28 minute read
Adani hands back coal terminal to Visakhapatnam Port
Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) has handed a coal handling terminal back to Visakhapatnam Port Authority. APSEZ was only a few years into a 30-year contract it was granted to operate the facility. The move was unusual but prompted by the fact that changing business conditions had made the business no longer viable.
The handing back of the terminal was on the order of an arbitration terminal, which ordered the return after the port authority paid 1,550,000 rupees ($20,000) in compensation.
APSEZ, which is India’s biggest private port operator, will continue to pursue its arbitration case regarding the decision and has mounted a separate legal challenge in the Andhra Pradesh High Court. This aims to establish whether the terminal was ‘first’ terminated by it or the port authority. Winning this case is vital for APSEZ if it is to participate in tenders issued by state-run ports for cargo-handling contracts, since it may well be in violation of conditions set out in such contracts in respect of qualification. Indeed, APSEZ was barred by the port authority from participating in the tender for mechanization of West Quay Berths 7 and 8 at the port. Although APSEZ challenged the exclusion, it lost the case, but has since launched an appeal.
Visakhapatnam Port Authority issued a consultation notice to APSEZ subsiary Adani Vizag Coal Terminal Pvt Ltd (AVCTPL) on 3 October 2020, in which it cited a failure to achieve the minimum guaranteed throughput stipulated in the coal terminal contract. The company rejected this, pointing out that business had been adversely impacted by the pandemic and therefore sought mutual termination of the contract. It then sent its own termination notice to the port authority and, in November 2020, invoked an arbitration clause. The port authority subsequently issued a final termination notice, stating the contract would end on 23 April 2021. In December 2021, the arbitration panel issued an interim award to be paid by the port authority.
APSEZ notes that its coal terminal contract was one that involved the handling of imported steam/thermal coal and that this collapsed after the government made policy changes to promote the use of domestic coal, thereby reducing imports and negatively hitting volumes of imported coal handling by the terminal. Barry Cross
Cargo of Every Flavor.
Ever since Russia annexed Crimea some eight years ago, it has been rapidly reducing its dependence on Ukrainian ports. Russian cargo handled in the Ukraine has therefore dropped from 10mt (million tonnes) in 2013 to 1.8mt in 2021. Liquid bulk and coal traffic generated most tonnage in 2013; nowadays, it is mostly ore, concentrated at Yuzhny and Izmail port.
Even export Russian ore shipped via Ukrainian ports halved between 2019 and 2021. Exporter Metalloinvest switched its ore shipments to the new Ultramar terminal in Ust-Luga. This is now annually handling 2.5mt of Metalloinvest pellets and hot briquette iron.
With ore now handled ever more by Russia’s own ports, it no longer depends on ports in Ukraine. However, in respect of grain exports, the situation is much different. This is partly driven by the lack of deep draught at Russian ports in the Azov Sea – Black Sea region. This often results in partial loading of grain takes place in Russian ports with top up taking place in neighbouring Ukrainian ports.
However, Russia is looking at banning transshipment of cargo outside of Russian ports, with exporters testing a new logistics scheme last year in which grain was loaded onto a large bulk carrier at the Port of Kavkaz. This arrived by smaller vessels from the Azov and Volga regions, thereby obviating the need for larger vessels to top of shipments at port in Ukraine.
At the same time, Russia is looking to increase berth water depth at existing ports in the south. New grain berths at Novorossiysk will be able to accommodate larger bulk vessels, for example. This will be achieved by building an entirely new quay area as well as the modernization of existing terminals. Export infrastructure capacity will therefore grow by 9mt per year.
Russia is also hoping to carry an additional four million tonnes of bulk a year by opening up the inland waterway system for all-year-round operation on the Astrakhan – Rostov-on-Don route. Barry Cross
The Port of Duisburg ceases all business activity in Belarus
Duisburger Hafen AG is ceasing all business activity in Belarus with immediate effect. This decision was taken in view of the war in Ukraine and the support of this war by Belarus. The decision is based on close coordination between the Executive Board, the Supervisory Board and shareholders.
Duisport will divest both its minority stake (0.59%) in the international development company of the industrial and logistics park Great Stone as well as its stake in Eurasian Rail Gateway CJCS (38.9%) that planned the building and operation of a bimodal terminal. Furthermore, Duisport’s representative office in Minsk has already definitively been closed.
