General cargo improved 1% to 4.3MT, led by 2.8MT in container tonnage.  In unit terms, box traffic rose 9% to 287,929 teu, with monthly throughput hitting a landmark 100,000 teu in both February and March.  The performance was boosted by two new services, a Fos-Spain/Italy feeder and a direct line between Marseilles and Libya.  These helped to stabilise container volumes at Marseilles and drive an 11% increase at the Fos terminals.  Elsewhere in the general cargo sector, conventional trades dipped 1% to 0.7MT and ro-ro fell 10% to 0.8MT after industrial disputes at two operators in January.   

Dry bulk traffic climbed 19% to 3.6MT, restoring pre-economic crisis levels.  Backed by rising coal imports, the main increase stemmed from steel industry demand for ore imports, which grew 23% to some 2.5MT.  However, agro-bulks were down 8% on 0.26MT after falling grain prices weakened barley and corn exports.      

Meanwhile the oil-led liquid bulks sector slumped 14% to 10.9MT.  Crude oil and petroleum products totalled 10.1MT, down by 1.8MT and 16% on the first three months last year.  With refining margins collapsing at three local plants, crude imports for national refineries were 21% worse on 5.1MT, while crude volumes for South European Pipeline delivery fell 19% to 0.54MT.  Refined products dropped 2% to some 2.9MT, while LNG finished 27% worse on 0.97MT and LPG was 9% down at 0.6MT.  In contrast, liquid chemicals and agro-products improved 17% to 0.9MT thanks to biofuel exports and a 70% increase in caustic soda exports from the Kem One plant in Lavera, which was saved from closure last December and is now about to be modernised.  

Passenger throughput rose 18% to 315,000 on the back of soaring cruise numbers.  While ferry carryings fell 25% to 117,000, cruise passengers were up 79% to 198,000 – an increase of 87,000 on Q1 last year that confirms the cruise sector now commands a year-round season. 

Iron ore exports totalled 34.8 Mt, an increase of 33% from the same month in 2013.

Total throughput for the financial year-to-date is 301Mt, an increase of 30% from the same period the previous year.

Kalmar machines will be delivered between Q4/2014 and Q2/2015. The order was booked into Cargotec’s 2013 fourth quarter order intake.

Evyapport selected electric Kalmar E-One2 RTGs to facilitate the expansion of their operations as they considerably improve handling efficiency and lower operating costs. The cranes have the capability of handling 7+1 wide with 1 over 6 high stacking and a maximum lift capacity of 41 tonnes. The units run on mains electric power, provided via a bus bar automatic arm, delivering zero emissions.

The cranes also operate with SmartRail, Kalmar’s electronic driver assistance system for enhancing RTG controls and operation. SmartRail helps the operator to use a higher travelling speed, minimising handling time per container.

Mr Sedat Topuz, Support Services Manager, Evyapport commented: “Once again, we were very impressed in how Kalmar responded with a solution that met our needs precisely. The quality and reliability of the equipment is world class and the technological advancements make a considerable contribution to lowering the costs of ownership. Furthermore, the speed at which the cranes could be delivered was really excellent and helped us to plan our schedule of activities as the port expands.”

Mika Virtanen, Vice President for RTG and STS cranes at Kalmar: “We are delighted to have gained another valuable order from Evyapport. As terminal operators gear up for higher container throughput the requirement for equipment to deliver improved efficiency and cost reduction becomes increasingly important. More operators are now specifying Kalmar’s electrically powered RTGs because they significantly reduce fuel costs, when compared to diesel engines. The resulting zero emissions means they are a very environmentally-friendly option.”

Evyapport is Turkey’s fifth largest terminal with a capacity of 800,000 TEU, a total area of 265,000 m² and 1,171 metre berth. The terminal already operates with several types of Kalmar equipment, including RTG and STS cranes, terminal tractors, forklift trucks, reachstackers and empty container handlers.

In announcing the deal, Christian R. Gonzalez, ICTSI head of the Asia-Pacific region said, “This new concession represents a major milestone for ICTSI, not only because it is our first concession in Oceania, but also because it establishes us as one of very few truly global operators with facilities on six continents.”

“It is a premier project in a country that is considered to be a leader in infrastructure development, and we plan to introduce leading edge and proven technologies that will consistently deliver the highest levels of port performance.  We are likewise excited by the fact that many innovations are geared towards ensuring seamless interaction between the Port, the City of Melbourne, and its surrounding communities, something we believe to be critical in the container terminals of the future,” he said.

“Finally, we are pleased to have a partnership with the Port of Melbourne Corporation and their Port Capacity team who have conducted the entire tender process with efficiency and transparency,” Mr. Gonzalez said. 

VICTL’s development for Webb Dock Container Terminal utilizes the best-proven technologies and innovations to deliver fully-automated operations from the gate to the quayside.

“These leading edge solutions will ensure not only superior operating efficiency, but will limit the noise and light impact on surrounding communities,” Mr. Gonzalez added.

Phase 1 of the terminal, to be ready for operation by 31 December 2016, will have one berth of 330 meters fitted with three post-Panamax ship-to-shore cranes, 23.7 hectares of yard and off-dock area with fully automated operations from the gate to the quayside to deliver an estimated capacity of 350,000 TEUs.

The terminal will be able to handle vessels with a capacity of up to 8,000 TEUs.

Servicing the terminal will be a 10 hectare empty container park with a working capacity of around 200,000 TEUs. 

Construction of the terminal superstructure and facilities is planned to commence in late 2014.  A second phase, planned to be operational by 31 December 2017, will deliver an additional two post-Panamax ship-to-shore cranes on a second 330 meter berth.

When fully developed and as required by volume growth, the 35.4 hectare Terminal will have a total of six post-Panamax ship-to-shore cranes on 660 meters of berth, and will be able to handle up to 1.4 million TEUs annually, with the empty container park’s capacity rising to 280,000 TEUs.

Investment for the full development of the Webb Dock Container Terminal and the ECP is estimated at around AUD$550 million dollars, and forms part of the Port of Melbourne’s AUD$1.6 billion Port Capacity Project.  The new facility will create around 200 new jobs at the port.

VICTL is also committed to limiting the terminal’s impact on surrounding communities as well as to supporting community initiatives throughout the term of its operations at Webb Dock.

A particular focus of these in
itiatives will be children’s education and welfare in communities in and around the port.  Programs will be developed as part of the Port of Melbourne’s consultation program, which VICTL will be actively involved in.

The Port of Melbourne is Australia’s largest container and automotive port attracting more than 3,200 commercial ship visits each year.  The growth of the Port of Melbourne continues to be a significant economic multiplier for the State of Victoria.

ICTSI is a leading port management company involved in the operation and development of marine terminals and port projects worldwide.  ICTSI has received global acclaim for its public-private partnerships especially with economies seeking to divest port assets to the private sector.

Anglo Ports is an Australian company, spearheaded by its Chairman and CEO, Capt. Richard Setchell.

Captain Setchell is the former Chairman and CEO of P&O Ports worldwide, and brings a wealth of strategic operational experience.

The Anglo Ports team of port and shipping experts are recognized globally for their proven track record in managing and operating container terminals and other marine facilities, port related infrastructure and ancillary services and logistics activities, both in Australia and abroad.