Magazine for Ports, Shipping and Logistics December 2016
Running Smoothly Focus Topic: Ro-ro
Safety is key 16 | A tailwind for ro-ro cargo 20 FASHION AND SPORTS · SHIPPING AND FORWARDING · AUTOMOBILE · ENGINEERING INDUSTRY · ELECTRONICS · FOOD
Looking for a made-to-measure solution? Then you‘ve come to the right place. Now you might ask – why this company? Because we prove it every single day – with our experience, passion and the tradition of Hanseatic integrity. Our word is our bond. www.blg-logistics.com PREFACE & CONTENT
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“The markets are becoming more and more competitive” Wolfgang Rose, Managing Director of Atlantik Hafenbetriebe Geuther & Schnitger
Main Topic
Dear readers! 10
Quo vadis? All forms of commercial shipping are now asking themselves this question. The collapse of Hanjin, for example, has shown that excess supply of tonnage coupled with reductions in volume are posing an existential threat to many providers. This development is also becoming increasingly apparent in the field of ro-ro deep-sea transport. Whilst Germany showed a two per cent increase in exports and managed to clock up a total of 4.3 million exported cars in 2015, considerably fewer units will have been shipped via the major ro-ro ports in Emden and Bremerhaven by the end of 2016. This is due partly to the crisis at VW, and partly to weak sales in countries such as Brazil, where we are seeing a 25.1 per cent drop in car business, for example. The major ro-ro carriers have recently invested further in the renewal of their fleets, in order to be able to Safety & Security transport high and heavy units and project loads as well as their traditional goods. This business is desperately 16 needed in order to help them stay in the black. The market for loads that cannot be containerised but are also
not designed for project carriers is becoming increasingly competitive. At the same time, the tonnage demanded by industry – for example for capital and equipment goods – is going to continue sideways in future, if not decline slightly. So this leaves both maritime shipping and the ro-ro sector with the question: Quo vadis?
Yours, Wolfgang Rose
FASHION AND SPORTS · SHIPPING AND FORWARDING · AUTOMOBILE · ENGINEERING INDUSTRY · ELECTRONICS · FOOD
News 6
Looking for a made-to-measure solution? Then you‘ve come People 26 to the right place. Now you might ask – why this company? Appointments 28 Because we prove it every single day – with our experience, Logistics Story Portrait Sustainability Preview 30 passion and the tradition of Hanseatic integrity. 20 22 24
Our word is our bond. BEHREND, CLAUDIA WILHELMSEN LOGISTICS, WALLENIUS LOGISTICS, RHENUS PHOTOS: HAFENBETRIEBE ATLANTIK DEUGRO, TIEMANN, BREMEN, WERK MERCEDES-BENZ Imprint 30 www.blg-logistics.com LOGISTICS PILOT December 2016 3 IMPRESSION
4 LOGISTICS PILOT December 2016 IMPRESSION
The mix is what makes it
Shipping company Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics currently runs 55 ro-ro transporters on twelve different routes between five continents. The ships are loaded via their stern ramps, with products being securely stowed on the most appropriate decks. This guarantees a comprehensive load mix, spanning from cars and lorries, to large construction and agricultural machines, to aircraft wings, generators, offshore components and locomotives. INFOGRAPHIC: WWL INFOGRAPHIC:
LOGISTICS PILOT December 2016 5 NEWS
SUMMARY NEWS
BREMEN. Bremen-based Lürssen Werft took over Hamburg’s Blohm+Voss shipyard at the end of Septem- ber, explaining that the move was part of its long-term Lower Saxony’s seaports invited to Vienna commitment to strengthening its range of services in repair VIENNA/LOWER SAXONY. At the invitation of between the partners, for example in cellulose and refit activities for yachts, the port of Vienna, Andreas Bullwinkel, Managing and new vehicles. The representatives agreed with Director of Container Terminal Wilhelmshaven , Managing Director of naval vessels and commercial Doris Pulker-Rohrhofer JadeWeserPort-Marketing (left), and Inke Onnen- the port of Vienna (2nd from right), and Dieter ships. With the acquisition, Lübben, Managing Director of Seaports of Nieder- Pietschmann, Head of Marketing and Communi- the Lürssen group is bringing sachsen (2nd from left), presented Lower Saxony’s cation at the port of Vienna (right), that the parties together six highly specialised seaports – home to Germany’s