Headline news... APMT bags Monrovia deal
APM Terminals (APMT) has been named as the preferred bidder for a 25 year concession to develop and operate the Port of Monrovia following a public tender issued by the Government of Liberia in December 2009. MoreNew container for automotive parts
DB Schenker Rail Automotive has developed a new type of container for the transport of automotive parts from Volkswagen's Wolfsburg facility to its new plant in Kaluga, Russia. MoreICTSI reports lower 2009 results
Revenues decrease 9% to US$421.7M, EBITDA decreases 11% to US$175.7M, with net income down 15% to US$54.9M. Volumes increased 7% in 4Q/09 MoreForth Ports rejects takeover bid
Forth Ports has rejected a GBP612M takeover approach from the Northstream consortium. The proposal values the operator at just over GBP800m, including debts MoreCagliari slashes port taxes
The move is aimed at attracting container transhipment business back to the port MoreUIC and UNIFE publish first technical recommendation
The first technical recommendation (TecRec) deals with measurement and calculation of energy consumption in railway vehicles MoreDelays in Sao Tome
Preliminary development work on a new port in the Gulf of Guinea state of Sao Tome and Principe will now not begin until 2011 MoreSea Box expands
US military and special container manufacturer Sea Box Inc has purchased a 378,000 ft2 facility in East Riverton, New Jersey, which will function as the company's new world headquarters. MoreChina's container rail network on fast track
China's container rail network, which will have 18 terminals across the country and eventually link up with the European rail grid via Russia, will take shape this year. MoreVision trucks for LA
The Port of Los Angeles has started negotiations with Los Angeles-based Vision Industries for the purchase and evaluation of Vision's hydrogen fuel cell hybrid-electric trucks. They will be tested to evaluate their suitability for short and medium distance "drayage" operations and similar applications. MoreIntegration planned for Richards Bay
South African port utility Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) has announced that the multi-purpose and dry bulk terminals at Richards Bay will be jointly operated from now on. Ben Khonyane, who previously served as business unit executive at Saldanha multi-purpose terminal, has been appointed to the same position for the two Richards Bay terminals. The integrated management team has been created "to improve synergies and customer service through an integrated approach to the Richards Bay corridor." MoreRecovery seen for China's box makers
Although officials at the China Container Industry Association (CCIA) are cautious on recovery projections, some analysts say the industry has bottomed out and demand for new containers will pick up this year. MoreAuckland grows Wiri
Ports of Auckland Ltd (POAL) and the NZL Group have jointly established CONLINXX Ltd to manage the Wiri Inland Port (WIP) in South Auckland. MoreTimber boost for Raahe
Bucking the market trend, Finland's Gulf of Bothnia Port of Raahe has reported a big increase in timber export traffic. MoreEight more RTGs for MICT
International Container Terminal Services, Inc (ICTSI) recently took delivery of eight more RTGs from Noell China for its flagship, Manila International Container Terminal (MICT). At the time of writing, four of the new machines have been commissioned and are now in use. MoreChennai to build 5M TEU box terminal
India's Chennai Port Trust (CPT) is expected to award the contract to build its planned 5M TEU/year third container terminal under the public-private partnership model by March (see WorldCargo News January 2009, p8). MoreSlow ahead for Hapag
Hapag-Lloyd has taken delivery of its latest newbuilding from Hyundai in Ulsan - the 8750 TEU VIENNA EXPRESS, which features several environment-friendly components and systems. MoreHempel boosts R&D
Container coatings manufacturer Hempel has completed a Euro2M expansion programme at its Spanish R&D centre. MoreNew Mittellandkanal port
A new trimodal inland waterway port is to be built on the Mittellandkanal between Buckeburg and Minden. Construction work is scheduled to begin in 2011 and operations should commence by the end of 2013. MoreDB ups stake in NordCargo
DB Schenker Rail has increased its stake in the Italian rail freight operator NordCargo Srl by a further 11%. The DB Schenker subsidiary had already acquired a 49% stake in NordCargo back in January 2009. It now owns 60% of the shares and consequently the majority stake in the company, which is domiciled in Milan. MoreBeijing sanctions Kenyan support
The Chinese government has agreed to help with the construction of a new port at Lamu in Kenya and a new railway from the port to Ethiopia and south Sudan. Perhaps more surprisingly, Beijing has also offered to help fund the development of a new railway line from Mombasa to Nairobi and onward to the Ugandan border. Although the existing line suffers from poor performance and slow speeds, there is some doubt over whether the massive investment required to construct a brand new line would be justified. MoreSubway in a box
