MUMBAI Nehru Port's container volume increased 1.5 per cent to a record 4.32 million TEU in the fiscal 2012, the port authority said.
Gateway Terminals, Nehru's largest container facility operated by APM Terminals, moved 1.89 million TEU, up from 1.85 million TEU a year earlier. Traffic through DP World's Nhava Sheva International Container Terminal totalled 1.4 million TEU, down from 1.54 million TEU. Volume via the state-owned Jawaharlal Nehru Container Terminal increased to 1.03 million TEU from 880,000 TEU.
Traffic through port in fiscal 2011-12 hit 4.32 million TEU. The volume of containers through India's Port of Jawaharlal Nehru (Nhava Sheva) hit an "all-time high" of 4.32 million TEU in fiscal 2011-12 ending March 31.
Officials said total cargo tonnage for 2011-12 was estimated at 65.75 million tons, with containerised tonnage amounting to 58.25 million tons.
"We are taking steps to develop additional capacity to cope with the projected growth in traffic volume," said port chairman L Radhakrishnan.
Source Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
LOGISTICS provider Agility has posted an eight per cent increase in net profit to KWD27 million (US$91.1 million) in 2011 despite a five per cent revenue decline to KWD1.3 billion due to a discontinued US defence logistics role.
Fourth quarter profit was up 114 per cent to KWD3.5 million from a net loss of KWD23.7 million in the same quarter 2010, drawn on revenues of KWD345 million, up four per cent year on year.
"We are a different company today than we were a year ago, and we consider 2011 a new financial baseline against which we will measure future performance," said Tarek Sultan, Agility's chairman and managing director.
"We sold the bulk of our vehicle fleet in the Middle East, freed up warehousing space for commercial customers, and converted working capital to cash. Having undergone some heavy lifting in terms of restructuring over the last two years, the company anticipates solid gains in 2012 and beyond," Mr Sultan added.
Agility performance in high-growth emerging markets was a major contributor to revenue, as reflected in the double-digit growth in the Asia Pacific region.
Its infrastructure companies contributed KWD111.3 million with revenue growing 18 per cent year on year supported by profitable niches in the market place, he said helped by the closing of two deals.
Said Mr Sultan: "We merged Agility Qatar operations with Gulf Warehousing Company (GWC) and realised gain of KWD8 million. We also formed a joint venture with France Telecom and converted our debt into equity in Korek. Today we have an indirect stake of 24 per cent in Korek and US$100 million debt yielding 12 per cent per annum".
Other growth areas included its National Aviation Services (NAS) with an aim to further enhance the potential of these airport ground handling services which have succeeded in developing countries.
Source Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
CEVA LOGISTICS has signed a two-year contract extension with Renault in Brazil for the receipt, storage and consolidation of auto parts for export to France, Argentina, Mexico, Romania, Colombia and South America.
Operations will be conducted in a dedicated 4,000-square metre area of the logistics firm's site in Sao Jose dos Pinhais, a city in Parana, Brazil, with 17 employees shipping 240,000 cubic metres of parts a year.
The two companies have been working together since 2002 in Brazil, where the logistics operator provides a range of different supply chain solutions for the automotive giant, with key partnerships also in France, Spain, Italy and Argentina.
Mauricio Leonel, Business Development manager for CEVA's automotive sector in Brazil said: "Our ability to offer Renault a solution that has the potential to increase their productivity has helped reinforce CEVA's leadership in the automotive sector in Brazil."
CEVA said in a statement that it is the only Renault provider to receive the UET certification-Unity Station of Work. This document certifies that the logistics provider has implemented a management tool that standardises the operation of a particular activity in relation to the production of goods and services, and was granted by Renault after an extensive audit.
"The handling and storage of the products requires special care and expertise, and this is why we have entrusted CEVA to continue running our operations, as well as awarding the logistics operator the UET certification for excellence in quality service provision," said Renault Brazil operations manager Claudemir Bozza.