At the time of the investment, Germany and the EU had been engaged in a constructive dialogue with Belarus. The developments since the last presidential election and the support of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine were not foreseeable.
“Our thoughts are with the people in Ukraine and we hope for a quick end of the war”, says duisport-CEO Markus Bangen. “We unreservedly close this chapter of our engagement in Belarus. We have already been critically questioning our activities there since the elections in 2020 and upon instigation by the Chairman of the Supervisory Board have reviewed our course of action. However, as an international consortium, we were not able and are not able to take steps unilaterally. In the current situation, however, it is all the more important for us to send a message by cutting all business ties with Belarus and conducting specific negotiations with our co-shareholders regarding the exit from the companies”, adds Bangen.
The Port of Duisburg neither conducts business in Russia or Ukraine nor does it have any holdings there.
Statement from North Sea Port on Ukraine
“The events in Ukraine have also shocked North Sea Port. After all, the port has long had close and good relations with Ukraine and in particular with the port of Mykolaiv. Our support and thoughts go out to the inhabitants of Ukraine and the employees of the companies and ports with which our port area cooperates. Where possible, the Port Authority supports companies and organizations in their activities to jointly cope with the terrible events in Ukraine.
“On 13 March, the Port Authority took note of the appeal by the Dutch Consulate of Ukraine to some shareholders of North Sea Port and to the Port Authority to close the port specifically for Russian ships.
“The Port Authority is in close contact with the Dutch, Belgian and European authorities as well as with the companies in the port area that are affected by the war in Ukraine. The Port Authority also follows up on the proclamation of sanction measures in consultation with the national authorities in Belgium and the Netherlands and other seaports.
“North Sea Port has sympathy for the appeal of the consulates of Ukraine to the ports to independently and unilaterally ban Russian ships. However, North Sea Port does not have its own policy regarding specific sanction measures, such as closing the port for Russian vessels. The Port Authority feels, as do the other ports in the Netherlands and Belgium, that this is reserved for the national and European authorities. It must be possible to view the sanction measures and their consequences in conjunction with each other in the light of the complexity of such measures and their consequences.
“The effectiveness and coherence of the European and national sanction measures and our position as a seaport of national importance are key issues for the Port Authority.”
United Kingdom regional report
Great British Bulk Off
Jay Venter
As a vital part of the supply chains of businesses throughout the UK, Associated British Ports’ 21 ports support 119,000 jobs and contribute £7.5 billion to the economy every year, handling £150 billion of trade.
ABP believes that its focus on safety and investment, together with its great geographical locations, are the key differentiators that separate it from the competition.
HANDLING DRY BULK Dry bulk arrives and departs tri-modally: by ship, by rail and by road. 17 of ABP’s 21 ports have rail connectivity. ABP also operates Hams Hall Terminal, the UK’s largest inland railfreight terminal.
Commodities handled include agribulk, fertilizers and construction materials (including ‘sea-dredged aggregate’, using ABP’s port locations to land and distribute sand, gravel, and cementitious products to a wide range of domestic consumers). ABP also handles mineral and white powder segments, with specialist handling of soda ash, nepheline, and dolomite, to be used in chemical, medical and construction manufacturing processes.
IMPROVED PERFORMANCE Last year Associated British Ports handled 20.7mt (million tonnes) of dry bulk, compared to 19.1mt in 2020.
“The list of dry bulk commodities increases each year,” explains Paul Litten, ABP’s Head of Commercial, Wales and Short Sea Ports (WSSP), “with sustained investment in ABP’s people, their safety, storage facilities, and equipment being a key part of the service offering to customers.” Litten says that over £300 million has been invested in the last six years in storage and handling equipment alone, “which improves discharge and loading performance as well as our ability to store more product in the same overall footprint, through the innovative design of new bulk storage facilities.”
The uplift in dry bulk volumes resulted from increased confidence in the marketplace in 2021 (following the effects of the pandemic in 2020), growth in construction and ABP’s ports being positioned in the right places.
“For example,” says Litten, “ABP’s Port of King’s Lynn handled its first shipment of granite successfully. ABP also signed a new long-term agreement with Tarmac at Port Talbot, a new ten-year agreement with Island Steel at Newport and celebrated milestones at the Port of Ipswich for Agribulks and construction materials.”
