Sea

BLG Logistics and Cosco Shipping Car Carriers have entered into a strategic partnership to develop automotive logistics between China and Europe. Under the agreement, BLG AutoTerminal Bremerhaven will become a key port for Cosco in Germany, as well as a logistics hub for Scandinavia, Central and Eastern Europe and the Baltic region. Cosco plans to include Bremerhaven in a regular liner service with at least two calls per month, while BLG will provide efficient solutions for importers with its extensive land network.

Baltic Hub successfully completed test handling operations on the first vessel handled at the new T3 berth, an important milestone in the terminal’s development. This event opens up new prospects for expanding the hub’s operational capabilities.

DP World is investing £60 million to expand its Southampton container terminal capacity with four new quay cranes. The cranes will be the largest in Europe and will be able to handle two 40ft containers at a time, significantly speeding up the loading and unloading of ships.

Taiwanese shipping company Evergreen Marine Corporation has signed contracts for the construction of 11 container ships with a capacity of 24,000 TEU each. The total value of the deal will be up to $3.2 billion. The new ships will be equipped with dual-fuel engines running on liquefied natural gas (LNG).

The last two STS (ship-to-shore) cranes have arrived at the Rijeka Gateway container terminal. The new equipment is identical to the previously installed cranes: their height with the boom raised reaches 138 meters, and their weight is 1,700 tons. The delivery of these cranes completes the process of equipping the terminal with key equipment, including two rail cranes (RMG) and 15 terminal cranes (RTG), delivered last year. At present, the construction of the terminal is 75% complete, and the project is already having a significant economic impact on the region.

South Korean shipping company HMM has won a bid to acquire a controlling stake in tanker operator SK Shipping, owned by investment company Hahn & Co. HMM is currently conducting due diligence on the deal, which it plans to complete in March and submit to the board of directors by April.

In 2024, the port of Rotterdam’s cargo throughput decreased by 0.7%, amounting to 435.8 million tonnes, compared to 438.8 million tonnes the year before. The main reason for the decrease was the reduction in coal and crude oil transshipment. At the same time, the container segment showed growth: 13.8 million TEU were handled, which is 2.8% more than in 2023. The volume of iron ore, scrap, oil products and other types of dry cargo also increased.

Luka Koper closed 2024 with growth in key indicators, despite the challenges at the beginning of the year related to the crisis in the Red Sea. Total seaborne cargo turnover increased by 3%, container cargo by 6% and general cargo by 8%. Net revenue amounted to €330.1 million, which is 6% higher than the 2023 level and 2% above the planned figures. Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) reached €67 million, 33% higher than the plan, and net profit amounted to €60.3 million, 26% higher than the forecast.

Yusen Logistics has signed an agreement with Ocean Network Express (ONE) to join the “ONE LEAF+” program, becoming the first logistics company in Asia to use this sustainable shipping method. The solution involves the use of biofuel made from waste vegetable oil, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuels. The company’s customers will be able to reduce emissions under the Scope 3 category and receive emission reduction certificates verified by third-party auditors.

The new pilot vessel HAMBURG PILOT 3, which will soon be delivered to the customer, was successfully launched at the Baltic Workboats AS shipyard in Estonia. At the same time, construction of HAMBURG PILOT 4, which will replace the current vessel LOTSE 4, began. Both projects are part of the environmentally friendly modernization program of the Hamburg fleet.