Almost all throughput segments contributed their share to this growth, which at 5.7 percent was outstanding compared to the same period of the previous year. Container handling, which dominates in Hamburg as a universal port, also achieved a record mark of 7.4 million TEU (20-ft standard containers). Gaining 6.4 percent here, Hamburg is growing faster than competing ports in Northern Europe. These reported average growth of 1.9 percent in total throughput and of 4.0 percent for container handling. The Port of Hamburg accordingly enlarged its market share of container traffic for the period January to September from 26.1 percent to 26.7 percent.

Double-digit percentage growth in container traffic with Asia and Africa

“Hamburg is profiting especially from the double-digit growth in the container trade with Asia. With 12.8 percent growth, China particularly, Hamburg’s largest partner in the container trades, contributed to the immense boost in seaborne foreign trade for Germany’s largest universal port. The Port of Hamburg handled 2.3 million TEU containers to and from China in the first nine months of 2014. In direct container trade with Indian ports, in the first three quarters of the year Hamburg achieved a 15.4 percent advance to 176,000 TEU. Development of container trade with Malaysia during this period was also highly satisfactory, advancing by 10.2 percent to 203,000 TEU. Container trade with Africa also made excellent progress, increasing by 28.2 percent. Here it is primarily the container trades with Northern and South Africa that are ensuring steep growth,” explained Axel Mattern, a member of the Executive Board of Port of Hamburg Marketing (HHM).

Positive trend for the Baltic region

Container services with the Baltic region are especially significant for the Port of Hamburg: In the first nine months of the year 1.8 million TEU were transported by feeders in this trade, representing a 2.8 percent increase. Feederships carried 300,000 TEU (+ 29.2 percent) on container services with Polish ports. “The unwavering strong growth of feeder services between Hamburg and Polish ports clearly indicates that along with Hamburg’s well developed rail and road transport services, seaborne container transport is gaining further in importance for supplying the Polish market and cannot be replaced by individual direct services to the Baltic,” said Ingo Egloff, a member of Port of Hamburg Marketing. During the first nine months, volume handled in container traffic between Hamburg and Russian ports reached around 504,000 TEU, that is 5.7 percent below the comparable figure in 2013. “After China, Russia still occupies second place among the Port of Hamburg’s container partners. For the first nine months of this year it was apparent that the weakness of the rouble, particularly, boosted the total number of loaded import containers from Russia handled via the Port of Hamburg, up by 21.9 percent at 120,000 TEU, while the figure for export containers loaded for Russia was 4 percent lower at 296,000 TEU. The total number of loaded containers in this trade therefore rose during the first three quarters to 416,000 TEU (+ 2.3 percent). “With more than 160 feeder weekly connections, 32 to Russian ports, Hamburg is further expanding its function as the central hub in the container trade for the Baltic region,” explained Ingo Egloff, a member of Port of Hamburg Marketing’s Executive Board.

Further rise in the number of ultra-large containerships in Hamburg

Between January and September, 374 ultra-large containerships with slot capacities of over 10,000 TEU called at Hamburg. Up by 23.8 percent or almost one quarter on the comparable period of the previous year at 302, the figure for calls by ships of this size class underlines that for the sake of the port and shipping generally, the dredging and widening of the navigation channel on the Lower and Outer Elbe must be implemented. For 2015, the first registrations have been received for calls in Hamburg by ultra-large containerships of over 400 metres in length. “The Port of Hamburg remains on a successful curve. At the same time, this underlines the urgent need for the navigation channel to be dredged and widened. Today I should like to appeal to all those who care deeply about the Port of Hamburg to make it clear publicly – especially to their international business partners and port customers – that while the project cannot just yet be realized, it is more clearly than ever on course towards its objective”, sais Hamburg’s Senator for Economy, Traffic and Innovation.

More general and bulk cargoes handled in the first three quarters

General cargo throughput of 78.3 million tons was the main factor behind the steep rise of 7.9 percent. An outstandingly good total for container throughput was based on strong performances on both exports, 6.6 percent higher at 3.6 million TEU, and imports, up by 6.2 percent at 3.8 million TEU. At 900,000 TEU, throughput of empty containers was slightly above the previous year’s level. Throughput in the conventional general cargo segment, 1.1 percent higher at 1.44 million tons, also developed well in the first nine months. Here it was above all exports of iron and steel, paper and timber that generated throughput growth for Hamburg’s multi-purpose terminals. At 31,600,000 tons, 0.7 percent growth was reported for the bulk cargo sector. This result was especially positively shaped by continuing strong grain exports and imports. Primarily to be viewed in connection with restructuring at a refinery located in Hamburg, a distinct 29.2 percent downturn of around 600,000 tons in crude oil imports caused a drop in volumes handled.

