The group has identified some key areas on which it will focus. The initial meeting brought together HR managers and specialists from BPA member ports and discussed topics including diversity at all levels of the ports sector, apprenticeships, benchmarking, attracting talent and employment law.

The UK ports sector employs around 118,000 people in a wide range of roles and is highly productive. The new group will also explore ways of supporting and inspiring young people to choose a career in the ports and maritime sectors.
The group’s first meeting took place on Friday 2 December and representatives from ports travelled from all corners of the UK to the meeting. The group enables it members to collaborate, share experiences and best practice, as well as to discuss common employment challenges faced by the members.

Nicky Goldsbrough, Director of Corporate Services at Shoreham Port was elected to Chair the Human Resources and Employment Network. Commenting on the meeting, Nicky said: “The Network enables port HR professionals to come together to discuss a range of interesting and challenging issues. The first meeting was well attended and I was delighted with the enthusiasm and commitment of the members to work together more closely and to take a collective approach to common issues that the industry is facing. The creation of the group creates the ideal platform to improve the promotion of careers in the ports and maritime sector and to develop current employability initiatives.”

Guest speakers providing updates on apprenticeships, employment matters and on regulatory items. There was also plenty of opportunity for networking and strengthening links between each of the respective ports. The group will meet twice a year and the next meeting will be in the summer of 2017.

Hamburg Süd is the world’s seventh largest container shipping line and a leader in the North – South trades. The company operates 130 container vessels with a container capacity of 625,000 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent). It has 5,960 employees in more than 250 offices across the world and market its services through the Hamburg Süd, CCNI (based in Chile) and Aliança (based in Brazil) brands. In 2015, Hamburg Süd had a turnover of USD 6,726 million of which USD 6,261 million stems from its container line activities.

“Today is a new milestone in Maersk Line’s history. I am very pleased that we have reached an agreement with the Oetker Group to acquire Hamburg Süd. Hamburg Süd is a very well-run and highly respected company with strong brands, dedicated employees and loyal customers. Hamburg Süd complements Maersk Line and together we can offer our customers the best of two worlds, first of all in the North – South trades,” says Søren Skou, CEO of Maersk Line and the Maersk Group.

“We are proud to join the global market leader Maersk Line. While gaining access to a superior network and systems we will continue the Hamburg Süd brand and business model offering personalized solutions to our shippers and consignees. By joining forces both Maersk and Hamburg Süd will strengthen their product portfolio and cost position to the benefit of their customers,” says Dr. Ottmar Gast, Chairman of the Executive Board of the Hamburg Süd Group.

“Giving up our engagement in shipping after an 80 year-long ownership in Hamburg Süd was not an easy decision for my family. We are very confident, though, to have chosen the best of all possible partners. Maersk will preserve and grow Hamburg Süd and what the brand and the whole organization and a highly dedicated workforce stand for: reliable and high quality logistical services to our customers,” says Dr. August Oetker, Chairman of the Advisory Board of Dr. August Oetker KG, the management holding company of the Oetker Group.

On 22 September 2016, Maersk Line announced that it would grow market share organically and through acquisitions.

“The acquisition of Hamburg Süd is in line with our growth strategy and will increase the volumes of both Maersk Line and APM Terminals,” says Søren Skou.

Hamburg Süd and Aliança will continue as separate brands and continue to serve customers through their local offices.

“Hamburg Süd and Aliança have competitive and attractive customer value propositions, which we want to preserve and protect. We wish to maintain the personal touch and engagement they offer their customers. In short, Hamburg Süd and Aliança customers will also be Hamburg Süd and Aliança customers in the future,” says Søren Skou.

In the combined network, Hamburg Süd and Maersk Line’s customers will have access to the dedicated end-to-end services provided by Hamburg Süd in the North – South trades as well as the flexibility and reach provided in Maersk Line’s global network. Furthermore, the combined network will enable Maersk Line to develop new products with more direct port calls and shorter transit times.

“Our combined network will provide exciting opportunities to develop new products and exploit operational synergies. Hamburg Süd and Maersk Line customers will benefit from more choice and better products,” concludes Søren Skou.

The acquisition is subject to a satisfactory due diligence, final agreement and subject to regulatory approval in amongst others China, Korea, Australia, Brazil, the United States and the EU. Maersk Line will work closely with the authorities. Maersk Line expects the regulatory process to last until the end of 2017. Until then, Hamburg Süd and Maersk Line will continue business as usual.

With the acquisition, Maersk Line will have container capacity of around 3.8 million TEU (3.1 million TEU) and an 18.6% (15.7%) global capacity share. The combined fleet will consist of 741 container vessels with an average age of 8.7 years (9.2 years).

The agreement with Hamburg Süd has no financial impact in 2016.

Maersk Line expects to communicate further details following the approval of the sales and purchase agreement expected early in the second quarter of 2017. Maersk Line expects to close the transaction end 2017.

The new reach stacker, model SMV 4531 TC5, benefits from a unique cab design, making for greater operator comfort leading to more efficient cargo handling. Bertil Jansson, supervisor at Port of Södertälje, Sweden, says, “We discussed in-depth what we wanted and what was important. We realized that the ergonomics of the cabin, the workspace itself, was a very important aspect. We test drove a number different brands but the experience of driving the Konecranes reach stacker was the best. When sitting in the cab, and operating the machine for a full day, the Konecranes reach stacker came out on top because of the greater visibility, the design of the joystick and so on. It’s very popular with us.”

In order to lift the variety of building project cargo that comes through the port – everything from concrete and walls to complete housing modules – the reach stacker is equipped with extra lifting loops on the spreader, and a power pile slope that allows the yoke to tilt and compensates for an oblique load. The new machine is also equipped with a hydraulic sliding cabin that improves visibility even more.

The Port of Södertälje has also chosen to have the remote monitoring system TRUCONNECT® Premium installed together with the newly released Konecranes Weighing System.
“The Port of Södertälje already has a number of Konecranes lift trucks, we are honored that they continue to entrust us with the supply of their lift trucks. Brubakken will continue to ensure that they remain happy with their new reach stacker; this is another important delivery for us in mid-Sweden”, concludes Hans Ardstedt, Sales manager Brubakken Sweden.