Port construction industry continues to make progress

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ClaireInstonereports.

W

e take a look at milestones celebrated, investments and projects driving future growth,permits and applications granted and contracts recently won at port facilities worldwide.

Mega milestones

* AD Ports Group is making progress in the build-out of Khalifa Port Container Terminal’ s latest project.The Group has installed the first 90-tonne block for the quay wall, marking the major development milestone with a special ceremony. Unveiled in September 2021, the terminal will be managed by a joint venture owned 70% by CMA Terminals, a subsidiary of global shipping concern, CMA CGM, and 30% by AD Ports Group.

“This is an important moment for our company and our partners, as work continues to develop this new terminal, which will expand our Group ’ s shipping and logistics network in the region, ” Michael Lund Hansen, CEO of CMA Terminals Khalifa Port, said. Estimates on the timing of first operations at the facility appear to have been pushed back at least 12 months from earlier targets which called for launch in the first quarter of 2024. * The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) recently celebrated the completion of critical infrastructure investments as part of a nearly USD850 million plan to upgrade the Port of Boston.The multi-year investment is designed to accommodate bigger ships and is already resulting in new services that are connecting Boston to more global ports. Projects that were completed included the deepening of the main ship channel and Reserved Channel to -47 feet and the outer harbour to -51 feet, and expanding the Turning Basin for larger vessels.

In addition, a new berth with a depth of 50 feet was also created to accommodate larger ships, along with the addition of three ship-to-shore electric cranes to serve ships carrying up to 14,000 TEUs. Myriad shoreside improvements were also made.

Before the port’ s modernization, Conley offered two services reaching seven major global ports.With the completion of the infrastructure investments, Conley Terminal now reports that it offers direct connectivity to China, North Europe, Southeast Asia includingVietnam and India, the Mediterranean, Middle East, and Latin America through five services. * The Governor of Jazan Region in Saudi Arabia has inaugurated the Port of Jazan City for Primary and Downstream Industries (JCPDI Port). JCPDI, which forms part of the country ’ sVision 2030 initiative, is spread over an area of 114 sq km and includes a port, a refinery, and a mineral processing facility. Saudi Aramco carried out the initial development work.

Investments in the future

* The Guangzhou Port Group (GPG) has invested around USD1 billion in a new berth in the Nansha port area to create additional capacity of half a million TEUs.The new berth will be able to accommodate six inland container barges at a time and process 15.5 million tonnes of bulk and general cargo per year. The new addition joins the four berths already in place that were opened in November 2021 and June 2022.

The aim of the project is to bolster the economic and social development of the hinterland, speed up capacity building, improve the passing capacity of general and container terminals, and accelerate the development of the main port business.The construction period of the project is estimated to be in the region of three years.

* In the US, the Biden Administration has awarded The Port of Philadelphia (PhilaPort) USD20.3 million to construct a new 100,000square-foot warehouse at the Tioga Marine Terminal, as well as safety and efficiency upgrades with the modernisation of the terminal’ s main gate. “A significant hub for global trade, PhilaPort is an important link in the supply chain and plays a critical role in strengthening our economy and our infrastructure, which is why I have prioritised investing in the port throughout my a dministration, ” said Governor Tom Wolf.

The project was developed in a collaborative planning effort between the facility ’ s terminal operator, Delaware River Stevedores and PhilaPort.The funding from the US Department of Transportation 2022 Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant programme will enable the port meet a growing demand and attract more business. Upon completion of the new warehouse Tioga Marine Terminal will have over 800,000 square feet of on-dock warehousing.The safety improvements for the entrance to the facility, including completion of a modernised gate, will increase terminal efficiency while reducing emissions and increasing safety. Construction is due to begin in 2024. * Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) is said to be investing around R16 billion on infrastructure development at the ports of Mossel Bay, Saldanha and Cape Town across the next seven years.The move is part of the TNPA’ s strategic repositioning of its Western Region ports to efficiently facilitate trade and create much-needed jobs, amid high levels of unemployment.The Western Region ’ s capital investment programme has an allocation of R2.2bn to the Port of Mossel Bay; R8.4bn to Saldanha; and R5.5bn to Cape Town.

