Hamburg accordingly regained market shares and extended its position as the Northern European hub for container traffic. Total seaborne cargothroughput in Germany’s largest universal port reached 31.4 million tons (+ 9.8 percent). General cargo throughput at 21.4 million tons developed very well, being 15 percent higher than in the first quarter of 2010. This growth was primarily led by the excellent import and export showing on container throughput. Bulk cargo throughput at 9.9 million tons in the first quarter of 2011 was just ahead (+ 0.1 percent) of the previous year’s total. At 4.7 million tons, grab cargo throughput for the first quarter was 3.2 percent down on the previous year. Rising coal imports, which at 1.5 million tons were up by 18.1 percent, failed to offset the 21.6 percent downturn in ore imports (1.8 million tons). Sustained especially by crude oil imports during the first quarter of 2011, throughput of liquid cargoes reached 3.6 million tons, representing a gain of 3.7 percent. The third bulk cargo consists of suction goods, with throughput in the first quarter of 2011 up by 2 percent at 1.6 million tons. Totaling 791,000 tons, imports of oil-bearing fruits were of the order of 18 percent higher, attaining the best-ever quarterly figure for the Port of Hamburg. At 143,000 tons, wheat imports also developed extraordinarily well, being ahead by 38.9 percent in the first quarter. Non-containerised general cargoes at 562,000 tons failed by 4.6 percent to reach the previous year’s total. This was partly caused by lower imports of citrus fruits, which at 122,000 tons were down by 18.6 percent. Increased exports of vehicles, with 22.9 percent growth to 110,000 tons, and a doubling of vehicle imports to 22,000 tons, failed to compensate for this in the first quarter. “We are delighted by this excellent throughput figure for the Port of Hamburg and see the main reasons behind above-average growth in container throughput as being the unusually strong increase on the container trade routes to and from Asia as well as the Baltic region. In the first three months of 2011, 1.3 million TEU (+ 15.7 percent) were handled in seaborne container traffic with Asia. This especially important region of our market therefore accounted for 56 percent of total growth in container throughput for the first three months of 2011,” explained Claudia Roller, CEO of Port of Hamburg Marketing. Altogether five new liner services, plus a further five with capacities topped up, to America, Asia and in the European trade produced substantial growth in container traffic for Hamburg. On container throughput with the Baltic region and with Asia, led by China, the Port of Hamburg is one of the leading seaports in Northern Europe. As a leading foreign trade hub, Hamburg handles large volumes of goods in foreign trade to and from overseas in what are known as trans-shipment trades by feedership to/from neighbouring countries in Europe and especially the Baltic region. Along with Finland, Russia is the most important market region in the Baltic area. With around 154 sailings per week, Hamburg continues to offer the densest network of feeder connections in Northern Europe with the entire Baltic region. Hamburg is the leading feeder port for the Baltic region and managed to extend this positionin the first quarter of 2011,” said Claudia Roller. Hamburg’s Baltic feeder services to and from Russia, for example, reported steep growth of 35.6 percent to 121,000 TEU. At 82,000 TEU, the increase in container traffic to and from Finland even reached 49.3 percent; while at 55.000 TEU seaborne container traffic with ports in Poland was significantly up by 26.9 percent. For these services with the Baltic area the Kiel Canal gives Hamburg a significant advantage in competition with the Northern European seaports situated farther West in the form of shorter voyage times and savings of distance, depending on the ports of origin and destination.

Despite poor weather, the new crane, which is equipped with real time diagnostic capability and has the ability to handle 82 tonnes at its hook and 41 tonnes when in spreader mode, helped half the previously-expected discharge time for an operation of this sort. Brian McEvoy, the Port of Liverpool’s general cargo terminal manager, said: “We are really pleased with the capability of this new Liebherr harbour mobile, which we have designated ML5 in what is now a fleet of eight mobiles. There were delays due to heavy rain and the necessity of keeping the steel coil dry, but we still achieved record discharge times for such an operation.”