only deep-water would engage in further discussions on potential for shipyards with around container terminal – at the “Talk in der Hafenlounge” collaboration. The presentation was followed by a 2,800 employees. event in October. The core message of the joint lively discussion about the range of services offered presentation was that Austrian shippers could also by the ports of Lower Saxony. The participants then BREMEN/TAIPEI. A dele- benefit from the services on offer in Lower Saxony. used the evening in the Austrian capital for talking gation from Bremen made up There are already regular transport links in place shop and networking. of offshore experts from the worlds of business, science and politics represented the VW uses LNG for vehicle interests of Bremerhaven as a transport by ship wind power hub at the first WOLFSBURG. The Volkswagen Group plans to put German-Taiwanese offshore
two car carriers run on liquefied natural gas (LNG) conference in Taipei in October. from Norwegian shipping company Siem Car Taiwan plans to focus more Carriers AS into operation from 2019, with the aim intensively on offshore wind of sustainably improving the environmental compati- power in future, and the bility of ship-based transport. The 200 metre-long new delegation from Bremen wanted builds are to have a capacity of 4,500 vehicles, and will Over 3,000 visitors travel on a circular route in the North Atlantic, serving to sound out the possibility of to “Welt der Logistik” the markets of Canada, the USA, Mexico and Europe. a collaboration. BREMEN. Logistics is in – as was shown by the fifth BREMEN/CAIRO. Hansa edition of the “Welt der Logistik” (“world of logistics”) Meyer Global founded its own job fair in September. It was not only Bremen-based rapper Alex Hartung that raised the roof at the forum branch in Cairo in September, run by BLG Logistics Group; the combination of increasing its presence in North presentations, exhibition and interactive activities Africa. The Bremen-based surrounding the profession of logistics was also project forwarder and logistics well received. The event drew over 3,000 interested expert has already had a individuals and potential future logisticians to the representation office in the international city, where the location brand for the port Egyptian capital for 13 years. and logistics sector, VIA BREMEN, had brought
PHOTOS: FEEL IMAGE, VOLKSWAGEN AG, MIKLAS WRIEDEN/VIA BREMEN, J.MÜLLER, EIMSKIP, EIMSKIP, J.MÜLLER, BREMEN, WRIEDEN/VIA MIKLAS AG, VOLKSWAGEN IMAGE, FEEL PHOTOS: NPORTS BLG, JADEWESERPORT, BURMANN/NPORTS, ANDREAS together around 40 exhibitors.
6 LOGISTICS PILOT December 2016 NEWS
J. Müller: monopiles for A cool new customer for New track opened in offshore wind farm Bremerhaven Wilhelmshaven
BRAKE. The majority of loads shipped via BREMERHAVEN. The Eurogate Container WILHELMSHAVEN. Together with Lower the Niedersachsenkai in Brake are focused on Terminal in Bremerhaven will be welcoming a Saxony’s Minister for Economics, Labour land-based wind power generators. However, “cool” new customer in December: Islandic and Transport, Olaf Lies, and logistics firm in September, port terminal operator J. Müller shipping company Eimskip, which is known as Rhenus Midgard, Niedersachsen Ports opened proved that the site is also suitable for a specialist in refrigerated transport, will be a new track in Wilhelmshaven in August. offshore components. Four large monopiles, coming to the city weekly with the “MV The measures taken to expand the rail each weighing over 100 tonnes and Dettfoss” and “MV Godafoss”. Their route facilities at the deep-water port included measuring around 40 metres in length, runs from Reykjavik in Iceland, via the the renewal of 1,530 metres of track and were handled in Brake for Spedition Faroe Islands to Rotterdam, Bremerhaven five switches. “With a modern port railway, Ramm-Trans and a wind farm off the English and Aarhus. Eimskip transports break bulk we are able to make the connection south coast. A scale was also applied to the and LCL loads to Iceland as well as containers, to the hinterland right in the port,” said posts in a special paint, helping to ensure which is why the shipping company will also be Holger Banik, Managing Director of centimetre-precise alignment of the utilising the services of the Container Freight Niedersachsen Ports, at the official opening monopiles on the seabed. Station (CFS) located at the terminal. in Rüstersieler Groden.
