Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) has joined the Hamburg Environment Partnership with eleven of its subsidiaries, bringing membership up to 568. Especially in the field of efficient energy consumption, HHLA is well equipped for the future and making a contribution to improving the environment with its voluntary commitment. Simply through the measures scrutinized under the terms of Hamburg Environment Partnership, HHLA is making an annual saving of more than 9,000 tons of CO2.  

Terminal operators across Europe came together to defy the economic crisis and show their commitment to the future development of the industry at the 33rd TOC Europe in Bremen last week. Efficiency and productivity were top of the agenda at this year’s conference which was attended by more than 300 high-calibre delegates. While the exhibition, which ran alongside the conference sessions, attracted senior level executives from across the globe, highlighting the event’s importance to the industry.   TOC Europe 2009 was kicked-off by Seaport Innovation’s Kent Busk and Edwin Dekker who held a highly-practical session that offered delegates suggestions on how their operations can be improved by analysing terminal KPIs. Following the well-attended session, Mr Busk and Mr Dekker offered terminal operators the chance to have their KPIs taken away for individual analysis.

Bromma, has developed a set of green spreader spec guidelines for consideration by port planners as they set green specification criteria for next generation investments. Recommended green spec areas include such topics as: the relationship between spreader efficiency standards (MTBF, MMBF, and MTTR) and environmental impact in terms of truck idling; the correlation between crane power consumption and crane spreader weight;  spreader energy consumption and its correlation with spreader design decisions; spreader consumables and their correlation with spreader design issues; minimisation of oil spill risk and noise abatement.

Beautification Project Creates Scenic Parkway for Pedestrians and Cyclists

SAN PEDRO, Calif. — June 20, 2009 — City officials and community members today celebrated the Port of Los Angeles’ completion of the first phase of a $5.2 million beautification initiative that transforms the east side of North Gaffey Street into a scenic and recreational community asset. Initiated in March 2006 as the first phase of the North Gaffey Beautification Project, the enhancement covers approximately a half-mile long strip of roadside area along the east side of North Gaffey between Gatun Street and Westmont Drive.  The new parkway and greenbelt includes trees, shrubs, a meandering walkway, park benches, picnic tables, sun shelters, drinking fountains and evening lighting.

Cargotec continues to develop its range of Kalmar straddle carriers with an environmental focus.  The latest addition to the product range is the Electrical Shuttle Carrier, ESH W, which provides higher productivity with lower emissions.   Ilkka Annala, Vice President of Kalmar Straddle Carriers, Cargotec says:  “With our original Kalmar Shuttle Carrier we revolutionised quayside productivity in mega-terminals by eliminating waiting times with decoupling of vessel and yard operations. In addition to increasing terminal productivity, our customers are now building more sustainable operations. This need triggered the launch of our new Electrical Shuttle Carrier, the ESH W, for manual or fully automated operations.”

At the end of May the Valencia Port Authority (VPA) presented the Climeport Project in Valencia; an environmental project funded by the European Union involving the main Mediterranean ports with the aim of palliating the effects of climate change. Representatives from the port authorities of Algeciras, Marseilles, El Pireo, Koper and Livorno met in Valencia to launch this decisive project with European funding to the tune of €1.2m (from a total of €1.6m). The Instituto de Tecnolog? El?trica (ITE) (Instiute of Electric Technology), the Agencia Valenciana de la Energ? (AVEN) (Valencia Energy Agency and the Agencia Eslovena de la Energ? (Slovenia Energy Agency) are also taking part in the initiative which is led by the VPA.

The first battery-driven AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) will be transporting containers at HHLA's Container Terminal Altenwerder. HHLA and Gottwald are committed to zero exhaust emissions.  HHLA Container Terminals GmbH (HHLA CT) and Gottwald Port Technology GmbH are working together to develop the first battery-driven AGV Automated Guided Vehicles for handling containers. Building on many mutually beneficial years of working together, HHLA CT and Gottwald have signed an agreement for this purpose. Testing of the prototype vehicle is due to begin at the HHLA Container Terminal Altenwerder (CTA) shortly.

The first of a new, improved generation of Port of London Authority (PLA) patrol launch was officially named yesterday(9 June 2009), at a ceremony on the river Thames. The new launch, Lambeth, is one of a fleet of five specially-designed catamarans being introduced in a £2 million PLA investment, to replace seven heavier, older vessels.  At initial sea trials, the new vessel has already shown the expected benefits of substantially reduced exhaust emissions, lower fuel consumption and smaller wash waves.  The PLA also expects to benefit from easier maintenance and operation, as the single design replaces seven different vessels.

June 9 - The board of directors of Antwerp Port Authority has decided to permit the installation of photovoltaic systems within the port area, under certain conditions. In this way renewable energy can be obtained from solar power as well as wind and geothermal power, in line with the intentions for sustainable energy use laid down by the Port Authority in its Climate & Energy environmental vision.

PIANC Resolution 2009, drafted during its Annual General Assembly on May 26 in Helsinki

With the impact of Climate Change now being further considered in the context of navigation in terms of inland waterways, coastal and deep sea shipping, it is evident that major steps need to be taken to deal with the challenges created. From an inland navigation point of view, PIANC is actively considering the impact of climate change and examining how navigational infrastructure and operating criteria need to be modified to cope with more adverse conditions ranging from sudden floods to ever more severe droughts.