romanian intermodal association

NEwsletter

september 2009

Port Authority is investing € 370 million this year

This year, the Port of Rotterdam Authority is investing 370 million in the port. About half of this is going into infrastructure in the existing port area, whilst the other half is earmarked for Maasvlakte 2. Some hefty investments also need to be made for the medium and long term. Between now and 2020, the Port Authority expects to invest some 4 billion. The Port Authoritys financial position is solid enough to cushion the downward trend in results in the first six months ( 8 million) and to allow the continuation of this investment programme. The Port Authority can easily meet the criteria set by its external financiers. Sursa http://cms.tutech.net/eurift/index.php?PID=641

Maersk Line increases freight rates

Maersk Line continues to announce rate increases from the current record low rate level. Maersk announced rate increases for the services from the Mediterranean and North Africa to USA and Canada where the rates are increased by USD 300 per container effective 1st October.

http://cms.tutech.net/eurift/index.php?PID=641

EIA Intermodal Ceremony…

for best practices, which this year will take place in the Baltic region during the most important event this autumn in Europe regarding Asian-European transport cooperation.

On 19 October 2009, in the European Capital of Culture 2009 Vilnius, Lithuania, the Asia-Europe Transport Development Forum (TDF) will take place in parallel with the first ASEM Transport Ministers’ Meeting. The world’s most important transport ministers will gather together in one place and the needs of transport businesses will be on their agenda.

Be there, meet key people, hear key speeches and discuss burning issues of the transport sector. It will be serious, it will be interesting, and it will be important for your business. Visit www.asemtransport.org to find the programme and book the date.

For more information about the EIA Intermodal Award (application and procedure) please go to www.eia-ngo.com

The 4th European Conference & Exhibition on Inland Terminals

This year’s main theme of the conference is the strategy of seaports, deep sea terminal operators and liner shipping companies to include inland ports and terminals in their overall business development. Why is it that these inland ports have become an integral part of the strategy, how exactly do they fit in, and what will the future bring in this respect? What do the inland terminals themselves feel about this evolution? And how do key players of the three traditional modes (Rail-Road-Inland Waterways) react to this trend? Read more on www.inlandterminals.com

The research calls on maritime transport launched in July 2009, by the European Commission on Framework Programe no. 7.

The call is published asFP7-TRANSPORT-2010-TREN-1 at http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/dc/index.cfm or click directly at http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/dc/index.cfm?fuseaction=UserSite.CooperationDetailsCallPage&call_id=237

If interested, click at the information package and download the WORK PROGRAMME 2010.The topic SST.2010.5.2-5 (on an Upgraded maritime transport information management) is described at page 81 and the topic SST.2010.6-2 (on the Maritime industry knowledge network) at page 84.

ESPO Sets out Priorities for Future Transport Policy

Last week ESPO issued its contribution to the European Commission’s Review on the Future of Transport. The aim of the Commission’s consultation is to set the basis for the preparation of a new Transport Policy White Paper which will be published in 2010 and which will set out policy priorities until 2020.

ESPO proposes the following priorities to be taken into consideration and to be translated into policy actions in the next White Paper:

1- Strengthening the role of nodal access points such as seaports and inland ports and improvement and further development of hinterland connections between ports and land transport networks. 2- More attention and resources for freight transport with the possibility to create dedicated infrastructure networks. 3- A better integration of transport and environmental policy objectives at the level of the EU. 4- A better connection between the Common Transport policy and the Trans-European Transport Policy. 5- Alignment of transport infrastructure needs and urban development requirements through enhanced planning procedures. 6- Full implementation of the policy framework set out in the European Commission’s 2007 Ports Policy Communication. 7- A rapid and harmonised implementation of the European Maritime Transport Space without Barriers, to turn short sea transport into a viable and competitive alternative to inland transport. 8- Full rail market liberalisation. 9- A level playing field, both between ports and between transport modes, as well as enforcement of applicable EU Treaty rules, international agreements and relevant secondary EU legislation (e.g. in the field of environment, customs, etc...).

