Hamburg’s universal port with 50.7 million tons of predominantly container handling achieves a result of 4.8 million TEU (20-ft standard containers), an increase of 6.8 percent. The largest seaports on the north European continent show an average growth in total handling of 1.8 percent and in container handling of 2.6 percent. The Port of Hamburg can look back on above average growth in container traffic, building up its market share from 25.7 to 26.7 percent.

At 51.6 million tons in the first half year general cargo handling showed a gain of 8.8 percent. “We can see extraordinarily strong growth in loaded container handling: 4.2 million full boxes went over the quay walls in Hamburg. That is 8.2 percent more than in the previous year and more than ever before in the port’s history in a first half-year,” explained Axel Mattern, member of the Executive Board of Port of Hamburg Marketing. At 588,000 TEU, handling empty boxes showed a slight decline of 2.1 percent. Strong exports with a total of 2.3 million TEU (+ 6.3 percent) in container handling, and comparably strong imports at 2.5 million TEU (+ 7.4 percent) are largely responsible for the generally above-average result in container handling.

Throughput in conventional general cargo also showed positive development with a plus at 930,000 tons (+ 0.8 percent) in the first half year, including 302,000 tons (+ 1.7 percent) in project and heavy lift cargo handling at the special terminals. This was possible thanks to strong growth in imports from 33.3 percent up to 66,000 tons. The bulk cargo sector with 21 million tons shows growth of 1.6 percent.  This result was especially positively influenced by growing exports of grain, petroleum, biodiesel and chemical products. On the import side there was a slight decline of 4.5 percent in throughput of suction, grabbable and liquid cargo. “The growth in seafreight has created new jobs in the Port of Hamburg. In the meantime there are more workers employed in the handling terminals  than in the boom year 2008. The port economy is specifically seeking and employing more workers,” said Ingo Egloff, member of the Executive Board of Port of Hamburg Marketing. HHLA has just created 50 new jobs at Container Terminal Burchardkai at the end of July, and announced they would hire new employees at Container Terminal Altenwerder. The Personnel service provider for the port GHB (Gesamthafenbetriebsgesellschaft) has created 60 new jobs this year, in order to have enough qualified personnel for continued growth in general and bulk cargo terminals. “The Hamburg Port Authority is prepared for further growth and is increasing training places for the next generation, qualification programmes for career changers and continuous in-service training for employees. The port with its many varied professional requirements offers numerous attractive opportunities for those starting a career,” explained Egloff.

The shipment consists of 2200 tons of structural steel for the reformer building and for the furnace tower; made up of welded steel columns, frames, beams and bracings. The total weight of the project cargo is estimated at 10,000 tons.

“This is such a significant move forward towards the completion of voestalpine, Texas project. The port appreciates voestalpine’s selection of La Quinta as the site of their US manufacturing facility. Their investment brings diversification to the economy of South Texas and their commitment to environmental stewardship balances the benefits of economic expansion and job creation with a sensitivity to our region’s natural beauty,” said Judy Hawley, Port Commission Chair.

Traditionally, August may be a quieter month for British business but at Southampton the container terminal operator has extended its opening times and is encouraging customers to pick up cargo seven days a week in a bid to give them more options and better availability with the inland distribution of their cargo.

The August bank holiday also signals the start of the run up to the Christmas delivery ‘peak’, when there is often a surge in the number of containers imported into the UK as retailers and businesses start importing goods to ensure their stores are stocked in time for Christmas.

The bank holiday has an impact on the industry as hauliers try to fit five days of deliveries into a four day working week, while container terminal operators, like DP World Southampton, still need to deliver the high level of service that its customers have come to expect.

The terminal already opens as normal on bank holidays but now the terminal is also going to open from 07.00 on Sunday to give its customers a head start.

“By opening up for the full 7 days for our customers, we believe we are providing more flexibility and opportunity to collect cargo which will assist the supply chain with their import deliveries.

“Traditionally there has not been the demand for weekend opening, but with the August bank holiday and the peak session upon us we will see an increase in volume and by extending our opening hours we can reduce the pressure on everyone in the supply chain,” said Steve McCrindle, Head of Operations, DP World Southampton.

The Port of Virginia’s consolidated revenue increased to $396.8 million, an increase of 12.6 percent when compared with the prior year. The operating loss for fiscal 2014 was $17.1 million versus a loss of $15.5 million in the prior year.

The Port of Virginia has reduced the operating losses projected at the start of the year and the fourth quarter loss of $655,684 is the smallest operating loss in a quarter for the last seven quarters. Through January 2014, the port was operating at a loss of $71,437 per day which has been reduced significantly to $7,205 per day in the fourth quarter.

In calendar 2014, The Port of Virginia set a record in terms of TEU volume, but financial losses mounted. In February, we set out an aggressive plan of action to stabilize operations, stem the operating losses and implement process improvements.

“We have made significant progress in the last six months establishing the new organizational structure, making changes on the ground in terminal operations, establishing metrics to measure performance, implementing a new terminal operating system at NIT and making strategic capital investments to deliver improved results,” said John F. Reinhart, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority. “Those changes are reflected in the improved results for the fourth quarter.

“We are only part way to our goals and changes will continue. While each of these changes individually is significant the full results will show only when they are all in place operating collectively. This is a process; we are seeing positive results but understand there remains a lot of work ahead of us.”