Source Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
FAILING shipping companies, struggling with an oversupply of tonnage and slack demand, are increasingly filing for bankruptcy in the United States because the US law protects them from liquidation, allowing them to continue operations, say lenders and lawyers, according to Reuters.
"Only in Chapter 11 can you get bankruptcy financing, can your management remain in place, and can you continue to operate the company," said DLA Piper bankruptcy lawyer Thomas Califano.
When Dutch-based Marco Polo Seatrade filed for bankruptcy in a US court in July, lenders fought to get the case thrown out as the company's links to the United States were limited to two small bank accounts.
Shipping companies are well placed to do what many other troubled firms would like to do - seeking Chapter 11 refuge - because their assets of ships are on the move, allowing them seek insolvency protection almost anywhere they go.
Creditors, most often European banks, as well as lawyers and judges raise questions about the rightful reach of US bankruptcy law and who should have access to US courts. So far, American judges have handled such cases. Lenders would prefer to push companies into insolvency so they can seize assets.
Chapter 11 offers broad protections to stave off creditors and give companies an exclusive period to file restructuring plans. It differs from Chapter 15, which allows foreign restructurings to be recognised in the United States, but does not give companies the same leeway in reorganising.
Source Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
ACE Winches staff recently completed their largest manufacturing contract, worth GBP 4.2 million (US$6.73 million) for Houston's Superior Energy Services which was delivered on the world's largest plane, the Antonov 225.
Winches, a leading deck machinery specialist, has designed and manufactured an electrically driven eight-point mooring spread at its global headquarters in Scotland.
The complete winch package has been designed to be capable of operating in temperatures as low as -45 degrees C. The ABS certified winches are tailored to meet the mooring requirements of the barge, which will be working in extreme Arctic weather.
The ACE winch package began its voyage from Auchterless, near Turriff, Aberdeenshire, the first shipment of winches weighing 125 tonnes was delivered on three trucks to Southampton; it was then shipped across the Atlantic on the vessel Integrity, reaching Baltimore, from where it was driven across America to its destination.
The second shipment was required by the client to be delivered ahead of planned schedule. The winch package also weighing 125 tonnes was exported by air freight from Glasgow on the world's largest plane, the Antonov 225.
This is the heaviest load ever to be exported by air from Scotland. Due to the combined weight of the load and aircraft of 550 tonnes in total, various stops had to be made to refuel including; Goose Bay, Labrador and Minneapolis-St Paul. The Antonov 225 made its final landing in Moses Lake Airport in Washington state before being trucked to reach its destination.
"I am delighted with the commitment and dedication shown by the ACE employees from initial stages of design through to manufacture, accomplishing the completion of this projecting just six months. Everyone at ACE Winches has been involved in this project in one way or another, the manufacturing team has been working 24 hours a day, seven days a week, giving up some of their festive celebrations to complete this order on time," said ACE Winches CEO Alfie Cheyne.
Source Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
GERMANY's Lufthansa Cargo is now considering selling its entire fleet of 18 MD-11 freighters after a Leipzig court upheld the blanket night-flight ban covering six hours at Frankfurt Airport.
Since the German Federal court in Leipzig upheld the ban on October 3, Lufthansa created an emergency winter timetable which led to a loss of US$20 million in three months due to cancelled flights and loss of business.
But now the court has ruled again to uphold the ban, Lufthansa CEO Christoph Franz said: "This a big blow for Germany as a place to do business and there is no doubt that one of Europe's biggest hubs will slip in international competitiveness."
Lufthansa Cargo chief executive Karl Ulrich Garnadt said the restricted takeoffs is just a stop gap, which costs money and does not pay, according to Germany's Focus Magazine.
Lufthansa has frozen investment of US$1.35 billion at Frankfurt hub until final ruling from a Leipzig court and forecasts annual revenue loss of $54 million into 2012. The carrier has five Boeing 777 freighters on order and its joint unit Aerologic operates eight leased 777 freighters.
