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Thousands of industry professionals will gather at the Antwerp Expo in the Port of Antwerp later this month for AntwerpXL, the world’s only event dedicated exclusively to the breakbulk, project cargo and heavy lift industry.

The award-winning show, which takes place from 28-30 November, will feature companies with the latest innovations and solutions from around the world and across the breakbulk supply chain. C.Steinweg, Conti-Lines, MSC, Spliethoff and Fednav will be on the expanded show floor, alongside BBC Chartering, Konecranes, Varamar, Zuidnatie. Other big names exhibiting include Mammoet, Chipolbrok, Saudi Ports Authority, Katoen Natie, Deufol Belgie, Caribbean Line and Aertssen, Mantsinen Group, Aprojects, Navonus, Q Terminals, Port of Sunderland, Ultrabulk and Fracht Polytra.

Delegates will also be able to enjoy this year’s Main Deck conference, held on the final two days of the show. Here, some of the industry’s most knowledgeable experts are delivering 16 sessions spanning the five critical areas of digitalisation, the current market, ports, sustainability and recruitment.

The conference will include a special focus on how diversity and inclusion can encourage younger generations into the sector. Underscoring the event’s role in this area, AntwerpXL will also celebrate and welcome its latest cadre of 40 Under 40 – the show’s unique annual list of the most exciting and influential young people working in breakbulk.

In addition to new talent, products, knowledge and know-how, AntwerpXL is known for the immense networking opportunities that come from having over 3,700 leading cargo owners, EPCs, freight forwarders and ports from every corner of the globe under one roof. The event features a series of networking events, including the annual BUSINESSRUN, a guided tour the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, speed-networking sessions, late-night networking sessions and AntwerpXL’s Networking Lounge.

Margaret Dunn, Portfolio Director at AntwerpXL, says, “We are very excited to welcome everyone – all our delegates, exhibitors, and speakers – to AntwerpXL 2023. There’s not an event like it. Of course, it’s full of the top service providers and thought-provoking content but it’s also firmly in the industry’s diary as that rare opportunity for the whole of the market to meet and have in-depth, quality business conversations. If you haven’t yet signed up to attend, I’d hurry. You won’t want to miss it.”

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DEME has won several capital and maintenance dredging contracts in India, the Maldives and Malaysia.

Amounting to a substantial (1) value together, these new contracts highlight DEME’s long presence and track record in the region, evidenced by the many projects it has successfully completed over the years.

At Kakinada port in India, where DEME has frequently been performing dredging works, the newly awarded scope includes deepening of the existing berths, turning circle and the inner- and access channel to a depth of 18 m at the deepest point. Works will kick off in Q1 2024 with hopper dredgers and run until the second half of 2024.

On behalf of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) in Mumbai,the leading container handling port in India, DEME will execute maintenance dredging works at the main harbour access channel and Jawaharlal Nehru Port. This will be carried out by DEME’s hopper dredgers and a water injection dredger in 2023-2024.

Meanwhile in Goa, DEME has already successfully carried out the first campaign of maintenance dredging at Mormugao Port under a multi-year award until 2026.

DEME is also returning to the Maldives and Malaysia. In the Maldives dredging works will be carried out for two resorts located at the Ranfaru Reef and the Vaavedhdhifaru Lagoon. Works will start in Q4 2023 and will continue during the first half of 2024. In Samalaju Port in Malaysia, DEME will execute maintenance dredging works in the access channel.

(1) ‘Substantial’ refers to a contract value of 150-300 million euro.

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Megagon Project Solutions, our members from the Netherlands, are glad to share news of a shipment they recently completed.

The cargo was measured at 15.80 (L) x 3.67 (W) x 4.24 (H) meters and featured a weight of 61,000 kilograms!

It was received in Bremerhaven, Germany before being transported to its final destination in Istanbul.

Megagon Project Solutions are experts in oversized and heavy lift cargo transportation by land and sea as well as port operations, door-to-door services, chartering solutions, route surveys, project planning, feasibility studies, loading & unloading, load securing and engineering solutions.

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The Gruber Logistics team in the Czech Republic transported a total of five chimney modules from Brno to Týnec nad Labem, around 180 kilometres away.

They will now be stored in the inland port until the Elbe has enough water again. Then the modules will travel by inland waterway ship to Hamburg, from where they are taken by sea to their destination in Egypt.

