The partnership between arl-shipping.com and Esoware is aimed at ports and container terminals, inland and rail terminals, which need IT solutions for management, automation and optimisation. “We provide our clients with affordable planning and automation software geared for their size of operation. Some of our clients need support in other specialist areas for planning or optimising their operation, which our partnership with arl-shipping.com delivers. Together, we can offer a wider solution assembled from components that address a wide range of planning, optimisation and operations management for our clients,” said Frans Jol, Managing Director, Esoware.

arl-shipping.com’s Director and CEO, René Bendt, adds: “We are very pleased to partner with Esoware. We look forward to servicing our clients with advanced solutions, which include our own, and Esoware tools and capabilities”. The largest customers of arl-shipping.com include Port of Tanjung Pelepas, Malaysia and DP World, Jebel Ali, UAE, which use optimisation solutions for a number of planning functions. Container control, yard planning and vessel planning solutions from Esoware are deployed at various ports in Italy and North Europe.

On the soft sea defences of Maasvlakte 2, a total of 200,000-300,000 square meters of dunes will be planted with marram grass. Eight to ten people a day will perform this manual work until April. It is expected that the final 2km will be planted in the autumn. When that work has been finished, the soft sea defences will contain around 1.5 million marram plants.

Marram grass is a strong plant that can withstand wind and salt well. The roots can grow to a length of 6m to 9m and, in this way, bind the sand of the Maasvlakte 2 dunes. Marram can be planted in early spring or autumn. On flat stretches or slight inclines, a machine makes grooves in the ground. On steep slopes, this is done by hand, using a spade. The marram grass is then planted manually in the grooves and the base is pressed down with the foot.

The marram grass is taken from densely-grown dunes along the Dutch coast. Here, healthy marram grass may be removed, as long as no bald patches are created. The ‘cuttings’ are put into bunches of seven to ten to form a new plant, which is then planted out on Maasvlakte 2.

The dunes of Maasvlakte 2 form the soft sea defences of the new land. They are about 14m high and consist solely of sand. Most of the sand involved comes from the sand extraction area approximately 11km off the coast, and is sprayed on by Boskalis and Van Oord dredgers. The dunes are then finished off and the dune top is created using ‘dry equipment’, such as shovels, dumpers and diggers. As soon as the dunes are the right height and shape, they are planted with the marram grass.

In the last quarter alone, revenue increased by 26% and EBITDA and EBITDA margins increased by 92% and 52% respectively compared to the same period the year before. “We have achieved significant positive developments in Net Results. This is mainly due to increase in volumes, better realizations, reduction in interest cost and remaining cost focused,” said Hariharan Iyer, Chief Financial Officer, APM Terminals Pipavav.

Prakash Tulsiani, Managing Director, APM Terminals Pipavav said, “The Company has clearly demonstrated that focused efforts can deliver a healthy bottom line.  We have laid a strong foundation for the future and I look forward to the full potential of it being unfolded in the coming years.”

During 2010, the company achieved significant milestones. Cargo volumes grew manifold, new revenue streams were generated and market share for the port was increased.  Container cargo volumes increased by 45% and eight new container lines and five new shipping services were added to the portfolio of shipping lines and services calling at the port. New revenue streams were developed and liquid cargo business grew.

“We have earned the reputation of ‘fastest growing port’ in India. I am happy to share that our market share has gone up by 25% in the financial year 2010 alone,” added Tulsiani. The port has enhanced rail frequency to keep up with the growth in volumes. Rail volumes broke all previous records by growing 44% in Quarter 4 and 34% in the year 2010 as compared to the year 2009. Cargo volumes tonnage moved by rail grew 40% over the previous year.