Germany and the Rhine-Main region around the airport transport half the country's air freight and accounts for 80 per cent of Lufthansa's global cargo traffic.
Source Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
UAE CARRIER Etihad Airways' cargo unit has posted 12.2 per cent increase in first quarter revenue to US$159 million, with the total revenue - passengers included - rising by 28.5 per cent to $989 million.
Passenger numbers for the quarter grew by 50,000, and revenues jumped 25.4 per cent.
Etihad Crystal Cargo is looking to "significant expansion" in the next 18 months through new routes expansion using belly-hold capacity to Shanghai, Chengdu.
"Combined investments in Air Seychelles and Europe's sixth largest airline, airberlin, is game changing for us," said its CEO James Hogan, reported London's Air News Times.
Mr Hogan said the carrier is looking to make better use of bellyhold capacity in its new routes to Shanghai, Chengdu and elsewhere. These new services, combined with investments in Air Seychelles and airberlin, should help Etihad achieve success during an industry-wide slowdown in air freight, he said.
"The airberlin deal will be our most important catalyst for growth in 2012. It has given us instant access to Europe's largest travel market, and will have a major impact on revenues in 2012, with an expected contribution of up to $50 million," he said.
It is also to launch new services to Vietnam and to South America in 2013 with further frequency likely to both Asia and Australia. It has two freighters on order for delivery in 2013 and 2014.
"Despite the tough economic times, we believe our business model of organic network growth combined with codeshare partnerships and strategic equity investments will enable us to continue to prosper and ensure sustainable profitability," Mr Hogan said.
Following the carrier's net profit of $14 million it is bullish that 2012 will be the "most profitable in the airline's history."
Source Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
Three Danish mussel-harvesting vessels have successfully completed the assessment process for MSC certification. Processing company Royal Frysk Muscheln GmbH financed the MSC certification process and can now use the blue MSC ecolabel on the mussels harvested by these three vessels. The ecolabel tells consumers that fish has been caught using sustainable methods and that the product can be traced back to a sustainable fishery that has been certified to the MSC standard.
The MSC audit assessed the following aspects: the status of the blue mussel population, the impacts of the three vessels’ activities on the marine ecosystem, and the fishery’s management system.
Royal Frysk says
“We are delighted that the sustainable methods used by the mussel fishers have been independently confirmed and we can immediately start supplying our customers with mussels bearing the MSC ecolabel from this fishery as well. The long-term conservation of mussel stocks is very important to us as a processing company. It’s the only way we can secure our commercial basis and our future,” explains Stephan Tack, Managing Director of Royal Frysk Muscheln.
Where and how are the mussels caught?
The three vessels harvest mussels off the east coast of Jutland in Denmark, where they use dredges at depths of at least four metres. Before the dredges are lowered into the water, the fishermen locate the mussel beds using sonar and video technology. This prevents them harvesting mussels that are too small. Each dredging pass lasts no more than ten minutes.
Harvest volumes
Last year the three vessels landed 6,600 tons of mussels, which was 88 per cent of the entire mussel landings on the east coast of Jutland. The catch quotas are set and allocated annually by the Danish Directorate of Fisheries. In 2011, each vessel was allowed 270 tons of mussels per week. The mussel fishers voluntarily agreed to lower this quota to 150 tons per week in order to support responsible management and make a contribution to the long-term preservation of the mussel stocks. The harvest season is concentrated on the months of March to May and September to mid-December.
The management system
The mussel fishery’s management system is under the supervision of the Danish Commission of Commercial Fisheries. It is based on regular evaluation of biological data and on an analysis of the distribution and development of mussel stocks, which is conducted with the help of geographical information systems. The information obtained in this way enables the fishery to target the most productive mussel beds.
The MSC says
Marnie Bammert, Manager of the MSC office for Germany, Switzerland and Austria, is delighted: “The certification of the three Danish mussel vessels is an example of successful teamwork between suppliers and buyers to support sustainable fishing practices. We are very pleased with the active role that Royal Frysk played in this MSC assessment and hope that Royal Frysk mussels with the MSC ecolabel will soon be available in German supermarkets and specialist shops. Half of German consumers are already familiar with our blue ecolabel and they are bound to appreciate this certified sustainable product.”
