The new container shipping service, which will commence on 28 January 2014, will offer three sailings a week to the Dutch port of Moerdijk. Sailings will be provided by the 340 TEU m.s.Expansa.

Commenting on the new service, Clemence Cheng, Chief Executive Officer of Hutchison Ports (UK) Limited, owners of London Thamesport, said:

“London Thamesport offers its customers a service tailored to their specific demands. A2B-online have made clear their need for an exceptional level of service, which is what we pride ourselves on and which we are ready and able to provide.”

Gerard de Groot, A2B-online Container’s Managing Director, added:

“This is a magnificent moment for all of us. It is fantastic to see that our initial service that we started last summer has been picked up by so many customers which enables us now to start up this new route to London Thamesport.

“Naturally we have investigated various options. Besides fast turnaround times at the terminal we need an efficient and effective ships operation as well; that is why we decided for London Thamesport. It is furthermore our intention to add one additional sailing per week after three months, meaning servicing London Thamesport four times a week. That is the advantage of London Thamesport: no locks to go through, shorter crossings and quick handlings of the ship.”

A2B-online’s main shareholder, Kees Vierhouten of the Vierhouten Group, is also very pleased with the latest development of the Container Division of A2B-online. Commenting on the division, he said:

“It is a good product, the knowledge and expertise which is available is great and in conjunction with the Trailer Division we are developing a sustainable logistics company in primary transport, that is our objective.”

Cameron has been serving as Acting Managing Director of Environmental Affairs and Planning since July 2013, when then-Managing Director Robert Kanter retired. At the time he assumed those acting duties, Cameron was the Port’s Director of Environmental Planning, a role he held since 2007. He originally joined the Harbor Department in 1996 as an environmental specialist. There are four managing director positions at the Harbor Department reporting directly to the executive director and deputy executive director.

Cameron will oversee a bureau that includes 41 budgeted full-time positions of the Environmental Planning, Transportation Planning and Master Planning divisions.

“Rick Cameron has been very instrumental in designing and building the signature programs that have made the Port of Long Beach a leader in environmental stewardship,” said Harbor Commission President Doug Drummond. “He’s the right choice to help us make this Port even greener.”

The Harbor Department’s Environmental Affairs and Planning Bureau is tasked with improving the environment in and around the Port of Long Beach. The Bureau is responsible for analyzing proposed construction, obtaining funding for transportation improvements, studying job creation and economic impacts, advancing clean technologies and making sure land uses are consistent with the Coastal Act. Under the Green Port Policy, the Bureau coordinates programs to improve air, water and soil quality, preserve wildlife habitat and integrate sustainability into Port practices.

Cameron has a bachelor’s degree in urban and regional planning from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

The ferry lines form the backbone of the port’s business, rising up to 5.1 million tons (plus 1.3 %) and thereby making up more than 80 % of the total handling rate. The biggest increase was achieved by Stena Line on its route Kiel-Gothenburg, while DFDS Seaways features the highest transport volume. The development of Kiel’s rail/ship intermodal handling business was outstanding, increasing by 14.7 % to nearly 24,000 cargo units. At the beginning of February 2014, the portfolio will be extended once again by a direct train link between Kiel and Duisburg. Dr Dirk Claus, Managing Director at SEEHAFEN KIEL GmbH & Co. KG: “The market environment is not all that easy, however, we have successfully maintained the high handling level at the port of Kiel. New rail freight services and an improved handling technology led to a growth surge in intermodal transport.”

Handling bulk goods also turned out positive, increasing by 0.6 % to a total of 1.2 million tons.

1.94 million passengers travelled on ferries or cruise ships from and to Kiel. This corresponds to an increase of 1.4 % compared to the same period of the previous year. When including excursion traffic, there were even more than 2 million passengers transported.

The straddle carriers arrived fully assembled onboard the ro-ro vessel MV Meri direct from the manufacturing plant in Gdynia, Poland. The straddle carriers arrived just as work is finishing on the new deep sea container berth at the terminal which is part of a £150m investment project by Associated British Ports to prepare the port of Southampton for the next generation of ultra large container vessels. The straddle carriers are three high diesel electric machines with twin lift capability, which will provide the terminal with the advantage of having more machines that are able to undertake twin discharge from beneath the terminal’s cranes. Chris Lewis, Managing Director, DP World Southampton, said:  “We are committed to investing in our infrastructure and operational capabilities to ensure that Southampton can continue to meet the needs of our customers now and in the future.”With the new berth that ABP is building, which will open very soon, and this investment by DP World Southampton in our straddle carrier fleet, Southampton is determined to continue to build on its reputation as the most productive terminal in the UK. At the same time, work has begun to deepen the main Southampton approach channel which links the port to the English Channel. The dredging works will provide access for the deepest and largest vessels afloat to call at the port, including the new 18,000 teu container vessels that are currently coming into service. This means that from the end of the year, Southampton will offer better accessibility for deep drafted vessels and can compete in every aspect with other ports in the UK and Northern Europe. Now the new straddle carriers are on site, there will be some necessary performance testing to carry out as well as some additional installation work before the new machines can enter operational service.