RAK Ports ideally positioned as UAE breakbulk gateway

v RAK Ports operates four integrated maritime hubs close to the entrance to the Gulf v Ideal infrastructure for efficient handling of oversized, breakbulk and project cargoes v Saqr Port/Freezone is today one of the world’s largest and most efficient bulk ports v New land reclamation area will create additional breakbulk and general cargo facilities

RAK Ports was on show again at Breakbulk Middle East recently. With over 4,000 professional delegates from 70 countries, the exhibition and conference in Dubai World Trade Centre has become an important annual meeting point for this growing sector of the region’s maritime industry. Saqr/Port and Freezone is today one of the world’s largest and most advanced bulk ports and can handle a phenomenal 11,000 tonnes of dry bulk an hour across deep-water berths capable of handling the world’s largest vessels.

Recent infrastructure investments of US$250 million and the latest German heavy-lift technology, including 22 mobile harbour cranes each with a capacity of up to 200 tonnes, has created an optimal environment at Saqr Port/Freezone for the efficient handling of oversized, breakbulk and project cargoes. Add to this ample laydown space, a skilled workforce, and excellent landside connectivity with modern highways connecting Ras Al Khaimah with the rest of the Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Oman, and it is no wonder that RAK Ports is being hailed as the new breakbulk gateway to the Gulf.

Roger Clasquin, RAK Ports Chief Executive Officer, said: “At RAK Ports we continue to diversify our capabilities beyond our traditional role as the gateway source of much of the construction material fuelling the economic diversification of the Middle East. Our focus today at the exhibition on breakbulk, simply underscores the critical role that RAK Ports plays in the region’s industrial supply chains and as a key driver in the economic growth of the emirate.”

Located close to on one of the world’s most frequented shipping routes and with drafts alongside of up to 18 metres, Saqr Port/Freezone is no stranger to size when it comes to breakbulk. Recent load-out projects have demonstrated the phenomenal capacity and professional capabilities available at the Port. To accommodate continued growth, a new land reclamation area is currently under construction to extend the current Freezone, and three million tonnes of recycled material from local quarries have already been used in the project. Phase one of the project will include a dedicated general cargo and breakbulk terminal, catering to the region’s needs as the transition from oil and gas to more sustainable and diversified economies continues to gather speed.

ABOUT RAK PORTS With recent infrastructure investments totalling more than $250 million, RAK Ports is a first-class business partner for local, regional, and international companies operating in the construction, manufacturing, and industrial sectors. The ports group provides essential services including cargo handling, free zone land lease, ship repair, warehousing, marine and anchorage, cruise tourism and industrial training. Furthermore, it is the gateway source for many of the construction materials which are building the Middle East region into a model of economic prosperity.

In Uruguay, Montevideo Bulk Terminal (TGM) is to build a brand new private grain handling terminal at a cost of $15 million. This will involve dredging the existing water depth from 12 metres to 15 metres and expanding into three hectares of the 7.5hectare site that the company currently holds as a concession.

The single berth facility, which will have a 250-metre long quay, will be used by both UPM and various other grain companies when it open in the fourth quarter of this year. It will be able to accommodate both Panamax and post-Panamax vessels.

According to TGM general manager Agustín Idoyaga, the new quay will be automated and equipped with state-of-theart handling equipment, and may also involve providing added value services that reduce the overall cost of logistics for clients. For example, if the company can reduce unloading times and minimize delays then handling costs will be significantly cheaper.

One of the main selling points of the new terminal is that by dredging the berths to 13 metres all vessels will be able to sail with a full cargo complement on board, making it the only port on the Río de la Plata that can offer such a service.

The original 7.5-hectare 40-year concession was awarded to TGM in 2010. It currently has 12 silos, each of which can store up to 10,000 tonnes of grain. Indeed, all Uruguayan grown grain is nowadays exported through these.

TGM is a collaboration between the Christophersen Group and the Hidrovías de Brasil consortium, which provided the full $105 million to build the Montevideo complex, encompassing the existing grain conveyor belt system and 12 silos as well as the new terminal.

Operations first began in 2016. In terms of traffic, last year, TGM handled 700,000 tonnes of soybeans, rice, wheat, carinata (an oilseed crop that UPM uses to make biofuels), canola and barley. This compares to 690,000 tonnes of grain in 2020 and 752,000 tonnes in 2019.

Barry Cross

São Francisco do Sul considers concession of dry bulk terminal

In Brazil, the Port of São Francisco do Sul has been given permission to commence studies aimed at eventually offering the existing dry bulk terminal as a lease to the private sector. The go-ahead was granted by the Council of the Investment Partnership Program (PPI), which was set up by the federal government.

The port management company will therefore issue a tender in respect of a contract for the hiring of a company to undertake a standard Technical, Economic and Environmental Feasibility Study (Evtea). The bidding process is expected to be completed during the current year and a lease to be made in April 2023.

However, the concession process will require several public consultations and any agreement will then have to be reviewed by the National Audit Office. According to port president Cleverton Vieira, private sector investment linked to modernization of the port will make it possible to increase grain storage capacity, whilst offering greater flexibility and speed in cargo handling.

