Europe

In a significant development, a state-of-the-art truck terminal has been officially unveiled in Sermin, marking a milestone for Slovenia’s logistics infrastructure. Recognized as the most modern truck parking facility in the country, the terminal prioritizes service and safety for truck drivers in accordance with EU standards. The inauguration ceremony, attended by notable figures including Minister of Infrastructure Alenka Bratušek, President of the Management Board of the Port of Koper Nevenka Kržan, and Kolektor CPG Director Kristjan Mugerli, showcased the commitment to advancing transportation capabilities.

In the year 2023, Port of Tallinn witnessed a significant rebound in passenger traffic, with 8 million passengers, marking a 13% increase or 900,000 more passengers compared to the previous year. This recovery follows the easing of pandemic-related movement restrictions. However, the cargo sector experienced a notable decline, with a 29% reduction in volume, equivalent to 5 million tonnes, attributed to sanctions on Russian and Belarussian cargo and a general economic downturn. Despite these challenges, the number of vessel calls remained relatively stable, with a marginal decrease of only 1.5% to a total of 7,026 visits. Additionally, the connection between the Estonian mainland and main islands saw a 5% rise in passenger numbers, setting a new all-time record. Meanwhile, the icebreaker Botnica reported a 4% decrease in charter days, reflecting a shorter period for summer charters.

In the early months of 2024, enhanced connectivity emerges among Germany, Greece, and Turkey through the bustling Italian port of Trieste. Kombiverkehr, the Frankfurt-based intermodal operator, announces an expansion of its rail services between the DUSS terminal in Munich-Riem and Trieste, now boasting five weekly roundtrips. This upgraded service facilitates the seamless transportation of goods from Trieste to the Greek port of Patras and the Turkish ports of Pendik, Mersin, and Cesme.

Rhenus, the international logistics specialist, is overhauling its groupage freight solutions for European road transport, introducing the innovative Groupage Network 2.0. Implemented across its entire European network from January 8, 2024, the restructuring aims to significantly reduce delivery times and enhance departure frequencies for customers. Groupage Network 2.0 offers daily connections throughout the continent, regardless of the customer’s location, meeting the increasing time-sensitive demands of global supply chains.

Bolstering its position as a pivotal transport hub in the heart of industrial zones encompassing Stuttgart, Mannheim, and Frankfurt am Main, Kornwestheim is now seamlessly connected to Hamburg, Germany’s largest seaport, courtesy of a new service by European rail logistics firm Metrans. A daily rail connection for container transport between Hamburg and Kornwestheim has been in operation since January 8, allowing for bidirectional goods transportation and offering a direct link to the seaports of Bremerhaven and Wilhelmshaven.

Air Liquide is set to construct a cutting-edge CO₂ capture facility at its hydrogen plant in Rotterdam’s port. CryocapTM technology allows the plant to use a cryogenic carbon dioxide capture process. Once captured, the CO₂ will be transported via the Porthos infrastructure and securely stored in depleted gas fields beneath the North Sea seabed. With an operational target of 2026, this initiative reflects Air Liquide’s commitment to sustainable practices in carbon management.

iPort Rail, located within the iPort logistics development in Doncaster, is poised for substantial growth in 2024 under the management of Verdion. Nestled in the northern reaches of England, this versatile freight terminal has become a top choice for multimodal freight operators, benefiting from its strategic proximity to the East Coast Main Line.

Cargotec’s division, Kalmar, has secured a significant agreement to deliver 12 empty container handlers to Star Container Services B.V., a prominent global logistics service provider. These cutting-edge units are slated for deployment at the Rotterdam Maasvlakte terminal, aligning seamlessly with Star Container Services’ strategic investment in its cargo-handling fleet. This move aims to fortify operations in anticipation of a substantial increase in container volumes at Maasvlakte, Rotterdam’s state-of-the-art port facility. The delivery is expected in the second quarter of 2024, with the order being part of Cargotec’s Q4 2023 order intake and inclusive of an extensive six-year Kalmar Complete Care service contract.

The labor dispute between Deutsche Bahn (DB) and the Union of German Locomotive Drivers (GDL) has escalated into a legal battle, as DB argues that the union is incapable of negotiating a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) and should be “prohibited from striking,” now the case is under the jurisdiction of the Hessian Labor Court.

The global container fleet increased its capacity by approximately 2 million TEU in 2023, with half of this increase coming from MSC. The company is actively investing in expanding its fleet, having received 14 Megamax vessels with a volume of 24 thousand TEU and 26 Neopanamax vessels with a volume of about 15 thousand TEU. Orders for future deliveries amount to more than 1.5 million TEU, indicating intentions to continue to expand the fleet.