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Precious Logistics Services are new members in Oman! The company provide complete logistics services, but their forte is in project cargo capabilities including oil & gas and military cargo.

The team are professionals in logistics, shipping, transportation, forwarding, chartering, customs compliance and warehousing.

Manager of Projects & Logistics, Ali Saif Al Harthi comments; “Precious Logistics Services is based in the heart of Muscat in Oman (5km from the seaport and 20km from the airport) with an additional presence at Sohar Port. We believe that our success is based upon the simple philosophy of providing a fast, easy-to-use service with the maximum flexibility and the highest standards of customer care.”

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In a research partnership with NAPA, Norsepower has been able to demonstrate the combined benefits of using the Norsepower Rotor Sail solution and NAPA’s Voyage Optimization together.

The research also showed that for voyages with lower potential windpower to harness, the use of voyage optimisation more than doubled the benefits of using the technology in isolation by being able to select routes with more favourable conditions.

These numbers are important for shipowners considering adopting clean energy technologies on their vessels. While it might be tempting to consider each in isolation to ensure a clear and simple payback calculation, this approach does not accurately reflect the potential savings that can be made.

The savings are significant when considered in the context of the IMO’s approach to tightening the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) categories between 2023 and 2030. The reduction rates specified so far (-5% for 2023 and then -2% per year through to 2026) are intended to reduce the carbon intensity of international shipping by at least 40% by 2030, compared to 2008.

The research undertaken by Norsepower and NAPA indicates that the combination of the Norsepower Rotor SailTM and NAPA’s Voyage Optimization can reduce fuel consumption and emissions by up to an impressive 24%. This is particularly significant with the introduction of carbon taxes on the horizon as well as rising fuel costs. The figure is based on examination of historical AIS data from 384 voyages on routes between the US, Europe, China, Saudi Arabia and Australia. Detailed simulations were then conducted to compare this baseline with combinations of maintaining constant engine RPM alongside the application of the Norsepower Rotor Sail and voyage optimisation technologies whilst ensuring the same arrival time for the vessels.

Maintaining constant engine RPM reduced fuel consumption by an average of 9%. Adding voyage optimisation took this to 17%. Adding the Norsepower Rotor SailTM rather than voyage optimisation took it to 16%. The combination of all three measures took it to 24%.

The fuel savings achieved by the Norsepower Rotor SailTM were less than 4% on some voyages and greater than 10% on others – when considering fuel costs alone, 4% is a notable saving and 10% is considerable. However, adding voyage optimisation evened out these differences quite significantly, because the route could be varied to take advantage of local wind speeds without compromising arrival date and without heading the vessel into conditions where waves would counter some of the positive thrust generated by the wind propulsion solution.

NAPA Voyage Optimization determines the best possible voyage plan for a vessel to maximize energy savings, taking into account weather conditions throughout the voyage as well as each ship’s design profile and operational requirements. Norsepower’s Rotor SailTM is specifically considered in the ship performance models that deliver optimal routing.

It is worth noting that the average contribution of the technology to the total propulsion power is comparatively modest in the research simulations. For example, the vessel considered in this study for the Persian Gulf – China route was a VLCC equipped with three 35m high Rotor Sails with a diameter of 5m. Various concept studies have indicated that such vessels can accommodate at least six Rotor Sails of that size. Based on this, increasing savings beyond the results in this study is a real and significant prospect.

When wind propulsion meets a greater portion of total propulsion demand, conventional engines can be downscaled. The investment in a Norsepower Rotor SailTM would then be partly covered by the reduced CAPEX of the engines, building an even stronger case for the uptake of this clean technology. Achieving this needs the right framework and the right mindset to scale up the adoption of clean technologies. But, the numbers are starting to prove themselves and it’s only a matter of time before integrating wind propulsion into ships’ energy systems and using this alongside complementary technologies is an obvious choice.

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Hellmann Worldwide Logistics and its long-standing partner company, ATS-Hellmann Worldwide Logistics AG, have decided to transfer their air and sea freight activities in Switzerland to Hellmann: by establishing its own Swiss national company.

Hellmann will take over the international air and sea freight services previously performed by ATS-Hellmann at the beginning of 2023, thus creating the conditions for strategically expanding its product portfolio and market presence in Switzerland.

ATS-Hellmann has been the operating unit for air and sea freight transport in Switzerland since 1991 and is integrated into the global Hellmann network as an independent partner. As of January 1, 2023, the existing business activities, and the employee base – still headed by Managing Director Kathrin Kuske – will be transferred to the newly founded Hellmann Worldwide Logistics, Switzerland. In addition, Manfred Schellhammer, a proven expert, has been recruited as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Swiss national company. Hellmann will remain in partnership with the ATS Group and will continue to use its services, including air freight handling. Both companies see this step as a consistent continuation of the long-standing partnership with different focus activities in the future.

