Cargotec announced the agreement to acquire the unit in October 2013 for an enterprise value of approximately EUR 180 million. The unit will be consolidated into MacGregor’s results as of 1 February 2014.

“The addition of the mooring and loading systems’ team members, technologies and products further positions MacGregor as a true leader in the marine and offshore equipment market.  When combined with our other MacGregor products and the expertise of the recently acquired Hatlapa marine equipment business, we can now offer customers the most complete range of high performing equipment and systems”, states Eric Nielsen, President, MacGregor. “With this acquisition now complete, we look forward to a quick and smooth integration into MacGregor family, with the clear goal of serving our existing and new customers with the most innovative and well supported offering”, Eric Nielsen continues.

“We are happy to become part of MacGregor and see exciting opportunities coming from the combined resources, technologies and global footprint of our two companies. This is a very positive development for all of our customers and team members,” says Leif Haukom who leads the mooring and loading systems unit.

Completion of this acquisition follows receipt of required approvals from the relevant countries and authorities.

A Kombiverkehr KG train is now operating three times a week in both directions between the Port of Kiel and Duisburg-Ruhrort. In Kiel it will serve the Ostuferhafen and the Schwedenkai Terminal while the terminus and starting point in Duisburg is the DUSS Terminal in the Ruhrort Hafen. Dr Dirk Claus, Managing Director of the Port of Kiel (SEEHAFEN KIEL GmbH & Co. KG) said: “This new direct service represents a significant further expansion of the Port of Kiel’s eco-friendly hinterland rail transport capacity. I am happy that all those involved have been able to co-operate successfully and create what is, for us, a very important connection”. The direct shuttle train is some 500 metres long and 24 slots are available on each trip for loadable trailers or 48 slots for containers or swap bodies.

The trains from Kiel run on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays while those from Duisburg run on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. (The exact time-table is attached to this press release). Arrival and departure times have been dovetailed with ferry services to and from Lithuania as well as Sweden. Kombiverkehr KG is accepting trailers, containers and swap bodies on the Duisburg train. Loading takes place in the Ostuferhafen by means of the portal crane which only went into service last year. A comparable crane has been ordered for the Schwedenkai Terminal. The direct train link with Duisburg complements the daily intermodal shuttle service between Kiel and Hamburg-Billwerder, from where connections exist to many national Kombiverkehr destinations.  “We are experiencing a constantly increasing demand for unaccompanied intermodal transport services”, said Dirk Claus. “After handling 24,000 rail consignments in Kiel last year we now aim to increase that to 30,000 over the coming year”, he added.

Along with Baltic and Scandinavian transit traffic, the terminals in Kiel also accept local freight consignments. The catchment area is central and western Schleswig-Holstein including the German-Danish border region. In this way the new shuttle train service is also making a contribution to efforts to relocate goods traffic from the roads to the railways. CO2 waste gas emissions per single consignment on the train between Kiel and Duisburg are up to 750 kilos lower than on a comparable standard truck journey. “Medium and long term”, said Dirk Claus, “the railway’s share in the port of Kiel’s hinterland transport will continue to rise. Already there is a demand for even longer block trains”. If Kiel is to be able to handle cargo trains of up to 700 metres in length in the future, then investment is required in the Meimersdorf marshalling yard. The SEEHAFEN KIEL is already holding talks with Deutsche Bahn and the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein to work out how the yard’s access tracks layout can be adapted to meet rising demand.

The partnership is dedicated to meeting the specific requirements of the Chinese market. Konecranes Lift Trucks are available in over 80 countries through both appointed distributors as well as country-specific Konecranes operations. In both cases customers have access to a full range of spare parts as well as personalised service and maintenance. Konecranes distributors are some of the most respected in the lift truck business. “Our commitment to the Chinese market started over a decade ago when we made a landmark decision in 2007 to start assembling lift trucks in Lingang, outside of Shanghai. There are now hundreds of these lift trucks in operation”, says Lars Fredin, Vice President and Head of BU Lift Trucks at Konecranes. He continues, “This new distribution agreement with Rong Shun Trading (Shanghai) Co., Ltd means that we now have very strong representation in China. The success and experience Jim Yu and his team bring to the cooperation is very important to Konecranes”.

(Left to right) Lars Fredin, Vice-President at Konecranes Lift Trucks, Jim Yu, Managing Director & General Manager of Rong Shun Trading (Shanghai) Co., Ltd and Steven Xie, SVP, Head of Region NEA Konecranes.

Despite the dip, the port has welcomed two new customers in the past year, along with an increase in grain export volumes in the last quarter of 2013.
 
“The Port of Seattle has the cargo capacity and is big ship ready,” said Linda Styrk, Managing Director of the Seaport. “New customers recognize that we have excellent intermodal infrastructure, a strong export market, and regional distribution facilities, along with a collaborative approach to working with businesses.”
 
Both United Arab Shipping Company (UASC) and Pacific International Line (PIL) became new customers in the past year, -joining the ANW1 string at Terminal 30 in partnership with China Shipping Container Lines’ (CSCL) existing joint service.  UASC began calling at the port last June, and PIL’s first boxes are expected in February of 2014. 
 
On the grain side of the business, 21 vessels called at the Terminal 86 grain facility in 2013, with 17 of them calling in the last quarter, handling over 80% of the year’s volume. 
 
The recent opening of the Atlantic Street overpass and the Argo North Access project completion by next year enables fully grade separated access between container terminals and major rail and highways.
 
The Port of Seattle maintains four world-class container terminals, with 27 cranes, 11 container berths up to 50 feet deep, along with adjacent proximity to two major Class 1 rail hubs, and two major interstate highways within minutes of all terminals for efficient truck access.  Cargo handled at the Port of Seattle’s seaport generates over 135,000 jobs for Washington, and creates over $2 billion in annual business revenue for the region.