For this year, ABP expects further volumes of construction materials into the UK, which will be driven by national infrastructure projects and house-building demand.
BULK HANDLING OPERATING AREA ABP has hundreds of acres dedicated to the handling and storage of dry bulk across its 21 ports.
ABP has an agreed platform of additional investment for expanding both internal and external storage.
“For example, in South Wales, there is planned investment for 60,000ft2 of covered agribulk storage and 435,000ft2 of open storage.” expands Litten.
ABP has a range of fixed and harbourmobile cranes to handle the commodities at its facilities. According to Litten there is also a range of new electric and hybrid www.drycargomag.com
cranes on order, “which will be delivered in the next 18 months. We are also investing in new front-loading shovels and smaller excavators to handle additional cargo volumes from rail.”
Furthermore, ABP adds value to the commodities handled, by providing a wide range of services, including drying, ‘rip and tip’, blending, rebagging and distribution services. “These are developing across all our regions,” says Litten, “driven by customer demand and a much wider choice of materials available from across the world. By providing these services, it is more costeffective for customers. It reduces unnecessary transport (and therefore CO2 emissions) and provides customers with a ‘one-stop solution’, eliminating administrative burdens.
INVESTMENTS ABP is investing in new sheds in its ports the Humber, South Wales and North West. ABP has also brought forward more than 1,000 acres of development land to support the UK’s supply chain, manufacturing and renewable energy sectors, in its Port-Centric Manufacturing campaign.
Decarbonizing the future – Anemoi paves the way with its Rotor Sails
The Afros was fitted with Anemoi’s Rotor Sails in 2018.
British engineering company, Anemoi, provides proven wind propulsion technology, driving a more sustainable future for the shipping industry.
ANEMOI ROTOR SAILS Anemoi Rotor Sails, also known as Flettner Rotors, are an energy saving technology. These modern mechanical sails are comprised of tall cylinders which, when driven to spin, harness the renewable power of the wind to provide auxiliary propulsion to vessels. As they spin, they create the aerodynamic phenomenon ‘Magnus Effect’ which causes a change in air pressure which, in turn, creates a thrust perpendicular to the Rotor Sail to drive the vessel forward. As a result, this additional thrust significantly reduces fuel consumption and lowers harmful emissions entering our atmosphere by 5–30%.
Installing Rotor Sails on a vessel does not impact the type of cargo that can be transported. “The Afros, our pilot installation, is a Ultramax bulker with four Rotor Sails.” says Nick Contopoulos, COO, Anemoi. “It has been sailing since 2018 and has carried various cargoes since then including coal, sand, grains, alumina, fertilizers, ferrochrome, manganese ore, steel slabs, iron ore, alumina, soya bean meals, sulphur.
The company’s Rotor Sails come in various sizes and are either fixed to the deck or installed on a rail deployment system to allow them to be cleared away when cargo operations are under way. A foldable deployment option is also available when air-draught is an issue and for vessels carrying potentially hazardous cargo, an EX rating adaptation can be installed, if required.
Contopoulos further explains “Looking more specifically at the Anemoi Rotor Sail System, this is comprised of the Rotor Sail itself, the Foundation, Deployment System (if required), wind sensors and Electrical, Control, and Automation systems. The main components of the Rotor Sails are the ‘Rotor’ (the cylindrical, rotating part), the Tower, upper and lower bearings, and the electrical drive system. An electric motor is used to rotate the sails in order to harness the renewable power of the
wind and propel the ship.”
MAJOR CLIENTS AND NEW AGREEMENTS Anemoi’s wind solution is tried and tested and has been fitted to commercial vessels since 2018, delivering significant fuel and emissions savings. The company first fitted Rotor Sails to Blue Planet Shipping’s 64,000-dwt bulk carrier, Afros, in 2018.
“Early last year we signed a Joint Development Project (JDP) with Oldendorff Carriers, Lloyd’s Register and Shanghai Merchant Ship Design and Research Institute” says Contopoulos, “to develop a wind-assisted propulsion design solution for dry bulk carriers. The project is scheduled to be completed this year and will mean various vessel integration designs are available ‘off the shelf’.”