At the Port of Mossel Bay, some of the key capital projects include the slipway facility refurbishment, and Quay 3 sheet pilling. Projects that are spread across the seven-year period include the deepening of the port and Quay 4, as well as the breakwater extension. The implementation of capital projects planned for the Port of Saldanha for 2022/23 is already under way, which includes the acquisition of a tugboat, installation of perimeter-fencing and provision of bulk-power.The broader seven-year programme includes the extension of Berth 205; berth construction of the ore expansion phase 2; as well as the refurbishment of the main breakwater and causeway rock revetment. In the current 2022/23 financial year, the Port of CapeTown will see the delivery of a robust R260m capital programme, comprising the procurement of a helicopter and the replacement of two tugboats. Phase 2 of the Cape Town container terminal expansion and the acquisition of 10 dry-dock cranes form part of the port’ s seven-year programme.

* Maersk and the Suez Canal Authority have signed a USD500 million deal to construct a new berth at the Suez Canal ContainerTerminal in East Port Said.The deal looks to turn the terminal into global hub for container handling in the eastern and southern Mediterranean region and includes an increase in the number of cranes to 30.The new cranes will be electricity-powered as part of the terminal’ s aims to become net-zero by 2030. Moreover, a new 1-kilometer container berth will set adjacent to the existing 500-meter one. The deal also aims to turn the Suez Canal Container Terminal into a smart terminal.

* PSA Antwerp and the Port of AntwerpBruges have approved the renewal of the quayside and terminal at Europa Terminal. Estimated at cost of around €335 million (approx. USD324 million), works will take some nine years and will be executed in three phases to ensure that the latest generation of container ships can call at the port. The depth of vessels that can moor at the 1,200-metre quayside will be increased from 13.5 meters to 16 meters. Moreover, the project will allow the port to start the transformation process of Europa Terminal, increasing capacity by more than 700,000 TEUs annually. “With the modernisation of the Europa Terminal we are underlining our ambitions as a container port, ” said Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO Port of Antwerp-Bruges. “As a world-class port,it is essential we continue to play at the highest level and are able to accommodate the biggest ships. ”The contract includes four contractors - Artes-Roegiers, Artes-Depret, Herbosch-Kiere and Boskalis.

Under consideration

* The Port ofTauranga ’ s application to extend its wharves and shipping channel by dredging 1.8 million cubic meters of seabed was to be heard in the Environment Court recently.At the time of print, a panel of four judges were due to hear the case, which skipped the usual process of regional council hearings after it argued a decision on the proposed extension was an urgent national priority.The port states that it would run out of capacity within three years if the extension to its operations did not go ahead. It had already been declined by the Government’ s shovel-ready and Covid fast track infrastructure schemes, putting the project behind schedule.According to reports, without the development, New Zealand is looking at “ severe ” capacity constraints on exports within a few years.

The port’ s application showed it applied for a resource consent for a 385m wharf extension and 1.8h reclamation at Sulphur Point, as well as wharf extensions of 530m north, and 388m south,of the tanker berth and a 2.9ha reclamation on its Mt. Maunganui wharves. It said the associated extension to the shipping channel covers 14.4ha and involves dredging up to 1.8 million cubic meters.The development will allow the port to host several large ships at once. Hearings were due to run for ten days. If the application is successful, the port estimates the project will take nearly three years to complete, and cost in the region of USD68 million.

* In Sweden, the Land and Environmental Court has granted a permit for deepening and widening the fairway and strengthening the quay at the Port of Gothenburg.The decision will allow the Skandia Gateway project’ s dock reinforcement work to start according to schedule.

Skandia Gateway is a joint project between Göteborgs Hamn AB, the Swedish Maritime Administration and the Swedish Transport Administration.The initiative will be carried out in multiple stages, each in order to enable today ’ s ocean-going container ships to be fully laden, thus utilising all available load capacity at each port of call, which is not possible today. At present, the biggest vessels can only call at the Port of Gothenburg semi-laden. Göteborgs Hamn AB will take care of the quay reinforcement and deepening of the dock basin, while the Swedish Maritime Administration is responsible for deepening the fairway and the removal of dredge spoil. Construction will begin at the end of 2022 with Skandia Harbour due to welcome its first fully laden ocean-going vessels into the Port of Gothenburg by 2026.

* After an extensive environmental review, the Long Beach Harbor Commission has approved the dredging project to deepen the channels at the Port of Long Beach.At a cost of around USD170 million, the works will improve port efficiency.The project will see the channel approaching Long Beach deepened from 76 feet to 80 feet, the turning bends of the main channel taken to 76 feet, and parts of the west basin deepened from 50 to 55 feet.Works also ecompass construction of a 55 feet-deep approach channel and turning basin to get to Pier J south.The port will pay USD109 million of the total USD170 million with the rest covered by the federal government. As a result of the dredging, ships will be able to load more cargo and navigate better in the channels, leading to goods moving faster in the supply chain.

