Yesterday, February 12, the Gdańsk Baltic Hub container terminal received the French ship CMA CGM Georg Forster, named after the 18th century explorer George Forster, known for his connections with Gdańsk. Neptune, the city’s mascot, personally welcomed the impressive ship measuring 398 m long and 54 m wide.
Flotte Hamburg’s fleet embarks on the new year with the signing of a contract for the construction of a cutting-edge pilot transfer vessel. Following a competitive bidding process across Europe, Baltic Workboats AS in Estonia secured the contract to build an approximately 18-meter vessel named “Hamburg Pilot 1.” The estimated cost for the construction of the new vessel is around three million euros, with the possibility of ordering a second pilot transfer vessel of the same design.
Poland’s infrastructure manager, PKP PLK, has granted contracts to Infra Centrum Doradztwa for the documentation related to the construction of a proposed Lublin – Łęczna – Bogdanka rail line and the modernization of the Chełm – Włodawa route. The envisioned 25 km single-track electrified line, with an estimated construction cost of 736 million złoty, is set to connect Lublin to Łęczna and the Bogdanka coal mine, featuring 12 stations and reducing travel time between Łęczna and Lublin to approximately 40 minutes. Simultaneously, the 45.5 km Chełm – Włodawa line’s 500 million złoty modernization will include the construction of a 10 km single-track non-electrified connecting line, enhancing connectivity from Okuninka Białe to Włodawa and refurbishing nine stations. These vital projects are slated to be financed through the Kolej Plus program.
The Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Greece, Erlan Baudarbek-Kozhataev, and the Mayor of Piraeus, Giannis Moralis, have agreed to foster collaboration between the cities of Aktau and Piraeus. Mayor Moralis outlined growth strategies for Piraeus, Greece’s largest port, emphasizing its strategic feeder connections to the Mediterranean, Black, and Adriatic seas, coupled with vital rail and road links to Balkan and Central European countries.
CLdN, a Belgian-Luxembourgish shipping and logistics group owned by the Cigrang family, is set to acquire the Distriport terminal from Broekman Logistics. This strategic move involves the sale of the 22-hectare terminal located in the Brittanniëhaven, which boasts 630 meters of quay, container transhipment and storage facilities, 50,000 square meters of covered warehouses, and transhipment capabilities for general cargo, high and heavy loads. The acquisition positions CLdN to diversify its services and expand its offerings.
In a diplomatic gesture, Ambassador H.E. Mr. Thomas Stähli from the Swiss Confederation visited the Port of Baku, engaging in discussions with Dr. Taleh Ziyadov, the Director General of the port. The visit aimed to foster collaboration and explore potential partnerships, aligning with the Swiss Cooperation Programme for 2022-2025. Emphasizing the strategic importance of the Port of Baku along the Middle Corridor for regional connectivity, the discussions highlighted the port’s commitment to sustainability and environmentally conscious practices in its operations.
The increase in cargo volume in January of this year was confirmed in the port of Aktau, where the transshipment of containers along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) doubled. The total cargo turnover of the port in January 2024 reached more than 360 thousand tons, exceeding the same figures last year by 12.7%. This impressive result includes the transhipment of 3 thousand tons of grain, 310 thousand tons of oil and petroleum products, as well as more than 2.3 thousand twenty-foot equivalent containers, more than half of them by TMTM, which marks a significant increase compared to last year.
On February 6, 2024, a meeting was held to discuss the Basic Provisions of the TRACECA Business Council in a video conference format. The Permanent Secretariat, National Secretaries, and experts from the MHI participating countries took part. The creation of the Business Council is aimed at forming business opinions on the development of the TRACECA corridor, expanding economic cooperation in the region and improving interaction between business and government agencies in the field of cargo transportation.
German rail operator Deutsche Bahn has initiated the sale of DB Schenker, a major logistics provider, in a deal potentially valued at EUR20 billion. Maersk, previously uninterested in acquiring such large forwarding companies, hinted at a reconsideration during its Q4 2023 earnings call. Vincent Clerc, CEO of AP Moller Maersk, acknowledged the significance of the deal’s size and emphasized the need for Maersk to explore the potential acquisition, recognizing its impact on the logistics landscape.
On February 9, 2024, the Annual General Final Meeting of the Union of Transport Workers “KAZLOGISTICS” was held in Kazakhstan. Under the leadership of the Chairman of the Presidium of the Union, Nurlan Sauranbayev, the meeting was attended by representatives of various departments, associations and business communities.
