The first phase of the port was completed in November 2010, after the approach channel to the port underwent extensive dredging, and the completion of the construction of four berths. China Harbour Engineering was the main contractor in the USD360 million project.

Hambantota city, is one of the poorest parts of Sri Lanka, but the Government has plans to make the port a trade hub for India and Asia-Europe as it is looking for investments worth USD1 billion for a free trade zone. Already 15 potential investors – out of 27 proposals – from countries including India, Pakistan, Sweden and Singapore are currently being assessed. They offer to establish factories ranging from vehicle assembly to processing plants for cement and refining sugar.

If the finance for the second phase will come through it is to be expected that China Harbour Engineering, a division of China Communications Construction will take the same role for the second phase. Currently, Colombo Engineering Enterprises is constructing a USD25m floating dock in the port, which should be completed by early next year. It will be capable of handling 12,000 dwt vessels.

Most recently Bromma has re-analyzed its materials and production processes to better understand the environmental impact of its inputs and outputs on fossil energy, SO2 and NOX.

Poor environmental performance in such areas is known to be scientifically correlated with higher resource depletion, global warming, and acidification. Bromma’s recent studies have confirmed the significant environmental impact of the choices port equipment manufacturers make during the port equipment production process.

Understanding the Environmental Footprint of Port Equipment in Its Production Phase

In equipment production, raw materials and energy produce steel structures such as spreaders. The associated environmental “footprint” of these activities include emissions to air, such as sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxide (NOX), and carbon dioxide (CO2). They also include liquid emissions, such as oil and grease; how such emissions are handled during the production process can have a significant impact on groundwater systems. Finally, steel production leads to various kinds of waste, including tailings and flue gas desulfurization sludge.

In steel production, iron ore, coal, coke, water and the energy required to produce high heat are key “materials” inputs. The quality of iron ore that is sourced for steel production, and the source of energy production for the steel plant’s power grid (coal, nuclear, natural gas, hydro-electric, etc.) are major factors in determining the environmental footprint of the steel production process. A final factor is transportation cost during the steel production process – in Bromma’s case, the cost of moving steel to the Bromma spreader factory.

Two Aspects of Specifying Greener Port Equipment

In recently years ports have become much more attentive to the importance of making “green decisions” in the equipment process. At the same time, port evaluation of equipment has tended to focus almost exclusively on the “green” or “non-green” performance of equipment during its operational phase. Ports have focused on the power consumption and emissions output of container handling equipment while it is operating at the port, but little attention has been paid to the environmental impact of how the equipment is produced and the environmental “footprint” of the materials used in the equipment’s production.

Bromma’s recent study of materials used in spreaders has produced remarkable findings. The study indicates that the impact on the environment of steel produced in China is 10 times higher than that of Bromma spreader steel produced in Sweden – even when the full transportation cost to move Swedish steel from Sweden to Malaysia is included in the analysis.

The #1 factor in this huge discrepancy between Chinese steel and Swedish steel is the energy that steel factories must use in the production of steel. In China, most energy production is from coal; in Sweden most energy production is from either hydro-electric power or nuclear power. The “environmental footprint” required to generate the energy consumed in steel production is very different from “cleaner” power sources.

As Lars Meurling, Vice-President Marketing and Product Business Development at Bromma notes: “We were not surprised that there was a significant environmental difference between “clean” steel and lesser steel, but we have been quite surprised by the scale of the difference. That Swedish steel, after transport to Bromma’s factory, has 1/10th the emissions of Chinese steel, is quite remarkable, and quite encouraging. This demonstrates the importance of detailed study of the materials sourcing and production process when specifying port equipment. It also underlines the importance of taking a thorough, big picture look at what it means to embrace “green” port equipment. Many terminal operating organizations are quite genuine in their stated desire to upgrade to green equipment. This Bromma study should help them evaluate further dimensions of what this means.”

The Value of “Cleaner” Steel

What the Bromma production process study makes clear is the environmental value of cleaner steel – that “green production” is as important as “green design” when it comes to port equipment.

Gävle’s ambition is to further develop itself as an efficient logistics hub for the region with the aid of an advanced and efficient IT system. Hogia has upgraded its product Hogia Terminal Cargo to the latest technology with improved functionality and new interfaces. It has now been implemented by the Gävle Stevedoring Company to effectively manage the flow of steel from SSAB to the global market.

The Port of Gävle is a strategic logistics hub for sea, rail and road traffic. They are one of Sweden’s nine largest ports and handle different kinds of commodities such as paper, coffee, sawn timber, oil, steel etc.

They had a cargo turnover in 2009 of approximately five million metric tonnes. Over 1,000 ships call at the Port of Gävle each year. Over 2000 vehicles pass the gate each day. Gävle Stevedoring Company is owned by the port and has the role of loading, unloading and storing cargo units as well as stuffing and stripping containers.

The Port of Gävle is a strategic logistics hub for sea, rail and road traffic. They are one of Sweden’s nine largest ports and handle different kinds of commodities such as paper, coffee, sawn timber, oil, steel etc. They had a cargo turnover in 2009 of approximately five million metric tonnes. Over 1,000 ships call at the Port of Gävle each year. Over 2000 vehicles pass the gate each day. Gävle Stevedoring Company is owned by the port and has the role of loading, unloading and storing cargo units as well as stuffing and stripping containers.

Gävle Stevedoring Company has implemented Hogia Terminal Cargo to efficiently manage SSAB’s steel volumes in the new warehouse within the port area. The solution delivers real-time information about cargo status electronically to SSAB’s IT systems. This provides traceability and the ability to analyse the flow, which in turn creates opportunities for Gävle Stevedoring Company to develop and optimise its operations. Gävle Stevedoring Company and SSAB are both able to cut cost in their respective management and administration.

In connection with this implementation, Hogia has upgraded Hogia Terminal Cargo to the latest Microsoft technology (.Net). This has enabled Hogia to introduce a modern and flexible user interface, extended capabilities to produce customised reports and improved interfaces in the hand units.

“We have chosen Hogia as a strategic partner to develop our business and create better conditions to attract more volumes and new customers. This is in line with our ambitions to develop Gävle as a strategic and growing port in Sweden. Hogia offers a modern and efficient system solution that enables us to increase the level of service to our current and future customers. We are able to spend more time developing our business as a result of our management and administration becoming more efficient” says Fredrik Svanbom, CEO Port of Gävle.

Gävle Stevedoring Company’s investment in Hogia Terminal Cargo goes hand in hand with the expansion of the port and harbour channel to increase the port’s attractiveness and capacity. The port has previously invested in Hogia’s ERP and payroll systems and the partnership is now growing as other parts of the port get access to Hogia Terminal Systems’ products and solutions.

“Hogia Terminal Systems is looking forward to a long term partnership with Gävle Stevedoring Company and the Port of Gävle where our systems and resources will support an expansive development of their business. The deal is an important part of our work to continually improve our solutions that give our customers an optimal position to grow and develop” says Michael Bjorkman, Business Development Director Hogia Terminal Systems.