Gruber Logistics is responsible for organizing the first two stages to Hamburg and also carrying out the road transport. The planning took a few weeks. Plenty of preparations were necessary, especially for the road transport. Part of the route led along narrow and winding country roads, as well as through towns and bridges along the way.

Due to the heaviest module weighing 80 tons by itself, and a total weight of 135 tons including the truck and trailer, a bridge survey had to be carried out in advance to ensure safe transport. The other dimensions – the largest part was around 30 meters long, over 4 meters wide and more than 6 meters high – also called for traffic control measurements, including the removal of signs and guard rails and the lifting of cables. Gruber Logistics received support from energy suppliers and electricians as well as the Czech police, who also accompanied the transports.

The modules were transported in two separate convoys, each taking two days from Brno to Týnec nad Labem. For this purpose, three semi-trailers were used, the largest with ten axles, and two low-loaders, which, in addition to the modules, also loaded a special spreader beam for lifting the extraordinary freight.

The transshipment in Týnec nad Labem was then carried out by a mobile crane. Here, the modules were secured on so-called elephant feet. Gruber Logistics has erected a mobile fence for the temporary storage period, and a security service ensures the safety of the freight until it is transported further.

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When it came time for St. Wolfgang, Bavaria-based crane services firm Autokrane Klar GmbH to invest in another 100-tonne machine, managing proprietor Stefan Klar was very clear about what he wanted.

“In this class, we already had an ATF 100 G4, and we’re more than happy with its performance and reliability. That’s why we chose the successor model, the AC 4.110-1, which is even better than the original in every respect.” The crane was formally handed over by Tadano Sales Manager Hans Asam. He’s no stranger to Autokrane Klar – hardly surprising, given that the firm’s fleet already includes six other Tadano all terrain cranes, ranging in lifting capacity from 70 to 400 tonnes, as well as an AC 40 City.

Stefan Klar was particularly taken with the AC 4.110-1’s main boom. At 60 meters in length and even stronger than its predecessor, the boom means the crane delivers lifting capacities that are exceptional in this class. “For me personally, that’s definitely the best thing about this crane,” he said. He was also sold on the crane’s compact dimensions, because even with 24 tonnes of counterweight, it measures only 2.75 meters in width. What’s more, it maintains a counterweight tailswing radius of just 3.8 meters even with the full 30.4 tonnes of counterweight on board.

Autokrane Klar ordered the AC 4.110-1 with a second winch and a heavy-lift runner because it intends to use it mainly for lifting prefabricated building elements and building facades. “It’s perfect for that kind of work right out of the box, and even more so with the optional equipment,” Stefan Klar said.

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Rhenus Switzerland takes a total of 2,511 photovoltaic modules into service on the roof of its logistics building in Schaffhausen after fitting it with a special foil.

The system is expected to produce some 1,100,000 kWh of electricity a year – roughly equivalent to consumption by 220 Swiss households.

Rhenus Switzerland took just four months to have the roof of its logistics facility in Schaffhausen renovated – and it used the opportunity to equip the building with an ultramodern photovoltaic system. Covering an area of approx. 6,700 m2 , the system will produce sustainable and safe electricity that will be fed directly into Rhenus’s network. The sustainable power will supply three buildings on the Rhenus site, comprising offices, warehousing and rented spaces. This will meet the energy needs of a logistics facility comprising 23 loading bays and over 15,000 pallet spaces as well as block storage and stock-picking areas.

Andreas Stöckli, CEO of Rhenus Alpina AG, is thrilled by this development: “We at Rhenus Group prefer being not one but two steps ahead when it comes to sustainable logistics. With the recent expansion of our photovoltaic system in Schaffhausen and with our logistics centres at Basel and Spreitenbach, we are creating the basis for more efficient and climate-friendly transshipment services. Innovative solutions like this are needed to benefit the environment and society as well as our customers.”

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HAROPA’s CEO and Chair of the Management Board Stephane Raison and Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka join IAPH Board as Regional Vice Presidents of Europe and North America.

IAPH is delighted to announce the ratification by the IAPH Council of the new IAPH Board. The Board is formed by the president and six vice presidents, and has general authority to establish broad principles and objectives of IAPH and to make any decision regarding its operation, financing and structure.
New IAPH President

Hamburg Port Authority CEO Jens Meier has been elected as President of IAPH for the next two years, and follows the outgoing Captain K. Subranamiam, General Manager of Port Klang Authority, Malaysia. A graduated computer scientist with more than 25 years of experience in the field of port, logistics, IT, and finance, Jens has been serving as CEO of Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) since 2008. His previous professional positions include board positions at Fiege Holding, tts Group, Systematics AG (later EDS), and Software Design & Management AG (Ernst & Young Group).

