Port of Antwerp-Bruges and PSA Antwerp gave the official green light for the renewal of the quayside and terminal at Europa Terminal. The works, which will take about nine years and be carried out in three phases, will ensure that the latest generation of container ships can continue to call at Antwerp. These renovations will also result in an efficient and sustainable terminal that contributes to the transition towards a climate-neutral port.
In order to remain a top-class world port, the port must be able to offer its customers a well-functioning infrastructure and additional container capacity. Port of Antwerp-Bruges and PSA Antwerp are therefore investing in the renewal of the Europa Terminal. It was officially inaugurated in 1990 as the first tidal container terminal in Antwerp. With the renewal, which will cost 335 million euros, Port of Antwerp-Bruges aims to strengthen its competitive position while taking steps towards becoming a sustainable port.
Works carried out in three phases to keep the terminal operational
The depth of vessels that can moor at the 1,200-metre quayside will be increased from 13.5 metres to 16 metres. Because ships must be able to continue to moor during the extensive works and in order to minimise operational impact, we are tackling the quayside in three major phases. In addition, we will create additional temporary moorings for inland navigation, so we can guarantee that our customers will receive a smooth service. The works will be spread over about 9 years and have been carefully plotted based on expected traffic in the coming years.
Attention to climate and the environment
The renovation of the terminal will also contribute to the transition towards a climate-neutral port. Electrification and other optimisations will reduce CO2 emissions per container by 50% and wind turbines will increase the share of renewable energy.
The new quayside will be given a new orientation to ensure sufficient distance between passing ships and the terminal, and to protect the nearby Galgenschoor nature reserve. The works include in the final phase the construction of an underwater dam to provide additional protection for the nature reserve and ensure it does not subside.
During the entire process, all parties involved will take the necessary measures to minimise disruption, in close consultation with the surrounding area.
Following a tender process, the contract for the works was concluded today with a Temporary Company of four contractors, namely Artes-Roegiers, Artes-Depret, Herbosch-Kiere and Boskalis, all contractors with extensive experience in large-scale hydraulic engineering projects.
Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO Port of Antwerp-Bruges: “With the modernisation of the Europa Terminal we are underlining our ambitions as a container port. As a world-class port, it is essential that we continue to play at the highest level and are able to accommodate the biggest ships. We are, however, aware of the impact of our activities on the surrounding area and local residents. That is why we are committed to reducing mooring emissions, among other things. With a new efficient and sustainable terminal, we are building the port infrastructure of the future.”
Annick De Ridder, Port Alderwoman of the City of Antwerp and Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Port of Antwerp-Bruges: “Our port is the economic engine of Flanders. Interventions are needed to make it function optimally. With the deepening of the Europa Terminal from 13.5 to 16 metres, together with PSA Antwerp, we are ensuring that we can continue to receive the largest container ships. I look forward to the further progress of the works and an even brighter future for container handling in our port.”
Cameron Thorpe, CEO PSA Belgium: “At PSA Belgium, we are delighted that construction works on the quayside are underway. This will allow us to start the transformation process of Europa Terminal with a highly sustainable investment while increasing capacity by more than 700K TEU annually. This reflects our confidence in the future of Port of Antwerp-Bruges and underlines the PSA Group’s commitment in Belgium.”
Jurgen De Wachter, General Manager at PSA Antwerp Container Business: “The development of the Europa Terminal will future-proof our operations and service levels, by reducing our carbon footprint by more than half, improving the safety of our people and meeting our customers’ increasing demand for mega-ship capacity.”
Artes-Roegiers, Artes-Depret, Herbosch-Kiere and Boskalis: “We are very happy to undertake this project. It is a strategic project for the future of the port. It is technically complex and will be carried out in phases without too much disruption to container traffic. It will be a technical and operational feat, but one that we can handle thanks to our extensive expertise. Sound agreements have also been made about this with Port of Antwerp-Bruges and PSA.”
APM Terminals expands its API offering. Image: APM Terminals
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In response to customer feedback, this month APM Terminals rolled out a new API which enables customers to track the schedules and key milestones for all vessels calling at a specific terminal. Furthermore, real-time API data connectivity was made available for an additional three terminals.
APM Terminals has offered a Vessel Schedule API for some years, however this was more suited to customers looking to track a specific vessel calling a terminal. The new Terminal Vessel Schedule enables customers to track all vessels calling a terminal, for up to one week in the past and two weeks ahead.
The Terminal Vessels Schedule provides customers with, among other things, real-time and reliable terminal Estimated Time of Arrival/Departure, Earliest Receiving Date, Cut-Off Times for different cargo types, vessel details and more.
Why use APIs?
APM Terminals’ innovative, industry-leading range of seven APIs enables customers to pull real-time container status, truck appointment and vessel data from its Terminal Operating Systems, into their own internal systems, such as a Logistics or Transport Management System (TMS). Developed in line with industry standards, they offer self-service, straight forward, one-time-only implementation.
