HHLA TK Estonia welcomed the arrival of the cutting-edge container ship, CMA CGM Mermaid, on April 21 and 22. This new vessel, part of CMA CGM’s fleet renewal initiative, boasts innovative features including a liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel system, reducing its CO2 emissions by 20% compared to conventional ships.
Digital automatic coupling (DAC) heralds a new era for freight transport, revolutionizing coupling processes and paving the way for automation and digitalization in rail freight. Since 2020, rigorous testing of a digital freight train equipped with DAC has covered over 15,000 kilometers across ten European countries, marking a significant milestone in its development. Dr. Sigrid Nikutta, Member of the DB Management Board for Freight Transport and CEO of DB Cargo, proudly presented the train to key stakeholders in Brussels, emphasizing its successful completion of field tests and readiness for commercial use.
The RENEWPORT initiative, approved for funding under the Interreg Euro-MED Program, aims to combat climate change by leveraging renewable energy sources in Mediterranean ports. With a duration of 33 months and the participation of 10 project partners from 8 EU countries, including Italy, Slovenia, France, and Spain, RENEWPORT prioritizes the transition to clean energy to enhance climate resilience.
Siemens Mobility is expanding the automation of the railway network in Denmark by signing contracts with DSB and Banedanmark. The agreements involve converting the entire Copenhagen S-Bahn network to driverless operation, at a total cost of approximately €270 million. The first driverless trains are expected on the line in 2030.
The Port of Antwerp-Bruges is gearing up for its upcoming “Chemistry & Energy Summit,” slated to take place in Burghausen on May 16, 2024. This summit aims to foster dialogue on the critical relationship between the chemical industry and the energy sector, emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts to pave the way for a carbon-neutral future.
The Port of Amsterdam unveiled its annual report, signaling a significant shift in its operations. While revenues surged to €190.4 million, transhipment plummeted to 63 million tonnes, largely attributed to a decrease in fossil fuel transhipment. The total transhipment in the port area experienced a 20% decline in 2023 compared to 2022, with coal transhipment witnessing a staggering 48% drop to 7.4 million tonnes.
In the first quarter of 2024, the volume of maritime cargo transportation in Kazakhstan increased 4.2 times compared to the same period of the previous year, reports the Bureau of National Statistics of Kazakhstan. According to the data, from January to March this year, about 0.654 million tons of cargo were transported by sea, which exceeds last year’s figure by 318.4%.
The four-legged robot Spot, manufactured by Boston Dynamics, is being tested at the Mainz-Bischofsheim car repair depot. It is equipped with special equipment for the identification and inspection of freight cars, which allows it to automatically determine their location on the tracks and inspect the condition of the wheel pair axles. Based on the test results, DB Cargo, part of the German railways, will decide to introduce Spot robots into other depots.
In a bid to diversify cargo flows to Azerbaijan, “ADY Express” has achieved a milestone by efficiently transporting 30 thousand tons of agricultural fertilizers from Kazakhstan to European markets. The shipment, comprising ammonium nitrate from JSC “KazAzot,” was seamlessly transshipped at the ports of Govsan and Alyat before being dispatched to Georgia. Plans are underway to significantly upscale this operation by the year’s end, signaling a promising trajectory for trade collaboration in the region.
A meeting with diplomatic missions was held at NC KTZ JSC on the development of the international transport route North-South. During the event, the advantages and prospects of this route were presented, as well as the results of the development of the railway industry in Kazakhstan for 2023.
