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Belgium and Houston-based partners have taken a significant step towards transatlantic collaboration on green energy transition. Prime Minister Alexander De Croo witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Center for Houston’s Future, Waterstofnet, Port Houston, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, Exmar, and the Blue Sky Maritime Coalition. The agreement focuses on establishing a mutually beneficial partnership for renewable and low-carbon molecule import-export, creating a green shipping corridor, and facilitating the exchange of knowledge, best practices, and research.

The Freeport of Riga recently conducted its annual management meeting with stevedores, focusing on the port’s performance in the current year and outlining plans for the future. The port’s growth strategy emphasizes not only cargo handling but also ongoing digitization, industrial cluster development, and substantial investments in infrastructure. Notably, the containerized cargo segment experienced a 7% increase, and the agricultural cargo segment grew by 15%, contributing to a potentially record-breaking year for the Port of Riga. Investments in infrastructure development by port merchants reached EUR 30.6 million in 2022 and EUR 166 million over the last five years.

Representatives from the 45 partner companies of the Clean Port & Logistics (CPL) cluster gathered for their annual meeting in Hamburg on December 8, 2023. Established by Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) last year, the CPL cluster focuses on testing emission-free equipment in port logistics in collaboration with partner companies. During the meeting, discussions among representatives centered on the initial results of working groups, with presentations from Hyster and LifteH2 updating attendees on the development of hydrogen-powered handling equipment and its fuelling. The German Aerospace Center also introduced the “ZERO-EMISSION PORT” project, outlining measures for the climate-friendly transformation of the port’s industry and logistics activities. Following the meeting, cluster members visited the Port of Hamburg to explore test fields and observe the first industrial applications of hydrogen-powered and battery-electric handling equipment at HHLA container terminals Tollerort and Altenwerder.

The Kijfhoek marshalling yard near Rotterdam, hailed as Europe’s hub, plays a vital role in connecting the port of Rotterdam with industrial zones across the continent. To accommodate future growth in freight volumes, Siemens Mobility embarked on a colossal modernization project for the 50-hectare site, featuring 14 entry sidings, 41 sorting sidings, and 12 stabling sidings. The magnitude of the project goes beyond its sheer size, with unique challenges such as accommodating cargo with excess width and navigating locomotive changes during the journey.

Switzerland’s transalpine freight transport by rail has long maintained a higher proportion compared to other Alpine nations. However, four years post the completion of the NRLA (New Rail Link through the Alps), signs of limitations to the modal shift’s success are emerging. Despite initial growth, the share is decreasing due to challenges such as numerous infrastructure works, diversions, cancellations, high track and energy prices, and railway competitiveness, affecting transit.

On Thursday 7 December, Masdar, a prominent global clean energy company, has joined forces with the Port of Amsterdam, SkyNRG, and Zenith Energy Terminals to embark on a Joint Study Agreement (JSA) aimed at assessing the feasibility of a dedicated liquefied green hydrogen supply chain. This collaboration follows an earlier Memorandum of Understanding signed between Masdar and four Dutch companies. The focus of the JSA is to explore the potential of producing green hydrogen by Masdar and exporting it to the port of Amsterdam, thereby supplying hydrogen to regional industries and the broader European hinterland.

Multimodal logistics (MML) is surging, with RCG, Europe’s premier rail logistics specialist, leading the charge. RCG excels in crafting tailored end-to-end logistics solutions, leveraging diverse transportation modes, prioritizing eco-friendly rail travel for the main route and flexible road transport for the first and last mile.

On December 4, 2023, PSA Sines welcomed the arrival of two massive Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes, marking a significant enhancement to its container handling capabilities. These new cranes, complementing the existing ten Super Post-Panamax cranes, empower PSA Sines to efficiently manage the largest container vessels operating on the Iberian Peninsula. The addition of these cranes not only contributes to expanding PSA Sines’ capacity from 2.3 to 2.7 million TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) but also solidifies its status as the preferred Iberian gateway hub.

RCG, a renowned logistics company, has expanded its transport services beyond traditional goods to include components for railway infrastructure, collaborating with Track Tec Group, a leading global provider of railway infrastructure solutions. Starting in June 2023, RCG has been facilitating the transportation of concrete sleepers over a 1,650-kilometer route from Poland through the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary to Romania, supporting infrastructure renovations. This venture aims to manage over 80 trains by December 2024, each comprising 27 wagons and carrying approximately 1,500 net tonnes, demonstrating RCG’s commitment to efficient and reliable railway logistics. The operation involves RCG’s carrier subsidiaries in respective countries, with partner railway undertakings handling the crucial first and last miles of the journey.

The Freeport of Riga Authority’s capital company, “LVR Flote,” has signed a contract with Baltic Workboats AS to acquire a state-of-the-art multifunctional hybrid ice class vessel, with 50% of the costs covered by the European Climate, Infrastructure, and Environment Agency CINEA. Expected to be commissioned by end-2024, the vessel not only supports port functions but also enhances Latvia’s military capabilities by assisting the Border Guard, Navy, and Coast Guard.