This four-rope grab crane is also the 289th of its kind sold and will be deployed at Antwerp Bulk Terminal (ABT), where it will be handling lead and zinc concentrates.

As well as numerous other features designed to aid in working with bulk materials, this is also the first factory-equipped Mobile Harbour Crane and in full commercial operation with the completely new, verified weighing system – demonstrating Terex Port Solutions’ focus on innovation. This system enables the crane operator to record and invoice the volumes of valuable bulk materials handled aligned with good commercial practice.

Giuseppe Di Lisa, Vice President Sales & Services at Terex Port Solutions, is proud of this achievement. Di Lisa credits the many years of expertise gained by Terex Port Solutions in the bulk handling sector were a crucial factor in receiving this order. “Our Mobile Harbour Crane is an essential component in the global supply chain between the producer and the end user and, at the same time, a keystone in local handling logistics, which, apart from the crane, includes hoppers, conveyor equipment and stackyard machines. The 1500th Mobile Harbour Crane is a continuation of our successful long-term relationship with this very important customer and we are grateful to them for reiterating their confidence in us, our engineering and our business model.”

Philippe Van de Vyvere, founder of Europe’s largest largest bulk and fruit transshipment company, explained: “Mobile Harbour Crane technology bearing the Terex Gottwald brand name has been supporting us in our terminals for decades. We were convinced mainly by the reliability and power of innovation of Terex Port Solutions which benefits not only us as terminal operators, but, in particular, our customers. It is these characteristics above all that shape the foundations of the sustainable, trusting business relations between the two companies. We are convinced that the cargo-handling technologies provided by Terex Port Solutions are a decisive factor in our competitive standing. We would like to congratulate Terex Port Solutions on their resounding success and are extremely pleased that this rather special crane is not only a bulk-handling machine this time, but also working in one of our terminals.”

Celebrations for the 1500th Terex Gottwald Mobile Harbour Crane

The celebration crane is a diesel-electric, Generation 5, Model 6 Harbour Crane from Terex Port Solutions’ Large Crane Family, which includes Models 6, 7 and 8. Cranes in the Large Crane Family provide long service lifetimes due to their high classification and high working speeds coupled with impressive handling rates for all types of cargo. They are often the preferred choice due to their short delivery lead-times and the low specific investment costs, which make them an economical alternative to purpose-built handling machines and are, as a result, in great demand by almost all leading bulk-terminal operators the world over.

Model 6, in particular, with some 200 machines sold since its launch in 2006, has developed into a flagship and best-seller for the Generation 5 cranes – the four-rope grab variant alone, the G HMK 6407 B with its 40 t grab curve and A8 classification, being one of the most popular.

ABT’s Mobile Harbour Crane features the first verified weighing device in commercial use – a Terex Gottwald smart crane feature

As well as developing new crane types, such as the Floating Crane or rail-mounted or rubber-tyred portal cranes based on its Mobile Harbour Crane technology, Terex Port Solutions also dedicates R&D activities to provide customers with high-efficiency, resource-friendly drive systems and smart crane features. The objective of such enhancements is to help increase productivity for the operator by providing a crane that is ergonomic, efficient and safe to operate while helping customers to increase profitability in cargo-handling.

The new weighing system is superior to existing alternative systems because it is integrated within the systems of the crane, eliminating the need for ancillary weighing equipment. This is a crucial benefit in transshipment, especially when using Floating Cranes. “A ground-breaking smart crane feature like the weighing system has long been called for by the market,” said Di Lisa and continued: “Once again, we are leading the pack and are currently the only manufacturer of Mobile Harbour Cranes to implement fast weighing processes without ancillary equipment during the move, which is just one of the many advantages offered to customers – as the 1500th Terex Gottwald Mobile Harbour Crane clearly demonstrates.”

Executive Director Len Waterworth said that the Port Authority garnered a substantial savings for each contract by combining its requirements with channel maintenance and using the Army Corps of Engineers contracts for these projects.

The Port Commission also approved a $70,000 contract with CenterPoint Energy, Inc. for the rehabilitation of electric distribution lines at Bayport Terminal. Waterworth said that the availability of these lines is important for future development and having the option for employment of electric dredges, which can be quieter than diesel-powered hydraulic dredges.

In her introductory remarks at the meeting, Port Commission Chairman Janiece Longoria commented on the importance of the Port Authority’s recent trip to Washington. Along with important stakeholders, such as manufacturers who utilize the Houston Ship Channel, the Texas Department of Transportation, and the Texas Ports Association, the Port Authority met with members of Congress and the Administration to highlight the positive national economic impact of ports and waterways and advocate for much-needed federal dredging dollars. As part of its mission to facilitate commerce along the Ship Channel and to grow jobs, the Port Authority is actively engaged with officials in Washington working on national policy issues affecting the port. Longoria said many voiced their support of addressing these critical issues.

“The Port Authority will continue to highlight these messages, in partnership with the strong bipartisan support we have from our local members of Congress, to ensure that the Port of Houston can continue growing and providing economic benefits to our region, state and nation,” she said.

Longoria also expressed her appreciation to Port Commissioners for their strong leadership and direction on the Port Authority’s policies and Task Forces. 

