In keeping with PD Ports’ core business strategy, this will allow for a more streamlined approach to the business’ customer relations activities and will enhance value for its stakeholders.

The recent appointment of Geoff will create further opportunity to continuously reinvigorate the business’ commercial activities and seek new opportunities in existing and emerging markets. In the long term this will strengthen PD Ports’ business platform and drive sustainable growth across the Group.

Originally from the West Midlands, Geoff is a widely experienced and highly successful senior manager with a background in operational and general management, as well as in business development. His experience includes senior appointments in the shipping and ports logistics sectors, and more recently with Kuehne & Nagel, from where he joins PD Ports from his current positions of President, Global Business Development. During his career, Geoff has also worked at ABP, BOC and a number of other major logistics businesses in senior roles.

The environmental licences are an important part of the London Gateway delivery programme that provide DP World with Government permissions to carry out a wide variety of work such as engineering and water discharge as well as moving animals off the site before work could start at the former oil refinery.

Thousands of animals have been moved from the new port and Logistics Park site, situated 25 miles east of central London on the north bank of the Thames, including great crested newts, water voles, slow worms, adders and grass snakes.

The complex task of licensing and monitoring the new port site has benefited from a close working partnership between the Environment Agency’s Anglian Regional Team and DP World’s Environmental Management Team.

Lord Smith, Chairman of the Environment Agency said: “London Gateway is an exciting development, and will provide a major boost to the economy of the region. I was very pleased to be able to see the excellent working relationship that is in place between this huge complex project and the Environment Agency.  There are lots of challenges on projects like this and it’s great to see the first class work that is being carried out.”

Simon Moore, London Gateway CEO, said: “We were delighted to welcome Lord Smith to see the progress we have made with our construction work and world class environmental management programme.  We are confident that we will continue to deliver outstanding environmental management in the future”.

A new 30 hectare wildlife zone known as the Stanford Wharf Nature Reserve has been created to provide thousands of birds with a feeding ground in the Estuary.  The Environment Agency has confirmed that numerous species of fish have been attracted to the area and that the new reserve is now well established.

London Gateway won the Lloyds List Environmental Award in 2010 and was the first port construction project to be awarded ISO 1401:2004 by LRQA for environmental management. Marcus Pearson, London Gateway Environment Manager, said: “London Gateway has a very good working relationship with the Environment Agency, this team work ethic has ensured construction works have never been delayed whilst waiting for regulatory sign off of permits and consents.”

Benjie has over 18 years of operating system deployment experience involving new technologies to marine terminal operations at Ports America (formerly Marine Terminals Corporation). He brings to HTS a deep understanding of Port operations and the skills to move projects from concept to completion. Benjie’s most recent positions in Ports America were Director of Business Engagement and prior to that Manager of Operations – IT Integration and Process.

Benjie will direct HTS ports operations worldwide, bringing the best solutions to customers, with offerings tailored to their specific needs.

HTS offers total turnkey solutions to improve automation, logistics, security and safety for the industries served.  HTS’s OCR flagship cargo systems automatically identify and record container ISO code numbers and IMO label markings for container tracking and management systems. These container code recognition (CCR) systems enable automation, increase accuracy and efficiency at marine ports, intermodal container terminals, warehouses and other container handling facilities resulting in cost savings, increased throughput, worker safety and terminal security.

HTS also offers technology solutions complimentary to the Cargo Systems, including:  Gate automation – from appointment recognition to communication whereby drivers can stay in their trucks throughout the entire procedure, Job order control – featuring zero error principle, Automated container hand off for tracking of cargo throughout the facility, and Terminal border control as well as security enhancements within and at the perimeter of the port.  In addition, HTS offers its GCS (Global Control System), to fulfill the data fusion and data visibility requirements of integrating multiple 3rd party systems, a necessity in the growing demand for container terminal automation. GCS is a software layer that is designed to operate as middleware between the various subsystems and the terminal host system.

“Moving cargo globally, effectively and efficiently, has become dependent on advanced systems and technologies. Ports continue to explore ways to increase efficiency while decreasing errors and streamlining business processes throughout their operations with the introduction of advanced technology.  I am excited to be part of the solution with HTS” stated Benjie Wells, VP Cargo Systems, HTS Americas.

“We are committed to continuously expanding our leadership and capabilities within the ports automation and security sector, with state of the art offerings. We welcome Benjie on board and are confident that he will make a significant contribution to the further growth and expansion of HTS” added Phil Elovic, President and CEO of HTS Ltd.

Other liquid bulk remained the same. Lower amounts of iron ore and scrap (down 7%), crude oil (down 5%) and mineral oil products (down 6%) were loaded and unloaded. Dry bulk handling decreased by 1% to 65 million tonnes while liquid bulk handling dropped by 4% to 149 million tonnes. General cargo throughput rose by more than 10% to 112 million tonnes.

Hans Smits, CEO of the Port of Rotterdam Authority: “Throughput developed well in the third quarter, as compared to the first half year and the darkening economic climate. Now all mood indicators are dropping and the world economy is cooling down. Because of that, export is also stalling. Till now it had been a driving force for our throughput. Not surprisingly, growth will decrease in the fourth quarter. Over the whole year we still expect growth.”