The record mark of 144 million tons can be reached at the end of the year

“2014 has in many respects been a record year for the Port of Hamburg. For us, this is both confirmation that we are on the right course with our intelligent solutions, and a motivation to keep the port on a successful course,” said Jens Meier, Hamburg Port Authority Chairman of the Board. For this year as a whole, Axel Mattern, a member of Port of Hamburg Marketing’s Executive Board, predicted: “If all goes well, in 2014 we could achieve a 3.6 percent increase in seaborne cargo throughput and one of between 3.8 and 5.1 percent on container handling.” This is conditional on further growth in container traffic with China and no further extension of the restraints on Russian trade caused by sanctions. For the Port of Hamburg, this would produce figures of around 144 million tons for cargo throughput generally, and of approximately 9.7 million TEU for container handling. That would mean topping the record mark for seaborne cargo throughput last achieved in 2008, namely of 140 million tons.

The strike by port labourers has been called by three national unions, in protest over the erosion of index-linked pay rises and tax increases.

Currently the strike is having a major effect on shipping operations in the area with the ports of Zeebrugge, Ghent and Antwerp particularly affected. ISS Belgium has advised that there is a backlog of 65 ships waiting at anchorage to call the Port of Antwerp with a further 12 vessels waiting to depart.

It is anticipated that this current 24 hour strike will be followed by a national general strike on 15th December 2014.

ISS will continue to monitor the strike and will report any updates through their website – www.iss-shipping.com. Customers are invited to contact our Belgian head office for further information at issanrops@iss-shipping.com

Mr. Tozer’s address will explore the increased importance of voyage and season dependent container lashing and securing, as larger container vessels, such as Maersk’s “Triple-E” Class, increase the forces exerted on cargo at sea. Mr Tozer will also discuss LR’s “21st Century” lashing force calculation method and the “Boxmax (V, W)” special notation. In addition, he will discuss the re-emergence of “external” as opposed to “internal” cross lashing. Touching on crew and stevedore safety, he will mention recent MSC Circulars and changes to the CSS Code championed by ICHCA International among other NGOs.

Discussing ways that automation in load and discharge operations can reduce the risks to operatives working on the ship and quayside, will be Lars Meurling, Vice President of Marketing and Product Business Development at Bromma Conquip, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of crane spreaders. Mr. Meurling will be lending his perspective on the benefits of using technology to automate the coning and deconing of twistlocks. Load and discharge operation “still require manned operations” explains Mr. Meurling, “meaning that personnel will be present under the gantry crane in the vicinity of containers hanging under the spreader.” His talk will address the potential for fully automated twistlock handling in manual operations as well as automated terminals.

In contrast, Markus Theuerholz, Sales Manager at German Lashing Robert Böck, will argue that “lashing work with turnbuckles and lashing rods will remain manual work for further years.” His talk will also address design issues in container lashing and securing, with particular focus on important safety measures introduced by the IMO’s new Code of Safe Practice. “Lashing work will be more complicated,” predicts Mr. Theuerholz, “especially with the new limit on the use of extension rods and the number of different fittings needed to follow Annex 14.” The one-day seminar features presentations by other expert speakers from across the cargo chain, including: Larry Keiman, Managing Director of Matrans Holding; David Wilson, Head of Health & Safety at Hutchison Ports UK; Bill Brassington of ETS Consulting; and Jos Koning, Senior Project Manager, Trials and Monitoring, at MARIN. Attendees will have the opportunity to take part in a live study tour of ECT’s Delta facility – the world’s first automated container terminal. In addition, breakout work groups will provide a chance to discuss practical solutions to the damage, loss, injuries and death associated with poor lashing and securing.

For the full programme and list of participating speakers, plus online booking, visit http://www.etouches.com/ichcacontainerlashingseminar

The port’s operating profit in the four months since the beginning of fiscal 2015 is $4.6 million, compared with an operating loss of $4.8 million in the same period of fiscal 2014. The October result is $1.8 million better than the result for the October of the prior year. Moreover, the port has generated an operating profit and in seven of the last eight months in calendar 2014.

“When comparing the fiscal-year-to-date performances, we are looking at a swing of $9 million, so we are continuing to find solid financial ground” said John F. Reinhart, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority.

“And while we have an improving financial picture, we are still not where we want to be in terms of delivery of service at VIG and NIT,” he said. “The challenge of congestion at our gates continues and impedes the ability for motor carriers to do their job with efficiency. At the gates, execution, consistency and adaptability is a primary focus.