Pictured in the final stages of construction is one of nine modified containers that will house a Subway restaurant at the new World Trade Center site in New York. More
Special Reports
Feature articles
Markets straddle technology and cost
Despite slack market conditions, straddle carrier manufacturers are continuing to refine their technology and designs. MoreReefer container lessors await a further thaw
Reefer container lessors faced a tough market in 2009, but it was not all doom and gloom as they accounted for more than half of all reefers purchased - a higher share than at any time since the mid-1990s. The outlook for 2010 is even more upbeat. MoreBitzer reciprocates in compressor debate
In the June 2009 issue of WorldCargo News (p30), the advantages of digital scroll compressors in reefer container applications were outlined. In this article, German compressor manufacturer Bitzer puts the case for variable speed drive reciprocating compressors. MoreKonecranes lifting business in Egypt
2009 was obviously difficult for Konecranes, along with other suppliers of port handling equipment and services. Yet the year also brought new opportunities for the Finlandbased company, not least in Egypt, a market of growing importance. MoreTough times for the mobile harbour crane sector
It goes without saying that 2009 was hardly a vintage year for port handling equipment suppliers and the extent of the decline is clear from various market surveys and from the results that listed companies have to disclose. MoreBollore sets the pace in Africa
Liberia's National Port Authority has received bids from APM Terminals (APMT) and Bollore for the contract to operate the general cargo terminal at Monrovia. MoreCall for support to aid FVL recovery
Due to the economic crisis, around 20,000 jobs were lost last year in the European Finished Vehicle Logistics (FVL) industry, along with 20% of capacity, and much of the industry is in need of significant financing. MoreTough times - past, present and future?
Buffeted by the recession, some ports are looking to diversify their client base and cargo activities. MoreTrend to full electrification of diesel-powered cranes continues
Installations may have eased off because of the recession, but much of the technology is already proven and work to achieve even lower emissions is continuing. MoreTank operators on slow road to recovery
Signs of the first step on the road to recovery for tank container operators - increasing volumes - are appearing. However, the path back to better days will be long and arduous. MoreThumbs down for hydrogen fuel cells?
In October the Swedish government's venture capital company for the automotive sector, Fouriertransform, committed to its first investment, worth SEK60M, to Powercell Sweden AB, to support its work developing fuel cells and fuel "reformers." MoreCIMC launches Ultra-Liner reefer
China International Marine Containers (CIMC) has launched a new 40ft lightweight steel reefer container design aimed particularly at shippers of bananas and other fresh produce that weighs out before it cubes out. MoreSigns of a pick up in box leasing sector
All three NYSE-listed container lessors - Textainer, TAL International and CAI - saw a marginal increase in utilisation in the third quarter of this year as the peak season kicked in. Though a return to last year's levels still has some way to go, there are some encouraging signs. MoreReg Lee stepping down at ITCO
Reg Lee is to step down as president of the International Tank Container Organisation (ITCO) after a tenure of six years during which the association has made considerable progress in promoting the intermodal tank container concept on a worldwide basis. MoreDifferent ways to Stage 3b/Tier 4 interim compliance
SCR or EGR and DPF? Leading industrial engine makers have taken their decisions. MoreFinnlines looks back to the sea
It is no secret that Grimaldi does not regard lo-lo container stevedoring as core business and would like to sell off part of Finnsteve, which it controls through its 65% stake in Finnlines. MoreNo end in sight to bitter Ilyichevsk dispute
As reported on-line, Russia's National Container Company (NCC) is to pursue its case against Ilyichevsk Seaport Administration in the International Court. This follows the verdict of the Supreme Court of Ukraine in early November to terminate the joint operation agreement (JOC) of NCC's affiliate Ukrtranscon-tainer (UTC) with the state-run port. MoreEquipment in place to deal with upturn
The second half of the current year has seen a "mass arrival" of new cranes in Russian and other post-Soviet ports, as orders placed last year before the global crisis struck come to fruition. As an example, the Port of Sillamae in Estonia started up its container terminal with two cranes and three 1 over 2 straddle carriers in September. MoreGdansk moves into the senior league
As reported last month, Maersk is extending its AE10 Far East service with 8000 TEU vessels in to the Baltic, with scheduled weekly calls at DCT Gdansk. MoreTaylor-made reach stackers
Taylor Machine Works is aiming to "stand out from the crowd" in the reach stacker market with a new design coupled with a traditional commitment to service. More
