BMT has been working with the DfT for the past nine years collating information on all maritime freight traffic and ship movements in and out of UK ports.  DfT commented: “We have a statutory requirement to provide detailed and accurate maritime statistics to the EU in a timely manner.  We are pleased to continue our relationship with BMT who has demonstrated that it has the technical skills, domain knowledge and a working relationship with the key stakeholders, to support us and ensure that the maritime statistics data is collected in an accurate and timely manner.”

Maritime freight data is supplied by approximately 400 shipping lines and agents in any one year. Other data, which is less detailed, is supplied by approximately 150 port authorities and operators. The information collected by BMT is required to help inform UK policy and to support the European Community (EC) Maritime Statistics Directive which was introduced to assist the EC in developing policies and monitoring the impact of policy measures. Once analysed, shipping lines, shipping agents and port operators are also able to access the data to develop their own business strategies.

The information provides an invaluable insight into the freight movements to and from the UK including the impact of the global recession.

Andrew Cooper, Managing Director of BMT Reliability Consultants comments: “The award of this continuation contract recognises the importance of the relationship which we have established with the data providers over the past nine years enabling us to deliver accurate and timely information to the DfT. This is further supported by BMT’s strong maritime background and its expertise in data collection and IT.”

The project involves construction of three 50,000t container berths in the water area. With a total coastline of 969 meters, the terminal is 969 meters long and 50 meters wide, and has three approaches. With a land area of 81.7 hectares, the zone involves yard, road, production and living sections, checkpoint, inspection site, etc.

The contract, valued at approximately 42.42 million yuan and a construction period of some 8 months, will enable designed annual handling capacity of 1.3 million TEU

The zone’s construction will further enhance the specialisation and intensification of container transportation at Wenzhou Port, advance the adjustment and optimisation of the functional layout of the zone, and perfect the layout of container ports in the Yangtze River Delta.

The basin manoeuvring area and the approaches of Terminal Two North and South Quays as well Terminal One North Quay and alongside these quays to ?17.0 m LAT were also included in the dredging works which were carried out by Jan de Nul. These dredging works now allow an access and maximum keel berthing draught of ?16.0 m LAT. Jan De Nul deployed one of its modern cutter suction dredger to undertake the works. The close coordination between Mala Freeport Terminals, Jan Du Nul, Malta’s Transport Authorities as well as the Port Service Providers ensured minimal disruptions in Port traffic despite the significance to the Port’s operations of the navigational area which was being dredged. To be in full compliance with the regulations of Malta’s Environmental Authorities all the dredging works were continuously being monitored by an independent and approved Operational Monitoring Consultant to ensure that the environmental monitoring programme was fully being observed. In line with this development, Malta Freeport Terminals has also undertaken crucial infrastructure works at Terminal Two North Quay and the Company is now in an optimum position to effectively handle at this berth Triple?E vessels (18,000 TEU capacity). These works included the extension of Terminal Two North Quay including the rail as well as the installation of bollards and the fendering system. Following this investment, Malta Freeport Terminals is now in a position to accommodate 18,000 TEU vessels on Terminal Two North Quay.

These significant dredging projects will begin, following issuance of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permits and approval of its assumption of maintenance of the channels. The Port Authority’s monthly financial and cargo report for February 2014 shows solid results with facility operations showing strong results during the first two months of the year. Year-to-date operating revenue is up $2 million, net operating income is up $2 million, and cash flow is up $2.2 million, after setting aside two non-recurring revenue events from early 2013, which caused an overall decrease in those categories.

“The cash flow realized from our operations is crucial as we continue to reinvest in our facilities to prepare for future growth,” said Executive Director Roger Guenther. Steel tonnage for February totaled 502,000 tons, marking the first time since May 2012 that Port Authority facilities handled steel exceeding 500,000 tons. So far in 2014, the Port Authority has moved 904,000 tons, for a 14-percent increase over 2013. Although year-to-date overall container volume is down slightly, the volume of loaded containers remains flat when compared to 2013. Container volume is expected to be very solid in March, Guenther said, with 3 to 4 percent overall growth in containers expected for the year.