Lyttelton Port of Christchurch (LPC) is advising customers the port’s core services are operational following the 6.3 magnitude earthquake on Tuesday 22 February 2011. The oil berth continues to operate, the Atlantic Lily will be departing tonight at 1800. The next tanker is due on Sunday 06 March. PIL’s Kota Permata exchanged 1,000 containers and is due to depart early this evening. This will be followed by the MSC Tasmania. To assist with clearing backlog LPC request customers to prioritise the delivery of export containers to the Port in order of vessel arrival. CityDepot is continuing to operate and has had a steady flow of receival and delivery today. LPC are currently working with KiwiRail to resume normal rail services as soon as possible. We are also working hard to ensure that auxiliary services will be up and running as soon as possible. The Lyttelton Road Tunnel is open but restricted to emergency vehicles, essential services, container deliveries and permitted residents. We understand there have been some delays today. No. 2 berth has been assessed and is ready to receive the Louise Bulker a log vessel on Saturday 05 March.

The equipment has a gross weight of about 615 tonnes per vessel. The vessels are similar to a series of vessels, in total 16 vessels under construction or delivered, to which TTS has delivered the ro-ro equipment. The vessels will be delivered to Glovis by January and March 2012, respectively.The second contract was received from Mitsubishi Nagasaki yard for delivery of ro-ro equipment to two car carriers ordered by Wilhelmsen and Wallenius for service within the WWL network. The vessels are 6,400 units PCTC vessels and are number 11 and 12 in a series of car carriers built for Wilhelmsen at the same yard and with TTS equipment. The ro-ro equipment to be delivered consists of quarter and side ramps, internal ramps and covers with hydraulic and electric systems. The total weight of the delivery is about 635 tonnes per vessel and the delivery includes complete equipments and supervision of installation. The vessels are due for delivery to the Owner by August and November 2012, respectively. During second half of last year TTS Marine AB delivered equipment to another ten car carriers.  Hyundai has delivered four vessels to Eukor, Hyundai Samho has delivered three vessels to TMT and Hyundai Mipo has delivered another three vessels to Ray Shipping.

The Marseilles Fos port authority said the latest call was a sign of confidence in the ability of the port and its operators to restore service reliability when issues over French pension and port reforms have been resolved.  The target date for implementing port reforms is April 3.     

“For APM Terminals it is an honor to receive this responsibility which the Government of Costa Rica has awarded to us today for the 33-year concession for the design, financing, construction, operation and maintenance of the new Moin Container Terminal (TCM) ? a historical work of considerable importance to the country. The next steps will include signing the concession agreement and commencement of the detailed engineering studies”, said Paul Gallie, Director of Business Development for APM Terminals Americas.

The project will generate approximately one thousand direct jobs during the construction phase and 450 jobs during the first phase of operation, coupled with new investments and indirect jobs in the area. “APM Terminals has the expertise in the management of terminals around the world with the financial strength to make the investment required for this work estimated at approximately USD1 billion,” added Gallie.

In the first phase and depending upon technical studies, the access channel and turning?basin will be dredged to 16m deep. A new 1.5km breakwater will be constructed, the container yard of with an area of 40 hectares will be created together with 600m of quay with 2 berths. Additional works including the administration building and a 12?lane gate will also be included. Equipment in the first phase will include 6 post?Panamax ship?to?shore gantry cranes, Eco?RTGs and other specialised equipment. This first phase will be completed in 2016 and will cost an estimated USD543 million. The terminal will undergo phased expansion in accordance with provisions of the concession agreement. Upon the completion of the final phase, the TCM will have an area of 80 hectares, with 1.5km of quay, 5 berths, a 2.2km breakwater and an access channel 18m deep.

The dredging will permit the entry of larger ships with greater container capacity, creating economies of scale. The construction of the breakwater will counteract weather conditions that prevent normal functioning at the port of Moin and enable the TCM to operate 365 days a year.

With more berth space, the creation of a modern container storage yard, the installation of new gantry cranes and Eco?RTGs will improve waiting times for vessels and thereby reduce the cost of the logistics chain for shippers. APM Terminals operates under the most stringent occupational safety standards. A commitment to environmental protection will enable sustainable development.