“The establishment of the Swiss national company is another milestone for us in the strategic development of the Hellmann network in Europe and we look forward to expanding our activities here under our own management from next year. Through targeted investments in our local service portfolio and in conjunction with our global network, we aim to sustainably strengthen the market presence of Hellmann in Switzerland. By bundling our activities in our own network, our customers who have worked with ATS-Hellmann to date will have even more direct access to our global services,” says Jens Tarnowski, Regional CEO of West Europe, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics.

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Agence Maritime Mohab, member to the Worldwide Project Consortium (WWPC) for Tunisia, reported about an urgent delivery of a Skid Piping box, from arrival on a flat rack at Tunis Port to the destination site.

The experts from Mohab arranged for the handling and mobile crane assistance to unload the Skid Piping box of 2,7 ton and dimensions 1.75 x 2.72 x 3.36 m, and safe delivery to the destination site using a low body trailer.

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Hiab, part of Cargotec, announces the launch of the camera system HiVision 2.0 for forestry cranes and improvements to HiVision for MULTILIFT demountables, which are used to operate equipment from inside the truck cabin.

Hiab’s HiVision for forestry cranes uses external cameras to show the cranes surrounding, which the operator can see using virtual reality (VR) goggles inside the truck cabin. This improves productivity, reduces the weight of the equipment and provides a more comfortable and safer working environment for the operator. HiVision 2.0 has an improved camera system combined with a powerful computer and goggles. This supports a higher frame rate as well as a better resolution and brightness to create a more natural viewing experience. It is also possible to retrofit existing LOGLIFT or JONSERED forestry cranes with the first version of HiVision.

“The new HiVision 2.0 reduces the issues of dizziness or blurred vision, commonly associated with the use of VR technology. The solution continues to offer improved precision, safety and comfortable work environment of our forestry cranes and has proven very popular with the customers who bought the first version of HiVision,” says Davide Pernice, Director, Global Product Management, Forestry, Hiab.

HiVision for MULTILIFT offers multiple views from three cameras, container landing spot information and dynamic reversing steering lines for safer, easier and more convenient operation of the hooklift, using a touch-screen display inside the truck cabin. In the new version, Hiab has improved the camera image quality to offer customers safer operation and better efficiency in difficult light conditions such as direct sunlight, pitch dark as well as rain and snow. Obstacle detection software is an additional safety feature that minimises the risk of injury to people or damage to equipment. HiVision for MULTILIFT is available for Hiab’s most advanced hooklift range MULTILIFT Ultima.

“We’re proud to use the latest in camera technology to offer our customers industry-leading productivity and safety features. The best view for the driver to monitor the safe yet effective operation is HiVision for hooklift combined with MULTILIFT’s automatic loading sequence,” says Tuomo Salo, Director, Global Product Management, Waste & Recycling, Hiab.

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PCN are pleased to report VAL Logistics are new members in Colombia.

Cristian Velandia (CEO of Sales & Projects) says; “We are focused on project cargo services and are keen to join a specialist network with expert members”.

They have experience in various industries including power & energy, oil & gas, mining, EPC, paper and many other project cargo and OOG loads.

“We are fast in giving solutions, flexible in operations and reliable in services. With VAL Logistics, project cargo is in expert hands.”

Some recent projects handled by VAL Logistics are shown in the gallery below including:Engines plus accessories from Germany to Colombia; Paper machinery transported door-to-port in Colombia totalling 1,294tn and 1,544 pieces. The cargo was loaded in 114 x 40’HC and 1 x 40’OT with 212cbm of OOG.

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The project logistics experts at C.H. Robinson, who are our members from Canada, were recently chosen for a project involving the movement of over 197,790 cubic meters of wind turbine components from a laydown yard in Kansas to a wind farm in Texas.

Rising fuel costs and a shortage of qualified drivers for this type of freight added challenges to the project, however, that didn’t stop C.H. Robinson from being able to help their client. On top of this, specialised trucks were required for transportation during this project.

Due to their scale and network of contract carriers, all 56 complete wind turbines traveled the 140 miles to the new wind farm.

“In all, it took 560 truckloads and 48 days to transport the 16,402 metric tons of equipment to the site, which included 168 wind blades measuring 62.2 x 3.94 x 2.9 meters each.”

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ABL Group has been awarded a contract to provide marine warranty survey (MWS) services on the Greenlink interconnector – a 500MW interconnector linking power networks in Ireland and Great Britain.

Greenlink is a 190km long HVDC subsea and underground electricity cable that will facilitate energy transmission between the Great Island substation in County Wexford, Ireland, and National Grid’s Pembroke substation, Pembrokeshire, UK.

