Time slot limits were introduced by RFI (Rete Ferroviaria Italiana) due to force majeure flooding in mid-November that had irreparably damaged the control station located in Melzo, as reported by RFI itself in its official communications to railway operators dated November 18, 2014.

The restoration of rail operations was enable by a new computerized centralized system designed and deployed in just 3 months by RFI. The terminal development program proceeds as planned, with the inauguration of a new 100,000 sqm yard within April. Four internal rail tracks, 750 m each, are already being used, while fencing and asphalt are being completed. The new area of the terminal will be equipped with new technologies for the use of energy from renewable sources further reducing the environmental impact of this infrastructure, which is considered as strategic for the whole logistics activity of the region.

Sebastiano Grasso, Vice President Contship Italia Group for Intermodal and Logistics and President of Rail Hub Milano commented: “I am grateful to the technicians of RFI for this result. Rail Hub Milano can now return to fully compete in the market. As we now recommence with renewed vigor I want to thank all our valued customers for their understanding and support despite the limits in the rail operations occurred. It was a team-work task that involved many people, from the operations and commercial departments of RHM, Hannibal and Oceanogate Italia. Thanks also to Regione Lombardia, Comune di Melzo and Vignate and all institutions that have been in close contact in recent months, putting in place all the possible effort to protect the investments and employment generated by our infrastructure”.

This intermodal logistics center has long been the subject of substantial investment by the Contship Italia Group (through its subsidiary Sogemar Spa). Developments that have recently found synthesis in the Program Agreement signed by Sogemar with Regione Lombardia, Provincia di Milano, Parco Sud Milano, Comune di Vignate, Comune di Melzo, Comune di Liscate and Cascina Gudo dated December 9, 2013 and published on 14 January 2014.

Work started early last year under a port authority plan to reintroduce a repair and maintenance base for some of the largest ships afloat.  The 465-metre long, 85m wide drydock – third biggest in the world after Lisbon and Dubai – is aimed principally at mega cruiseships but will also target the latest generation container carriers, LNG tankers, bulk vessels and offshore rigs.   

The dock first opened in 1975 to specialise in VLCC repairs but closed after 25 years as the market moved east.  Marseille is now looking to capitalise on its position as the leading French cruise port by offering a repair base that minimises ship downtime – 65% of the world’s largest cruise vessels operate in the Mediterranean.  Many of these visit the port, which last year saw cruise passengers rise by 12% to a record 1.3 million from 493 calls.

The 25-year operating franchise has been awarded to a group including Italy’s San Giorgio del Porto, the Mediterranean’s largest shiprepairer; their subsidiary Chantier Naval de Marseille, which already operates two smaller drydocks at the port; and Mariotti, the world’s fourth largest cruise ship builder. 

Main elements of the overhaul are the construction of a new 9,100 tonne dock gate and refurbishment of the electrical and pumping systems, with project management by French civil engineers Spie batignolles TPCI.  Half of the project finance has been provided by the State and by two regional government authorities.  The balance is coming from the port authority’s own funds and through a €5.9 million loan from the government-controlled investment body Caisse des Depots.       

Urban interface

The Marseille Fos port authority is calling for expressions of interest in opening a visitor attraction on an upper storey of the former J1 warehouse, where the lower floors house the international ferry passenger terminal.  The successful occupier would be granted an initial term to the end of 2017 pending finalisation of a long-term plan to transfer other passenger terminals to J1 and the surrounding area under a port-urban development scheme offering public amenities.   

In its next phase, Caacupe-mi will complete the full implementation of Kalmar SmartPort with N4 at its Asuncion and Pilar facilities. Puerto mCaacupe-mi chose N4 due to the TOS’ flexibility to adapt to individual customer needs, and at the same time, achieve greater agility, efficiency and control in handling large cargo volumes. Now that the N4 system is up and running, the terminal will focus their efforts on integrating Kalmar’s SmartPort solutions. By implementing SmartPort along with the N4 TOS, Puerto Caacupe-mi Asuncion and Pilar will experience improved efficiency at the ports, achieve competitive advantages in the region and above all, provide better service to its customers.

“The implementation process went smoothly because of the combined efforts of the Caacupe-mi and Navis teams,” said Fernando Leri Frizza, President of Puerto Caacupe-mi. “We had a team of approximately 16 people who were dedicated to this transformation for the last four months and we are immensely thankful to all of them for making this massive undertaking a resounding success. We are happy to report that we have already experienced process improvements in yard and gate operations, even in the few short weeks following the go-live.”

Founded in 1980, Caacupe-mi is the leading port among five river ports in Paraguay. Its Asuncion and Pilar facilities span over 100 hectares and are currently responsible for 110,000 TEUs annually. With 51 hectares reserved for future development and an anticipated growth of 50 percent over the next five years, Puerto Caacupe-mi invested in top-of-the line technology solutions in order to modernize its facilities, optimize operations, gain competitive advantages, and ultimately, better-serve its customers with the future in mind.

“It has been a pleasure to partner with Caacupe-mi on this transformative project,” said Chuck Schneider, General Manager, Americas for Navis. “At Navis, we firmly believe that true collaboration with our customers and partners is essential throughout the TOS implementation process. In this case, the success of the N4 go-live and the speed at which it was achieved speaks volumes about the level of collaboration that took place during this particular project. We are proud to continue this journey with Caacupe-mi and Kalmar, and are eager to see the long-term impact of our technology in use at its terminals.”