AMBAU expands Railway waggons loaded at Niedersachsen Ports plans in Cuxhaven the Autoterminal further berthings
CUXHAVEN. AMBAU has expanded its BREMERHAVEN. BLG Autoterminal CUXHAVEN. Port infrastructure company capacity in Cuxhaven, taking over the storage Bremerhaven actually specialises in handling Niedersachsen Ports has begun preparations for the space and operation of the port run by cars. However, in autumn it managed to load construction of further berthings, thanks to Cux- Cuxhaven Steel Construction (CSC). The “blue four waggons of a prototype train on behalf haven’s excellent handling forecasts. An application hall”, which is being converted into a partially of Hitachi Transport System with skill. The for planning permission is to be completed and automated coating and finishing hall XXL load weighed 44 tonnes and was as submitted by the end of 2017. The port infrastruc- for tubular steel towers and offshore much as 23.9 metres long. It came from ture company is currently working on berth 4, to foundations, is just beside the existing Kobe, Japan, and was destined for Velim in the be completed by the end of 2017. Berths 1 to 3 in AMBAU factory. Czech Republic. Cuxhaven are already working at full capacity.
LOGISTICS PILOT December 2016 7 NEWS
SUMMARY NEWS Schleif manages challenging gantry transport BREMEN. The ports of Bremen have been success- HAMBURG. The movement of two gantry cranes fully certified in accordance was recently successfully completed in the port of with the Port Environmental Hamburg, with vigorous support from Bremen-based Review System (PERS) for heavy goods specialist Schleif Transport. The portal the third time. This is an inter- cranes, which weighed 600 tonnes each and were moved national management system from Container Terminal Tollerort (CTT) to O’Swaldkai, that creates the framework for were no longer of sufficient size for the increasingly preventive environmental large container ships at CTT. They are now taking care protection in the port sector. Port and environmental experts of smooth handling of con-ro freighters at O’Swaldkai. “The renewed certification in constructive discussions 25 experts and many pieces of technical equipment sends a message,” said were involved in the move. Bremen’s Senator for HANOVER. Maintenance and expansion of port Economics and Ports, Martin and transport infrastructure whilst taking account Günthner, when the certificate of environmental policy concerns was the focus of was presented in Venice in a meeting between the Bündnis 90/Die Grünen mid-October. “We are making it fraction of Lower Saxony’s parliament and represen- clear that we systematically tatives of Lower Saxony’s seaport economy in record and consider the core Hanover in September. The chambers of industry impacts of our ports on the and commerce of Oldenburg, East Frisia, Papenburg environment.” The certification and Stade were also in attendance. Those involved was carried out by Lloyd’s praised the constructive discussions and expressed Register. a wish to further the dialogue in future.
BREMEN. The turnover of Bremen-based ro-ro, break
“The deepening of the Weser is still achievable” bulk and project load special- ist and ship broker Transport NORTHERN GERMANY. The Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig declared the plans to deepen Overseas Chartering (TOC) the river Weser unlawful in August. The judgement stated that the planning permission violated water and has doubled since it took over conservation legislation. “The flaws identified by the Federal Administrative Court are generally European agency representation remediable; a legally compliant plan for the necessary deepening of the Weser is still achievable,” said for Saudi Arabian state shipping Bremen’s Economics Minister Martin Günthner. The Association of German Seaport Companies (ZDS) sees company Bahri in 2015. “We are the adjustment of the shipping channel as “essential” to secure Germany’s status as an economic hub. delighted with the development of our business,” says Tim Oltmann, Managing Director of TOC, without specifying concrete figures. “This year we got started with partial deliveries, for example of rails and rail profiles for the under- ground in Riyadh.” Maritime transport of 320 trains to the Arab kingdom is to begin in mid-2017.
