9 minute read
Postscript
Fogmaker develops, manufactures, and markets fi re suppression systems for engine compartments with high pressure water mist. Fogmaker is a market leader for automated fi re suppression systems with 200,000 installations in more than 50 countries since 1995.
Tel: +46 470 77 22 00 info@fogmaker.com www.fogmaker.com
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I TPORT AUTOMATION
CAMCO Technologies NV
Visual- and Micro Location- assisted process automation solutions for container, ro-ro and rail terminals worldwide. Accurate crane, gate & rail OCR systems and Gate Operating System software helping terminals accelerate terminal and gate activity. Technologielaan 13 Leuven, Belgium
+32-16-38-9272 +32-16-38 9274 info@camco.be www.camco.be M ARINE FENDERS
IRMOME is the world’s most preferred offshore and marine rubber engineering products manufacturing company. With products ranging from Marine fenders, Offshore installation aids to products for the Foundation of offshore wind. Phone : +919727738429 E-mail : Info@irmome.com Website : www.irmome.com
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MRS Greifer GmbH
Grabs of MRS Greifer are in use all over the world. They are working reliably and extremely solid. All our grabs will be made customized. Besides the production of rope operated mechanical grabs, motor grabs and hydraulic grabs we supply an excellent after sales service.
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Talweg 15-17, Helmstadt-Bargen 74921, Germany Tel: +49 (0)7263 - 91 29 0 Fax: +49 (0)7263 - 91 29 12 info@mrs-greifer.de www.mrs-greifer.de
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Künz GmbH
Founded in 1932, Künz is now the market leader in intermodal rail-mounted gantry cranes in Europe and North America, offering innovative and efficient solutions for container handling in intermodal operation and automated stacking cranes for port and railyard operations. Gerbestr. 15, 6971 Hard, Austria T: +43 5574 6883 0 sales@kuenz.com www.kuenz.com
RuggON is here to offer high quality and future-proof one-stop rugged computing solutions, ranging from rugged vehicle-mount computers, mobile tablets and data terminals, to similarly durable data-capture accessories, for a safer and more efficient automated port and terminal operations from quay, yard, gate, and all the way to warehouses.
4F., No. 298, Yangguang St., NeiHu Dist., Taipei, Taiwan +886-2-8797-1778
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Orts GMBH Maschinenfabrik
Over 40 years experience constructing and manufacturing a wide range of grabs, including electro-hydraulic grabs (with the necessary crane equipment) radio controlled diesel hydraulic grabs, 4, 2 and single rope grabs all suitable for bulk cargo. Schwartauer Str. 99 D-23611 Sereetz • Germany
Tel:+49 451 398 850 Fax: +49 451 392 374 soj@orts-gmbh.de www.orts-grabs.de P
VISYOy VISY takes pride in solving operational problems, specialising in gate automation and access control solutions in ports and terminals. Their solutions streamline processes resulting in saving money and increasing productivity. Visy systems reduce expenses, optimize safety & security, and increase throughput capacity via process automation. Our singleplatform gate operating system and OCR solutions manage all cargo, assets & personnel movements via quay, rail or road to keep operations moving. OWER TRANSMISSION
Tel: +358 3 211 0403 Email: sales@visy.fi Web: www.visy.fi/
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SANY Europe GmbH offers a broad spectrum of high-performance mobile port machines such as Reach Stacker, Empty Container Handler, Heavy Duty Forklift Trucks and Material Handler
Sany Allee 1 Sany Allee 1 D-50181 Bedburg 50181 Bedburg, Germany Tel: +49 2272 90531 100 Tel: +49 2272 90531 100 Email: info@sanyeurope.com Email: info@sanyeurope.com www.sanyeurope.com www.sanyeurope.com Conductix-Wampfler
The world specialist in Power and Data Transfer Systems, Mobile Electrification, and Crane Electrification Solutions. We Keep Your Vital Business Moving! Rheinstrasse 27 + 33 Weil am Rhein 79576 Germany Tel: +49 (0) 7621 662 0 Fax: +49 (0) 7621 662 144 info.de@conductix.com www.conductix.com
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To advertise in the Port Strategy Directory
S IDELIFTER/SIDELOADER
Hammar Maskin AB
Hammar Maskin AB is developing, manufacturing and marketing Sideloaders, also known as Sidelifters, Swinglifters or Self loading trailers, under the brand name HAMMAR™. Buagärde 36, Olsfors 517 95 Sweden Tel: +46-33 29 00 00 Fax: +46-33 29 00 01 info@hammar.eu www.hammar.eu
ELME Spreader AB
ELME Spreader, world’s leading independent spreader manufacturer supports companies worldwide with container handling solutions that makes work easier and more profitable. Over 21,000 spreaders have been attached to lift trucks, reach stackers, straddle carriers and cranes. Stalgatan 6 , PO Box 174 SE 343 22, Almhult, Sweden
Tel: +46 47655800 Fax: +46 476 55899 sales@elme.com www.elme.com T ERMINAL OPERATIONS SYSTEMS
The Brain of Logistics
With more than 30 years experience in IT Solutions and Business Operation Consultancy DSP offers a large portfolio of professional services and products to support terminal operations processes and system. DSP Data and System Planning SA Via Cantonale 38 6928 Manno, Switzerland
Tel: +41 91 230 27 20 Fax: +41 91 230 27 31 info@dspservices.ch www.dspservices.ch T ERMINAL OPERATIONS SYSTEMS
Solvo Europe B.V.
