26 >> 25 the port,”


Issue 4 2021 - FBJNA


at other ports impact the


port. Generally, however, an average of 25 seagoing vessels arrive to and depart from the port daily. The Port of Hamburg


offers 275 berths for seagoing vessels, 40 of these being for mega-ships over 300 meters long. “With laytimes sometimes lasting several days, up to 50 vessels – ULCCs,


feeders and inland


waterway vessels - can be in


says Port of


Hamburg Marketing CEO Axel Mattern. “Approximately 15 weekly liner services using the Suez Canal call at the Port of Hamburg.” Following the resumption


of traffic in the Suez Canal, port officials expected the deferred peak in calls by ULCCs to occur at the Port of Hamburg during the last two


following the first corona lockdown and demand for transport capacities rose


sharply.” Additional factors causing delays were unfavourable


weather conditions during the winter months, and Brexit at the turn of the year. Then


came the Suez blockage. The Hamburg Vessel Coordination Center (HVCC),


UROGATE Container Terminal Hamburg is equipped with state-of- the-art container gantries and straddle carriers that permit smooth and rapid handling. (Port of Hamburg photo.)


privately operated by the


Hamburg container terminals, helps optimize terminal schedules for containership, feeder and inland waterway containership services. In cooperation with the Nautical Centre for Container Terminals and Shipowners, it coordinates port arrivals/ rotation, and post-clearance sailings. “If the anticipated berth is


occupied, the ship concerned anchors in the German Bight and only receives permission to approach the Port of Hamburg after consultation


weeks of April. For some time before the


Suez Canal accident, the Port of Hamburg’s HHLA and Eurogate terminals have been operating with ship delays of two weeks and sometimes considerably longer. “The two major


terminal


operators now have had to contend with this state of affairs for months,” says Mattern. “Basically, since the beginning of this year barely a single vessel has reached the Port of Hamburg punctually. This all started last year, when production was being boosted again in the Far East/China


The CMA CGM Jacques Saadé, the first megamax container ship worldwide to run on LNG fuel, arrives at the Port of Hamburg. (Port of Hamburg photo.)


between the terminal, HVCC and the Nautical Center,” explains Mattern. HHLA has taken steps to


ensure that handling remains reliable. This includes exercising control of the arrival of export cargoes. Trucks may only deliver export containers 48 hours prior to the arrival of the expected vessel to which


///EUROPEAN/MED PORTS


Antwerp Gateway is renowned for its unrivaled productivity in Europe, advanced technology and outstanding intermodal connectivity. Antwerp Gateway is a joint venture between DP World Antwerp Holding (60%), Cosco (20%), Terminal Link (10%) en duisport Group (10%). (Port of Antwerp photo.)


the export containers have been allocated. Other steps include the additional of 100,000 square meters of container storage; additional handling capacities and utilization of additional handling equipment such as reach stackers and tractors; and closer exchange on operations between the CTA, CTB, CTT terminals, to obtain a more coordinated view of capacity utilization at all these facilities and provide mutual support. As a container terminal


operator, Eurogate also offers additional measures on export handling. Export boxes may still be delivered up to 72 hours beforehand, although the company plans a possible reduction to 48 hours), and


expansion of storage


capacities at a subsidiary. “The Port Railway also is


well prepared for handling the transport volume through its network,” Mattern


says.


“All its routes and tracks are available.” One further note, the


widening and deepening of the river Elbe is now finalized, meaning the port will have a better access for bigger ships calling the port.


Port of Antwerp


Trade coming from the Far East and Indian Subcontinent covered 17% of the Port of Antwerp’s total maritime throughput in 2020 – 24% if one only considers the container segment, stresses Barbara Janssens, port spokesperson. Like other ports worldwide, is


Antwerp experiencing a


shortage of empty containers. “The blockage of the Suez Canal will only increase the operational challenges and dwell time and thus the shortage will possibly be felt


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