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Issues were many and important on the MEPC’s 58th session. Photo: Rolf P Nilsson.
Emissions in focus at MEPC 58
The Marine Environment Protection Committee, MEPC, of the International Maritime Organisation, IMO, has held its 58th session at the UN body’s London headquarters. In some sense, it was also a historical meeting. “I’ve been with the MEPC since 1997, and never have we had so many important issues on the agenda”, said one of the delegates.
Magni R was originally built as a sailing split barge. Now it is a suction dredger, but still with the ability to discharge via the bottom of the cargo hold, visible in this photo. Photo: Bent Mikkelsen.
Sought-after suction and split capacity
Danish dredging giant Rohde Nielsen A/S has just inaugurated the dredger Magni R after it was built on the hull of one of three self-propelled split-barges. By doing a rebuild at its own shipyard, RN Shipyard at Grenå, the company bypassed the normal waiting time at any shipyard in the world.
Photo: Håkan Sjöström.
Desperately needed tramp
In 1916 A/S Burmeister & Wains Maskin- og Skibsbyggeri in Copenhagen delivered the 6,750 DWT cargo steamer Nordlys to Dampskibsselskabet Norden A/S. The Nordlys was powered by a 1,860 ihp triple expansion steam engine, providing a speed of 9.5 knots.
Photo: Bent Mikkelsen.
Denmark: Infrastructure for 2.7 billion needed
The association of Danish Ports, Danske Havne, has presented the parliamentary committee for transport Trafikudvalget with a package of investments, which the Danske Havne deems necessary in order to meet the need of expanding traffic to and from 16 Danish ports over the coming years.
Old City Harbour, Tallinn, in July 2008. Baltic Princess was delivered but Galaxy was still in traffic. Photo: Tiit Mõtus.
Russian transit drops Estonian ports
The decline in cargo turnover that began last year continues. Russian coal has gone and oil products are following suit. The Port of Tallinn is now concentrating its efforts on containers and cars. The Port of Sillamäe is optimistically proceeding with construction work but Estonian state budget cutbacks have resulted in the postponement of an order for a new icebreaker.
The quays were still empty at Helsinki’s new Vuosaari harbour when this picture was taken in September. By the end of November the situation will be totally different, as Vuosaari takes over all cargo traffic in Helsinki. Photo: Port of Helsinki.
Halted growth in Finnish ports
After another all time high cargo handling last year, it seems like the growth in Finnish ports for the time being has reached its peak. Last year was again a fabulous year for the ports in Finland with an all time high in cargo volumes, totalling 102.6 million tons. Compared to 2006, the growth was 3.4 million tons.
Controversy is over, work starts on JWP.
Worries remain as German ports gain ground
Some of the problems that beset German ports a year ago now appear to have been overcome. However, in some places they have been replaced by new worries over developments like rising bunker costs and uncertain markets. Elsewhere fears of port and hinterland congestion continue to fuel improvements designed to combat predicted higher volumes.
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Mongolia-registered Bulgarien Vitosha in the coal terminal that will be turned into a passenger port. Photo: Madli Vitismann.
Latvian ports are building and dredging
Last year Latvian ports processed a total of 62.4 million tons of cargo, which is almost three million tons more than in 2006. Growth is continuing this year.
Klaipeda State Seaport will build a new ro-pax terminal closer to the city centre. Photo: Madli Vitismann.
Lithuanian container port largest in the Baltic States
Last year the cargo turnover of Klaipeda State Seaport increased by almost 16 per cent, reaching 27.4 million tons. It is now the largest container port in the Baltic States and processed, for the first time ever, over 300,000 TEU in 2007.
The intermunicipal Port of Bergen – a cooperation between 12 local councils. Photo: Dag Bakka Jr.
Ports and sea transportation in Norway still vital
With 70 per cent of the foreign trade and 40 per cent of the domestic transport work, sea transportation is still holding a vital role in the Norwegian economy. In fact the total turnover of cargo has risen to around 200 million tons in recent years, reflecting the strong demand for raw materials, energy and most other products.
Gdansk CT. Photo: Port of Gdansk.
Container surge ahead at revamped Polish ports
Poland’s four main seaports, Gdansk, Gdynia, Szczecin and Swinoujscie, upped container handling last year by 31 per cent. All the indications are that big box volumes will rise again sharply this year as millions of Euros are ploughed into new capacities to boost Poland’s share of Baltic business.
Maersk Vancouver unloads containers at the quays of First Stevedoring Company. Photo: Madli Vitismann.
During the first eight months of 2008 the cargo turnover in Russian commercial seaports totalled 303.7 million tons, which is 6.97 million tons more than in the same period last year. In the north-west region more than 143.4 million tons of cargo were shipped.
Russian ports increasing capacity
The name Leningrad welcomes the tourists at the port entrance in St Petersburg. Photo: Madli Vitismann.
Improving efficiency of Rosmorport
Rosmorport celebrates its first anniversary and is likely to become a joint stock company soon to improve its efficiency.
The current financial turmoil and the crisis of the car industry is also affecting Swedish ports. Photo: Port of Göteborg.
Sweden: Facing difficult times
Last year’s government inquiry on port strategy didn’t leave too many marks in this autumn’s budget proposal from the Swedish government. Although stressing that the report from the inquiry is comprehensive and includes a thorough survey of the Swedish port system and the role and significance of the ports, the government backed on the most controversial proposal.
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