STEERING THROUGH CHOPPY WATERS

BY SANDRA SPEARES

There are challenging times ahead for port and terminal operators –but there is plenty of hope on the horizon

As port and terminal operators continue to make efforts to get back on track following the pandemic years, the demands of new regulatory drives combined with improving efficiency in a tough operating environment continue to be felt.

Ship operators need to come up with solutions to improve efficiency – thus saving costs – while ensuring that they meet the demands of new regulations, in particular those that protect the environment. Such initiatives include areas such as paints – which have seen many changes over the years in terms of what products are environmentally acceptable – and fire-fighting methods, where safety procedures might see operators falling foul of the most eco-friendly approach.

Meanwhile, commodities’ trading has been affected in the past year by the Ukrainian war, particularly where the supply of grain is concerned, and those operating in this segment have been buffeted by supply chain issues and the need to locate new sources of product.

While charter rates have fallen off in the bulk segment compared with those rates seen last year, the outlook continues to be reasonably positive going through this year. Meanwhile, the high market rates stopped companies going for vessel demolition last year, but more ships may head to the breakers in 2023, forecasters such as Drewry suggest.

The issue of tackling emissions will continue to grow in importance over the course of this year – and increasingly over all the years leading up to the next regulatory deadline. That said, it remains to be seen if operators will actually make the necessary changes in terms of working practices, or will adopt a tickbox mentality and delay implementing the necessary changes.

Health and safety issues continue to be high on the agenda and some problems still dog the industry, despite the amount of information and working practices already in place. A good example is the dangers of enclosed space accidents, which continue to affect the maritime industry and which are of particular concern in port warehouses containing products that are dangerous unless properly handled.

Other new regulatory approaches include the fact that from 1 January next year it will be compulsory for ports around the world to operate Maritime Single Windows for the electronic exchange of information required on ships’ arrival at a port, their stay and their departure. It remains to be seen how different ports will handle the information exchanges required. In all, the arrival of higher levels of technology in ports will mean further investment will be needed by operators to ensure they meet required levels of information exchange.

You can read about all these issues in this latest edition of Bulk Terminals International. We hope you enjoy it.

BULK TERMINALS international

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Editor: Sandra Speares speares1@aol.com

Designer: Justin Ives justindesign@live.co.uk

PROJECT DIRECTOR: Jonathon Ferris jonathon.ferris@bulkterminals.org

PROJECT MANAGER: Alex Corboude alex.corboude@bulkterminals.org

Sub-editor: Samantha Robinson Sam.robinson.journalist@gmail.com

Publisher: Bill Robinson production@bulkterminals.org

ABTO 35 Beacon Drive Newton Abbot Devon TQ12 1GG

Chief Executive: Simon Gutteridge ce@bulkterminals.org

Technical Adviser: Ian Adams tech@bulkterminals.org bulkterminals.org

The views expressed in Bulk Terminals International are not necessarily those of ABTO or the publisher unless expressly stated to be such. ABTO disclaims any responsibility for errors or omissions or their consequences or for advertisements contained in this magazine and has no legal responsibility to deal with them.

Ship Loader Specialist

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