Alexandru Nicola: Deputy Commercial Director of Unicom Tranzit, Alexandru Nicola, brought a dose of self-criticism to the panel discussion of the BLACK SEA TRANSPORT CORRIDORS 2026: PORTS, RAILWAYS, SHIPPING conference, noting that service providers still prevail at conferences, rather than real cargo owners.
The regional operating environment is being shaped by the conflict in the Middle East, which continues to disrupt both maritime and air cargo flows. Against this backdrop, intra-regional trade within Asia is demonstrating resilience; however, extended transit routes necessitate heightened flexibility, transparency, and integrated logistics solutions. Experts note that the ability to rapidly adapt routes and maintain supply stability has emerged as a critical success factor.
Head of Port Development at Mukran, Helmut Seilert, presented a unique concept of connecting two seas at the BLACK SEA TRANSPORT CORRIDORS 2026: PORTS, RAILWAYS, SHIPPING conference.
Talgat Aldybergenov, Chairman of the Management Board of JSC NC Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, held a meeting with Huawei’s top management—Philippe Gan, President of the Middle East and Central Asia Region, and Derek Hao, President of Enterprise Sales for the region. The primary focus of the negotiations was the development of digital solutions aimed at enhancing the efficiency of freight transportation management.
Director of Strategic Projects and Network Development at Hupac Intermodal S.A. Alberto Grisone, speaking at the BLACK SEA TRANSPORT CORRIDORS 2026: PORTS, RAILWAYS, SHIPPING conference, highlighted a critical issue in Romania’s rail sector – the ongoing decline in transport speed. According to him, while in 2012 a freight train crossed Romania in around 21 hours, today the same transit takes 27–30 hours. He stressed that the industry needs to return to a benchmark of 18 hours in order to make the Constanța corridor truly competitive.
The German industrial conglomerate Rheinmetall is in talks with the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) regarding a potential joint acquisition of the Mangalia shipyard in Romania, which was recently declared bankrupt as part of a restructuring process. According to sources, Romanian authorities are also participating in discussions regarding the potential deal, under which Rheinmetall and MSC could acquire a controlling stake in the facility, while the state would retain a minority share. The shipyard’s valuation, established during the insolvency proceedings, was previously estimated at approximately €87 million.
Under the leadership of “Port Kuryk” CEO Erkin Nygmetov, the company held a working meeting at which heads of departments presented reports on key areas of activity. During the meeting, production indicators and results achieved were reviewed, objectives for the immediate future were outlined, and issues related to the enterprise’s HR and operational activities were addressed.
Head of Insurance at Marine Insurance Services, Stanislav Kovaliov, presented sobering risk statistics at the BLACK SEA TRANSPORT CORRIDORS 2026: PORTS, RAILWAYS, SHIPPING conference. One of the most important facts is that in the event of a maritime accident under the General Average principle, cargo owners may be required to pay 10–20% of the cargo value to cover salvage operations. In such cases, the freight forwarder’s liability does not apply – only direct cargo insurance can provide protection.
KiwiRail opened its new Waltham Maintenance Hub in Christchurch on 24 April 2026, alongside the presentation of new DM locomotives for South Island operations. The facility was built with a government investment of NZD 110m (EUR 61m), while NZD 533m (EUR 297m) has been allocated for the procurement of 66 DM locomotives from Stadler.
On April 24, 2026, KiwiRail opened its new Waltham Maintenance Hub in Christchurch; this event coincided with the unveiling of the new DM-series locomotives, destined for operation on the South Island. Construction of the facility was funded through a government investment of NZ$110 million (€61 million), while NZ$533 million (€297 million) was allocated for the purchase of 66 DM-series locomotives from Stadler.
