It was the first time in Port Hedland Port’s history that one million tonnes has been shipped on five vessels, carrying a tide tonnage of 1,007,164 tonnes. All vessels were above 205,000 deadweight tonnage (DWT), and the single tide achievement was accomplished in 3 ½ hours.

The ships, which can carry 18,000 containers, are currently being built at a shipyard in South Korea. The first call will be in August.

Test runs have been taking place at the Port of Gothenburg for some time to simulate a call by Maersk Line’s new ship generation, Triple E.

“The test runs have proved successful and it is very exciting that what we have simulated will now become a reality. We are ready to welcome this new generation of container ship,” says Magnus Kårestedt, Port of Gothenburg Chief Executive.

The Port of Gothenburg is one of the few ports in Northern Europe that has fairways that are sufficiently wide and deep and cranes that are sufficiently large to receive Triple E ships. Ships which up to a year or so ago were the largest in the world – Emma Maersk and her sister ships – already call at the port. They can carry 14,000 containers*. These will now be gradually replaced by Triple E ships to service one of the routes between the Port of Gothenburg and the Far East.

The new ships are 400 m long and 59 m wide. The carrying capacity is 18,000 containers. Placed end to end, the load from one single ship would be 110 km in length.

“Increased capacity on deep-sea services between Sweden and Asia is positive for Swedish industry. This is where trade flows are increasing whilst European flows are still reporting a poor rate of growth,” states Magnus Kårestedt.

Exports in Sweden comprise mainly paper, timber products, steel and industrial components. Imports largely take the form of clothes, electronics, food, furniture and other consumer products.

Reduced emissions
EEE or Triple E stands for Economy of Scale, Energy efficient och Environmentally improved. The ships will emit half as much carbon dioxide on the Europe/Asia service compared to the average. When the day comes for the ships to be taken out of service, all material can be recycled. The engines and hull are adapted to slow-steaming, i.e. lower speed, which saves fuel.

Thirteen ports
Triple E will call at the following thirteen ports: Gdansk (Poland) – Århus (Denmark )– Gothenburg – Bremerhaven (Germany) – Rotterdam (Netherlands) – Port Tangiers (Algeria) – Singapore – Yantian (China) – Hong Kong – Kwangyang (South Korea) – Ningbo (China) – Shanghai – Tanjung Pelepas (Malaysia).

Manila North Harbour Port, Inc (MNHPI), the company which has been awarded the contract to manage, operate and develop Manila North Harbor, recently took into operation six new, double-stacking Konecranes SMV 6/7 ECH 100 DS empty container handlers. These lift trucks are their first of their kind in a Philippine port. The Konecranes container lift trucks are part of the equipment MNHPI is installing in stages under its 25-year concession agreement with the Philippine Ports Authority. They can stack up to 8 containers high and lift two empty 20-foot or two empty 40-

foot boxes simultaneously. Other features include load-sensing technology which provides maximum fuel efficiency, reduced drivetrain and hydraulic system maintenance, driver and equipment performance reporting capabilities and European emission standards. With MNHPI’s resources and commitment to improve the overall capacities and capabilities of this historic port, the picture of Manila North Harbor that has been imprinted on our minds is fast fading away. It is being replaced with that of a truly progressive port which is constantly evolving. Konecranes is very proud to be a part of the ongoing transformation of Manila North Harbor and is committed to helping

MHNPI reach its ultimate modernization goals. “Konecranes has been doing business in the Philippines for more than two decades, supplying industrial and shipyard cranes but this is our first step into the local ports market. The fact that MNPHI has chosen our container lift trucks is encouraging: strategic ports need the right equipment from the best manufacturers”, says Jeffrey Foo, Regional Manager Konecranes (Ports), Thailand.

Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) of US$307.4 million, an increase of nine percent over the US$281.4 million generated in 2011; and net income attributable to equity holders of US$143.2 million, up 10 percent over the US$130.5 million earned in the same period last year. 

Recurring net income attributable to equity holders increased 15 percent for the year ended 31 December 2012 after adjusting the previous year’s net income attributable to equity holders to US$124.4 million from the one-time net gain of US$6.1 million from the sale of ICTSI’s 16.79 percent ownership stake in Portek International Limited and a one-time equity tax charge imposed by the Colombian tax authorities on all legal entities and individuals in Colombia. 