Further information about Royal Frysk Muscheln Royal Frysk Muscheln GmbH
Royal Frysk Muscheln GmbH is a modern, medium-sized mussel-processing company. It is based in Emmelsbüll-Horsbüll in Schleswig Holstein, Germany’s northernmost state. Its suppliers include the three independent Danish mussel vessels that have just received MSC certification. Royal Frysk supplies mussels – cooked, frozen or packaged and ready to cook – to customers throughout Europe. Within Germany, Royal Frysk has a large number of customers in the Rhineland region, where there is even a regional mussel dish: “Muscheltopf rheinischer Art”.
Source MSC
2012-04-05
Finnair is publishing today its annual corporate responsibility report. The publication, released digitally, is prepared according to guidelines established by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), details and assesses the financial, environmental and social sustainability of the Finnair Group’s activities in 2011. Topics addressed include aviation’s role in society and business, the airline’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and how restructuring impacts on staff.
“Sustainability and corporate responsibility play into every aspect of Finnair’s business,” says Kati Ihamäki, Vice President of Sustainable Development. “This report shows how everyone at Finnair, from top management to customer-facing staff, plays an important role in building the company’s sustainable future.”
Finnair has reported on environmental sustainability since 1997, and in 2008 became one of the first airlines to report according to GRI guidelines. The GRI, formed with the support of the United Nations Environment Program, is the most widely recognised international authority on sustainability reporting.
Source Finnair Plc
New branding captures passion for connecting peoples hopes, dreams and aspirations
DUBAI, UAE – 2 April 2012 – Emirates today launched a new global brand platform and direction, themed "Hello Tomorrow,” which positions the global airline as the enabler of global connectivity and meaningful experiences. Emirates is embarking on an integrated marketing communications campaign with a new brand promise as the company continues its evolution from a travel brand to a global lifestyle brand.
Designed for the age of consumer engagement and empowerment, “Hello Tomorrow” is about inspiring people to greet tomorrow’s unlimited potential, now. “Hello” is a greeting, an invitation to a person, a place or an experience. “Tomorrow” is a time, a place, a state of mind – the unlimited possibility of the future. Emirates is extending an invitation to try the unfamiliar, create new ideas, and form new visions. The theme encapsulates life’s potential and embracing the future with all the possibilities it holds.
"Our new corporate image and global marketing campaign both underline the confidence we have in our existing products and services, and the vision we have for the future growth of the airline," said Sir Maurice Flanagan, Executive Vice Chairman of Emirates Airline and Group. “Emirates is not just offering a way to connect people from point A to point B but is the catalyst to connect people’s hopes, dreams and aspirations.” “Emirates is connecting people and cultures creating relevant and meaningful experiences that are shaping the world,” he added.
Emirates airline has grown from its early days in 1985, when it launched with just two aircraft, to its current status as one of the world’s fastest growing airlines with 171 wide-body aircraft including the world’s largest fleet of Boeing 777s and A380s. A brand synonymous with luxury and innovation, Emirates was the first to offer inflight telephony across all classes, individual TV screens on every seat, First Class suites and an onboard Shower Spa on its A380 aircraft. From its home base in Dubai, Emirates is geographically located within an eight hour direct flight of 75 per cent of the world’s population – more distant routes like the Americas are connected to the Dubai hub with long range aircraft that fly the distance direct.
As the world becomes more interconnected, borders are being blurred and people are more mobile and globally focused than ever before; they are connecting, creating and sharing ideas that are propelling the world forward. Emirates, slated to become the world’s largest airline by 2015[1], represents these global individuals who we call ‘globalistas’ – they are our customers and also our multi-cultural work force which is made up of more than 45,000 people from over 165 different nations.