Anemoi has also signed a commercial agreement with Tufton Investment Management Ltd (Tufton) to supply and fit the CS Marine designed 82,000dwt Kamsarmax bulk carrier, TR Lady, with three large Rotor Sails and its patented Rail Deployment System. TR Lady, built in 2017 by Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Group and managed by Tufton, will be retrofitted with the Rotor Sails during a scheduled dry docking of the vessel.
Anemoi will provide full project management, supply and delivery of the system equipment. Work is scheduled to be completed in mid-2022. Speaking earlier this year Andrew Hampson, CEO of Tufton, said: “Tufton is committed to investing in greenhouse gas emission reduction technologies including Energy Saving Devices and deployment of digital and other management tools to reduce maritime greenhouse gas emissions. The commercial agreement with Anemoi is representative of Tufton’s capability to carefully select from a variety of environmentally friendly technologies in order to achieve commercial as well as environmental targets. I am pleased to work with Anemoi and look forward to a successful installation with the resulting reduction in emissions.”
WIND PROPULSION’S BULLISH FUTURE According to the International Windship Association (IWSA) there are approximately 18 commercial vessels fitted with wind propulsion technologies today, but the EU forecasts almost 11,000 installations by 2030. The market for wind propulsion has grown significantly over the last couple of years as the technologies develop from concepts to commercial products. Today, Anemoi has proven Rotor Sail technology and so it sees a lot of growth in this sector as the shipping industry starts to decarbonize and new regulations are introduced, such as CII and EEXI. Anemoi Rotor Sails have a significant impact on maintaining compliance.
“It is important during this time when the industry is moving towards a decarbonized future to look at alternative solutions to minimize carbon emissions.” Contopoulos says. He continues “Rotor Sails are one such solution. We have developed a Fuel Saving Assessment Model (FSAM) to accurately predict fuel and emissions savings from various sizes and classes of vessel. Central to FSAM are four key data sets which are: Rotor Sail performance data (harvested from Anemoi’s full scale UK test facility), vessel performance data, route data and wind data. FSAM utilizes this data to simulate thousands of historic voyages over a five-year period to ensure the results accurately reflect the wind conditions experienced on the chosen route. Any additional drag and increased generator usage are also included so that the net results are fair and transparent”
For example, for a 310,000dwt VLCC trading the Bonny-Ningbo route and fitted with six Rotor Rails, Contopoulos says FSAM predicts an annual fuel and emission saving of 15.8%, which equates to 1,903 tonnes of fuel and 5,918 tonnes of carbon saved each year.
“Savings attributed to an 210,000dwt Newcastlemax bulker with four Rotor Sails plying a Qingdao-Tubarao route could save up to 14.6% on fuel and emissions,” he adds, “which equates to 1,307 tonnes of fuel and 4,065 tonnes of carbon saved each year. In turn, this reduces the Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index [EEXI] score by 19.64%.
“These numbers and savings are undoubtedly a great incentive for shipowners to consider solutions such as Rotor Sails.”
NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS & FUTURE STUDY Last year, in conjunction with Tufton Investment Management Ltd, Anemoi secured the prestigious ‘Wind Propulsion Innovation Award for developers of innovative technology and installations’.
The Wind Propulsion Innovation Awards received a substantial 84 nominations. This was then shortlisted to just over 30 businesses across seven categories by a 27-person panel. In the 17 days of voting the awards logged 40,000 votes, before the winner was announced at COP26, streamed live from Glasgow as part of the Malin Spotlight series.
“A selection of judges from across the shipping and renewable energy sectors were impressed by the upcoming retrofitting of Rotor Sails on Tufton’s TR Lady.” says Contopoulos.
Anemoi also recently announced an agreement with the MOL Group and Vale International SA to conduct a joint study on installation of Rotor Sails on a 200,000tonne class in-service bulk carrier, which mainly transports iron ore for steel production. The goal is to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the vessel while under way.
Cleveland Cascades Engineers in January visited its customer in Fowey, UK to support with the installation of replacement spare parts following an inspection that was carried out in 2021.
The works included the removal of the system from the ship loader and head chute to allow for the cones to be worked on at the dockside.
Each of the cone liners were removed, the cones cleaned and prepped before new liners being installed.