PHOTOS: ESA/ATG MEDIALAB, SCHULTE & BRUNS, HOCHSCHULE BREMEN, BREMENPORTS/BLG, HOCHSCHULE BREMENPORTS/BLG, BREMEN, & BRUNS, SCHULTE MEDIALAB, ESA/ATG PHOTOS: SIEMENS, PIXABAY, ECKHARD ARNDT, BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN ARNDT, ECKHARD PIXABAY, SIEMENS,
8 LOGISTICS PILOT December 2016 NEWS
First supplier for Siemens Maritime assistance from space factory secured MUNICH. Business network MARSAT prides itself on striving for more safety and CUXHAVEN. The construction of the new offshore wind security in shipping with satellite-based services. It explained that the latest genera- turbine factory in Cuxhaven is progressing as planned. tion of earth observation satellites, such as Sentinel 1 (photo), provides highly precise Siemens plans to begin production of its seven-megawatt, and current data, which the six partners use to provide new real-time services. This gearless offshore wind turbines there in summer 2017. data means that ships’ positions can be precisely determined and integrated into mod- The first supplier to follow the technology group will be the ern pilot services: for optimisation of ships’ routes, for up-to-date ice warning steel machining specialists from Nordmark Maskinfabrik services or for sea floor mapping. MARSAT’s project partners are EOMAP in Seefeld, in Denmark, which have already signed a supply contract Drift & Noise Polar Services in Bremen, European Space Imaging (EUSI) in Munich, spanning several years. Siemens is investing 200 million SevenCs in Hamburg and TRENZ in Bremen, as well as the Institute of Shipping euros and plans to create 1,000 jobs there. Economics and Logistics (ISL) in Bremen/Bremerhaven.
Bremen on track with its Students develop New collaboration in the major offshore project ferries for Indonesia short-sea sector
BREMEN. bremenports presented its 2015 BREMEN. Students on the Masters course in LEER/PAPENBURG. The Hartmann financial report in October 2016. In it, the port Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering at Group from Leer and Schulte & Bruns company makes it clear that Bremen’s Senate Bremen University of Applied Sciences (HSB) from Papenburg have agreed to pool is going to press ahead with the large-scale have successfully participated in the interna- their skills and cooperate extensively in Offshore Terminal Bremerhaven (OTB) project. tional design competition run by the Worldwide short-sea activities. As of 1 January 2017, bremenports believes that the maritime city Ferry Safety Association (WFSA) for the third each company will hold a 50 per cent brings together the industrial, logistical and time. Two HSB teams were given awards by stake in Schulte & Bruns Chartering, scientific expertise required for the future WFSA’s President, Roberta Weisbrod (centre), a subsidiary within the Schulte & Bruns sector of wind power better than any other this year at the prize-giving in New York. The Group. The partners expect that by location in Germany. BLG Logistics Group task was to develop a ferry with capacity of 185 pooling their activities they will be able signed the operator contract for the terminal passengers and a suitable number of cars and to strengthen their market potential, a few months ago after a Europe-wide call lorries to travel between the islands in the Savu also benefitting the shipping sector for tenders. Sea in Indonesia. in general.
LOGISTICS PILOT December 2016 9 MAIN TOPIC
Keep on rolling?
The ro-ro sector is in flux, and players on the market are finding themselves confronted with a variety of different challenges. Shipyards, shipping companies, logistics providers and ports have therefore developed strategies for standing out from the international competition.