* Back in January it became known that SCA (Europe ’ s largest private forest owner) will receive the environmental permits necessary for the land building in connection to the new container port in Tunadal, just outside of Sundsvall in Sweden.The land building is a crucial element in the project as it creates more surface for increased cargo handling and the reception of larger project goods. Since then, preparatory work has been taking place, with dredging work (byWasa Dredging) due to start in the autumn of this year. The dredged masses are cited to fill around 10-15 barges per day. In parallel with that work, stone filling from barges will take place in the dredged area, a work that continues throughout the year.The whole project, including the new container port, is expected to be complete by the end of next year.

You’ve got the job!

* DCT Gdansk has chosen contractors to begin works for the T3 expansion project, an initiative which includes a deep-water quay of 717 meters long and 17.5 meters deep, and a yard area of 36.5 hectares.The investment also includes the purchase of 7 new quay cranes capable of handling the world’ s largest vessels, and 20 semi-automated Rail Mounted Gantry (RMG) cranes for the container yard. The contract for the dredging and reclamation works - due to start September - was signed with a consortium of Budimex S.A. and Dredging International NV.

Once this stage is completed work will begin on the construction of the northern and southern walls, and the main berth.When T3 is completed, DCT Gda sk will be among the largest container terminal hubs in Europe, able to handle the next generation of containerships arriving to the Baltic Sea, reducing sailing distances for feeder vessels, and providing Polish and regional shippers with more connections around the world on efficient services.T3 is scheduled to open for commercial operations by mid 2024, with full completion planned for the second quarter of 2025. In its first phase, the new terminal will increase DCT Gdansk’ s handling capacity by 1.7 million TEUs to a total of 4.5 million TEUs per year.

* The Mongla Port Authority has signed a deal with Jianshu Haihong Construction Engineering Company and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation to dredge the inner bar of the Mongla Port channel. The Tk 754.08 crore project will begin in January 2021 and enable the anchoring of container ships with 10-meter draught. Completion of the dredging of the inner bar area will shorten the turnaround time of ships arriving at the port while cutting the cost of transporting goods. Moreover, the number of ships arriving at Mongla Port will surge, playing a major part in the economic development of the south-west part of the country.

* Heavy Engineering Industries and Shipbuilding (Heisco) has announced that its consortium has secured a contract worth KD48.74 million (approx. USD160 million) from Kuwait Port Authority for implementation of rehabilitation works linked to berths in the Shuwaikh port of Kuwait Ports Authority. Heisco ’ s consortium is set to rehabilitate berths 1 to 7 providing 1,330m berth length for general cargo (Berths 2 to 7) and bulk cargo (Berth 1).The proposed new berths require special berthing and mooring facilities to accommodate general cargo, container vessels and bulk carriers.They will be equipped with mobile cranes with a capacity of 600 tonnes, reachstackers, and heavy trucks for handling and storage of incoming products from or to berthing vessels.

Intermodal and supply chain

* The BNSF will invest more than USD1.5 billion to build an intermodal complex in California ’ s High Desert helping to ease c ongestion near the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.The Barstow International Gateway complex in Barstow will sit on 4,500 acres and include a rail yard, an intermodal facility and warehouses for transloading freight.The complex, about 130 miles from Long Beach, will ultimately help the railroad move containers faster out of ports as well as improve efficiency at existing intermodal hubs in the Midwest and Texas.

Inland port facilities have become an increasingly popular idea to reduce congestion on the West Coast. Instead of letting cargo crowd the docks, the goal is to move goods further inland where they can be processed and shipped to their final locations.A private investment firm received the go-ahead from local officials in August to move forward with a port facility. BNSF said it would use the Alameda Corridor to transport freight from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to the Barstow facility. Cargo would then be processed at the facility before heading to its final destination.

* Supply chain services leader,Agility, is going to put USD60 million into building a 100,000 sqm customs and logistics centre in the industrial zone in Ein Sokhna in Egypt and another 100,000 sqm customs and logistics centre in East Port Said.The project, to be implemented during the latter end of 2023, is intended to turn the zone into a global logistics hub, will improve the flow of goods and commodities and bring efficiency and lower costs to international companies and investors operating there.

By developing and modernising the customs and logistics center, the SCZone and the Egyptian government are positioning Egypt to be the one of the world’ s most advanced operators and an indispensable 21st century trade partner for Mena,Asia and Europe.