Not only will the cable enable the two-way flow of energy between Ireland and Great Britain, it will also open up the flow of green energy from Great Britain to wider Europe.

“Interconnectors are key to reaching our international climate goals, allowing transmission of green energy between countries based on supply and demand. They reduce the risk of energy curtailment, whilst reinforcing energy security and efficiency across continents. Greenlink is strategically very important in strengthening Europe’s energy security – now more than ever.” Mike McLachlan, Renewables MWS Director: Europe and London at ABL.

The developer Greenlink Interconnector Ltd. has awarded the contract to ABL’s operation in London, UK.

Greenlink will consist of two converter stations linked by two high voltage direct current cables (HVDC) in a bundled pair under the Irish Sea, each of 160km. There will also be a Fibre Optic cable installed alongside the power cables for control of the interconnector.

Under the contract, ABL will provide marine warranty services for all transportation and installation (T&I) operations relating to the two 160km subsea power and one Fibre Optic cables as well as marine assurance services to check the suitability of the proposed fleet for operations.

“As a group we have worked on more than 30 interconnector projects in either a marine warranty survey or independent engineering capacity, across Europe, Asia, Middle East and the Americas. We are proud to have the opportunity to bring our expertise to support such an important Anglo-Irish project as Greenlink,” adds Mike McLachlan.

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On 3 October 2022, Rhenus Warehousing Solutions Netherlands and the Dutch Ministry of Defence signed an agreement for the construction of a logistics centre in Soesterberg.

The 37,800 square metres building will feature the latest developments in automation to provide flexible storage and handling of defence equipment.

To better support logistics operations for land-based systems, a centralised logistics centre is required at the site of the Kamp Soesterberg military barracks. The new Logistics Centre Soesterberg (LCS) will be built to fulfil this role. The LCS will be set up to optimally support the logistics concept of the Dutch Ministry of Defence and further improve performance. In addition, the logistics centre will be very adaptable and flexible in terms of storage capacity and operations to accommodate current rapid political changes worldwide and the associated ambitions of the armed forces.

Colonel ir. D.J. Blaas, project leader Defence, says: “Through this cooperation with market party Rhenus and its partners, Defence expects to make optimal use of best practices and innovation in logistics in the design, construction, maintenance and operation of the new logistics centre”.

Markus Simons, Managing Director at Rhenus Contract Logistics, says: “We are honoured that the Ministry of Defence has chosen to build a logistics centre together with Rhenus. The new LCS will enable them to adapt efficiently and effectively to rapidly changing national and international developments.”

In order to build the LCS, the Ministry of Defence opted to collaborate with Rhenus to design, build, maintain, jointly operate and develop the building, the logistical facilities and the surrounding outdoor space.

The LCS is a joint effort of Rhenus and the Ministry of Defence. Rhenus will be supporting the Ministry of Defence in all aspects of the warehouse process. The company is using its experience to design, analyse, improve and monitor processes and set up warehouses. The Ministry of Defence will be in charge and will have final responsibility for the development and operation of the LCS.

Close partners in this project are Districon for the logistics design, DokVast for the construction and design, and Heembouw as the appointed contractor.

According to the current schedule, construction will start in the first quarter of 2024 and the site will come into operation in the second quarter of 2025.

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Collé Rental & Sales, specialized in the rental, sales and service of machines and equipment for the construction industry, has placed a mega order with Nooteboom Trailers.

The delivery includes 26 units of 3- and 4-axle semi-low loaders with self-steering axles from the Nooteboom SMART program. Through hired charters, Collé has had very positive feedback about the Nooteboom semi low loaders in recent years, which made Collé decide to award this mega order to Nooteboom.

A total of 20 units of 3-axle semi low loaders (OSDS-48-03EB) and 6 units of 4-axle semi low loaders with extendable loading floor (OSDS-58-04V) will be delivered. The semi low-loaders are intended for Collé’s various branches in Europe. Meanwhile, the first semi-low loaders have been delivered to Collé Rental.

The semi low loaders are characterized by a very low dead weight, a low loading floor height and a strong and robust chassis. The 3-axle semi-trailers are all equipped with 5-meter automatically hydraulic folding ramps with grid floor and a hydraulic gooseneck ramp. This allows aerial work platforms of up to approximately 36 tons to be loaded onto the loading floor and gooseneck very efficiently and safely.

The 4-axle extendable semi-low loaders are equipped with load floor widening and offer a payload of approx. 45 tons. These semi-low loaders are mainly used for transporting tracked construction machines and wheel loaders. Especially for this application, the trailers are equipped with extra reinforced 4-meter hydraulically folding ramps.

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In a written editorial for Ship Management International, Tuomas Riski, Norsepower CEO, highlighted how enabling ship operators to work smarter and more sustainably requires a full 360-degree view of innovation and efficiency.