ICTSI handled consolidated volume of 5,628,021 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) for the year ended 31 December 2012, eight percent more than the 5,233,795 TEUs handled in 2011. 

The increase in volume was mainly due to the growth in international and domestic trade, new shipping line customers and routes, continuous containerization of break bulk cargoes, the full period contribution of the Company’s new ports in Portland, Oregon, USA and Rijeka, Croatia, and the consolidation of the volume generated by the Company’s new terminal operations in Jakarta, Indonesia and Karachi, Pakistan.  Excluding the volume from the four recent port acquisitions, organic volume growth was at four percent. 

Volume from the Group’s six key terminal operations in Manila, Brazil, Poland, Ecuador, Madagascar and China, which accounted for 73 percent of the Group’s consolidated volume for 2012, increased six percent, from 3,867,407 TEUs to 4,109,082 TEUs. 

Gross revenues from port operations for the year ended 31 December 2012 increased 10 percent to US$729.3 million, from the US$664.8 million reported in 2011.  The increase in revenues was mainly due to the volume growth on all geographic segments, higher storage revenues and ancillary services, favorable volume mix, new shipping line customers, tariff rate increases in certain key terminals, full year contribution of Portland, Oregon, USA, and Rijeka, Croatia, and the inclusion of the new terminals in Jakarta, Indonesia, Kattupalli, India and Karachi, Pakistan.  Excluding the revenues from the newly acquired terminals, organic revenue growth was at six percent. 

Revenue contribution from the Group’s six key terminal operations in Manila, Brazil, Poland, Ecuador, Madagascar and China, which accounted for 83 percent of the Group’s consolidated revenues in 2012, increased seven percent, from US$565.6 million to US$602.8 million. 

Consolidated cash operating expenses in 2012 grew 10 percent to US$319.0 million, from US$289.3 million in 2011.  The increase was mainly driven by higher volume-related expenses (i.e. on-call labor, fuel, power and repairs and maintenance), government-mandated and contracted salary rate increases in certain terminals, higher concession fees in the Company’s operations in Recife, Brazil, higher business development expenses, the full period consolidation of the expenses of the terminals in Portland, Oregon and Rijeka, Croatia and the inclusion of the expenses of the new terminals in Jakarta, Indonesia, and Karachi, Pakistan.  Excluding the cash operating expenses of the new terminals, total cash operating expenses would have increased by only six percent. Consolidated EBITDA for 2012 increased nine percent to US$307.4 million, from US$281.4 million in 2011 mainly due to higher revenues from storage and ancillary services, tariff increases in selected key terminals, favorable volume mix, full year contribution from the Company’s terminal operations of Portland, Oregon USA, and Rijeka, Croatia, and the inclusion of the new terminals in Jakarta, Indonesia, Kattupalli, India and Karachi, Pakistan.  Consolidated EBITDA margin remained flat at 42 percent.

Consolidated financing charges and other expenses for 2012 was 25 percent lower at US$35.0 million compared to the previous year’s US$46.4 million.  The lower consolidated financing charges and other expenses was mainly due to the higher capitalized borrowing cost registered in 2012 as the Company expanded its existing terminals in Manila, Brazil and Ecuador as well as developed new projects in Mexico and Argentina. 

ICTSI’s capital expenditure in 2012 amounted to US$465.6 million against a full year capital expenditure budget of US$550.0 million.  The capital expenditure was mainly attributed to the construction of a new berth, additional yard space and acquisition of major cargo handling equipment in the Company’s container terminal operation in Manila, capacity expansions in its operations in Ecuador and Brazil, and development of new container terminals in Argentina and Mexico.  The Group’s capital expenditure budget for 2013 is approximately US$550.0 million mainly allocated for the completion of the Company’s terminal development projects in Argentina and Mexico and the ramp-up of construction activities in Colombia and Davao, southern Philippines. 

ICTSI is a leading port management company involved in the operations and development of 27 marine terminals and port projects in 19 countries worldwide.  The company was among the first international terminal operators to take its expertise overseas.