CEO Hans Smits: “We are extremely satisfied with these figures. They mean that we, as Port Authority, are able to implement our extensive investment programme. That is very important for the future of the mainport.” The two main sources of income for the Port Authority are the sea harbour dues that vessels pay when visiting the port and the leasing of sites. The harbour dues increased by EURO 14 million to EURO 288 million, despite the crisis discount of 7%, which was deducted from the tariffs throughout the year. The revenue from leasing land increased by EURO 17 million to EURO 249 million. In total, operating income was up 6.2% to EURO 551 million, EURO 32 million more than in 2009. The normal operating costs remained virtually equal to those in 2009.

The financial position of the Port Authority is developing favourably. A solid financial position is important if the Port Authority is to achieve its big investment ambitions. The investment level of the Port Authority reached the highest point in its history in 2010. In total, EURO 445 million was invested, EURO 324 million of which in Maasvlakte 2 and EURO 121 million in the existing port area. In 2011, the volume of investment will increase further, to approximately EURO 575 million, over EURO 400 million of which will be spent on Maasvlakte 2. Over 2010, the Port Authority paid out EURO 63.8 million as dividend to its shareholders, the municipality of Rotterdam (70%) and the State (30%). The Port Authority is optimistic about developments in 2011 and expects further growth in throughput of 2 to 3%. The net results for 2011 are expected to grow, due to increasing revenue and unchanged expenses.

The Port of Charleston handled 108,994 TEU in February, up from 101,900 TEU in February of last year. During the fiscal year to date (July through February), Charleston handled 912,789 TEU, up 12.4% from the same period last year. The increase follows a major streamlining in January of the SCSPA’s container business segment, where all container business was consolidated in two terminals in Charleston while gate operations and processes were harmonised at those terminals. The move offered numerous benefits to port users, including extended gate hours and access to the SCSPA’s information systems for all port customers, all while boosting capacity by about 10%.

The SCSPA anticipates continued, but moderate, growth through the year. “Our team has re-established South Carolina’s commercial position and we are headed in the right direction,” said Jim Newsome, president and CEO of the SCSPA. Break-bulk tonnage in the Ports of Charleston and Georgetown was up more than 44% for the first eight months of the fiscal year, with 657,528 tonnes handled at the two ports in fiscal year 2011 versus 455,449 tonnes handled last year. A USD21.7 million project to reconfigure and improve Columbus Street Terminal as Charleston’s principal break-bulk, roll-on/roll-off and project cargo-handling facility was completed last month. The terminal now handles BMW’s growing export vehicle business that last year totaled more than USD4 billion in cars shipped through the Port of Charleston.

The authorities also announced that throughput of general cargo reached 16 million tonnes and set to grow to 50 million tonnes by 2015. Nanjing Longtan terminal’s 8.3km long shoreline is divided into areas for bulk, containers and break-bulk. It is currently being developed in seven phases, five of which have already been completed. The sixth and seventh phase are about to start construction.

SMITCO is a joint venture between SSA International and Sociedad Portuaria de Santa Marta to manage, operate and promote the container terminal at the Port of Santa Marta witha total investment of USD 20million in new equipment. In addition, it is investing USD 25million in civil works.

The two new container cranes and the four RTGs meet all the environmental requirements of the Sociedad Portuaria de Santa Marta, as they require less energy and emit less exhaust pollutants than conventional port equipment. This brings an ecological benefit for using electrical equipment in comparison with diesel-powered equipment. There are savings in emissions of greenhouse gases, fuel economy, noise reduction, among other advantages.

The introduction of new cargo handling equipment and an improved facility ensures better operational productivity and a competitive advantage for the handling of containerised cargo in Santa Marta. In addition, the new terminal will bring more container handling capacity to the country. Current annual capacity is 100,000 TEU, but phase one – once completed – will increase this to 300,000 TEU by the third quarter of this year. When phase two is completed this will be increased to 420,000 TEU.