The steelwork for the first phase of the 386,000 sq ft multi-purpose cargo handling centre is nearly complete and the development is on target to open in Q2 2015.

“We are delighted to be working with Import Services. The company has demonstrated a common vision and real understanding of our mission as the UK’s new deep-water national hub port and logistics park. We found the team to be tuned into our strategy and, combined with their expertise in the field of port-centric logistics, they put forward a very compelling plan,” said Peter Ward, DP World London Gateway’s Head of Supply Chain.

Southampton based Import Services will initially take on a significant portion of the new development and provide a menu of logistics services and activities on a ‘pay-as-you-go’ basis. Services will range from basic devanning to cross-docking, storage and value-added activities such as pick-and-pack, labelling, pre-retail and distribution.

“This model has been developed based on market demand that we have identified through extensive research,” said Peter Ward. “We identified demand directly from cargo owners for these services”.

Peter continued, “While household retail names have the option to develop their own dedicated buildings on the nine million square foot logistics park, we intend to make sure that the port-centric and market-centric benefits of using London Gateway are accessible to all, irrespective of size, including cargo owners, freight forwarders and 3PLs. However, even the larger operators have recognised the benefits of using the Common User Facility because it enables them to further optimise their supply chain by back-loading into their existing networks.”

London Gateway Logistics Park, located on the doorstep of Europe’s largest consumer market enables exporters and importers to reduce costs, carbon emissions and increase efficiency and reliability.  As demand for logistics and distribution facilities closer to market increases, coupled with a greater need for flexibility and agility in supply chain networks, the shared-user model on offer at London Gateway will provide a ‘best-fit’ solution.

DP World London Gateway and Import Services have been working together to develop the fit-out of the CUF building and establish the day-to-day processes such as internal shunting of containers from the port’s quayside to the logistics park.

“This is an exciting new venture for Import Services and we are delighted to be working in partnership with DP World London Gateway. Operating the Common User Facility will enable Import Services to launch a twin port strategy, replicating our port-centric logistics model in Southampton to facilitate growth for both our existing and new clients at DP World London Gateway,” said Mike Thomas, Client Services Director, Import Services.

According to the FAC these questions will be resolved in the Spring 2015 in connection with complaints against a deepening of the River Weser.

The FAC also emphasised, however, that while the environmental compatibility assessments in respect of the fauna/flora done for the planning approval for the deepening of the navigation channel of the Lower and Outer Elbe exhibit various shortcomings, in its opinion these can be overcome and should not lead to a lifting of the said approval.

In the statement the Port of Hamburg regrets that once again time will be lost and that no decisive relaxation of the restrictions of ship draft and breadth currently in force can yet be implemented. More than ten years of planning and authorisation procedures have been a difficult time for the port’s customers, shipping companies and firms operating in the port. The primary objective remains the rapid and carefully implementation of expansion measures.

With seaborne cargo throughput of more than 140 million tonnes and annual container handling of over 9 million TEU, Hamburg is the Northern European hub optimally located for handling worldwide cargo flows and transport chains in seaborne foreign trade. Against the background of an increasing number of calls by mega-ships, access from the sea via the Elbe is of vital importance for the Port of Hamburg and the companies based there and in the Hamburg Metropolitan Region. More than 150,000 jobs are linked with the port. Distinctly improved accessibility is also urgently needed for all those industrial and trading concerns engaged in worldwide foreign trade that use Germany’s largest universal port for their exports and imports.

One of the key objectives of the Change Programme was to improve Stena Line’s performance by USD162 million to help put the company on a more secure financial footing post- directive implementation. The rolling programme has resulted in a number of steps being taken including the reduction from two vessels to one on the Trelleborg-Sassnitz route and the fact that Stena Line is now being forced to increase its prices to freight customers as a direct result of the change in legislation.

“From an economic perspective, this is one of the largest negative political decisions taken since tax-free shopping was discontinued. As a company we are very supportive of environmental improvement regulations as long as the changes are the same for everyone and are implemented at a rate which we and our customers can handle but unfortunately this is not the case with the new sulphur rules. Ultimately, the resultant increase in fuel costs negatively impacts on North European export and import trade because a significant proportion of these trades are facilitated by sea transport,” said Stena Line’s CEO Carl-Johan Hagman.

For Stena Line, the changes mean a direct increase in fuel costs of more than USD162,000 per day, or around USD66.4 million per year as a result of having to use the more expensive low sulphur fuel.

“If you look at the freight side of our business for example, we are going to have to increase prices by around 15%. As a business, we are committed to delivering the same quality and service and we will continue our efforts to offer environmentally effective transports. This means that unfortunately we are left with no alternative but to pass on the imposed increase in costs to our freight customers”, said Hagman.

PCC opted for the Kalmar solution based on Kalmar’s proven experience with intermodal container handling applications. In this instance, PCC has selected Kalmar DRF reachstackers to work with rail and road trucks and within container yard. The company’s main activity is synchronised intermodal transportation of containers by regular rail and road transport connections throughout Poland, directly to the customer’s door.

The project was partially funded by the Centre of European Transport Projects (CUPT) as part of infrastructure development for Polish intermodal companies. Kalmar’s experience with co-funded tenders was an important factor during procedure, given it resulted in a combination of a technical solution that precisely matched PCC’s requirements, coupled with a competitive price. The order also includes a preventive maintenance package for two years, or 4,000 hours operation, for four of the machines.

“We have again selected Kalmar primarily because of their ability to meet requirements and deliver high quality equipment on time. Kalmar understands the intermodal transshipment business very well and therefore could tailor a solution that fulfilled our expectations precisely,” said Adam Adamek, Vice President at PCC Intermodal SA.

Jakub Wojciechowski, Senior Sales and Service Manager at Kalmar Poland, adds, “Four of the 45 tonnes capacity units are equipped with Volvo Penta TAD1360 EURIIIB engines and the fifth with a Cummins QSM11 EUR111A engine.”