TRANSPORT NEWS IN BRIEF THE NETHERLANDS: Global energy company ExxonMobil said in September that it had successfully completed a sea trial of its first marine biofuel oil with tanker shipping company Stena Bulk, bunkered in the Port of Rotterdam. The 0.5% sulphur residual-based fuel (VLSFO) processed with a second generation waste-based FAME component would be available later this year, initially in Rotterdam, Exxon Mobil said. This would be followed with a wider launch across the firm’s network. WORLD: International dry cargo vessel owner and operator Navios Maritime Partners LP announced on 1 October that it had acquired the Navios Gem, a 2014-built Capesize vessel of 181,336 dwt, and the Navios Victory, a 2014-built Panamax vessel of 77,095 dwt, from Navios Maritime Holdings Inc for US$51M. “Following the acquisition, Navios Partners controls a fleet of 55 vessels, of which 15 are Capesize vessels, 24 are Panamaxes, six are Ultra-Handymaxes and 10 are Containerships,” the company said.
Tradebe acquires TWG Tanklager in Hamburg Leading Spanish hydrocarbon storage operator Tradebe Port Services announced on 1 October that it had acquired TWG Tanklager Wilhelmsburg GmbH, which stores and handles mineral oil products, biodiesel, vegetable oils and other special products at Germany’s Port of Hamburg. TWG was acquired from BDH Biodiesel Hamburg GmbH, a subsidiary of Dr August Oetker KG. “TWG is one of the few remaining independent bulk liquid storage terminal operators in the Port of Hamburg, the third largest port in Europe,” said Tradebe. The Wilhelmsburg Tank Farm operates 14 carbon steel storage tanks with a capacity of 34,500m3 and has a permit to expand capacity by an additional 40,000m3. The terminal is an approved storage facility for flammable mineral oil products (such as diesel and heating oil), biodiesel, vegetable oils, liquid fertilisers and other special products such as liquid latex and fatty alcohols.
The tank farm could be reached by water via sea-going vessels (up to 9 metres draught) and by barges. It could also be accessed with rail tank cars and road tankers. Shipping routes connected the Port of Hamburg with more than 900 ports in more than 170 countries, according to the company. “We are delighted with this acquisition as it allows us to expand our storage terminal business in the strategic Port of Hamburg,” said Tradebe chairman Josep Creixell. “This acquisition fits well with our strategy of providing a flexible and customised service to our clients and stakeholders, while enlarging the range of services into chemicals and speciality chemicals. Furthermore, the acquisition strengthens the presence of our group in the German market, a key geography for our group’s growth strategy. “We see very attractive opportunities to develop new projects in TWG.”
Pan Ocean stake in Export Grain Terminal South Korean trade and logistics firm Pan Ocean has purchased a 36.25% stake in the Export Grain Terminal (EGT) in the US Pacific Northwest, World Grain reported Yonhap News Agency as saying on 14 September. The EGT facility at Longview, Washington, handles wheat, corn, soyabeans, soyabean
meal and distillers grains (DDGS) via rail or barge connections. It can unload 120,000 tonnes/hour of grain and a 110-car train in less than five hours. Pan Ocean purchased its interest from ITOCHU International. “The acquisition is expected
to boost Pan Ocean’s status in the world’s grain distribution market, diversify our grain portfolio and help us make forays into new markets,” Pan Ocean said. EGT is a joint venture between Bunge North America and ITOCHU International, a US subsidiary of Japanese trading company ITOCHU.
Farmer-owned NEW Cooperative announced on 15 September that it is building a new port on the Missouri River. The Port of Blencoe shipping and receiving port would be able to handle 240,000 tonnes/year of soyabeans, corn, dried distillers grains (DDGS), dry fertilisers and agricultural lime. It would have the capacity to unload, clean, and reload up to nine barges at a time. “The new port will allow western Iowa farmers direct access to world export and import markets,” said NEW
The new Port of Blencoe will be able to handle 240,000 tonnes/year of soyabeans, corn, dried distillers grains and other products (file photo)
Cooperative general manager Dan Dix. The company’s goal was to load barges late this autumn and start upstream
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deliveries in spring 2021, Dix said. “Iowa farmers need every advantage they can get. Years
Photo: Adobe Stock
NEW Cooperative to build port on Missouri River
of low commodity prices, droughts, tariffs, and most recently the derecho have devastated Iowa producers.” “This port has the potential to grow into a sizeable engine of economic growth for area industries,” he said. News of the Port of Blencoe project followed an August announcement that the cooperative would be building a new grain facility with a pelleting feed mill in Cooper, Iowa. NEW Cooperative is a farmer-owned grain, agronomy, energy and feed cooperative with 40 locations across Iowa. www.ofimagazine.com
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