Following the completion of the cone lining the trimmer, head chute and deflector liners were replaced. The cable reeling drum and hoist ropes were also changed out during the works.
In addition to the mechanical works, a new load cell setup was implemented to the cleveland cascade system. Due to the age of the original setup, the components had became obsolete and were taken out of commission. Having the new load cell reinstated to the system provides an extra degree of protection during loading operations.
Once the work on the cones was complete and the cone stack re-assembled a new shroud cover was installed onto the system.
The system was then inspected and the working limits set.
The system is one of Cleveland Cascades’ 1100 sized Cascade Chutes approximately 14.7m in length at full extension and 3.5m in a retracted state. The system is designed to load kaolin at rates of up to 1,000 tonnes per hour from a luffing shiploader.
Further works on a replacement winch system is to take place in early 2022. Each of the cone liners were removed, the cones cleaned and prepped before new liners being installed.
REGIONAL REPORT Port of Tyne unveils new ‘No Ordinary Port.’ brand identity
Heavy lift vessel Aegir towers above the Port of Tyne.
Three years ago, the Port of Tyne launched its Tyne 2050 strategy and on the 8th of March 2022, to celebrate the many milestones already achieved, a radical new brand identity and logo was revealed at the Society of Maritime Industries 2022 Conference.
In its ‘Tyne Transformed’ design brief, the port’s leadership team wanted a bold identity that captured the passion, dynamism and energy at one of the UK’s fastest changing ports. It also needed to clearly show how much the port has evolved and how it continues to diversify operations from solely focusing on traditional shipping activities, to become a world class hub for clean energy and maritime innovation.
The Port of Tyne occupies a unique, deep water location at the mouth of the River Tyne, so it was important that this natural resource synonymous with the Port’s position within the local community was emphasized in the new brand identity. A key design element of the re-brand is a generative ‘kinetic Tyne’, a dynamic visual representing a 17-mile stretch of the River Tyne that terminates at the port. Just like the fluidity and expansiveness of water, this innovative visual icon enables the brand identity to be continually in ‘motion’, just as the port continues to evolve and is open for business 365 days a year.
Communicating the port’s significant recent achievements and ambition, the new identity includes the brand mantra ‘No Ordinary Port.’ This relaunch clearly demonstrates just how much progress has been made by leadership to date. The new branding is intentionally unlike anything else within the maritime industry today and marks a radical new phase in the Port of Tyne’s strategic development plans.
Linked to the ‘No Ordinary Port’ strategic message unveiled with the rebrand are three other key sub-messages each linking the port’s core values with its commercial achievements.
These include: v Built on Trust: as a Trust Port, the Port of Tyne is entirely self-funding; v Pioneering Sustainability: expected to be net zero by 2030, the port is the operations base for the world’s largest offshore windfarm and becoming a hub for electric vehicle manufacturing; v Driven by Innovation: the port will soon be implementing site wide 5G and has been home to UK Maritime’s only
Innovation Hub, a centre of excellence for cross-industry collaboration and knowledge transfer since 2019.
As part of its brand transformation, the port has also re-energized its colour palette, adopting fresh new colours inspired by nature and the local area to further emphasize the importance of environmental sustainability to its future success.
Matt Beeton, CEO at the Port of Tyne says, “The port has changed and we’ve worked tirelessly to deliver the intentionally ambitious targets set within the Tyne 2050 strategic framework, so it was time for us to visualize this transformation and change the way we look.”
He adds, “Our new visual direction has the River Tyne at its heart because these waters are the beating heart of our region and key to our green economy. We have taken inspiration from the twists and turns of the river to capture the energy here at the port and used its unique form to create dynamic branding that reflects where we are today and our ongoing vision for the future.”
Jamie Steane, Associate Professor in Communication Design at Northumbria University said, “The Port of Tyne’s new brand identity successfully links its maritime heritage with an exciting and confident new future. The well-chosen ‘Navigo’ font provides a fresh take on classic modernist typefaces suggesting strength and continuity.
He adds, “The use of the river as a motif will resonate with people from the region, and whilst its shape may not be familiar to those from further afield, its dynamism has the potential for various graphic applications and animation giving it an attractive energy. The overall brand language will provide the port with a flexible yet identifiable tool kit that mirrors its own development.”