Globalistas represent individuals who are looking and living for new experiences. They are well travelled, or have aspirations to join the ranks of the well-travelled. The ‘globalista’ is not defined by typical demographic statistics but by the places they have visited and the experiences they have shared. They embrace the unlimited possibility of the future and are open to an invitation to try the unfamiliar - Emirates is the brand that is enabling this global lifestyle.
The campaign was created with Emirates lead communications partner Strawberry Frog, the world's first Cultural Movement agency. “We’re building on decades of innovation in Emirates marketing to launch this new and innovative movement for the world’s most thoughtful and incredible brand,” said Scott Goodson, Chairman of Strawberry Frog. “This bold next step for the brand will offer people who love the brand or want to experience the brand, inspiration to participate in this brave new world and spark new connections and experiences achieved through travel.”
“The “Hello Tomorrow” campaign is at the vanguard of the trend for global brands to spark movements not simply do advertising, connecting people, communities and encouraging them to join together to make a positive impact on society,” added Goodson.
The campaign launch, which begins today, features print, TV, digital advertising including some iconic billboards in New York’s Times Square and Milan’s central train station. A series of vibrant messages that represent the spirit of Tomorrow – Tomorrow Brings Us Closer to; New People, New Experiences, New Styles, New Friends, will bring Emirates’ new vision to the marketplace. Emirates website has also been refreshed to reflect the “Hello Tomorrow” messaging.
Beyond a look, the spirit of the brand and its evolution is being embedded internally as well focused on driving increased consumer engagement in what is new, fresh and innovative in the world - empowering people to explore, engage and live.
Source Aviareps
During the first three months of this year the number of passengers at Vilnius International Airport (VIA) on the average grew by 64.3 percent. This March the VIA serviced 142 thousand passengers – 17.5 percent more than in February and as much as 56.5 percent more than in March 2011.
2277 flights were performed last month, which makes up for 8.5 percent increase compared to the same period last year. London, Frankfurt, Riga and Copenhagen were amongst the most popular destinations.
“The results of the first quarter set a good start for the aviation summer season which commenced 25 March. So far we can see that Vilnius International Airport growth plans are being successfully implemented. During the summer season as much as 5 new airlines will be operating on 11 new routes,” – Minister of Transport and Communications Eligijus Masiulis commented on the VIA performance.
Good performance is the result of successful operation of traditional airlines and growing demand in low-cost carriers’ services. One of the companies which serviced the largest number of passengers in March is Lufthansa. The airline celebrated its 20th anniversary at VIA and by offering two daily flights to Frankfurt serviced almost 13 thousand passengers per month. Scandinavian Airlines also demonstrated excellent results for March with 10.5 thousand passengers and helped to keep Copenhagen amongst the top destinations of Vilnius International Airport. Excellent results were demonstrated by the airline airBaltic which offered flights to Riga and serviced 12.5 thousand passengers.
Direct connection with Milan and London introduced last year proved to be highly successful – these destinations were chosen by 8 thousand and 16.5 thousand passengers, respectively. The popularity of these destinations contributed to the successful performance of low-cost carriers – in March WizzAir serviced 25.5 thousand passengers and Ryanair – almost 30 thousand passengers.
During the summer season Vilnius International Airport will offer flights to 31 cities and 36 airports. 40 direct regular flights shall be operated from Vilnius. 21 airlines shall be offering regular flights during the summer season.
Source VIA
Chopin Airport handled nearly 696,000 travellers in March 2012, a 4.8% increase year-on-year.
In terms of passengers handled, the third month of 2012 was the second best March in the airport's history, falling slightly short of its all time high of 714,500 recorded in 2008.
The number of passenger aircraft movements fell to 9,600, a 1.9% fall on the same month last year.
Since the beginning of 2012, Chopin Airport has served 1.88m passengers, 5.5% more than in the first three months of 2011. Domestic and international traffic grew to 267,000 (+15.8%) and 1.62 million (+4%) respectively.