IAPH has elected Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka (first row, third right) as the new regional vice president for North America region, stepping into the shoes of Robin Silvester as outgoing President and CEO of Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. HAROPA’s CEO and Chair of the Management Board Stephane Raison (second row, third right) is the new regional vice president for Europe region, stepping into the place vacated by Jens Meier.

Following a benchmark review to further integrate functions to meet the needs of a growing membership base and ambitious work plan, IAPH also has a new organisation chart. Under the co-leadership of the Managing Director Patrick Verhoeven and Secretary-General Masahiko Furuichi, IAPH staff are responsible for technical and policy matters, communications and marketing, membership engagement, as well as finance, legal, and IT. Operational staff are deployed in London, Antwerp and Athens, administrative staff work from the IAPH head office in Tokyo.

Founded in 1955, the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) has developed into a global alliance of 180 port authorities as well as 148 port-related businesses. Comprised of 84 different nationalities across the world’s continents, member ports handle approximately one third of the world’s sea-borne trade and well over 60% of the world container traffic. IAPH leads global port industry initiatives on decarbonization and energy transition, risk and resilience management, and accelerating digitalization in the maritime transport chain. The IAPH’s World Ports Sustainability Program has grown into the reference database of best practices of ports applying the UN Sustainable Development Goals and integrating them into their businesses.

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LS Cargo Logistics GmbH, member to the Worldwide Project Consortium (WWPC) for Germany, has been contracted to transport 21 Monopiles plus 4 Monopile Sections from various ports to a newly established storage area in Taichung, Taiwan.

The individual units have a weight of up to 1.450 tons, length of 90 meter and a diameter of 8 meter. Recently the project started with the first shipment of the Yunlin Relocation Project. The shipments are performed by the MV Fairmaster of Jumbo Maritime.

Project management and port supervision is done by the onsite experts of the LS Cargo Team. Next year these Monopiles will be installed and become part of the OWF Yunlin windfarm which is currently under development.

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LS Cargo Logistics GmbH, member to the Worldwide Project Consortium (WWPC) for Germany, has been contracted to transport 21 Monopiles plus 4 Monopile Sections from various ports to a newly established storage area in Taichung, Taiwan.

The individual units have a weight of up to 1.450 tons, length of 90 meter and a diameter of 8 meter. Recently the project started with the first shipment of the Yunlin Relocation Project. The shipments are performed by the MV Fairmaster of Jumbo Maritime.

Project management and port supervision is done by the onsite experts of the LS Cargo Team. Next year these Monopiles will be installed and become part of the OWF Yunlin windfarm which is currently under development.

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Yara Clean Ammonia, the world’s largest ammonia distributor, and leading global ocean transportation provider Höegh Autoliners, have agreed on a future supply deal for clean ammonia.

In May 2023, the two companies signed a Letter of Intent to partner around the supply, potential distribution, and delivery for consumption of clean ammonia for the Höegh Autoliners’ new AuroraClass PCTC vessels. The twelve Aurora Class vessels will be the world’s largest and most environmentally friendly car carriers ever built, equipped to operate on zero-carbon ammonia and methanol.

The partnership follows separate initiatives in both companies in two important parts of the value chain, namely supply and demand.

“This is exactly the type of collaboration that will accelerate a push towards net zero shipping in the deep-sea segment of the industry. For Höegh Autoliners, this represents another step towards full decarbonization of our customers’ supply chains, and we are pleased to collaborate with a strong Norwegian global player to meet this goal” says Andreas Enger, CEO of Höegh Autoliners.

Both companies consider clean ammonia, produced either with renewable energy or from natural gas with CCS, as a future maritime fuel with high potential that will contribute to solving the greenhouse gas emission challenges associated with global maritime transportation. As part of the Letter of Intent, the companies will also consider the supply of blue ammonia where up to 95% of the CO2- emissions are captured and permanently stored.

Norway has set ambitious targets for cutting emissions from domestic shipping by 50 % by 2030. In July this year, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted a historic ambition of zero emissions for international shipping by 2050. Clean ammonia is a solution that can contribute to reducing the world’s dependency on fossil fuels.