10 LOGISTICS PILOT December 2016 MAIN TOPIC
lensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG) – which this allow us to quickly generate considerably more capacity has already designed and built over 750 vessels, with manageable financial outlay,” says Gert Jakobsen, Vice including around 50 ro-ro and ro-pax ferries – is cur- President of the DFDS Group. At the same time, he empha- F rently seeing increased interest in new ro-ro tonnage sises: “We are seeing a clear development towards the use of among ship owners, following sluggish new build activity in larger ships on the ro-ro market.” His company has already recent years. “There is a large backlog now that the uncertain- had sister ships “Ficaria Seaways”, “Freesia Seaways” and ty created by the exhaust gas regulations – which are now in “Begonia Seaways” successfully extended in Bremerhaven place – has largely been overcome,” says Jens Heyer, Head of in recent years. Projects at FSG. Here he talks specifically about the stricter However, in order to be able to keep up with growing limits for sulphur oxide emissions imposed in the Emission ro-ro goods flows, DFDS is also relying on new builds. Two Control Areas (ECAs) by the International Maritime Orga- further ro-ro ferries were ordered from FSG in the summer; nization (IMO) since 1 January 2015. He believes, however, these are to be delivered in May and September 2017. Added that there has been no identifiable uniform reaction to this to this are two ro-ro ferries, which are being built at Jinling among shipping companies. On the one hand, he explains, Shipyard in China. DFDS only ordered these a few weeks ago, the use of exhaust gas cleaning systems, known as scrubbers, and they are to be delivered at the start of 2019. “At 235 metres to ensure low emissions of sulphur oxides when using heavy long, these will be the biggest ships in our fleet, and the first oil is a popular option. On the other hand, many are consid- to be built in line with the EEDI standard,” says Jakobsen. He ering upgrading their ships to the alternative fuel of liquefied highlights that DFDS will also be using scrubber systems in gas (LNG) or using dual-fuel engines. The advantage of the the new builds. More than 20 of the company’s ferries have latter is that they can be run on both diesel and natural gas. been equipped with these as part of the Emission Control By contrast, Heyer believes that the trend towards build- Areas in the Baltic and North Sea. He states that installing ing bigger ro-ro vessels is clearly identifiable. As part of these this type of exhaust gas cleaning system costs around four efforts, ship owners are back focusing more on new builds, million euros per ship. and are already planning for a possible extension. Alongside exacting operator requirements in terms of quality and min- Bigger is not always better imal operating costs, Heyer is also seeing growing demand for ships to be highly environmentally friendly and sustain- Wolfgang Stöver, Head of Sales at BLG Automobile able. The Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) released Logistics in Bremerhaven, is currently seeing a shift in tra- by the IMO is currently a hotly debated topic. The EEDI ditional ro-ro vehicle flows: away from the three main is stipulating a ten per cent improvement in ships’ energy efficiency between 2015 and 2019. These requirements are also to be adapted every five years, in order to keep up with technical changes. “These regulations represent a serious DFDS had its ro-ro ferry “Primula Seaways” extended by challenge for the industry,” says Heyer. “The current lack 30 metres at Lloyd Werft in Bremerhaven. of a uniform interpretation of the regulatory framework is causing difficulty, leading to uncertainty regarding evidence and wording of contracts for new builds.”