Real-time data feeds remove the need to look up information manually via our existing Track & Trace channels, making this the ideal solution for shipping lines, inland transporters, cargo owners and managers, and data aggregators who process higher volumes.
The pricing structure of the new Terminal Vessel Schedule is particularly interesting for larger customers tracking a number of vessels as unlike the existing Vessel Schedule API, pricing is not per vessel called via the API, but for unlimited calls for a period of 30 days, for a specific terminal. As with the company’s existing range of APIs, API calls are purchased using API credits which can be bought in bundles. The larger the bundle, the lower the price per credit.
New Terminals
API connectivity was added for the company’s two Ports in India, APM Terminals Mumbai and APM Terminal Pipavav, as well as the Suez Canal Container Terminal (SCCT) in Egypt. SCCT support data for Vessel Schedules, Import Containers and Export Containers. The Indian terminals support data for Vessel Schedules, Import Containers, Container Event History and Empty Container Returns.
With these additional Terminals, APM Terminals now offer’s API connectivity for 22 of its terminals, with an additional five planned to be added this year.
MOL join the Port Island Phase 2 Development Project at the Port of Kobe, Image: MOL
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Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding for the Port Island Phase 2 Development Project at the Port of Kobe with Kobe-Osaka International Port Corporation and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd.
Following the phase 2 South Pier expansion and improvement work undertaken by Kobe-Osaka International Port Corporation, MOL will add berth PC-14 and the land behind the terminal to its lease and expand Kobe International Container Terminal. MOL currently leases KICT and operates berths PC-15/16/17 along with Sankyu Inc., Sumitomo Warehouse Co., Ltd., and Nickel & Lyons Ltd. The MoU also calls for “K” Line, which currently operates a container terminal on Rokko Island, to join KICT. After the completion of the expansion and improvement work, KICT will be the largest terminal in western Japan, handling about 40% of international container cargo at the Port of Kobe.
The expanded KICT will have a total wharf length of 1,750m, up from the current 1,050m, providing more flexible berth windows and streamlining connections for containers with other routes. Furthermore, a Container freight station directly connected to the terminal and a logistics facility with an overhead crane that can move larger cargo, will be built on the land behind the terminal, offering one-stop service from loading of cargo containers to delivery to the terminal. MOL Group company Shosen Koun Co., Ltd. will operate these facilities, delivering convenient and competitive logistics services to customers throughout the group.
MOL has positioned environmental strategy as one of the key elements of in its “BLUE ACTION 2035” management plan, and set the goal of achieving net zero greenhouse (GHG) emissions by 2050 in the “MOL Group Environmental Vision 2.2.” Last year, Shosen Koun became the first company in Japan to introduce two new transfer cranes (RTGs), which can be converted from conventional diesel engines to hydrogen fuel cells to power the RTGs used for container handling operations at KICT. And the company will adopt the new electric RTGs in the terminal expansion area. In addition, it plans to install solar panels on the container gate and the roof of the logistics facility. Through these concerted group-wide initiatives, the MOL Group will contribute to the reduction of GHG emissions from the container terminal.
MOL has positioned the Port of Kobe as an important base for its domestic business for many years, and its group companies currently operate the port, logistics, tugboat, and real estate businesses, each of which has deep roots in the local community. In April of last year, the Kobe Shosen Mitsui Building celebrated the centennial anniversary of its completion. With the KICT expansion project, the MOL Group will further solidify its business base and offer stress-free services to customers.
The Callao Multipurpose North Terminal, operated by APM Terminals, welcomed “MSC Chiyo”, the largest capacity container ship to ever call in Peru. The new container ship, operated by shipping line MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) came into operation this year.
At 366m long and 51m wide, the vessel operates on the ANDES Service, which connects Callao with the Asian continent. The MSC Chiyo has a higher-than-normal container capacity due to its maximum draft of 17 meters. With 16,616 TEU (20-foot container equivalent) on board, it became the largest capacity vessel to ever arrive on the west coast, compared to the 14,000 TEU ships normally operating on the same service.
During its stay at APM Terminals Callao, 2,586 crane moves were made in total. This included 1,522 import TEUs and 1,483 export TEUs, which were handled with the terminals five super post panamax ship-to-shore cranes for almost the entire operation. An impressive crane productivity of 115 moves per hour was achieved.
“At APM Terminals Callao we are proud to be the main port in the country and to be the first to receive ships of this capacity,” commented Fernando Fauche, Commercial Director of APM Terminals Callao.
“One of the factors that make events like this a reality is the great care and priority we give to our internal safety and security standards, ensuring that they are 100% met and providing guarantees to our clients. The arrival of this large vessel is undoubtedly a milestone for the terminal, and events like this reaffirm our mission to become an international hub for the different players in the logistics sector and thus continue to meet the needs of the local and global market.”
