Sea

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.

The Port of Antwerp-Bruges has enhanced the efficiency of its Noordzee Terminal by increasing the bollard capacity, replacing four 150-tonne bollards with seven new 250-tonne ones. This upgrade aims to optimize space utilization on the quay, minimizing gaps between vessels and addressing the risk of overloading posed by larger ships. The completion of this bollard enhancement, a collaborative effort involving Sweco, SECO Belgium, and Hye NV from Burcht, marks the final step in preparing the terminal to accommodate multiple 24,000 TEU ships with greater efficiency and reduced wasted space.

In a groundbreaking move, Maersk, a leading global shipping and logistics company, has designated Shanghai as its new global gateway for Less-than-Container-Load (LCL) shipments. This strategic decision, driven by recently eased local restrictions, positions Shanghai as a central hub for consolidating and transporting LCL shipments from nearby countries to destinations worldwide, marking a significant shift in industry practices. Maersk’s pioneering initiative to utilize Shanghai as its LCL global gateway underscores the company’s commitment to innovation and opens up new possibilities for Shanghai to strengthen its role as a pivotal player in global trade.

In a series of strategic developments, Contargo achieved positive results last year, reinforcing its position as a key player in container transport in France. Contargo North France initiated a new container barge line in the Hauts-de-France region, facilitating two weekly round trips between Antwerp, Rotterdam, and the Dourges multimodal terminal. This expansion, coupled with the addition of a third large vessel, contributed to a 1.5 percent increase in transport volume, solidifying Contargo’s role as a regional barge container hub and maintaining its status as the foremost privately operated terminal in France.

A historic moment for the Port of Riga: the container ship MSC MARITINA V, the largest vessel ever to visit Riga, docked on Sunday night. Operated by the Swiss-based MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company), the 266-meter-long ship with a maximum capacity of 4533 TEU entered the regular route of the Port of Riga. After berthing at SIA “Rīgas Centrālais Termināls,” the vessel has now shifted to the berth of SIA “Baltic Container Terminal” for ongoing loading operations. Tomorrow, MSC MARITINA V is set to depart for the port of Le Havre in France.

The visit of World Bank representatives to the port of Aktau was a key step in solving the problem of the falling level of the Caspian Sea, which has become a real challenge for the regional community. A team of experts from HR Wallingford will carry out extensive research over the next 18 months, including analyzing historical data, using regional climate models and creating digital elevation and hydrology models.

TMA Logistics is set to introduce a train shuttle service connecting the ports of Rotterdam and Amsterdam, operating four times a week with designated slots at deep-sea terminals in Rotterdam. By utilizing terminals such as RWG, ECT Rotterdam, and APM2, the shuttle aims to alleviate traffic congestion on the heavily traveled A4 highway, emphasizing its environmentally friendly approach.

The European Union Recovery and Resilience Facility has given the green light to the funding for the project titled “Digital transformation of port management by improving the processing and analysis of transport and logistics data,” aimed at digitizing Latvian ports and logistics corridors. Spearheaded by the Freeport of Riga Authority, the project involves collaboration with key partners such as the Ventspils Port Authority, Liepaja Special Economic Zone Authority, Ministry of Transport, and other stakeholders including VSIA “Latvijas Jūras administrācija”, SJSC “Latvijas Dzelzceļš”, SIA “LDz Cargo”, the SRS Customs Administration, and the State Border Guard. The €3.24 million project cost will be covered for implementation, and the ongoing maintenance and future development will be overseen by the ports.

During the official visit of the delegation of the Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan to Constanta, the largest port of Romania, the most important aspects of its activities were discussed. The delegation participants got acquainted with the port’s infrastructure, its technical capabilities and promising projects. During meetings with representatives of the port and Romanian logistics companies, current logistics issues were discussed, as well as problems of customs clearance within the TRACECA framework, identified during the first pilot transportation of goods by semi-trailers in May-June 2023.

Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company (ASCO) continues its active development in accordance with its strategic plan, focusing not only on strengthening its position in the Caspian Sea, but also on expanding the geography of its activities. An important milestone was the partnership with the world leader in ship management, V.Ships, aimed at improving the quality of operations and developing personnel.