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Go in Greece
SIHANOUKVILLE STEP-UP
Cambodia is to build a deep-sea terminal at Sihanoukville spread over three phases as it prepares for rising container volumes.
Construction of Phase 1 of the terminal is scheduled to start soon using designs already completed, Thay Rithy, Deputy Director General of Sihanoukville Autonomous Port, told the government controlled AKP news agency.
“Now we have entered the stage of selecting builders. The construction will begin in 2021 and is scheduled to be completed by 2024,” he said. The first phase
of the deep-water port terminal will be built with a loan from Japan of US$209 million.
The terminal will be 350m long and have with a water depth of 14.5m, allowing it to handle container vessels needing a draft of 13m and medium-sized ships with a capacity of 5,000 TEU – a significant step up for Cambodia.
“At present, the ships entering and leaving here are small vessels, but to make the port a gateway of the country’s development and an independent economic gateway that connects Cambodia to other
8 Sihanoukville Autonomous Port is planning a “step-up” in ship sizes
countries, leaders of line ministry and port are thinking of consecutive development plans,” he said.
Studies for Phase II and Phase III have been made and the port is seeking funds from the ministry and development partners for work scheduled to begin in 2027 or 2028, Thay Rithy said.
The plan is for the terminal to be expanded to 410m long and 16m deep for Phase II and then 440m long with 17.5m for Phase III.
CLEAR VISUALISATION FROM TGIBOX
TGI Maritime Software (TGIMS) has launched an innovative new feature on its TGIBox - realtime visualisation of container handling equipment activity on a tablet display.
This latest offering enables what the company calls “real time geolocalisation” of container handling for equipment on a maritime terminal. This means optimising container handling equipment in use with the known locations of containers to deliver the most effective performance for a particular handling function and overall.
The new feature of TGIBox has been developed in conjunction with SOMACOM to generate real-time visualisation. Use of the tablet ensures the equipment operator gains a clearer readability of positioning in the yard, which is especially valuable if working at night or during bad weather.
Practical operating benefits include the lock/unlock phase of the handling process quickly and clearly shown directly on the screen, while a real-time alert is raised to the driver if the container is overweight.
While the availability of information to the driver in charge of handling a container is not a new concept and has been in use for some time, TGIBox works in a logical process that helps to optimise the efficient path of the mobile terminal equipment and builds towards better productivity.
The product delivers clear and precise information using rugged and robust equipment, that can withstand the rigours of continuous use in a busy container terminal, while ultimately helping to improve performance, reduce costs and minimise risk/enhance safety at all times.
BRIEFS
Go for Greek Privatisation The latest release of ports for privatisation in Greece has fi nally been undertaken. The Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRADF) is the agency responsible for privatising Greek stateowned assets and it has now issued three separate international public tenders to cover the development of the ports of Alexandroupolis, Igoumenitsa and Kavala.
Westport Harbour Rejuvenation
Westport Harbour is targeting commercial cargo shipping opportunities, following receipt of a NZ$7 million Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) commitment from the New Zealand Government. The PGF endorses the project’s business case, which includes retaining the purpose-built dredge Kawatiri and investing in necessary decking, fencing and other “fi t-for-purpose” facilities to complement the existing concrete wharf and to attract new bulk trades. Discussions are underway with West Coast Bulk Logistics over a new mineral sands exporting business.
San Pedro Truck Charge Hold The two San Pedro ports in Southern California have delayed the US$10 per TEU surcharge aimed at helping the transition of the drayage fl eet to 100 per cent zero emission trucks. The fee was due to be introduced in the Fall (Autumn) of 2020 but has now been postponed until “some time in the new year” due to ongoing eff ects of the COVID-19 pandemic and US-China trade issues.
FOUR-WAY DEAL AT BINTULU
A four-way partnership has been set up to develop Malaysia’s Bintulu Port as a Biohub Port.
