Europe

German port consultancy HPC Hamburg Port Consulting, in collaboration with Romanian IT firm Critical Technologies SRL and Estonian maritime partners E.N. Shipping Services OÜ and Saaresalu OÜ, has secured an international tender to develop specifications for the design and implementation of a Port Community System (PCS) for the Port of Constanta in Romania. A PCS is a digital platform that enhances information exchange and data optimization among stakeholders in a seaport or logistics ecosystem, aiming to boost efficiency, transparency, and coordination in the movement of goods through the port. The project’s successful implementation is expected to modernize port and logistics processes, enhance inter-agency coordination in Romania, and significantly reduce administrative burdens and bureaucracy.

This week marked a significant milestone for “Rīgas Universālais Termināls” (Riga Universal Terminal – RUT) as they successfully received and unloaded the inaugural test train carrying Ukrainian cereal products at the Freeport of Riga. The delivery, consisting of 1423 tons of rapeseed in 54 containers, was facilitated by SIA LDZ CARGO, a subsidiary of SJSC “Latvijas dzelzceļš”. The containers traveled from Ukraine to the port of Riga through the Kaunas intermodal railway terminal, where they were loaded onto SIA LDZ CARGO platforms for the final leg of their journey to Riga. The RUT warehouses now house the unloaded Ukrainian rapeseed.

On October 12, 2023, Adria Tow d.o.o. celebrated the official christening of its latest addition, the tugboat Ares, at Berth I of the Port of Koper.

A substantial advancement has taken place in Poland’s major infrastructure endeavor, Centralny Port Komunikacyjny (CPK), with the establishment of a high-speed railway connecting Warsaw and Łódź, pivotal rail freight hubs in the country. The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) is set to finance this crucial railway, with CPK and the Polish Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy signing a 64 million euros agreement with the Centre for EU Transport Projects. This funding, covering approximately 85 percent of the total project costs amounting to 75 million euros, will support comprehensive project documentation, including construction plans, and facilitate the necessary permits and location decisions.

Rhenus Maritime Services (RMS) is expanding its fleet with the addition of a new coastal vessel named RMS Ruhrort, featuring a distinctive capability. The vessel is equipped with an engine designed to use methanol as fuel in the future, positioning methanol as a promising and eco-friendly option for the maritime industry alongside hydrogen and ammonia. 

During the official visit of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea to Croatia on October 12, 2023, in Zagreb, the Port of Rijeka Authority and Busan Port Authority signed a Memorandum of Understanding. In the presence of Prime Minister Andrej Plenković of Croatia, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo of Korea, and members of both governments, the memorandum was signed by Denis Vukorepa, the Executive Director of the Port of Rijeka Authority, and Kang Joon-suk, the Executive Director and President of the Busan Port Authority.

Poland’s Centralny Port Komunikacyjny (CPK) is making strides in its mission to integrate air, road, freight, and passenger rail operations into a unified hub, marking the country’s largest infrastructure project. Currently engaged in land acquisitions and geological excavations, CPK is crucially defining the coexistence of diverse transport modes within the hub and across Poland. The focus extends to rail freight, where CPK is actively preparing for a comprehensive transport model, emphasizing intermodal transport and strategic location planning.

DB SCHENKER has successfully completed three of its four major development projects to provide larger, state-of-the-art operations in Ireland. As part of a €94M investment in new facilities across the country, sites at Shannon (County Clare), Leixlip (County Kildare), and Baldonnel (County Dublin) are now complete and fully operational. An additional new facility in Dublin is shortly to commence construction to house DB Schenker’s Land operations in Ireland and is scheduled for completion in January 2025. Due to an increased demand from Healthcare and Technology customers DB SCHENKER’s business in Ireland is powering strong growth.

In response to the growing global issue of plastic pollution, APM Terminals Poti is taking active measures to address plastic waste and promote corporate sustainability. With the increase in global plastic production, leading to an estimated five trillion pieces of plastic in major ocean basins, the company aims to avoid unnecessary plastic use in its operations.