12 World has 100% of shortsea Fund


Issue 6 2018 - Freight Business Journal DP World to buy Unifeeder


Port and terminal operator DP


acquired shipping


operator Unifeeder Group for €660 million from Nordic Capital


and minority


shareholders. Based in Aarhus (Denmark), Unifeeder operates the largest and most densely connected common user container feeder and a growing shortsea network in Europe,


serving both deep-


sea container hubs and the intra-Europe container freight market. The purchase is subject to


regulatory approval. DP


World says that


Unifeeder’s operations will complement its existing business and will provide future growth opportunities. Unifeeder, founded in 1977,


currently serves about 100 ports in northern Europe. In the UK, it offers services between Rotterdam and Felixstowe,


Immingham, Teesport, South Shields and Grangemouth and, on 15 August, introduced direct sailings between Antwerp and Dunkerque to Teesport and Grangemouth. DP World group chairman


and chief executive Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, said: “The


ever-growing deployment of ultra-large container vessels


has made high-


quality connectivity from hub terminals crucial for our customers and Unifeeder is a best-in-class logistics provider in this space with a strong reputation in Europe. Our aim


Unifeeder offers Antwerp and Dunkerque alternatives


Unifeeder introduced direct sailings between Antwerp and Dunkerque to Teesport and Grangemouth from 15 August. The short-sea operator says the new service offers an alternative to the busy port of Rotterdam, as well as a shorter trucking distance for cargo coming from southern Netherlands and beyond. It already offers services


between Rotterdam and Felixstowe, Immingham, Teesport, South Shields and Grangemouth. Teesport’s general manager


key accounts and customer development Kim Catterick, said: “Short-sea services are the lifeblood of our ports and this partnership with Unifeeder offers more routes in and out of Europe and into the UK. We


have invested heavily into the region and more and more of our customers are searching for routes that offer direct access to their markets. Using Teesport with its excellent road and rail connections and in particular its well established daily Scottish rail service, opens up the north of England and Scotland; providing cross- channel services linking the


Ports can breathe easy over air quality


Port operations make up only a small proportion of total emissions, particularly in urban areas, according to a report by air quality specialists Arup. Emissions from vessels in ports usually have a relatively low and very localised impact, said the document, which was presented at a roundtable organised by the UK Major Ports Group (UKMPG) on 12 September. Emissions around ports –


particularly in urban areas – are dominated by road traffic, predominantly diesel cars


and HGVs (including, but by no means solely, port related traffic). However, the growing share of Euro 6 diesel vehicles is expected to significantly improve future air quality. Ways in which ports could


continue to improve their performance include helping to reduce congestion in freight flows, for example by introducing vehicle booking systems, a range of operational improvement and engagement measures and, over time but beginning already,


shiſting to


is to leverage the in-house expertise of Unifeeder and to accelerate growth in this scalable platform to deliver value for all stakeholders. Unifeeder operates on the same common-user principle as DP World and adds to the group’s strong value proposition.” Unifeeder chief executive,


Jesper Kristensen, added: “Not only is there commonality with our business models but we also share the vision of serving our customers through removing inefficiencies and delivering sustainable shareholder value. We have enjoyed great success over the last five years under Nordic Capital’s ownership, and we believe that the Unifeeder brand within the DP World Group has


the opportunity


to accelerate growth, expand further and take the business to the next level.”


Netherlands, Belgium, France and into Germany using road transport. “We understand that


customers want direct access and guaranteed schedules. There has been an increasing demand to move away from the congestion at some of the major European and UK ports. Using Teesport,


along with


our other locations, means we can partner with companies offering solutions


that work


for both the UK and mainland European customers.” (North-East England report – page 16)


greater electrification of port operations. Government could also help


by restoring and increasing incentives to shiſt freight from road to rail. It could also support speedier electrification of port operations. Over the mid and longer terms


it could support provision of infrastructure for much greater electricity demand at ports such as shoreside power supply. UKMPG chief executive Tim


Morris, commented: “Major ports can and will do more to continue their record of air quality improvement. But today’s report


is clear that to


make a major difference in urban areas around ports the improvement requires more than the port itself acting. All stakeholders – industry and Government at different levels – need to play their parts to deliver meaningful impact. We collectively need to find solutions that achieve the joint goals of better air quality and ensuring that the UK gets the best out of its global gateways.” He added that some of the


debate about air quality “has unfortunately not been well informed.” The Government’s draſt Air strategy includes a


Quality


potential requirement for major ports to produce robust air quality strategies.


///NEWS


News Roundup Forwarding & Logistics


Dachser UK managing director Nick Lowe is taking early retirement at the end of September to pursue other interests and will be succeeded by Mark Rollinson, who has formerly held senior positions at Schenker and Allport Cargo Services. Under Lowe’s stewardship, Dachser UK increased its annual sales turnover in 2017 by over 15% to £76 million with strong growth in European road freight, contract logistics and value-added-services.


Susanne Oud has joined the BIFA board of directors, replacing Roy Baker who has stepped down. She is a director of member company, OIA Global, based at the company’s head office in London.


Panalpina is to acquire a majority stake in South African perishables air freight specialist Skyservices, for an undisclosed sum. Skyservices is headquartered at Johannesburg ‘s OR Tambo International Airport where it runs a 2,000sq m warehouse and is also present at Cape Town airport where it has 1,700sq m of space. Founded in 2000, the company is fully owned by Bernd Julicher, Frik van Rooyen and Jaco van Zijverden. Julicher will continue as managing director.


Forwarder Agility has laid the foundation stone for a 29-hectare warehouse park at Marracuene, near Maputo in Mozambique. It will provide 175,000sq m of space and is part of a network of international parks that Agility is funding and developing across key markets in Africa, offering reliable power and IT connectivity along with top level security. The first phase in Mozambique will provide 32,000sq m of warehousing and will be operational in the second quarter of 2019.


The Rhenus Group has opened its own entity in New Zealand – Rhenus Logistics NZ, with its first business site in Auckland. It will provide comprehensive international and domestic logistic solutions as well as customs consultancy, with a strong focus on 4PL and 5PL solutions.


Asian-owned forwarder Kerry Logistics Network has formed a new subsidiary in Pakistan to take advantage of new business opportunities along the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, part of the Belt and Road initiative. The new subsidiary provides air and ocean freight, cross-border road freight to Afghanistan and China, project logistics and inland trucking services through its offices in Karachi and Lahore.


Logistics and global trade management specialist Uniserve has appointed Roger Clements as its new group chief financial officer. It follows the recent appointment of Kim Overman as chief operating officer. Clements has held senior ‘positions at a number of major logistics and aviation businesses, including Stobart Group, Montgomery Transport Group, Woodside Haulage and Trenchard Aviation Group.


The Cargo Connections forwarder’s network has recruited Wells Cargo Logistics as a member for Ireland. Dublin-based Wells offers a full range of services to and from Ireland and also holds GDP accreditation for pharma, veterinary and cosmetic products, along with operating its own consolidations of groupage cargo from Europe to Ireland. It is also one of the leading carriers to the film and media industry in Ireland.


Japanese-owned forwarder Yusen Logistics UK has set up dedicated fulfilment centres for the e-commerce sector. The sites are strategically located close to all major parcel delivery hubs to provide nationwide next day service with late cut-off times. Technology has optimised the pick route and process based on basket size, product dimension and product weight, significantly reducing picking time and parcel packaging.


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