The grain terminal, which is in the region of 25,000m2, contains two large warehouses, to and from which grain is moved by a conveyor systems to vessels docked alongside.

Up until 2019, the terminal was managed by Companhia Integrada de Desenvolvimento Agrícola de Santa Catarina (Cidasc), after which management was transferred back to the port authority. BC

Timber Terminal at Port of King’s Lynn hits growth targets

Just two months after Associated British Ports (ABP) officially opened its £1.4m Vancouver Timber Terminal at the Port of Kings Lynn, and the purpose-built storage facility is hitting growth targets. Last year saw a record number of vessels arrive at the Norfolk port and the volume of cargo handled was also up by 5% on 2020 volumes.

Whilst King’s Lynn is known for handling agribulks and aggregates, forest products at the port have been on the rise since 2020. The increased trade supports local jobs: ABP already directly employs 30 people from the market town, and it also supports local businesses, restaurants and shops.

King’s Lynn Port Manager Kim Kennedy said: “We knew customer would flock to the facility and they have. It is great to see that ABP’s investments are drawing in more business which benefit the town and wider region.”

The Port of King’s Lynn is one of ABP’s three East Anglican Ports. Collectively, the Ports of King’s Lynn, Lowestoft and Ipswich and their customers support 3,700 jobs. As well as investing in infrastructure, ABP is also investing in its people with both graduate opportunities and apprenticeships available across the region.

ABP and Tarmac sign new long-term agreement in Port Talbot

Associated British Ports (‘ABP’), the UK’s leading and best-connected port operator, and Tarmac, a major UK sustainable building materials and construction solutions business, have entered into a long-term stevedoring agreement at Port Talbot.

ABP has worked successfully with Tarmac in its ports of Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, Garston (Liverpool), Southampton, Ipswich, and the Hams Hall Rail Terminal in the West Midlands. This new deal in Port Talbot will see ABP loading a cement replacement material which is known as ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS).

Andrew Harston, ABP Wales and Short Sea Ports director, said: “ABP continues to invest in its ports’ infrastructure and services, as well as sustainability measures, and we are delighted to win this new contract with Tarmac, which shares our commitments to the highest standards of health and safety, and sustainability.”

GGBS is the by-product of the rapid cooling of molten slag and is a sand-like granular aggregate that is primarily used in ready-mixed and precast concrete and masonry, floor levelling compounds and high temperature resistant building products.

All Tarmac’s slag aggregates are certified to BES 6001, which gives its customers the confidence that the materials are sourced and manufactured in a responsible way. This further enables construction companies to achieve extra points under BREEAM, Code for Sustainable Homes and CEEQUAL schemes.

Simon Grey, Tarmac's managing director, South West & Wales, said: “Our marine operations, in UK coastal and inshore waters, allow us to deliver our sustainable building products to a variety of ports, harbours and rivers. This offers our customers the convenience of shipping large volumes of aggregate in a way that is environmentally friendly and cost effective. Partnering with ABP means we can help more customers build more sustainable infrastructure.”

As a result of securing this long-term contract, ABP has invested more than £400,000 in a new Hitachi shovel and Edge conveyor shiploading equipment, and recruited two new members of staff.

The new contract with Tarmac will see more efficient shipments for the loading of 300,000 tonnes of GGBS annually, with this cargo typically going to UK facilities, located across ABP ports, for use in concrete production.

Since 2019, ABP has invested c.£50m in its infrastructure, digitalization and sustainability measures in Wales, as it optimizes its operations and services for the increased demand from its customers.

ABP SOUTH WALES ABP’s five Ports in South Wales, Barry, Cardiff, Port Talbot, Newport and Swansea contribute £1.5 billion to the UK economy every year, supporting 21,800 jobs across the UK. v ABP’s Port of Cardiff handles around 1.8mt (million tonnes) of cargo each year. v The Port of Newport’s steel terminal provides over 30,000m2 of modern, covered storage dedicated to steel import and export operations. v Port Talbot supports steel production in South Wales and handles project and heavy lift cargoes, steels and other metals, building aggregates and cargoes to support the offshore

energy sector. v Swansea is the most westerly of

ABP’s South Wales ports, with the capacity to handle vessels of up to 30,000dwt and offers berths and facilities for most types of cargo. v More than 14,000m2 of warehousing and extensive open storage facilities are available at the Port of Barry.

ABOUT ABP

ABP is the UK’s foremost ports operator with 21 ports and other transport-related businesses creating a unique national network capable of handling a vast array of cargo.

The company contributes £7.5 billion to the UK economy every year and supports 119,000 jobs. Its current investment programme promises to further increase our contribution to regional economies around the UK.

ABP: v handles over 1.5 million vehicles every year; v generates around one quarter of the

UK’s rail freight; v has 1.4 million square metres of covered storage; v has 1,000 hectares of open storage; v handles around 90mt of cargo each year; v owns 5,000 hectares of port estate; and v has 87km of quay.