In collaboration with various haulage companies, Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG has continued to successfully develop its slot-booking process for truck visits to the Port of Hamburg with the introduction of Truck FIT. Stuhr Container Logistic GmbH & Co. KG is supporting the update, since the changes introduced will also allow haulage companies’ capacities to be planned and managed more reliably.

Jens Hansen, Chief Operating Officer of HHLA, says, “With the introduction of the slot-booking process and the Truck FIT system updates, we are continually improving the processes at the Hamburg terminals. This reduces the amount of time trucks spend at the terminal and thus relieves public infrastructure. Collaborating with the haulage companies has enabled us to further develop the system based on the needs of the users and brought us closer to our common goal: the transparent and reliable allocation of slots.”

The system updates were made in close coordination with participating haulage companies. An important development partner for HHLA was Stuhr Container Logistic. The Hamburg haulage company is an expert in container transport in and around the Port of Hamburg. The company was involved in the planning and implementation of the project from the very beginning.

Heiner Stuhr, Managing Partner of Stuhr Container Logistic, on Truck FIT: “At first, we were sceptical of the changes to the system because we feared that the flexibility our business needs would get lost. However, in our role as a development partner, we were able to express our concerns transparently from the start. The HHLA project team engaged in dialogue with us and always found the right solution.” Thanks to the feedback from haulage companies, the system was further developed based on the needs of users. “Now there are more bookable slots available at short notice than there were before the adjustments, which has a positive impact on our business,” adds Heiner Stuhr.

Oliver Dux, Managing Director of Container Terminal Altenwerder, declares, “We are very grateful to all our project partners – including Stuhr – for supporting HHLA’s introduction of Truck FIT despite the difficult circumstances. The current situation in particular illustrates how important it is for all parties that are affected by the supply chain disruptions to work together and to find solutions.”

The slot-booking process was introduced in the Port of Hamburg in 2017 to prevent bottlenecks at the terminals and to relieve the traffic situation. At the beginning of 2022, HHLA began updating the system with the introduction of Truck FIT, since the no-show rate – the proportion of unused slots – had grown significantly. With the system update, haulage companies with a no-show rate that is too high will be offered a limited contingent of slots during peak times the following week. Slots can still be booked freely during off-peak times. Since the end of June, it is no longer possible to swap slots that have already been booked. In a final step, the system’s transparency will be further increased through the disclosure of actual throughput times at the terminals.

CMA Terminals, a fully owned subsidiary of the CMA CGM Group, a global player in sea, land, air and logistics solutions together with J M Baxi Ports & Logistics Ltd., a unit of the 106-year-old Mumbai-based J M Baxi Group, have won the tender for privatization of Jawaharlal Nehru Port Container Terminal and will constitute a Joint Venture named Nhava Sheva Freeport Terminal Pvt Ltd. The signing of the 30-year Concession Agreement will take place on July 29th with Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority.

Nhava Sheva Freeport Terminal will be owned by J M Baxi Ports & Logistics and CMA CGM’s subsidiary CMA Terminals and will operate as a multi-user terminal. This agreement seals a long-term partnership, as part of a broader strategy towards developing cooperation in the fields of new logistics solutions, supply chain digitalization and training enhancement for younger generations in the fields of shipping and logistics.

A key partnership between two major terminal actors

Nhava Sheva Freeport Terminal will take-over JNPCT’s 680-meter quay length and 54 Ha of yard, developing it to become an efficient gateway for Northwest India, by enhancing capacity with an upgrade of equipment, yard, and systems.

The consortium is well positioned to execute the plan, thanks to CMA Terminals Holding’s experience at 50 active port terminals across 33 countries together with J M Baxi Ports & Logistics’ strong track record of managing brownfield terminal concessions in India and 2 containers terminals at Vizag and Kandla.

Nhava Sheva Freeport Terminal’s offering is further enhanced by its intermodal connectivity via a rail freight corridor that connects the terminal to main production and consumption centers in India. This offers terminal customers quality integrated services at sea and ashore.

Strengthening the CMA CGM Group’s strategic presence in India

With this new concession agreement, CMA CGM is growing its terminal footprint while supporting the growth and efficiency of its commercial and operational activities in India. The group is consolidating its end-to-end service offering and establishing greater control over the logistics chain to offer its customers higher quality, integrated, digital and more environmentally friendly services in a context that requires a comprehensive approach to the supply chain. As one of the nation’s top ocean-freight carriers, CMA CGM is well positioned to serve its customers, thanks to a strong presence in India over the past three decades.

The CMA CGM Group has been operating for over 33 years with 20 branch offices PAN India and a combined workforce of 7 528 staff members. The group operates 14 weekly mainline services at 5 gateway ports in India, connecting major global destinations with a state-of-the-art intermodal network on land and in air. The Group reiterates its support to the Indian economy through this partnership which aims at broadening the country’s national trade with a wider access to regional and global markets.

A new warehouse and a last-mile transport service at Porto Itapoa, Brazil offers customers increased flexibility and efficiency and lower operating costs. This is part of an ongoing investment at the terminal which will also increase capacity from 1.2 million TEUs to 2 million TEUs once completed in 2023. The R$ 750 million expansion plan at Porto Itapoa will also increase the yard from 250,000 m² to 455,000 m².

Reduced or zero demurrage

“This is particularly important as free-time – the length of time, a container can be stored free of charge at the port – has reduced considerably since the beginning of the pandemic to help reduce congestion. It can also help customers reduce or completely remove demurrage charges – a penalty paid by customers for using a container beyond the contracted term.”

The storage facility offers additional flexibility for companies that are close to reaching their maximum stocking capacity. “As operational procedures also fall under our responsibility, the customer has much less administration and more convenience,” adds Pandolfo.

Less-than-truckload last mile service

Porto Itapoa already offered fractional cargo operations, but this is now supported by its new fractional cargo transport service which reduces logistics complexity and adds flexibility for customers.

Deliveries are made within a 160km and 260km radius of Porto Itapoa, directly to the customer’s door using transport managed by the Terminal itself. “In this way, we speed up a step in the customer’s logistics chain, reduce complexity and guarantee delivery,” explains Pandolfo.

APM Terminals holds a 30% share in Porto Itapoá. The terminal began operations in June 2011 and is considered to be one of the most agile, efficient and sustainable container terminals in Latin America.