With their signatures, Color Line CEO Trond Kleivdal and the Managing Director of the Port of Kiel Dirk Claus clinched a further ten years of co-operation. Claus said: “Color Line’s liner service between Kiel and Oslo is an exemplary success story. We are proud to be the partners of this shipping company”.

He added “even after 15 years of operation, Kiel’s Norwegenkai Terminal used by the ships of the Color Line remains among the top facilities in the whole of northern Europe. We offer a first-class terminal in an attractive inner-city location with the best-possible rail and road links”. The terminal was inaugurated in 1997 by Norway’s Queen Sonja, wife of King Harald. Its quayside was upgraded in 2004 and expanded in 2012 to prepare the facility for the demands of today’s ships. To date the PORT OF KIEL supported by the German federal state of Schleswig-Holstein has invested a total of more than 60 million Euros in the facility. “The Norwegenkai Terminal now has all the infrastructure required for further growth in both the passenger and cargo transport sectors” said Claus.

Ferry traffic between Kiel and Oslo began in 1961 and has existed for more 50 years. Today the biggest Baltic ferry ships currently in operation, “Color Fantasy” and “Color Magic”, serve on the route between Kiel and Oslo – the only daily ferry link between Germany and Norway. The two sister ships are each of more than 75,000 GT, carry up to 2,700 passengers and offer more than 1,200 lane metres of space for ro-ro transport. Last year they carried 1.1 million passengers and more than 100,000 trucks, trailers, buses and private cars.

The main goals of establishing this advanced training facility is to educate qualified specialists who will join the maritime commercial fleet and maritime transport infrastructure; and provide a learning process that adheres to modern requirements and educational programs, which will help students to receive the knowledge and professional skills necessary for their profession.

The project included installation of a full mission engine room simulator ERS 5000 that simulates MAN B&W 6S50MC-C Diesel Engine Product Tanker Ship Model. The system is integrated with existing navigational simulator NTPRO 5000 and provides for joint training of engine room and bridge teams. The simulator replicates the operation of product tanker machinery, bridge and power systems which will enable BSMA to train marine technicians in realistic situations, without risk to people or vessels.

Within the second part of the project, the Academy was equipped with ECDIS simulator class to meet the demand for ECDIS training. Transas ECDIS simulator has been designed in accordance with all related regulations. Thus, BSMA students will be able to receive mandatory generic ECDIS training as per STCW 2010.  

This project is a continuation of Transas and Batumi State Maritime Academy partnership. In 2006, Transas supplied an integrated simulator compex to BSMA. The complex included Full Mission Navi-Trainer Professional 4000, Engine Room Simulator 4000, and Transas GMDSS simulator.

The Ports group, which operates the Port of Liverpool and the Manchester Ship Canal, says the partnerships come at a transformational time for the local maritime and logistics sector. The Port says the agreements with Liverpool Community College and Mersey Maritime Group underline their common commitment to provide job-specific training and employment opportunities in maritime and other growth sectors within the Liverpool City Region.

The partnership agreements will encourage increased investment in skills, drive enterprise and create more specialist skilled jobs in order to stimulate economic growth in the region.

Growth can be attributed completely to exports: incoming cargo was stable (0%), while outgoing cargo rose 7%. Throughput of crude oil (+6%), mineral oil products (+13%), other liquid bulk (+5%), containers (+2%) and roll on/roll off (+2%) increased. Less agribulk (-15%), iron ore and scrap (-16%), coal (-5%), other dry bulk (-8%), LNG (-6%) and other general cargo (-24%) was loaded and unloaded. Dry bulk handling decreased by 11% to 58 million tonnes and liquid bulk handling increased by 9% to 161 million tonnes. Hans Smits, CEO of the Port of Rotterdam Authority: ‘Throughput in the port enjoyed a good third quarter mainly due to the oil sector. Growth weakened during the third quarter due to declining world trade and while the corresponding quarter of 2011 was relatively strong. Across the entire year, we still expect a small growth of approximately 1%”.

Dry bulk

Agribulk (grains, seeds, feed ingredients) throughput decreased by 15% to 6 million tonnes. Imports are disappointing due to bad harvests and high prices. The prospects for imports for the coming months, the start of the new harvest year, are more positive.

Less coal (-5% to 18 million tonnes) was handled. There is an increased demand for energy coal, but until recently this was satisfied mainly from the stocks. A large number of coal ships are expected to refill the stocks to winter level in het 4th quarter. Despite reduced steel production, the import of coking coal remained steady due to concentration of the supply for German steel mills in Rotterdam.

Throughput of ore and scrap dropped by 16% to almost 25 million tonnes. The main European steel manufacturers have scaled down the steel production capacity. Following the construction sector, the demand from the automotive industry is also starting to waver.

8% less other dry bulk (especially minerals for the production of glass, paper, steel and chemicals) was loaded and unloaded. Of the three large purchasing sectors (construction, chemicals and metal) only the chemical industry is still performing at a respectable level. The throughput volume over nine months amounted to 9 million tonnes.

Liquid bulk

The supply of crude oil increased by 6% and is back to its ‘normal’ level of on average 25 million tonnes per quarter. There were no major maintenance breaks this year. Because production capacity was closed elsewhere in Europe, the production level of the refineries in Rotterdam was high.

The throughput of mineral oil products (petrol, diesel, kerosene, fuel oil) increased by 13% to 61 million tonnes with respect to the first 9 months of last year. Throughput of fuel oil increased strongly due to more Russian export and greater trading volume with Asia thanks to favourable price differences. The available tank capacity was also expanded, by STR, BTT and ETT among others. Handling of LNG was limited due to the high demand for LNG in Asia and the corresponding high price level.

Other liquid bulk, mainly basic chemicals as far as volume goes but also bio fuels, vegetable oils and fruit juices, increased by 5% to 25 million tonnes. The decrease in throughput at Odfjell was ‘compensated’ by rising throughput of biodiesel and palm oil by other terminals, with the increased tank capacity at BTT also playing a part.

General cargo

The supply of containers dropped slightly, but outgoing cargo increased by 5% to 48.7 million tonnes. This is 2.5 million tonnes more than the incoming containers. The total container throughput in tonnes increased by 1.7%. There was a drop of 1.1% in 20-foot container units to 8.9 million TEU especially because considerably less empty containers were handled during the first half of the year. The economic crisis has a clear effect on container transport. For example, the traditional peak in supply was lower this autumn did not occur. The lower supply dampens feeder transport, while short sea grew significantly thanks to growth of volume to and from the Mediterranean Sea area, among other things.

Roll-on/roll-off transport grew by 2% to a good 13 million tonnes. The major part of the roro throughput is stagnating due to the shrinking British economy, but the handling of paper (products) on cassettes increased strongly.

The handling of other general cargo declined further (-24% to 4.7 million tonnes), mainly due to the lower throughput of slabs and steel. The economic crisis has resulted in a lower demand for steel and a steel package also shifted to Antwerp.