“Being the world’s largest ammonia distributor, Yara Clean Ammonia will be a significant contributor on the path towards zero emissions in the maritime sector. We aim at significantly strengthening our leading global position, unlock the green and blue value chains, and driving the development of clean ammonia globally. Building on Yara’s leading experience within global ammonia production, logistics and trade, Yara Clean Ammonia works towards capturing growth opportunities in net-zero fuel for shipping” says Magnus Krogh Ankarstrand, President of Yara Clean Ammonia.

Höegh Autoliners and Yara are both members of the First Movers Coalition, a World Economic Forum-backed initiative focused on reducing emissions in the ‘hard-to-abate’ sectors.

The First Movers Coalition was launched during COP-26 in Glasgow in November 2021 and was initiated by the US State Department, through Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, and the World Economic Forum.

Höegh Autoliners has committed, through its membership in the First Movers Coalition, to powering at least 5% of its deep-sea operations with green ammonia by 2030. The goal is to run its fleet on at least 100,000 metric tons of green ammonia by that same year.

Yara International is one of the founding members of the First Movers Coalition (FMC). Yara has already cut emissions by more than 50% since 2005 and is targeting a further 30% emission cut by 2030. Yara is aiming at climate neutrality in 2050. Yara Clean Ammonia has committed to supply clean ammonia to be used either as fossil-free shipping fuel, decarbonized fertilizers or as a hydrogen carrier.

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Tadano is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Lloyd Gee-Nyland as the Business Leader for the United Kingdom and Ireland, effective October 30, 2023.

Mr. Gee-Nyland brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having served as the Managing Director for a leading tower crane hire company, since January 2021. In this position, he demonstrated exceptional leadership skills, successfully steering the company’s strategy, budgeting, and overall performance.

Before this role, Mr. Gee-Nyland served as the General Manager and Sales Manager for the same company, where he spearheaded initiatives, such as implementing Salesforce CRM and driving digitalization for increased efficiency.

His extensive career also includes roles such as Heavy Crane Sales/Business Development Manager, Managing Director, and various managerial positions at several companies in the lifting industry., where he honed his skills in sales, account management, and contract negotiation.

Mr. Gee-Nyland holds a BA in Management & Marketing from the University of Hull and has pursued continuous professional development throughout his career.

Known for his strong leadership, comprehensive understanding of financial management principles, and entrepreneurial spirit, Mr. Gee-Nyland is well-positioned to lead Tadano’s operations in the UK and Ireland.

“We are delighted to welcome Lloyd Gee-Nyland to the Tadano family. His proven track record of success and strategic vision will undoubtedly contribute to the continued growth and success of Tadano in the UK and Ireland,” said Takeshi Motoyama, Executive Vice President Sales, Tadano Europe.

Mr. Gee-Nyland expressed his excitement about the new role, stating, “I am honored to join Tadano and lead the team in the UK and Ireland. Tadano’s commitment to innovation and excellence aligns with my values, and I look forward to contributing to the company’s success in the region.”

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Energy and marine consultancy ABL has been awarded a contract by Velesto Drilling to provide marine warranty survey (MWS) services relating to the rig operator’s rig moves offshore Malaysia.

ABL will also support Velesto Drilling with rig moves to adjacent countries, including Vietnam, Indonesia or Thailand, over a one-year period.

Under the new contract, ABL’s rig-moving surveyors in Malaysia are expected to survey and approve approximately 14-16 rig moves offshore Malaysia for Velesto Drilling’s six-rig fleet during the period.

“Our Malaysian rig moving experts have a long history of supporting Velesto Drilling. To secure a new one-year contract is a testament to the mutual trust and positive working relationship our respective teams have built up over many previous rig moves.” Mohd Saifuddin Md Salleh, Country Manager ABL Malaysia.

ABL’s rig moving specialists provide all technical studies associated with rigs including leg penetration assessment (LPA), site specific assessment (SSA), leg punch-through assessment and leg extraction studies.

ABL Malaysia’s operations, based in Kuala Lumpur will manage the contract, with local support from ABL’s offices in adjacent countries where Velesto Drilling may move to.

“Our extensive office network in the Asia Pacific region is a highly valuable resource base fir any offshore company with widespread geographical footprint in the region.” Simon Healy, Regional Managing Director Asia Pacific ABL.

ABL is part of Oslo-listed ABL Group ASA, an independent energy and marine consultancy group to the global renewables, maritime and oil and gas sectors.

