Joint action to foster inland waterways in India 
The Indian register of shipping and the government of Assam, a state in India’s north-east, have signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance the state’s inland water transport system and to improve commuter safety. The MOU follows the funding agreement between the government... more
All's well that ends well for crew of MSC Mandy
The six crew members who had been kidnapped from the containership “MSC Mandy” during a pirate attack about 55 miles off the coast of Cotonou (Benin), on 1 January 2019, are now free. Seven to nine pirates with automatic firearms and knives boarded the 2,700 teu vessel,... more
Port Synergy - growth in 2018, upgrade in Le Havre
The France-based Port Synergy Group processed just over 2.3 million teu in 2018, 9% more than in 2017. The group’s share of the container market in France amounts to about 50%. The boxes are handled by its two main subsidiaries - GMP and Euro Fos. The two container terminals are... more
UK: DfT tables outlook up to 2050
The UK's Department for Transport (DfT) has launched Maritime 2050, the first long-term strategy developed in partnership with industry. The government emphasised the importance of the maritime sector to Britain’s future success. That importance has only increased in the... more
Stena to deploy new ferry on Irish Sea
A new ro-pax ferry named the “Stena Estrid” has just been launched. According to the ferry operator’s plans, the newbuilding will go into service on the Dublin – Holyhead route at the beginning of 2020. The “Stena Estrid” is the first of three new e-flexer ferries for the... more
Slight upswing for Marseille Fos in 2018
The port of Marseille Fos made modest progress in 2018. The total cargo throughput grew to 81 million t, 1% more than in 2017. Last year, container traffic rose by 2% to 1.4 million teu, and dry bulk volumes surged by 12% to 15.2 million t. With conventional traffic – mainly... more
Tarros adds Marseille to GPS service
The La Spezia (Italy)-headquartered Tarros Group upgraded its Great Pendulum service (GPS), effective 31 January 2019. It ensures that Tarros is able to maintain a very efficient service network, with great reliability and stability. Danilo Ricci, general manager of Tarros,... more
Mobile harbour crane acquisitions in 2018
Liebherr Maritime Cranes sold 83 mobile harbour cranes in 40 countries in 2018. That gave the company an estimated market share of up to 66% in the mobile harbour crane segment. The major clients were, inter alia, Qube Ports in Tasmania (Australia) and the Belgium port... more
Port de Guadeloupe enhances terminal
On 29 January, the Grand Port Maritime de la Guadeloupe (GPMG) welcomed a new generation gantry crane for the Jarry/Baie-Mahault container terminal. At around 07.00, the massive 1,280 t, 68 m high hoisting equipment, stowed on the vessel "Happy Star", arrived at the... more
New service to London Gateway
On 22 February, Unifeeder is launching a new dedicated shuttle service between Gdynia Port and DP World London Gateway. This new Poland - UK connection is part of Unifeeder’s strategy to provide a transport alternative via multiple points of entry into the UK. The UK... more