ESPO Calls for an EU E-Maritime Initiative that Ensures Europe’s Competitive Edge in the World

ESPO hosted on 30 September a workshop to address the broad scope of the EU e-Maritime initiative which is being developed by the Commission. The members of two of the ESPO technical committees, the Intermodal & Logistics Committee and the Marine Affairs & Security Committee, came together with DG TREN and representatives of the International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH) to exchange views on concrete applications of e-Maritime for ports. The discussion also focused on regulatory needs at EU level and key success factors to ensure that the Commission’s initiative makes a genuine contribution to the sustainable development of the maritime sector and maritime regions in general.

Participants agreed that the real challenges of electronic information exchange between maritime stakeholders are not of a technical nature. The EU e-Maritime initiative should build on existing good practices and systems that are already in place and involve both users and stakeholders. Participants stressed that the international dimension of shipping should be carefully taken into account when defining the framework for e-Maritime. In that sense, port authorities and DG TREN agreed on the importance to take into consideration other global initiatives and experiences, such as the e-Navigation system driven by IMO and well functioning data exchange systems that are in place in Asia. Other initiatives at EU level, such as the e-Customs and e-Freight projects, should also be well-connected and compatible with e-Maritime.

ESPO members asked the Commission to keep in mind the diversity of ports in Europe and the overall competitiveness of the sector. Ports also asked the Commission to take different approaches with regard to situations involving business and administration and to establish clear separation between both. Furthermore port authorities insisted on the fact that ports are looking at both sea and land sides as nodal points in the logistic chain. To conclude, participants underlined that the result of this initiative should in any case ensure Europe’s competitive edge in the world.

The Commission took note of the port authorities' feedback. Both DG TREN and ESPO found the discussion constructive and emphasised the need for continued collaboration. Overall, e-Maritime is seen by the port sector as an opportunity towards setting the requirements for an efficient system that will facilitate procedures and information exchange in port areas and the logistic chain.

As a first milestone, the European Commission may propose before the end of 2010 a Communication on the EU e-Maritime initiative and a framework Directive facilitating the implementation of e-Maritime services and outlining the strategic framework.

Commission Strategy to Improve Maritime Governance in the Mediterranean Sea

On 11 September, the European Commission presented a strategy aimed at countering the various maritime challenges in the Mediterranean Sea basin. The Commission believes a better governance of maritime affairs would be an important driver for more sustainable growth in the region. At the same time, common issues of concern should be addressed. Competition for marine space, threats to maritime safety, environmental degradation and the adverse effects of climate change all imply the need for a more coordinated response of maritime governance in the region, also in cooperation with non-EU Mediterranean partners.

Through this communication, the Commission proposes to:

- Encourage stakeholders and administrations in the region to address maritime affairs in a more integrated manner and to start in priority-setting for maritime governance;

- Examine ways to foster further cooperation among stakeholders and administrations both from across all maritime-related sectors and from across the Mediterranean;

- Assist Mediterranean EU Member States to exchange best practice in integrated maritime policy, for example with the support of existing EU funding for territorial co-operation;

- Make technical assistance available under the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument for those non-EU Mediterranean countries that want to pursue a more integrated approach to maritime affairs;

- Promote the ratification and the implementation of the 1982 United Nations Convention of Law of the Sea (UNCLOS);

- Set up a basin-wide working group on Integrated Maritime Policy in order to encourage dialogue and cooperation with non-EU Mediterranean partners;

- Enhance multilateral cross-sectoral cooperation, through both specific studies and a better overview of existing international and regional agreements that regulate maritime activities in the Mediterranean.

New ICS Website to Show Reduction of CO2 Emissions in Shipping

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), which is the principal global trade association for shipowners, has launched a new internet website.

The purpose of the site is to explain what the shipping industry and its regulator - the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO) - are doing to achieve a significant reduction of CO2 emissions.

On the website one can acknowledge the agreement of the shipping industry to reduce CO2 emitted per tonne-kilometer by perhaps 15%-20% by 2020, through a combination of technological and operational developments aimed at reducing fuel consumption. In the longer term, advances in alternative fuel technologies may deliver further improvements.

The website stresses that shipping is an inherently international industry which depends on a global regulatory framework to operate efficiently: meaningful reductions in CO2 emissions will be best achieved if nations agree that the development of detailed measures for shipping should be directed by governments at IMO - but in line with the outcomes agreed for the sector under any new UN Climate Change Convention.

