The campaign means that vessels that opt to use cleaner fuel whilst in port waters will receive financial compensation. Vessels which are classified as green according to an international index are also compensated.

The Port of Gothenburg has for several years levied a surcharge on vessels where the sulphur content of the fuel is higher than 0.5 per cent. Following consultation with the Gothenburg Shipbrokers’ Association, the port decided in the spring that revenue from the environmentally differentiated port charge will be reinvested in those shipping lines that have switched to clean fuels (maximum 0.1 per cent sulphur content). Other environmental initiatives are also rewarded*. The campaign will be run throughout 2011 and 2012.

11 operate on low-sulphur fuel
To date, 11 vessels have applied for compensation in return for running on fuel containing a maximum of 0.1 per cent sulphur. Six vessels are operated by Stena Oil and five by Topoil AB. These vessels operate frequently in the port area as they are bunker vessels – vessels that supply other vessels with fuel.

Carl Johan von Sydow, Project Manager Sales and Logistics at Topoil, said: “Collaboration with the Port of Gothenburg is a natural progression in our environmental programme. We are firmly convinced that an active environmental strategy will drive development forward and will prove profitable for both the environment and for companies.”

In another part of the campaign the first twenty ‘green vessels’* that put into the port this year will share a pot of SEK 600,000. The term ‘green’ means that the vessel is classified as offering ‘good environmental performance’ according to the international Clean Shipping Index. To date, the shipping line TransAtlantic has reported three vessels and the tanker company Tärntank one vessel.

Annelie Rusth Jensen, Sustainability Co-ordinator at Transatlantic, said: “TransAtlantic has three vessels that put into the Port of Gothenburg each week and they all have high scores in the Clean Shipping Index. It was an obvious step for us to take up the port’s offer and receive positive feedback on our active environmental work. It also demonstrates the importance of several parties working together for a cleaner environment.” 

Still money available
There is still the opportunity for more shipping lines to participate in the Port of Gothenburg Environmental Campaign, both with regard to rewards for cleaner fuel and compensation for green vessels.

Magnus Kårestedt, Port of Gothenburg chief executive, said: “We hope that more companies will have their eyes opened to our campaign. It should pay to invest in the environment in the Port of Gothenburg.”

LaHood, a strong advocate for ports around the country, spoke with state and local leaders about the Savannah project, and the Obama Administration’s twin goals of improving transportation infrastructure and doubling U.S. export growth by 2015.

“The Port of Savannah is an economic engine that benefits workers and businesses across the region,” said Secretary LaHood. “When we invest in our ports and waterways it allows us to move goods more quickly and efficiently, spur economic growth and help make America even more competitive in the global market.”

The Savannah Harbor Expansion Project is critical for the Port of Savannah – the fastest growing and fourth largest U.S. container port – to efficiently handle larger vessels, making U.S. cargo available to global markets.

“I would like to thank Secretary LaHood for taking the time to visit the Port of Savannah – the growing gateway for American commerce and a strong economic engine for the U.S. economy,” said Gov. Deal. “With 44 percent of the U.S. population served by the Port of Savannah, it is critical that federal funding is approved for Savannah’s harbor deepening project. This project – one of the most important and productive civil works projects in the country – will maintain and create jobs and commerce throughout the region.”

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, a strong advocate for the port deepening, sees the harbor expansion as vital to the future of Georgia and the nation.

“Deepening of the Savannah port is consistent with the priorities of the nation and the president’s focus on increasing the export capability for the U.S.,” Reed said. “Completion of the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project is crucial to achieving an ambitious goal of doubling U.S. exports.”

GPA Board Chairman Alec L. Poitevint pointed out that the Port of Savannah’s export volume grew 12 percent in FY2011 and represented 53 percent of its overall volume.

“Export commodities translate into new jobs for our entire region,” Poitevint said. “Balanced trade at the Port of Savannah will continue to drive development and commerce throughout the Southeast.”

Under the Competitive Supply Chain Initiative, which is an important piece of the Obama Administration’s National Export Initiative, the Departments of Commerce and Transportation are working with freight system users and stakeholders to identify the critical elements of a comprehensive, holistic U.S. freight policy. This initiative’s goal in developing such a policy is to achieve the seamless and facilitated goods movement across all transportation modes throughout the nation, which is needed to boost U.S. export sales and U.S. national competitiveness.

“The GPA exported 12.5 percent of all U.S. containerized exports in fiscal year 2011, which means one out of every eight of our nation’s export containers departed from Savannah,” said GPA’s Executive Director Curtis J. Foltz. “As larger vessels continue to call on the Port of Savannah, the increased global demand for exports through our terminals necessitates the efficiency and additional capacity of a deeper harbor.”

Steel tonnage for October was up 49 percent over last year and is up 60 percent in the first 10 months of this year. Dreyer said 4 to 4.1 million tons were projected for the end of 2011. Dreyer said October container activity was flat, unlike the normal increase in activity that we experience during the holiday season. He said grain also showed a deep decline as an effect of the drought. “All of the growth at the Turning Basin was related to steel movement,” he said. “We’ve seen a nearly 30-percent increase there, which correlates with the higher steel volumes.” Year to date, total ship arrivals for the Port Authority are up 3.3 percent.

The container cranes will operate on a pier and be capable of unloading Super Post Panamax vessels on either side of the pier. Each crane has two booms with a waterside outreach of 50m, span of 36m. Total lift height under spreader is 38m. S.W.L. is 60 Tonnes under Twin Lift Spreader and 70 Tonnes under Hook beam. Hoist Speeds are 60-150m/min and Crane travel speed is 60 m/min A machinery house trolley is installed with trolley speed of 200 m/min. These cranes will be Delivered during the 3rd Quarter 2012 These will be the first Double Boom LIEBHERR cranes in operation at the port.LIEBHERR supplied its first double boom crane to Piombino, Italy in 1976