Option to extend
Danish shipping group DFDS, whose fleet includes 20 ro-ro and 17 ro-pax vessels, decided this summer to have its ro-ro ferry “Primula Seaways”, which was built by FSG, extended at Lloyd Werft shipyard in Bremerhaven. The ship, which was extended by 30 metres to a length of 229.80 metres, now has a payload of 11,500 tonnes – which represents around a
PHOTOS: RHENUS LOGISTICS, DFDS LOGISTICS, RHENUS PHOTOS: 20 per cent increase in load capacity. “Ship extensions like
LOGISTICS PILOT December 2016 11 MAIN TOPIC
transport arteries between Asia and the USA, the USA and He sees the increasing number of vehicles transported Europe and Europe and Asia, and towards production sites worldwide by sea as a positive thing. However, he believes in countries with more favourable manufacturing conditions. that the slight oversupply of shipping space is currently The best examples of this, he says, are Mexico, India and having a negative impact on freight rates. The reactions China. “Ship owners will have to adjust to this development of the international automotive market have been quite and diversify their current mainstays,” says Stöver. In his view, varied. Whilst the US markets, for example, are acting car carriers have reacted to the changing market conditions cautiously and reducing stocks at the moment, the desire with slightly modified ships. A standard ship that can hold a for cars remains unwavering in Europe. “For instance, the volume of 8,000 vehicles, has flexible, height-adjustable decks factory in Bremen that is responsible for Europe is cur- and is between 32 and 36 metres wide has become generally rently unable to meet demand for the Mercedes C-Class by accepted on the market. “Unlike container shipping, however, itself, and is relying more and more heavily on additional in the ro-ro segment I not am seeing a uniform tendency imports from South Africa,” says Stöver. He believes that towards larger ships necessarily, but rather uncertainty in many ro-ro ship owners are now focusing more heavily terms of the future development of ship size,” summarises on high and heavy services as an important niche to help Stöver. He reports that, particularly in Asia, there are many themselves cover costs. But even here, increasing compe- factories that can only handle ships up to a maximum length tition has begun leading to decreasing freight rates. On of 200 metres. the one hand, container shipping has also looked towards
More than just a transport service
2007 was the first time that Emden shipped over a million What do these services involve, cars for the Volkswagen Group. How have the figures developed specifically? since then? TUITJER: A pre-delivery inspection – MANFRED DE VRIES: Handling figures at Autoport Emden have “PDI” for short – represents the final check increased continually over recent years. In 2015 we managed to achieve a before dispatch to the vehicle dealer, and new record of 1.41 million vehicles. The figures have also developed on a involves a wide variety of work, depending on stable course in the first half of 2016. requirements. Alongside inspections and checks, the vehicles undergo retrofits, such as Where do the majority of car exports go, and where do software updates, or even interior and exterior the majority of imports come from? cleaning. Stock management measures cover DE VRIES: Our handling volume breaks down into 81 per cent exports work to new vehicles, which are carried out and around 19 per cent imports. The majority of exports remain in the routinely according to the schedule stipulated EU – Britain, Spain, Portugal and Ireland, among others. Our other recipient by the manufacturer. For example, vehicles countries are primarily in Central and North America. Also when it comes to that have been in Emden for longer than the imports, the majority of vehicles come from the EU, primarily Spain and usual amount of time are checked for battery Portugal. charge and tyre pressure, and adjusted if required. Over recent years transport of vehicles has developed from a Manfred de Vries, Head pure transport service to a logistical service. What value-added That just leaves product optimisations ... of Autoport Emden services is Emden able to offer? TUITJER: The range of services under (left), and Jörg Tuitjer, Head of Operations at JÖRG TUITJER: We have our own vehicle service centre, right at the product optimisation includes market-specific DB Schenker subsidiary heart of the port of Emden and between the Volkswagen factory and the modification of vehicles, as well as optical EVAG Emder Verkehrs vehicle handling areas, where we offer all sorts of vehicle services in four vehicle tuning, which may involve installation und Automotive halls spanning around 5,500 square metres. These primarily include of running boards, for example. We can also Gesellschaft pre-delivery inspections, stock management measures and product paint vehicles up to the size of a lorry in our optimisations. own paint shop on request.
