This new call aims at better serving market needs, especially the Cocoa trade from West Africa in season, as well as the European exports from Amsterdam. It is a part of our constant efforts to improve our coverage of the African trades, which currently include also MAF – Mediteranean – West Africa service, including transshipment from the Americas and East-Med to West Africa via Tarragona; and FAX, Far East – West Africa Service, Connecting major Asian ports with West Africa, with connections to Zim’s global network.

The latest agreements confirmed by IHC Merwede include: a new pipelaying vessel for Subsea 7; a trailing suction hopper dredger for Weeks Marine Inc. (USA); an environmentally friendly deepwater dredger for Zheijang Dredging (China); and a 5,000-tonne capacity carousel-lay system for Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. These orders further reinforce the group’s belief that there will be continued demand for its innovative vessels, advanced equipment and life-cycle support in the future.

IHC Merwede’s assignment with Subsea 7 is for the design, engineering and construction of a new advanced pipelaying vessel, which will have an overall length of 146 metres, a beam of 30 metres and a Class-2 dynamic positioning system. Subsea 7 has selected IHC Merwede due to its reliability and efficiency with four previous orders. This latest vessel will be used to develop deep-sea oilfields off the coast of Brazil on behalf of Petrobras.

In the USA, IHC Merwede has been successful in securing an agreement for a trailing suction hopper dredger with a 6,540m3 capacity for Weeks Marine Inc., USA. Weeks has ordered an engineering and components package from IHC Merwede, while its partner in the USA, BAE Systems, is contracted to build the vessel with a length of 109 metres and a beam of 24 metres. This important landmark has highlighted IHC Merwede’s ongoing strategy of internationalisation. Furthermore, Chinese company, Zheijang Dredging, has ordered an advanced environmentally friendly deep-water dredging vessel. This innovative cutter suction dredger will be optimised to work in polluted lake and reservoir dredging projects, and is unique in its class. The Beaver®4040 is the first cutter suction dredger designed for sustainable dredging to a depth of 40 metres. This eco-friendly dredger will be built at the components factory of IHC China Support in Guangzhou.

Some of IHC Merwede’s business units have also acquired orders for specialist equipment, including a carousel-lay system for Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. The carousel features the IHC Engineering Business advanced hydraulic roller suspension system to increase reliability, reduce life-cycle costs and extend the lifetime of the system. The equipment will be manufactured, assembled and tested in IHC China Support’s components factory in Guangzou. IHC Merwede’s President Govert Hamers says, “The recent successes in developing our business show that IHC Merwede’s reputation as the technology innovator remains intact. Our customers continue to value the reliability and efficiency of our products and services. With these orders in place, IHC Merwede is already on track to achieve its sales targets for this year.”

Paul Davey, Head of Corporate Affairs at Hutchison Ports (UK) Limited, which owns Harwich International Port, said:

“We are thrilled that Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has decided to commence turnaround calls at Harwich International Port after the successful visit by Black Watch in 2010, and Balmoral in 2011. The port has developed into one of the UK’s leading cruise ports, and we look forward to working with Fred. Olsen to offer its guests the highest quality facilities and customer service, which we are sure will rapidly earn Harwich a place in their esteem.”

Black Watch will be offering three cruises from Harwich in May 2013, to the Baltic, Norway and Lapland – through the Gulf of Bothnia – and a mini-cruise in June 2013. The cruises will range in length from 3 to 14 nights.

Matt Grimes, Director of Planning for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said:

“Harwich International Port has long been on Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ radar as a turnaround port following a series of successful transit calls in recent years. Its direct rail connections from London – whereby guests alight right next to the Cruise Terminal – make this an extremely easy port to access.

“The addition of this new regional departure port means that Fred. Olsen is able to operate a vessel within only 100 miles of over 90% of the UK population, which will enhance further our reputation as the UK’s local cruise line with a global choice of itineraries.”

Black Watch is no stranger to Harwich, and welcomed a delegation of local VIPs on board when she made her inaugural call at the Port in August 2010, as part of an ‘Around UK’ cruise. The local dignitaries visiting Black Watch included the Mayor of Harwich and regional trade and tourism bodies, such as the Haven Gateway Partnership.

Box traffic totalled 55,300 units compared with 49,400 over the previous 12 months. Medlink outlined recent growth initiatives at the River Dating convention organised in Paris last week (December 7-8) by inland waterways authority Voies Navigables de France.

Key measures launched in 2011 include a direct service between Marseilles Fos and inland port Valence, which provides a river-based import-export facility for the Drome department in south-east France as well as an alternative route for shipments to and from the city of Grenoble.

Meanwhile vessel operators Logirhone and RSC consolidated their services under the name of Medlink Shuttle Containers and increased Fos sailings to six per week – one more than in 2010.  In addition, the Medlink Ports partnership grew with Vienne Sud joining the eight existing inland ports – Pagny, Chalon, Macon, Villefranche-sur-Saone, Lyons, Avignon-Le Pontet, Arles and Valence.               

In another enhancement, the AP+ data exchange system was opened to forwarders last May, offering greater reliability and security in managing traffic flows.

The 550km waterways network serves much of the southern half of France – from Marseilles to Dijon – and handles dry bulks, liquid bulks and heavy loads as well as containers.  Value-added logistics solutions such as warehousing and local distribution are available throughout the network, where pre- and post-forwarding is boosted by a range of intermodal options that reduce transit times and park charges.  Coupled with the suspension of dues and taxes, this is supported by a fast-track customs procedure for intermodal traffic.