Solvo’s software solutions such as TOS or WMS help container and general cargo terminals take full care of their cargo handling processes and make sure the clients expectations are exceeded. Prinses Margrietplantsoen 33, 2595AM, The Hague, The Netherlands
Tel: +31 (0) 702-051-709 Email: sales@solvosys.com www.sovosys.com T ERMINAL OPERATIONS SYSTEMS
TGI Maritime Software is a Terminal Operating System editor and integrator specialized in the support of Small to Medium Terminals. Its expertise is built on 34 years of experience within the maritime sector. TGI provides comprehensive services to its customers all along their projects. OSCAR TOS and CARROL TOS have already been successfully handled by 40 container and RoRo terminals worldwide. Tel : +33 (0)3 28 65 81 91 contact@tgims.com www.tgims.com
Navis understands that as ships get larger and operational processes become more complex - efficiency, collaboration and productivity are essential. As a trusted technology partner, Navis offers the tools and personnel necessary to meet the requirements of a new, and ever-evolving, global supply chain. World Headquarters 55 Harrison Street Suite 600 Oakland CA 94607 United States Tel: +1 510 267 5000 Fax:+1 510 267 5100 Web: www.navis.com
Tideworks Technology provides comprehensive terminal operating system solutions for marine and intermodal terminal operations worldwide. Tideworks works at every step of terminal operations to maximize productivity and customer service.
info@tideworks.com +1 206 382 4470 www.tideworks.com T RACTORS
MAFI Transport-Systeme GmbH
Specialised in the development and production of heavy-duty equipment for transporting containers, semi-trailers, cargo/roll trailers and special container chassis in ports and industry.
Hochhäuser Str 18 97941 Tauberbischofsheim, Germany Tel: +49 9341 8990 sales@mafi.de www.mafi.de
POSTSCRIPT
MSC’s exclusivity status is perhaps a ‘‘ result of “fortune favours the brave,” a willingness to field a knock-out bid BOLLORE: THE BIG SALE
The recent announcement that the Bollore Group is putting its African Logistics assets up for sale was not entirely unexpected, there have been murmurs in the market. What followed in short order was, however, a little surprising, namely granting the MSC Group, best known for its top tier ranking among container liner operators but also possessing its own fast growing terminal operating arm – Terminal Investments Limited (TIL), a period of exclusivity to carry out due diligence and conduct additional negotiations on the basis of a US$6.4 billion indicative bid.
The jewels in the crown of Bollore’s African Logistics assets are sixteen container terminals with, in all, Bollore present in 42 African ports, although not always in a cargo handling capacity. A number of the container terminals, most of which are operated under concession, involve a partnership with another entity and notably APM Terminals. This is the case in Abidjan, for example, where Bollore and APMT operate the existing container terminal and are now pressing ahead with the construction of an adjacent second terminal. Similarly, they are partners in the Port of Pointe Noire, Congo-Brazzaville container terminal. Indeed, it is surprising given this relationship that APMT did not secure a period of exclusivity to look at the deal.
The same could be said of liner operator CMA CGM, which enjoys a French connection with Bollore and also has terminal operating assets in its group as well as strong African lineage.
The fact that so far it is MSC in pole position inevitably comes to down to money – in all likelihood the MSC bid came out tops in an indicative bid process and hence the award of exclusivity. It will be interesting to see if at the end of the due diligence process the bid level remains the same and the deal confirmed. Presumably, what can be called the auction stage of the bid process is over and there is little scope for gazumping to take place. But you never know…money talks!
Informed sources indicate that APMT and CMA CGM did express interest, both of course already have a strong involvement in Africa through liner shipping and in APMT’s case via both shipping and an existing large network of African terminals including those where it has joint ventures with Bollore. For both these companies, and of course for MSC also with a strong presence in Africa, a purchase offers the sizable benefits of synergies with their existing operations and generally the ability to scale up, in one step, at an unprecedented level.
MSC’s exclusivity is perhaps a result of “fortune favours the brave,” a willingness to field a knock-out bid where others might not be so inclined. It is a strategy that has worked before with terminal acquisitions. APMT showed such a willingness back in 2006 when it secured the Apapa Container Terminal concession with a mega offering compared to those of other bidders. Equally, DP World bid very strongly for the P&O Ports global portfolio of terminals and enjoyed a successful outcome.
WHY IS BOLLORE EXITING?
So, what drives Bollore to exit its African logistics operations at this juncture?
There is wide-ranging speculation on this subject. This ranges from the imminent retirement of Vincent Bollore, long-time head of the Bollore Group through to his indictment in France for “corruption of foreign agents holding public authority” relating to port concessions obtained in Lome and Conarky, the fall-out from the 2016 train crash in Cameroon (operated under a Bollore concession) which killed 79 people and the more practical aspect of keeping up with the heavy investment requirement in the port sector in a more competitive environment. There is also the Douala episode which saw Bollore evicted from the container terminal there, a factor which is said to have contributed to an estimated 10 per cent drop in the turnover of the Africa logistics division. Ironically, it was TIL that was declared the winner of a new concession process for the Douala terminal but it has not taken up residence due to ongoing legal action surrounding Bollore’s removal. Another reason to exit, which has come up in the past, is a desire on the part of Bollore to build up its activities in the media sector where it has a powerful presence.
Ultimately it may just boil down to the time is right and the price is right, especially with shipping line suitors around who are enjoying unprecedented profits. Indeed, Bollore has previously demonstrated its willingness to sell core assets, selling, for example, the Delmas-Vieljeux to CMA-CGM.
One thing is for sure, a sale of this nature encompassing 16 container terminals, diverse other port and logistics activities and three railway concessions does not come along that often and it will be extremely interesting to see the final outcome and price tag.
8 The Abidjan Container Terminal – one of sixteen
