The MOU was signed by Clemence Cheng, Managing Director Hutchison Ports Europe, and Volodymyr Omelyan, the Ukrainian Minister of Infrastructure during a visit by the Minister to the Port of Felixstowe. The Minister was joined by Ukrainian Ambassador to the UK, Natalia Galibarenko.

Commenting on the agreement, Clemence Cheng, said: “We are delighted to sign this Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Ukraine to develop container terminal facilities at Chornomorsk. We have long seen the potential for growth in container business in Ukraine and look forward to working together with the Ministry of Infrastructure to realise our shared aim of developing world class port facilities to facilitate trade.”

Minister Omelyan added: “I am glad that the world’s leading port operator enters Ukraine’s maritime market. Government is committed to finalize the agreement and to close the deal in 2017.”
Chornomorsk is one of the largest ports in the Black Sea handling a range of cargo including containers, ferries, general and bulk cargoes. Situated in the south-western region of Ukraine 20 kilometres south of Odessa, Chornomorsk has established rail connections to the capital Kiev and existing skilled workforce.

From 1 January 2017 this company will operate the container terminals in Emmerich and Emmelsum. In future, operative management will be the responsibility of Contargo, while the port site and the port infrastructure in Emmerich will remain the property of Port Emmerich Infrastruktur- und Immobilien GmbH.
Until now Contargo held a 37.6 percent interest in Rhein-Waal-Terminal GmbH, with Port Emmerich Infrastruktur- und Immobilien GmbH as the other participant. “This share will now be increased to 50 percent”, said Konrad Fischer, Co-Managing Director of Contargo GmbH & Co. KG.
The Terminal in Emmerich will remain as the main site of the new company. Central tasks like dispatch and sales will be organised from Emmerich for both locations. “For customers, the change of name does not imply any significant changes,” adds Heinrich Kerstgens, Co-Managing Director of Contargo GmbH & Co. KG. “But as part of a strong alliance on the Lower Rhine, Contargo Rhein-Waal-Lippe GmbH can now benefit even more from the extensive network of the Contargo Group, with terminals and offices in six countries.”
Michael Mies and Ralf Gerlach will jointly manage the new company. “In future we can market both locations together”, says Michael Mies. “This will enhance our market presence, and give our customers even more reliability.” Additional manpower for the new tasks has already been recruited in advance of 1 January – because more growth at the location is anticipated: “Expansion of the Emmerich terminal is planned”, says Michael Mies. “A third gantry crane is to be installed on the side facing the port basin.”
The second terminal, in Voerde-Emmelsum, is being enlarged and is due to go into operation at the beginning of 2017. This terminal will also have trimodal connections with water, rail and road. Here, on an area of 46,000 m2, a volume of 60,000 TEU will be handled annually.

“Last month capped an active peak season, with November import and export cargo growing significantly,” said GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch.

The Port of Savannah moved 167,333 containers, an improvement of 10,210 over November 2015.

“An increasing demand for America’s exports abroad and strong consumer confidence here at home are helping to boost cargo throughput,” Lynch said.

Measured in loaded containers, an indicator of overall economic strength, total trade increased 11 percent in November. For the month, the Port of Savannah handled 246,877 loaded twenty-foot equivalent container units, a record. Loaded export TEUs totaled 107,145, an increase of approximately 10 percent, or 9,603 TEUs. Import loads grew by 12 percent, to reach 139,732 TEUs.

From September through November, the GPA moved nearly 920,000 total TEUs.

Total cargo across all GPA terminals in November reached 2.55 million tons, an increase of 2 percent, or 46,000 tons. Of that figure, container tons totaled 2.25 million tons, with breakbulk at 198,596 tons and bulk cargo totaling 100,802 tons.

“Georgia’s ports are a vital link to global trade for American manufacturing and agricultural products,” said GPA Board Chairman Jimmy Allgood. “Speed, efficiency and reach are the factors that are leading more port users to choose our deepwater terminals to serve customers worldwide.”

Photo caption: The Port of Savannah moved 300,671 twenty-foot equivalent container units in November.