“The clean technology market has often been characterised by investments in a single

technology with the value of the technology being largely based on its promised payback period.”

Yet, the greatest fuel and emissions savings are actually the combined result of operational strategy, optimised design and clean technology, says Riski.

He recalls how he sailed on the SC Connector, a roro fitted with Norsepower Rotor Sails. The captain and crew were taking advantage of wind forecasts when planning their voyages to increase the fuel savings already being generated by the technology.

Combining wind propulsion technology with other clean technologies such as optimised propeller technologies and power take off and take in systems deliver tangible value and economies of scale.

The SC Connector, for example, has multiple clean technologies including batteries and the Norsepower Rotor Sails working together to achieve optimal performance.

There isn’t time to install clean technologies one at a time and it doesn’t make sense to, says Riski. Taking a wider view will unlock opportunities to reduce emissions and increase return on investment. “There is huge potential to increase efficiency and profitability by combining our technology with other efficiency measures.”

“We need to challenge the conventional thinking around energy efficiency clean technology investment… A more holistic approach means we rewrite the rule book.

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The Siemens Gamesa 5.X onshore platform has reached a huge milestone, with the 100th wind turbine installed at the 372 MW Björnberget wind farm near Ange, Sweden, for partners Prime Capital and Enlight.

The first Siemens Gamesa 5.X prototypes were installed in Denmark and Spain at the beginning of 2021, and the platform is already delivering green and secure energy for our customers and their end user.

Designed and built at our facilities in Agreda, Spain, and Vagos, Portugal, the Siemens Gamesa 5.X is now installed in six projects in Sweden and Brazil, just one year after it was first introduced at the Skaftaasen wind farm, in Sweden.

Indeed, the Siemens Gamesa 5.X wind turbine portfolio continues to evolve. This week the company launched a new variant called the SG 7.0-170, which will have a 7-MW rating helping customers to produce even more clean, green energy.

The Siemens Gamesa 5.X is the largest unit capacity in the onshore portfolio, with a rated capacity of up to 7-MW, and the largest rotor diameters, 155 and 170 meters, resulting in maximum performance in high, medium and low-wind conditions. The 170-meter rotor is among the largest in the onshore segment.

The Siemens Gamesa 5.X onshore platform incorporates the company’s proven technology, experience and expertise, based on its installed wind fleet of more than 104.5 GW worldwide, enough to power 90.2 million households.

“To reach a century of 5.X turbines installed in such a short time is a huge achievement for everyone in Siemens Gamesa, especially in the face of tough external challenges over the last few years. The platform is delivering for our customers and for the end user of the megawatts of renewable electricity they are generating, and we now look forward to reaching the next 100 of these turbines installed even sooner,” said Clark MacFarlane, CEO of Siemens Gamesa’s operations in Northern Europe and the Middle East.

“We would like to congratulate Siemens Gamesa for achieving this important milestone, as we work together to bring a new era of clean energy to the region. Completing the Björnberget project shall be an important achievement also for Enlight as we grow into one of the leading global renewable energy companies. We expect Björnberget wind farm, one of the largest onshore farms in Europe, to generate first green power soon, and reach full commercial operation during the first quarter of 2023,” said Enlight’s CEO, Gilad Yavetz.

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Hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of delegates from the international breakbulk community descended on the home of European breakbulk for AntwerpXL 2022.

The event, which was held at the Antwerp Expo, Antwerp on 4 – 6 October 2022, welcomed representatives from the biggest names in forwarding and logistics as they gained insight into the trends, challenges and opportunities facing the industry, strengthened existing relationships, and, critically, struck up new partnerships.

Visitor Istvan De Laat, Antwerp Slitter, said, “We’ve entered, walked less than a few meters and already met four new prospects!”

Another visitor, Andrei Zyryanov, PACE Forwarding, said, “The business cards I have in my pocket are all Managing Director, CEO, COO, and so on. Decisions are made here.”

Exhibitor, Erik Adriaenssens, Managing Director, Boeckmans, said, “I’ve been impressed with the quality of attendants and the contents of the exhibition, everyone here is really into shipping!”

VIP guest, Marc de Beunje, Head of Business Development Europe, DHL, said, “Industrial projects at DHL are becoming increasingly international so events like this offer an opportunity to combine an internal catch-up with networking. It would be great if we could do that at AntwerpXL every year.”

And Bob Wierenga, Operations Manager at Tata Steel, said, “We’re here for innovations and to network with suppliers. We’ve had some really good conversations. We’ve really enjoyed it.”

Rikki Bhachu, Head of Marketing at AntwerpXL, says, “Antwerp is the heart of breakbulk, and AntwerpXL is the key event of the year. It’s hard to put into words the incredibly positive energy we’ve had all throughout the exhibition and conference, and next year will be bigger and better!”

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