David Huck, head of port operations for Peel Ports Mersey, said: “It’s clear that this new mobile crane is already having a highly positive impact on operations at The Port of Liverpool. It will undoubtedly provide us with the capability to further enhance our customer services across a wide commodity mix including dry bulks, metals and containers handled by barge. “This crane is the first of several planned for delivery in 2011 and is further evidence of Peel Ports’ commitment to investment and growth. More importantly these new cranes will vastly improve our service offering, productivity and capacity, coming with a range of both high and low density grabs with a cubic capacity of 13.5m³ and a 40ft spreader frame.”

The new harbour mobile crane was manufactured by Liebherr Austria and was assembled at one of the Port’s bulk terminals. It had undergone an intense commissioning and testing process before becoming fully operational with this first operation. Huck added: “This delivery follows strong growth and performance by the division’s team and ensures we are well placed for the future.” The Port of Liverpool experienced growth in 2010 in all its terminal sectors including dry bulks, liquid bulks, metals, forest products and containers and continues to further develop its customer offering through the integrated offering of the Port of Liverpool and The Manchester Ship Canal.

The Corps and the South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) will now sign a Feasibility Cost Sharing Agreement in the coming days, allowing the project to move into the next phase.”We could not be more excited for this port, our customers, this state and our nation,” said Bill Stern, chairman of the SCPA Board.  “With bigger ships and expanding exports, the United States needs a true 50-foot harbour in the Southeast.  At a time of scarce resources, Charleston is the nation’s best buy in harbor deepening.  The Corps has made a great decision to include this project.” The US Congress has already authorised Charleston deepening through the study phases, and the Corps last summer stated in its Reconnaissance Study that Charleston is likely “the cheapest South Atlantic harbour to deepen to 50 feet.”

“Senator Lindsey Graham, Congressman Jim Clyburn and Congressman Tim Scott have each individually championed this project in working with the leadership, the Administration and the Corps,” said Stern.  “We are grateful for the support of our Congressional delegation, Governor Nikki Haley and the General Assembly, as well as mayors from across South Carolina led by Charleston Mayor Joe Riley.  They have all helped highlight how important this project is to our country.  We look forward to advancing Charleston Harbor Deepening for the benefit of our state and nation.”

More than 20,000 companies in several dozen states use the Port of Charleston to access global markets.  These businesses ship goods worth USD50 billion a year through the Charleston Customs District and pay more than USD600 million in duties into the General Treasury annually.

Jim Newsome, president & CEO of the SCPA, said port officials, elected leaders, workers and business leaders will certainly take a moment to celebrate before sharpening their focus on the task at hand. “Our attention now turns to launching the study and securing funds in the FY2012 budget for the Corps to continue with their share of the work,” said Newsome. The Feasibility Study is estimated to be a three- to five-year process totaling USD12-20 million and cost-shared 50/50 by the Federal Government and the local sponsor.  The total project is estimated at USD300 million.

“These projects are marathons – not sprints – requiring great persistence, involvement and support,” said Newsome.  “I’m confident that we have the public support and political leadership to get us across the finish line.  And the winners will be U.S. industries, consumers and taxpayers.”

The next Charleston deepening will open the port to all classes of the world’s most modern vessels under any tidal condition.  Current channel depths at low tide are 47 feet in the entrance channel and 45 feet in the inner harbour. Charleston already has the area’s deepest channels and routinely handles ships drawing up to 48 feet on the tides today.  More than 300 ships too big for the Panama Canal have already called Charleston, three years before the USD5-billion canal expansion is completed in 2014.  Greater than 80 percent of the ship capacity on order is for ships too big for the existing canal.

Breakbulk volume through the state’s ports – driven primarily by vehicle shipments from BMW and energy related projects – rose 40 percent from 551,000 tons last year to 773,000 tons this year. The Ports Authority Board also approved two projects at its meeting. As part of the organization’s Security Improvement Plan, the Ports Authority is acquiring five modular pre-manufactured structures for use as guard and security buildings at the North Charleston, Columbus Street and Veterans Terminals. B.I.G. Enterprises will provide the buildings at a cost of USD536,425.  The purchase will be funded through a combination of federal Port Security Grants (75 percent) and the Authority (25 percent). The Board also approved a project to adjust timber fenders between the ship and the dock at the existing Union Pier passenger terminal.  Salmons Dredging of Charleston is being recommended to do the work at a cost of USD197,764.