Also at the meeting, Col. Christopher W. Sallese, Galveston District Commander, gave an update on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects and funding. He said the nearly 100-year relationship with the port was based on collaboration and a partnership that facilitates navigation on what he called “the Houston system” because “it’s not just one port, it’s multiple pieces of a port, Galveston and Texas City included, that also affects everything that happens along the coast.”

He also reported that the Bayport Terminal permit decision was expected in June of this year and the Barbours Cut permit decision would come later.   

In his monthly report, Executive Director Len Waterworth said that total tonnage at Port Authority facilities for the month of February (excluding bulk cargo associated with leased locations) increased by 158,000 tons or 7 percent while year-to-date tonnage of 4.7 million tons shows a decline of 2 percent.

“Coming off a decline in January of 11 percent, the February tonnage figures illustrate a solid month of operations for the port,” he said.

The improvement in February comes largely from container tonnage, with an increase of 236,000 tons or 18 percent over February of 2012, offset by a decrease in steel. 

February operating revenues were $18 million, up by 1 percent over last year, given the growth in container volumes.  February operating expenses increased by $1 million or 10 percent, driven mainly by the growth in container volumes with year-to-date expenses growing by $1.6 million or 7 percent, largely driven by the increased container volumes.  

For the year, the Port Authority has realized $12.6 million in net income, ahead of the prior year by 109 percent, Waterworth reported.

“The Port Authority’s net funds available for capital expansion grew by $7 million to $273 million with the positive results of operations for February,” he said.

Waterworth announced that the Port Authority was awarded a certificate of distinction for its investment policy by the Government Treasurers’ Organization of Texas, which recognizes outstanding examples of written policies. The certificate is awarded for two years.

Waterworth also noted that the Union Pacific Railroad will offer a new, intermodal rail service from Barbours Cut Intermodal Container Transfer Facility to Dallas, Texas. The service, called the Texas Shuttle, will commence April 3, 2013, with two weekly trains northbound and two weekly trains southbound. UP will offer service beyond the railhead at Dallas/Wilmer.

Following the adjournment of Executive Session, Port Commissioners participated in an ethics training session, led by David McNamara, Counsel in the Legal Division. The Port Authority’s latest Code of Ethics was revised in October.

Cagliari is an ideal location, a cross roads between East-West and North-South trades. Several international partners visited the Port Authority stand looking for effective new supply chain solutions increasingly required by the introduction of the new giant tonnage deployed in the main world trades arterials.

Cagliari International Container Terminal can today offer 1.5 km of linear quay with a water depth of 16 m. Such a modern and big infrastructure is increasingly offering customers the option of JUST IN TIME CONNECTIONS between Mother and Mother or between Mother and Feeder Vessels reflected by the simultaneous berthing of two mother vessels over 300 m (length over all) plus several feeder vessels. Transit time savings and operations flexibility are possible leveraging on effective and faster ship operations. On 2012, calculation based on 379 ocean vessels and 432 feeder vessels calls, reported that, on average, operations at berth started only 1 hour and a half after arrival at pilot station. 

Mr. Massidda, President of Cagliari Port Authority, joined the exhibition in order to meet and explain recent development opportunities and his commitment for the future competitiveness of the Port. “We are quickly improving the Free Trade Zone project further exploiting the chance to introduce fiscal advantages based on the Economic Special Zones schema. The First step of the Free Trade Zone will involve a portion of the area  near the trans-shipment Terminal quay” stated Mr Massidda. “Sardinia is an island in the center of the Med, only 110 nautical miles far from North Africa main ports with a deviation of few nautical miles from the Suez-Gibraltar route. A natural and ideal logistic platform improving its role of extended home port for North African emerging markets and a window to the world for their trades”.

Cagliari continues to generate in the first two months of 2013 substantial improvement in its global connectivity consolidating the positive result of 2012 volumes which increased 4% year by year. A CENTRE today AT THE SERVICE of the two most important German Carriers, HAPAG LLOYD and HAMBURG SUED and other members of the GRAND ALLIANCE joint services, namely ORIENT OVERSEAS CONTAINER LINE and NYK LINE, supported by the long established feeder operators in the Mediterranean, being EMES (ARKAS Group Company), UNITED FEEDER SERVICES and X-PRESS FEEDERS, who usually provide three to four vessel calls per day.  15 weekly liner services directly connecting over 90 ports. 

Representatives for the retail, shipping and terminal operating sectors as well as the panel’s economist predicted 3 to 6 percent growth in freight volume during the upcoming “peak season” for cargo, from August through October.

“There is a recovery going on,” said Walter Kemmsies, Ph.D., Chief Economist for the Moffat & Nichol transportation infrastructure engineering firm. “All the wheels are turning in the right direction. We expect the economy to be better this year than last year.”

The archived webcast of the 2½-hour program is available online at http://www.polb.com/pulseports.

This year’s outlook compares favorably to recent years when experts were still waiting to see some concrete signs of economic recovery at home and worldwide.

The positive outlook this year however was tempered by concerns over the looming reduction in staffing by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at seaports due to the federal government’s “sequestration” budget cuts. The panel also expressed concern over economic impacts of state-by-state environmental regulations and hurdles that hamper the productivity of drayage trucking operations at local ports.