The website also contains information about the development of Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plans, potential Market Based Instruments, and other resources relevant to shipping and CO2 emissions reduction. In addition, the site includes a video explaining the relationship between shipping and world trade, as well as links to general information about shipping and its environmental performance.

Third International Symposium on "SHIP OPERATIONS, MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMICS"

This is a reminder that the Greek Section of SNAME and the SNAME European Regional Office are organizing the Third International Symposium on "SHIP OPERATIONS, MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMICS" (S.O.M.E. 2010). This will be held at the Eugenides Foundation in Athens, Greece, on October 7-8, 2010.

IMPORTANT DATES (please mark on your calendar):

Deadline for abstract submission: extended to October 31, 2009.

Abstract acceptance notification: November 30, 2009.

Draft papers due: January 31, 2010.

Paper acceptance notification: April 15, 2010.

Final papers due: June 30, 2010.

HOW TO SUBMIT

Abtracts (450 to 600 words) should be sent to the Chairman of the Papers Committee, Dr. Dimitrios V. Lyridis, at . Papers should be of non-commercial nature.

TOPICS OF INTEREST INCLUDE

Operations, maintenance and repairs; shipping market modeling; cost benefit analysis; financing and insurance; risk management; environmental management; safety, security and classification issues; ship air emissions; fleet management; routing and scheduling; manning and human factors; cargo handling concepts; new operation concepts; short sea shipping; communications and navigation; oil pollution control.

The Future of Transport
Inland Navigation Europe (INE) has added its voice to the European Commission’s invitation to contribute to the debate on the future of transport in the European Union. INE has called for a solid transport policy strategy and effective implementation tools to allow the Union to achieve its green transport and logistics aims through encouraging waterway transport to increase its share of the transport market, resulting in less congestion, less carbon, more safety and greener cities. INE has called for effective & sustainable distribution solutions, integrated transport policies, high environmental standards, the removal of red tape and distortions, the creation of a sound investment climate and a future oriented approach. Source: Inland Navigation Europe
Port of Antwerp introduces automatic identification system for inland ships
In a first for Flemish ports, the port of Antwerp has taken the initiative of introducing an obligatory information system for inland shipping. As from March 2011 all inland ships which enter the port, must have an Automatic Identification system (AIS). Every ship equipped with AIS sends out information. Beside fixed data, information such as the name and the dimensions of the vessel, information on its position, its speed, its load, its cargo and its destination are all available. With those data the port company can improve traffic flows and safely regulate the harbour. The same AI systems are already in use for marine vessels. Source: Inland Navigation Europe
Waterways made easy
Inland Navigation Europe (INE) has produced two new resources for people wanting to know more about inland navigation. The first brochure, “Just add water” highlights how adding waterways to transport logistics will help to realize Europe’s green economy. It also provides guidance on how to multiply existing best practices over Europe’s water regions. The second brochure “A changing world” presents a vision of a future in which inland navigation is fully integrated into logistics supply chains and is the optimal choice for efficient and environmentally friendly transportation. Inland waterways are a win-win solution for all concerned, reducing congestion and emissions in supply chains while generating more return on investment with integrated landscape solutions encompassing environmental protection, regional development, water supply, leisure, tourism and flood Source: Inland Navigation Europe.
Notices to skippers in four languages
The Wallonian waterway authorities are now publishing Notices to Skippers in a standardized format in four different languages (French, Dutch, English and German) The documents can also be downloaded in a standardised format xml, which makes it possible for the user to automatically translate them into the other languages of the European Union. This new development is within the framework of the implementation of the European directive relevant to the requirement that river information services (SIF - LAUGH) be harmonized on the Community inland waterways. Source: Inland Navigation Europe
Fund for fleet modernisation
The Federal Ministry for traffic, building and town development (BMVBS) in Germany has presented a guideline for allowances for the modernization of the German inland waterway fleet and a pilot project for innovative techniques in inland navigation. The new program provides financial incentives for the modernization of the fleet as well as innovative pilot projects in inland navigation. According to the guidelines the subsidies are granted in order to promote new infrastructure development, the purchase of more modern river ships and modernization measures and also for increasing the energy efficiency of the existing ships in order to improve of environmental protection. The allowance allows for an amount of up to EUR 100,000 for each request.

TOUAX writes a new page in the history of Danube transport