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Huisman has signed a partnership agreement with ESD to expand its cable-lay product portfolio and increase its position in the offshore wind market.

The agreement will see the combination of ESD’s expertise in designing smart cable-lay solutions with Huisman’s in-house engineering, production and service capabilities of turn-key equipment.

Huisman has focused on the cable-lay market since 2022, pioneering innovative concepts and intelligent solutions for cable handling, protection and storage. Notably, earlier this year, the company secured its inaugural contract from Dong Fang Offshore for a substantial 3,000mt capacity cable carousel. In addition, a letter of intent (LOI) was inked with the same company, signalling intent to collaborate on the delivery of an advanced cable-lay system (CLS).

Huisman has forged a partnership with the highly experienced operational and design engineers from ESD, known for their previous work with MAATS. This collaboration brings extensive operational knowledge and expertise in efficient CLS design to the forefront.

The partnership’s initial focus is on Huisman’s transferable inter-array CLS, designed for swift mobilisation on multi-purpose vessels. This system addresses the growing demand for adaptable and efficient cable-laying solutions.

Charlotte Roodenburg, Manager New Build Sales at Huisman: “By harnessing Huisman’s ability to provide comprehensive turn-key solutions for complex equipment and leveraging ESD’s extensive track record in tailoring cable-lay solutions, this partnership is well equipped to provide the market with turn-key, innovative cable-lay solutions built on track record and extensive industry knowledge.”

Gavin Rippe, Managing Director at ESD: “ESD is delighted to sign a collaboration agreement with Huisman, from which both companies will gain significant mutual benefit. ESD’s historical track record in designing the most advanced cable-lay vessels will be of great benefit to the partnership.”

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The Central Oceans team in China and South Korea successfully loaded a brand new tugboat this weekend.

The team planned the delivery of the boats to alongside the mother vessel and oversaw the preparations for lifting. After all the preparations were completed, they ensured that the tugboat was safely lifted onboard and secured for their voyage to Mozambique. Once arrived, this powerful lady will start her career in the bustling seaports of Mozambique. Central Oceans want to thank all parties involved and wish the new owners a safe voyage ahead.

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AD Ports Group (ADX: ADPORTS), a global leader in trade, logistics and industry, today announced the purchase of 10 offshore vessels, that will bolster offshore operations in the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

The investment is around US$200 million, into a well-maintained, diversified fleet with an average age of around 9 years, significantly less than the industry average. All 10 vessels are expected to be delivered in Q4 2023 with financial consolidation taking place from Q1 2024 onwards.

The acquisitions, from international Offshore Supply Vessel owner and operator E-NAV, encompass a variety of offshore vessel types, including Multipurpose Supply Vessels (MPSVs), Platform Supply Vessels (PSVs), Diving Support Vessels (DSVs) and Accommodation Workboats (AWB’s), representing an attractive offering, particularly in relation to upcoming major offshore projects in the Middle East where there is a shortage of quality assets.

The Group’s clients in the energy sector can expect to benefit from the enhanced capabilities, capacity and increased geographic footprint in the offshore segment that the investment will bring. The transaction also supports AD Ports Group’s strategy to continue to balance its portfolio of Maritime businesses with assets and services exposed to different market forces and cycles, thereby limiting its performance volatility, amidst forecasts of an upward trend in the offshore O&G market over the medium-long term.

AD Ports Group will take over well-established contracts with blue chip clients in the O&G industry, National Oil Companies, and International Oil Companies in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, expecting a utilisation of around 95% of the existing contracts for the foreseeable future. The investment is expected to generate more than US$70 million p.a. in revenue in the next 3-5 years and the transaction would imply a 12-month forward EV/EBITDA of around 5.0x.

Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and Group CEO, AD Ports Group, said: “I am pleased to announce this key investment, the expansion of our offshore fleet is a significant move in our strategic objective to fortify and enhance our Middle East and Southeast Asia footprint. We recognise the increasing demand in the energy sector, thereby, through bolstering our fleet, our Group is better positioned to demonstrate our role as a premier offshore service provider within these regions, whilst meeting the diverse and growing demands of our customers.”

The global offshore oil and gas market and offshore wind has been positively performing and is forecasted to grow with healthy margins. As an already well-established player catering to the offshore industry, AD Ports Group intends to strengthen its current foundation in this segment to take advantage of these positive developments, improve operating synergies, and better serve its customers.

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