Source polish-airports
UN Secretary General: “The assistance of IRU has contributed to a safer and more secure Afghanistan”
2012-04-05
On the occasion of the International Day for Mine Awareness, the UN Mine Action Service and the International Road Transport Union celebrate the successful completion of their 10-month innovative Public-Private Partnership in Afghanistan.
In the framework of the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety launched in 2011, the International Road Transport Union (IRU) - true to its commitment to achieve sustainable development, notably by furthering the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) through facilitated, safe and secure road transport - teamed up with UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) to support demining activities in Afghanistan.
The aim of this 10-month innovative Public-Private Partnership launched in April 2011 was to increase security and intensify socio-economic development of Afghanistan to facilitate its integration in the global trade and economy systems and develop cooperation in road transport safety and security. This would be achieved by effectively improving road security in war-torn Afghanistan through the clearance of roads and road adjacent minefields and battle areas posing a significant threat to the movement of people and goods along the routes linking Kabul to its Central Asian neighbours.
In a letter addressed to the IRU, UN Secretary General, BAN Ki-moon, stressed: “The IRU contribution greatly facilitated our work to support the civilian population of Afghanistan in their efforts to rebuild lives and livelihoods following the devastation of decades of conflict and instability…The area now supports the safe passage along the routes linking Afghanistan with its Central Asian neighbours…The assistance of IRU has contributed to a safer and more prosperous Afghanistan.”
The project has helped reinvigorate socio-economic opportunities between Afghanistan and Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and beyond, and has helped move the country from aid to trade by international road transport, thus contributing to the reconstruction, development and stabilisation of Afghanistan.
The project directly benefitted 42 communities of over 3,000 Afghan families living in the vicinity of the 86 hazardous zones covered. In the long term, this project will benefit the estimated 7 million people living in the six provinces through which the ring road runs, as it will allow people to use roads safely for access to education, healthcare or economic opportunities, reduce the cost of food and non food items, and return 4,000,000 sq m of land to its original agricultural purposes.
Once secured, Afghanistan’s roads, which are strategically located along the Silk Road, will also play an essential role in Euro-Asian trade by road transport that can bring prosperity to the entire landmass through the revitalisation of the ancient Silk Road.
IRU Secretary General Martin Marmy concluded: “Improving road security, safety and facilitating trade and international road transport have always been at the core of the IRU’s actions for over 60 years. After World War II, the IRU helped expedite Europe’s reconstruction by developing the TIR transit System, which dramatically improved the integration of Europe’s trade and economy. Today, the road transport industry is proud to contribute tangibly once again to the economic recovery and prosperity of yet another war-torn region.”
This UNMAS-IRU Public-Private Partnership is a very concrete step in the right direction to driving progress and ultimately peace to ensure the sustainable mobility of people and goods in the region. It is IRU’s hope that this project will serve as an inspiration for others to join and put into practice the IRU motto: “Working together for a better future.”
Source International Road Transport Union (IRU)
2012-04-05
six business partners lauded at annual Schiphol Aviation Awards
This afternoon Ad Rutten, Executive Vice President & COO of Schiphol Group, announced the six winners of the 2011 Schiphol Aviation Awards. Each year, Schiphol presents it aviation awards to clients and business partners who have distinguished themselves from other companies at the airport in terms of their innovative business management or positive performance.
Airline of the Year Award Europe
Vueling achieved an impressive growth of 38 percent over the past year, while significantly improving its punctuality. The airline also conducted intensive marketing campaigns in order to raise its profile amongst potential Dutch and Spanish travellers. In recognition of its successful efforts, Vueling was presented with the 'Airline of the Year Award Europe '.
Airline of the Year Award North & South America
The winner in this category was able to launch new routes thanks to a highly intensive and effective marketing campaign: KLM. Amongst other new destinations, the airline began operating flights to Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires and Havana.
Airline of the Year Award Asia
China Southern Airlines introduced direct flights to Guangzhou, increased the frequency of its flights to China and received the 'Airline of the Year Award Asia' in recognition of its efforts. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol also lauded Schiphol China Southern Airlines for its deployment of the latest Airbus 330-200 and its intensive promotional campaigns in the Netherlands.