The four signatories to the Memorandum of Understanding are Bintulu Port Holdings Bhd (BPHB), the Port of Rotterdam along with AIM, the innovation agency of the Malaysian government and local property developer Regal Lands,
The move is part of an ambitious plan led by the Malaysian government to develop the Eastern provinces of Sabah and Sarawak.
“The cooperation considers the development of a Biohub Industrial Port and Industrial
Estate in Sarawak, Malaysia. In first instance the project will focus on studying the suitable location for the development of the Biohub project in close cooperation with Bintulu Port Holdings Berhad,” the four parties said in a joint statement.
Officials from the four companies were contacted but did not elaborate further, only saying that planning is in its early stages and the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted plans for site visits.
Biomass, organic matter used to generate energy, is a developing technology with Sarawak, Bintulu’s home province considered abundant in product sources. Bintulu Port is “enthusiastic” for business growth in this Biohub Project, according to Datuk Mohammad Medan Abdullah, Chief Executive Officer, BPHB Group,
“The move to embark on this project is also in line with our Bintulu Port Group Smart Digital Green Port (SDGP) Blueprint initiative,” he said.
“With this cooperation, we foresee greater achievements within the aspirations of the SDGP Blueprint for the Port to transform its operations, energy efficiency, management and organisation and its approach to the environment,” he added.
GREEN VALENCIA’S TECHNICAL PLAN
Valencia’s new container of five key aims being developed commitment to the Digital terminal, part of its northern by the port as part of its 2030 Transformation to promote new expansion scheme, is targeting Strategic Plan: digital business models and the largest container ships in 5 New business opportunities connectivity and to position the service, but will be green. The and technological development port as ValenciaSmartPort. new fourth container terminal 5 Energy transition, These projects are pushing covers an area of 1,382,000m², decarbonisation and fight ahead, despite the growing has a total quay of 1,970m, with against climate change impact of the COVID-19 the draft of 20m at the berth 5 Digital transformation pandemic. Valencia remains a key and in the basin, supported by 5 Innovation gateway of import/export activity an access channel 22.5m deep. 5 Port-City relationship and barometer for the Spanish Annual capacity of the Northern The Strategic Plan also economy. The January to end of Terminal will be 5 million TEU. considers the development of May 2020 period confirmed a fall
The project is adopting strong new business and logistic of 10.0 per cent for loaded environmentally-friendly features, development opportunities such exported containers, a 9.9 per such as the use of shoreside as the promotion of the railway, cent decline for incoming loaded electrical power to support ships, the modal integration and the units and empty boxes down by energy supply from renewable integration with the Transmore than 15.4 per cent over the sources and extensive use of European Transport Networks or same period for 2019. electrically-powered cargo the promotion of logistic areas. These results are not surprising handling equipment. The net Within the framework of energy but are not slowing down the effect is expected to be the near transition, decarbonisation and port’s future plans. There is a elimination of terminal generated the fight against climate change, clear focus for Valencia to ensure CO2 emissions and similar plans the new Plan is aligned with 2030 it is one of the first ports to define are in place for the new cruise/ objectives of zero emissions. its strategy in the post-COVID-19 ferry terminal complex. Another of the objectives of the era, including action in health
These developments are part new Strategic Plan is the firm emergency situations.
BRIEFS
Townsville Rail Incentive Queensland Transport Minister Mark Bailey said A$20 million has been obtained from the state government’s incentive scheme to encourage freight operators and the resource industry to use the rail line, connecting the mineral-rich province to Townsville Port. He said Queensland’s North West Mineral Province contains about 75 per cent of the state’s base metal and minerals, including copper, lead, zinc, silver, gold and phosphate deposits.
Major Boost for Whanganui
A NZ$26.75 million Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) investment in Whanganui Port is expected to deliver signifi cant benefi ts for coastal shipping and all commercial interests. Key spending includes a NZ$12.5 million investment in port infrastructure and a NZ$7.5 million grant for a lower river infrastructure project. Doug Smith, Manager, Coastal Bulk Shipping Company, said the spending will “keep the port operational.”