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high and heavy loads, and on the other, the agricultural, first place with 2.4 million vehicles handled, in front of construction and mining industries – whose special ve- Bremerhaven at 2.3 million. Emden managed to cement hicles and machines are preferred loads in this segment its third-place spot in European vehicle handling with an – are facing considerable financial difficulties. “High and increase of 7.4 per cent to 1.41 million vehicles. Cuxhaven heavy has the advantage that freight rates are not as heavily clocked up a 5.7 per cent increase to 414,669 vehicles. This negotiated as in the car sector. But the cake has gotten positive development continued in the first half of this smaller – and more and more people are wanting a piece year, with the ports of Bremerhaven (1.5 million), Emden of it,” explains Stöver. (649,297) and Cuxhaven (234,001) handling over 2.3 mil- 4.1 lion new vehicles in total between January and June 2016. million vehicles were Study on vehicle handling NYK Line, one of the biggest international shipping handled by the ports of companies to specialise in vehicle transport, states in its Bremerhaven, Emden The ports of Bremerhaven, Emden and Cuxhaven handled “Fact Book 2016” that it is expecting a long-term increase and Cuxhaven in 2015. over 4.1 million vehicles in 2015 – a new record, which in worldwide maritime transport of vehicles. For example, SOURCE: STUDY ON VEHICLE HANDLING BY KLAUS HOLOCHER Klaus Holocher, Professor for Port Management at Jade the number of vehicles shipped grew from 12.6 million in University of Applied Sciences in Elsfleth, identified as 2010 to 14.3 million in 2015. By 2020 the Japanese company part of his 2015 study on vehicle handling at the ten most is expecting the number of vehicles being transported by important North Range ports. Zeebrugge in Belgium took sea to increase to as many as 16.15 million.
What safety aspects does ro-ro shipping take account before leaving Emden again on one of the aforementioned modes of of in order to ensure correct loading? transport. The time that export vehicles stay depends very much on the DE VRIES: Here it is important to adhere strictly to instructions of the recipient, but generally they are shipped on around weight distribution, not simply for transport but also four to six days after their arrival. during the loading process. When it comes to the distribution of vehicles on the ship, the first consideration Emden is the third largest vehicle handling port is which ports are going to be visited in which order, in in Europe after Bremerhaven and Zeebrugge in Belgium. order to ensure an optimum loading and unloading What measures will have to be implemented in process. In order to utilise the cargo space on the ship the near future in order to be able to maintain this in the best way possible, the vehicles are ideally driven excellent market position? onto the individual decks in a mix of larger and smaller DE VRIES: A port has to be developed and expanded all the time. vehicles. The stowage planners also create detailed plans In December 2015 we commissioned the new berthing in Emden – for each load to facilitate localisation of vehicles on the a “dolphin berth” with a ro-ro ramp for ships up to 150 metres in length and ship at any time. a stern ramp used for short-sea transport. We have entered into planning negotiations with NPorts, the infrastructure provider for the state of Lower What happens to the vehicles once they reach Saxony, regarding the creation of another berthing for deep-sea transport Emden by ship? for ships over 200 metres in length. We are also helping to actively push the TUITJER: After the unloading process, the vehicles are driven from the widening of the shipping channel in the “Außenems” part of the estuary by ship into appropriate storage and loading areas, from where they link up a metre in order to ensure that the port continues to be accessible. with the next mode of transport. They are then transported on by lorry, train or ship, depending on the order. All of the partners involved in the process How would you rate the future opportunities of consult with one another – Volkswagen Konzenlogistik, EVAG, the lorry ro-ro shipping generally? transport company, the waggon service provider and the shipping company. DE VRIES: Ro-ro is the cost-effective and environmentally-friendly way of transporting finished vehicles in large quantities. We still see the future How long do the vehicles generally stay in Emden? opportunities of this sector as good, because this mode of transport cannot
PHOTO: AUTOPORT EMDEN AUTOPORT PHOTO: TUITJER: Imported vehicles generally spend two to three days in the port be beaten in terms of efficiency.
