Europe

The Port of Gdansk has joined the ranks of European ports with direct container service to the United States. Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), the world’s largest shipping operator with a fleet of over 850 vessels, has included Gdansk in the route of its Albatros line with regular calls to New York and Charleston. The first voyage on the new schedule was the MSC BERANGERE from Gdansk on August 14. The delivery time is 13 days to New York and 17 days to Charleston.

The Antwerp-Bruges Port Authority has carried out a major overhaul of the Baudouin Lock, first opened in 1955 by King Baudouin. The facility, which mainly handles river vessels and small seagoing vessels, had been in operation for over 60 years and needed to be updated to improve its reliability and safety.

The total volume of cargo handled in Turkish ports increased by 3% in the first seven months of 2025, reaching 322.8 million tons, according to a report by the General Directorate of Maritime Affairs under the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure. In July, the volume of transshipment amounted to 47.67 million tons, which is 8% more than in July 2024. The leaders in cargo handling were the ports of Kocaeli and Aliaga (7.66 million tons each), Iskenderun (6.18 million tons), Tekerdağ (4.11 million tons) and Mersin (3.9 million tons), with the ten largest ports accounting for 83.4% of the total volume.

In the second quarter of 2025, XPO reported revenue of $2.08 billion, maintaining the level of the previous year. Operating income was $198 million, net income was $106 million (versus $150 million a year earlier, when the company received a one-time tax effect in Europe). Diluted earnings per share decreased to $0.89, but the adjusted figure was $1.05 and exceeded expectations. Adjusted EBITDA reached $340 million, almost the same as last year ($343 million).

In Duisburg, Solarport Duisburg, a joint venture between Duisport and Stadtwerke Duisburg, is implementing two major solar power projects. A new logistics site with a 1.65 MW installation will be built on Mercator Island by 2026, while a further 1.04 MW system will be installed in an existing warehouse in the Rheinhausen area (Logport I). Both projects have already been awarded contracts in the latest tender of the German Federal Grid Agency.

Maersk has announced temporary changes to its sea and land services in Europe. As part of the AE11 service, the company’s vessels will call Vado Ligure instead of Genoa in August and September to minimize delays and maintain the regularity of the schedule. At the same time, the operator is launching a new CAX service, which will connect Antwerp with the port of Manzanillo in Panama. The first voyage on this route will be performed by Maersk Monte Alto on September 29, 2025.

On August 1, Switzerland’s national holiday, Swiss WorldCargo officially became a member of the joint business agreement launched by Lufthansa Cargo and United Cargo in 2022. The partnership brings together the transatlantic cargo networks of the three carriers, enabling them to align schedules, standardize handling processes, and jointly manage cargo capacity.

The Odesa branch of the State Enterprise “Administration of Sea Ports of Ukraine” has announced an open tender for the execution of construction works on the modernization of berth No. 7 of the Odesa Sea Port. The cost of the project is estimated at more than UAH 539 million, and the reconstruction is planned to be completed by December 31, 2027.

The Port of Klaipeda has launched one of the largest projects in its history – the development of the southern part of the water area. Technical designers are already working on engineering solutions for an area of 100 hectares, and a construction permit is expected to be received by the end of the year. The port has officially opened the acceptance of expressions of interest from local and international terminal operators, industrial developers and investors, outlining the expected commercial framework and PPP model. “The southern development is an important step for the port and the whole of Lithuania: it means new jobs, additional income and growing interest from investors. The preparation of technical design is a key and complex stage that requires comprehensive solutions and coordination of interests of many parties, for which we are fully prepared,” said Algis Latakas, CEO of the Klaipeda Port Authority.

Rijeka Gateway has received its first test freight train as part of the terminal’s operational trials.