, but in the whole Central and West African region,” said the Governor of Lagos State Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the ceremony.

The newly completed project will create nearly 200,000 direct and indirect jobs in Nigeria in the coming years, unlock the country’s economic potential, and boost the country’s revenue, Governor Sanwo-Olu added.

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Port of Oakland Shuts as Workers Stage Walkout

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The Port of Oakland has shut its terminals as clerks represented by International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) staged a walkout.

Longshoremen initiated labor action on 2 November, as one public advisory from Port of Oakland noted: “Our terminals are reporting terminal interruptions this morning that may lead to delays.”

Local media reported that a spokesperson for ILWU denied the walkouts were an official action of the union despite stalled negotiations with the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA).

SFGate reported that the clerk walkout happened because workers have not been paid on time, with 200 outstanding wage claims dating back to June.

Sources at the terminals described closed gates with piles of containers and trucks waiting to be loaded.

“Our customers are expecting deliveries and we can’t make those deliveries,” AB Trucking President Bill Aboudi said.

“It just snowballs. Every day that we’re shut down is like five days of catch-up.”

Back in July, Some 450 Port of Oakland dockworkers were unable to report to work as truckers protesting the Assembly Bill 5 (AB5) law blocked access to one of the port’s main terminals.

READ: Trucker protests wham Port of Oakland’s volumes

The Port of Oakland has since released: “Protesters have cleared the seaport area and our international marine terminals will try to reopen for tonight’s work shift.

“Yesterday’s labour action closed three of our international marine terminals. Our domestic terminal remained open. Operations resumed by yesterday evening and today we expect continued normal shipping operations.”

Port’s spokespeople said they are “hopeful the ILWU and the PMA can resolve their issues so that the flow of international commerce is not further impacted”.

The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have not reported terminal shutdowns.

Workers at the Port of Oakland and other 28 ports across the US have been operating without a contract since July.

Most recently, Port of Los Angeles Chief Executive, Gene Seroka, said a deal might not be reached for months.

The Port of Oakland witnessed a year-on-year 7.9 per cent loss in total loaded container volume in September.

132,599 loaded TEU passed through the port, compared to 143,991 TEU in September 2021.

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COSCO sells shares in Duisburg new Terminal

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Chinese carrier COSCO has given up its shares in the construction of the new Duisburg Gateway Terminal (DGT) in Germany.

COSCO’s share in the terminal amounted to 30 per cent, which have now been sold to Duisburg port operator, duisport.

READ: Ports of Rotterdam and Duisburg sign digitalization, sustainability agreement

The Duisburg port company took over the shares in June, but both sides have agreed not to disclose the reasons for the Chinese exit, as reported by German broadcaster WDR.

The project for the DGT was launched in 2019 for a total investment of €100 million ($100.4 million).

duisport and COSCO would have held 30 per cent of shares, and Dutch inland shipping group HTS and Hupac 20 per cent each.

The new terminal will be built on the Coal Island of the German port over an area of 220,000 square meters with 6 cranes, 12 rail freight platforms, 5 loading zones, 3 berths for barges and an area of ​​60,000 square metres for container storage.

Initial predictions estimated that DGT was supposed to handle 850,000 TEU per year welcoming over 100 weekly trains coming from the New Silk Road.

The news comes shortly after the German government has approved the acquisition of a minority stake of less than 25 per cent in HHLA’s Container Terminal Tollerort GmbH (CTT) by COSCO.

The sale had been debated for months, as Germany’s Economy Minister, Robert Habeck, disclosed that he was inclined not to allow the deal, arguing the deal would give China a stake in critical German infrastructure.

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Port of Hamburg will not Fall into Chinese Hands, HHLA tells German Government

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The Port of Hamburg will not be sold to China, Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG’s (HHLA) spokespeople have stressed, in an ongoing spat over a COSCO bid into German infrastructure.

The stakeholder announcement follows the news of China’s state-owned COSCO Shipping Ports Limited (CSPL) investing in 35 per cent of HHLA’s Container Terminal Tollerort (CTT) in September 2021.

Earlier this year Germany’s Economy Minister, Robert Habeck, disclosed that he was inclined not to allow the deal, as he argued the deal would give China a stake in critical German infrastructure.

Now, in its stakeholder announcement, HHLA provided an update to the ongoing process of obtaining the necessary investment law approval.

READ: COSCO’s bid in Port of Hamburg “pure business decision”

“HHLA is not aware of any rejection by six federal ministries,” HHLA’s spokesman wrote.

“It is incorrect to say that the EU has objected to the cooperation. The cartel law approval was granted by the responsible authorities.

“In the proceedings, which have now been ongoing for over a year, HHLA received no objective reasons that would indicate that the investment should not be approved,” the HHLA spokesman explained.

The firm clarified that as part of the planned partnership, CSPL will acquire a maximum of 35 per cent of the shares of CTT.

HHLA added that with regards to the Federal Government assessing the threat of Chinese access to German infrastructure, CSPL is not gaining access to the Port of Hamburg or HHLA.

IT and sales data also remain the sole responsibility of HHLA.

CTT is ultimately an “operating subsidiary,” the HHLA spokesman added. “HHLA retains sole control over all significant decisions. COSCO has no exclusive rights at CTT – the terminal remains open to container volumes from all customers.”