Tom Nightingale, North East Stakeholder Manager at Equinor says, “The Port of Tyne really is no ordinary port, with a clear vision for green growth aligned to our own vision as operator of the world’s largest offshore wind farm. With our operations and maintenance base located in the Port of Tyne, we are delighted to see trust, sustainability and innovation at the heart of this great brand, which is already iconic across the region and maritime industry.”
Tom Chant, Chief Executive Officer, Society of Maritime Industries says, “It is by no coincidence that the Society of Maritime Industries (SMI) is hosting its annual conference in the North East. As the UK’s maritime engineering trade body, we sought a region with not only a rich maritime heritage but one that also has a clear and exciting vision for the future. The port of Tyne’s ‘No Ordinary Port’ message exemplifies that and their rebrand is a further example of the port’s forwardlooking strategy.”
GB Railfreight (GBRf) has taken delivery of a Class 18 hybrid+ shunting locomotive as part of a three-month trial with Beacon Rail Leasing, marking the latest expansion of its growing fleet.
As GBRf looks towards the future of its assets, the shunting locomotive will enable low noise and zero emissions, demonstrating a clear contribution to the challenge of meeting the UK’s net zero carbon targets.
The locomotive was delivered to Whitemoor on 1 February, where it is undergoing a series of testing to understand its capabilities and performance.
Manufactured by Clayton Equipment Ltd, the Class 18 is powered by an onboard battery that provides emissions-free operation where charging facilities are available, or through a regenerative braking system. When challenges with range or operation occur, an efficient onboard Stage V compliant engine can be utilized to increase the locomotive’s running time.
David Golding, Asset Director, GB Railfreight, said: “The Class 18 hybrid+ shunting locomotive has the power to play a key role in the decarbonization of our future fleet. Going forward, it will offer a wide range of sustainable benefits capable of significantly reducing the environmental impact of our operations.”
Rob Dee, Chief Commercial Officer, Beacon, said: “We are very pleased to have delivered the first of our order of 15 Class 18 hybrid+ shunting locomotives, from Clayton Equipment, to GB Railfreight. This is a key milestone in our delivery programme and we look forward to working with GB Railfreight through their trial period. This locomotive will offer our customers a greener and sustainable option for railfreight operations in the UK against the backdrop of targets to reduce emissions,”.
Clive Hannaford, Managing Director, Clayton Equipment, said: “We are very proud to supply GB Railfreight through Beacon Rail with the Class 18 locomotive. In the fast-changing environment with decarbonization targets, the increased demand for lower emissions, new technology and more capacity, the Clayton Equipment Hybrid+ CBD90 will support GBRf with sustainable environmental benefits which meets their commitment to invest in new technology and provide real cost savings”.
ABOUT GB RAILFREIGHT Founded in 1999 and headquartered in London, United Kingdom, GB Railfreight (GBRf) is one of the fastest-growing companies in the rail industry, transporting goods for a wide range of customers across the country.
GBRf operates a reliable, safe, and sustainable portfolio of rail freight services for customers working in intermodal, energy generation, infrastructure, waste, construction, and rail services.
With a workforce totalling more than 1,000 staff from across the UK, GBRf’s unique people-focused culture has won the acclaim of the sector, achieving the Great Place to Work award at the National Rail Awards 2020.
GBRf prides itself on five core principles that resonate across the business: communication and visibility, professionalism, trust and empowerment, enjoyment, and support.
ABOUT BEACON Beacon Rail Leasing is a rolling stock leasing company headquartered in Luxembourg and focused on serving the European and UK markets. Beacon Rail Leasing’s current portfolio includes 479 locomotives, a 1,200 freight wagons, and 575 passenger train vehicles and intercity coaches on lease across Europe. Beacon Rail Leasing has an industry leading management expertise and capital markets experience, enabling it to meet the equipment needs of its panEuropean customer base.
LOCAL OFFICE WILL HELP STRENGTHEN IDWAL’S RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THIS IMPORTANT REGION AND PROVIDE QUICKER AND MORE DIRECT REACTION TO CUSTOMERS’ REQUIREMENTS On 10 March, Idwal — which has a major office in the UK — a global company specializing in vessel inspections, announced the opening of a representative office in Tokyo, Japan. This office is headed by experienced maritime professional, Kempu Arisawa. The expansion of its representation in Japan is the latest in a series of growth strategies as the UK business capitalizes on its recent market gains, strong technology foundations, and lengthy maritime experience.