Airline of the Year Award Africa & Middle East
Corendon Dutch Airlines is a new Dutch airline that operated its first flight to Dalaman on 30 April 2011. Operating as part of the Corendon Group, Corendon Dutch Airlines transported passengers to various destinations around the Mediterranean Sea. In recognition of its remarkable achievement, the airline was presented with the 'Airline of the Year Award Africa & Middle East'.
Passenger Ground Handling Award
This year's 'Passenger Ground Handling Award' was presented to Servisair, which was awarded the distinction thanks to its excellent performance in the area of operational handling, its customer-friendly attitude and effective cooperation in day-to-day operations.
Cargo Award
AirBridgeCargo Airlines showed solid growth over the past year, and made considerable investments in fleet renewal. This policy was continued over recent months, with the introduction of the Boeing 747-8. The past year also saw AirBridge launch new routes to Russia and the United States. AirBridgeCargo received the Cargo Award in recognition of its exceptional performance.
The Schiphol Aviation Awards are awarded in various categories based on geographical segmentation, with an emphasis on the quality and diversity of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol's global network of airlines and destinations. Category winners are selected based on the following criteria: punctuality, growth, innovation and marketing effort.
Source Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
2012-04-05
The cabinet decision taken in Lower Saxony on Tuesday, 3 April 2012, means that the required assent from the three states of Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony for the adjustment of the navigation channel on the Lower and Outer Elbe has now been received. Frank Horch, Hamburg’s Minister of Economics, Transport and Innovation, commented: “It was only right to take time to arrive at a fair reconciliation of the different interests. The decision by the cabinet in Lower Saxony demonstrates not only that adjustment of the navigational channel involves a whole series of advantages for Lower Saxony, but also that an excellent compromise has been found with regard to the feared disadvantages. This satisfactory outcome means that the official approval procedure can now be completed.” Those responsible for granting planning approval at the Waterways and Shipping Directorate (WSD) North and in the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg will now be incorporating the results of the negotiations into the planning approval that currently exists only in draft form, and will then produce the final planning approval document. The procedure also provides for the planning approval along with the supporting documents to be displayed for scrutiny in the communities affected along the Elbe at the end of May, following an appropriate public announcement.
Claudia Roller, CEO of Port of Hamburg Marketing, is delighted by the assent to the adjustment of the navigation channel now received from the neighbouring state of Lower Saxony: “For the Port of Hamburg, the whole economic region and our worldwide customers and partners in shipping, trade, industry and logistics, this assent from Lower Saxony to the adjustment of the navigation channel is a very satisfactory decision. We are now looking to the speedy realization of this infrastructural measure and hoping that the first stages in construction can be commenced before the end of this year. That will only be feasible, however, provided that any possible objections do not lead to any further delay to the deepening of the navigation channel on the Lower and Outer Elbe.” Given the significance of the deepening of the navigation channel, the German Administrative Court in Leipzig will in the first and final instances be responsible for hearing any possible objections. The period for lodging these runs for four weeks from the date of display of draft final approval, i.e. most probably until the end of June.
Against the background of the 894 ultra-large vessels (AGF) handled in Hamburg during 2011 the adjustment of the shipping channels in the Lower and Outer Elbe is one of the most important development projects for the Port of Hamburg in 2012. This will ensure that the largest containerships and bulk carriers continue to reach Hamburg in the future. After completion, ships with a draft up to 13.80 meters will be able to leave the Port of Hamburg independent of the tides and up to 14.80 meters dependent on the tides.
To limit the effects of the channel adjustment on the flora and fauna and the surrounding environment as much as possible, an engineering concept has been developed enabling the hydrological and therefore the ecological consequences to be considerably minimized. Numerous measures will be adopted to completely compensate for any remaining ecological effects.
Source PORT OF HAMBURG Marketing
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