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Port of Ghent passes the 50 million tonnes mark in new record year

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With 2 million tonnes more transhipment Ghent registered a 4.4% growth. Ghent herewith confirms its position as a growing export port. Moreover, it again becomes clear that the diversity of Ghent port is a huge asset in order to obtain more traffic.

Seagoing and inland navigation
The overall cargo traffic in 2011 increased by 4.4% to 50 million tonnes, 2 million tonnes more than in the previous record year 2010. Cargo traffic by seagoing vessels clocked at 27.2 million tonnes and as such remained on the same level of the previous record year 2010. Cargo traffic by inland vessels acknowledged a 10.6% growth: from 20.7 million tonnes to 22.8 million tonnes or 2.1 million tonnes more.

In the first nine months of 2011 the port still achieved 5.5 % more trans-shipment than in 2010. In the last 3 months of 2011 the growth diminished.

2011 is Zeebrugge's second best year

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According to the port the decrease occured in the container business. Howeverr on the upside other port sectors showed an increase. (figures mentioned are an estimation)

Ro-Ro traffic rose by 5.9 % to a volume of 13.1 million tons. The traffic increased to Finland, Ireland and Spain. A total of 1,050,000 trucks transited in the port (+3.8 %).

Traffic of new cars grew by 10.5 % to a total of 1,777,500 units. Despite the important impact of the Japan tsunami wich affected the imports of new cars in Zeebrugge during 5 months.

The worldwide container business is facing turbulent times. The stakes are high on the Europe/Asia route. The scaling-up and the expansion of capacity emerge on a moment of economic growth recession in Asia and stagnation in Europe.

Zeebrugge container traffic, which is focused on the Europe/Asia trade, was affected by the deteriorating economic situation and the slow-down of the Europe/Asia trade. Various deepsea services have been reshuffled. In Zeebrugge this also affected the related container feedering services.The container volume dropped by 11.1% to 2,222,000 teus. This is just beyond the 2008 result.

The total liquid bulk grew by 6.4% to 8.5 million tons, 5.2 million tons of which is lng. 2011 was a record year with 81 lng calls instead of 77 in 2010. Solid bulk fell back by 2.8% to 1.6 million tons. Conventional cargo increased by 4 % to 1.2 million tons. More wood pulp was handled.

2011 was a record year for the cruises in Zeebrugge. The coastal port welcomed 75 cruise vessels in comparison with 66 in 2010 (+13.6%)

Record container volumes set in 2011 for New Orleans

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“Two back-to-back record-setting years is a testament to the hard work of our customers and terminal operators,” said Port President and CEO Gary LaGrange. “Our volumes are attributed to a strong export market, particularly chemicals and agricultural products; coffee and apparel were strong commodities on the inbound side.”

The Port also added a new Latin American container service in 2011 and a new container carrier, as CMA CGM returned to the Port. The shipping line joins Mediterranean Shipping Company, Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk, Seaboard Marine and CSAV in serving the Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal.

New Orleans Terminal and Ports America jointly operate the Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal 

An expansion is underway throughout the terminal, as the Port invested $38 million in 2011 alone into the facility, including the delivery of two new container gantry cranes and the addition of more than four acres to the terminal’s marshalling yard. Both projects increase efficiencies and terminal capacity.

In December, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation John Porcari awarded the Port a $16.7 million federal grant to build the Mississippi River Intermodal Terminal – a specialized, 12 acre freight rail yard on the terminal – which will capitalize on New Orleans’ unmatched rail access to six Class One railroads.

“We continue to reap the benefits of investments we have made at the Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal,” LaGrange said. “We will continue to work hard to stay a few steps ahead of the market’s demand as the container trade grows in the Gulf of Mexico.”

 

 

Maersk Line and Broström join campaign for cleaner shipping

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The two shipping companies are currently switching to fuel with a maximum of 0.1 per cent sulphur when they operate in the port area. Five shipping companies, with 37 vessels, are now participating in the Port of Gothenburg environmental campaign for cleaner shipping.

For several years, the Port of Gothenburg has imposed a surcharge on vessels with more than 0.5 per cent sulphur in the fuel. In autumn 2010, the port decided that the revenue from this environmentally differentiated port charge could be reinvested in shipping companies that opt for clean fuels (maximum of 0.1 per cent sulphur content). The shipping companies can receive up to SEK 250,000 in compensation for the higher fuel costs. Other environmental measures are also rewarded.

Maersk Line and Broström have recently joined the campaign. Maersk Line is one of the world’s largest shipping companies and the first container company to switch to low-sulphur fuel in the Port of Gothenburg. Broström is part of the same group as Maersk Line, A.P. Moller Maersk, and is the first tanker company to join the environmental campaign. Apart from these two companies, Stena Oil, Topoil and OW Bunker are also participating.

A total of 37 vessels have applied for compensation for using fuel with a maximum of 0.1 per cent sulphur.

Åsa Wilske, Environmental Manager at the Port of Gothenburg, is extremely pleased that more and more shipping companies are opting to become part of the environmental campaign. “We are seeking to demonstrate that it is possible to take significant steps towards cleaner shipping through voluntary collaboration and innovative ways of working.” 

Substantial reduction in sulphur emissions
As a mode of transport, shipping is very energy efficient. One large container ship can carry the same volume of freight as 7,000 trucks. Despite this, the emission of sulphur dioxide and particles is still a major problem for shipping. Sulphur dioxide acidifies land and water and spreads particles that are hazardous to health.

The investment in cleaner fuel will be of major importance to the environment. The 37 vessels that are involved will reduce their sulphur emissions by 90 per cent in the port area. Because of the campaign, emissions of sulphur dioxide are expected to fall during 2011 and 2012 by 152 tonnes.