Arisawa has worked in the maritime industry for almost 40 years, most recently as president of AR Corporation Ltd., a company he founded in 2014 to offer maritime consultancy services to an array of maritime clients. Prior to this, Arisawa worked for Japanese ship owners as president and also director, and, before this, he was employed by trading House Nichimen Corporation (now Sojitz) for over 20 years.
Arisawa commented: “I am very pleased to open a representative office for Idwal in Japan. As most people know, Japanese shipowners and financial institutions control a vast quantity of tonnage in the global shipping markets and are very active participants in global second-hand markets where Idwal has a market leading position. These are exciting times as the Idwal Presale and Condition Inspection services are being widely accepted by Japanese clients.”
Additionally, there has recently been a change in the way Japanese financial institutions approach asset finance, which focuses on the collateral value of the financed ship. For financial institutions structuring asset finance, the vessel is the collateral itself and condition surveys are essential to monitor the state of the ship. “This is a growing area for Idwal and having a team on hand, to support our customers where the activity is happening, is vital as demand grows”, said Idwal’s CEO, Nick Owens.
Idwal plans to expand its sales, technical and operational teams in Japan over the coming months and years as it grows its unique inspection service. Idwal deploys a rigorous and standardized inspection process, underpinned by a digital methodology, to deliver market-leading inspection reports. All reports feature the Idwal Grade®, a number between 1 and 100 showing the integrity of any maritime asset or investment whilst enabling easy benchmarking and comparisons at a glance.
Idwal grew from Graig Shipping PLC which is still a major sponsor and shareholder of the business. Idwal was formed in 2010 to develop services for the ship inspection market.
Giant Mantsinen 300 from Finland heads west to ABP Port of Immingham
The world’s largest hydraulic crane is heading to the port of Immingham in a £3 million investment by Associated British Ports (ABP).
Supplied by Cooper Specialised Handling Ltd, the UK’s leading independent port equipment supplier, the crane, model Mantsinen 300M Hybrilift is currently being built by Mantsinen in Finland.
In their early years, the forerunners of today’s 300M were material handlers and have become popular with UK ports for their speed of operation. They have historically however been ‘small cranes for small vessels,’ an ideology that Mantsinen blew away with their 200 series machines in 2008 and the launch of the 300 in 2018. These super-sized machines now have the reach and capacity to serve Panamax size vessels and can handle as much as 1,500 tonnes per hour — far greater than the rope crane equivalents.
Simon Bird, Regional Director for ABP Humber said: “Our investment in buying the world’s largest hydraulic crane shows our commitment to ensuring we have the best plant and equipment on the ports to service our customers’ needs. We’re also thrilled to be the first company in Great Britain to have this giant on our port’.”
ABP already operates a fleet of smaller Mantsinen machines across its network of 21 ports, but this will be the first 300 in the fleet and the first delivery into England — Cooper’s first being delivered to Belfast Harbour in 2019.
The machine weighs in at 365 tonnes (without attachment) and is diesel powered by an EU stage 5 Volvo 16 litre diesel engine. ABP has opted for an 18.5m curved boom and 14m stick and the machine has a wheeled undercarriage of six axles with four wheels per axle. The machine will also come supplied with Mantsinen’s cab riser to enable the operator to position the cab in the optimum position over the hold to gain a direct line of sight. The machine is supplied with a range of automatic and semiautomatic attachments that also reduce the need for direct labour in the holds thus enhancing safety further than if stevedores were slinging.
David Cooper, Executive Director of Cooper Specialised Handling said: “ABP have enjoyed high uptime and operational performance with their Mantsinen fleet since 2016, and we are thrilled that ABP have opted for the biggest of them all. It seems quite appropriate that the UK’s largest port by tonnage should invest in a machine that can handle the most tonnage per hour”
The new machine is anticipated to arrive as a complete unit in Immingham in April on a direct shipment from Finland together with two 95ER machines destined for Ipswich.
The port of Immingham invests in a giant hydraulic crane like the one pictured.
