One of the most important infrastructure projects has been launched in the port of Klaipeda – the construction of a modern cruise terminal has begun. The signing of a contract with UAB Tilsta became the starting point for the implementation of this ambitious initiative, the cost of which will be €43.9 million including VAT. The project is aimed at creating a smart and city-friendly infrastructure.
The largest container terminal in the Baltics, Baltic Hub, has summed up the results of 2024, which became significant due to record transshipment volumes and major investments. During the year, the terminal handled 2,242,401 TEU, exceeding the previous year’s figures. Of the 642 vessels handled, 147 were ocean-going, and in July, a record for single transshipment was set – 20,459 TEU.
The Port of Gothenburg, Sweden’s largest car port, has signed a twelve-year concession agreement with Wallenius Wilhelmsen to operate the car and ro-ro terminal. The new operator will take up operations in February 2026.
Launched in August 2023, the Shanghai INE EC futures contract based on the SCFI China-Northern Europe Sub-Index has gained popularity in 2024 as a hedging instrument. The contract has gained recognition among Chinese participants and early European forwarders and shippers. The year began at 1,850 index points, but by the end of the year the market had returned to its starting point, again raising the question of a possible rate cut due to excess vessel capacity.
Tanjung Pelepas Port (PTP), 70% owned by MMC Corporation, set a new record by handling over 12.25 million TEU in 2024, surpassing the previous record of 11.2 million TEU recorded in 2021.
As part of its 2022-2030 development strategy, ASCO has added a new Aframax tanker to its fleet, acquired from Capital Maritime and Trading Corp. The vessel, which meets modern environmental and safety standards, has a deadweight of 115,500 tons, a length of 249.95 meters and a speed of up to 16 knots.
The Balkan Shipyard in Turkmenistan laid the keel of the first of two dry cargo ships with a deadweight of 6.1 thousand tons, which are being built jointly with the South Korean company Koryo Shipbuilding Industry Technology (KSIT). The ceremony was attended by representatives of the shipyard and KSIT President Choi En-wook.
Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd have announced the launch of Gemini Cooperation feeder services as part of their collaboration on routes within the Far East region. The main hubs for the new routes will be the ports of Tanjung Pelepas (Malaysia) and Singapore. Destinations include China, Indonesia, Taiwan and the Philippines, including routes such as CPF, JKF, SS1 and TWX.
The maiden voyage of the new sea freight route “China-Europe Express” has successfully started. The vessel Kawa Ningbo departed from Ningbo-Zhoushan Port (China) to Wilhelmshaven (Germany), carrying lithium batteries and other goods for cross-border e-commerce.
According to the results of 2024, the seaports of Ukraine handled almost 97 million tons of cargo, which is a record for wartime, the State Enterprise “Administration of Sea Ports of Ukraine” (USPU) reports. Despite constant shelling and destruction of infrastructure, this figure significantly exceeds last year’s result of 62 million tons.