LOGISTICS PILOT December 2016 13 MAIN TOPIC
Ports invest in the future Automotive industry pools interests Looking at the ports of Lower Saxony and Bremen, it seems, therefore, that investments in vehicle handling in Economics Minister Olaf Lies spoke of an “outstanding example of successful the recent past will pay off. State-owned port infrastruc- collaboration between the states of Bremen and Lower Saxony” at the signing ture company NPorts commissioned a new dolphin berth of the contract founding the cross-state umbrella association Automotive Nord with ro-ro facility on the Emspier in Emden at the end of in February this year. The agreement primarily governs the close cooperation 2015. Another berthing for large ships is being planned between the clusters “Automotive Nordwest”, “ITS Automotive Nord” and to close the gap between the Emspier and the Emskai, “Ems-Achse”, which until now have been operating on regional level. The other for which a stern and a quarter ramp for loading vehicles parties involved in the foundation of the association are trade associations in are already available. The application documents were Bremen and Lower Saxony, Hamburg’s industry association (Industrieverband submitted in June, but NPorts is not expecting to receive Hamburg), Hanover’s economic association (Verein der Wirtschaft in der a decision before the end of 2017. Alongside the three ex- Metropolregion Hamburg) and the states of Bremen and Lower Saxony. isting ro-ro facilities at the Europakai, the new “Brücke 3” Together, the partners represent over 300 companies from the automotive dolphin berth for ro-ro ships measuring up to 160 metres industry in Lower Saxony and Bremen. in length was launched in Cuxhaven back in June 2015. “Considerable technical changes, stemming from the requirements of Construction of berth 4 began there this summer. By the energy and climate change policies, are altering the conditions of the industry end of 2017 there is to be 240 metres of quay as well as dramatically. Automotive Nord aims to pool the interests of all companies another 8.5 hectares of terminal space, which may also in the regions,” says Lies, explaining the strategy behind the initiative. With be used as storage space for vehicle handling as part of a 250,000 employees, the automotive sector in Lower Saxony and Bremen is multi-purpose strategy. one of the most important branches of industry in northern Germany. In Bremerhaven, access for increasingly wide and long Automotive Nord appeared for the first time as an umbrella association ro-ro shops has been improved through the construction with a joint stand at the International Suppliers Fair (IZB) in Wolfsburg in of the new Kaiserschleuse. “With a clearance width of October. In future, the partners also want to push the supplier industry’s links 55 metres, the facility offers ship owners long-term plan- with companies, universities, research institutes and innovation drivers all over ning security,” emphasises bremenports’ Managing Direc- Europe. “The first ten months were a settling-in process; during this time we tor Robert Howe. In future, the aim is to stand out even developed aspects such as our own logo and an image brochure,” says Florian further with new railway facilities at the international Reher, Managing Director of IST Automotive Nord. “Our primary goal is now to port. “We are preparing for a further increase in rail- create a framework for the existing measures. We are imagining potentially based vehicle and container transport,” says Howe. He is having a joint appearance at the International Motor Show (IAA).” expecting up to 770 goods trains a week over the coming years. In order to prepare Bremerhaven for this growth,
Bremerhaven is one of the largest automotive hubs in the world. PHOTOS: BLG AUTOTERMINAL BREMERHAVEN/HEINRICH HECHT, CUXPORT HECHT, BREMERHAVEN/HEINRICH AUTOTERMINAL BLG PHOTOS:
14 LOGISTICS PILOT December 2016 MAIN TOPIC
Bremen’s local government is investing some 40 million euros in new tracks and modern railway technology this decade. This began with a project directly beside the ve- hicle handling facilities: a dozen tracks have extended to a length of 750 metres and electrified at the Kaiserhafen port railway station. Meanwhile, work is also ongoing on the Imsumer Deich formation sidings. This port railway station is located beside the container terminal, and will be expanded with eight train-length parallel tracks by 2017. “This will also be of benefit to vehicle transport,” predicts Howe. Three out of four vehicles that go onto or come off of ships in the maritime city already arrive or continue on by rail.
Oil: an important factor As part of its multi-purpose strategy, Cuxhaven is also investing in facilities that will be able to be used to handle vehicles and other rolling loads. Professor Holocher believes that the future prospects of ro-ro shipping are closely linked to the development of the oil price. “The more expensive oil becomes, the more worthwhile investments in low-sulphur technologies such as scrubbers, which clean exhaust gases, and ship engines that can also be run on alternative, low-sulphur fuels such as LNG, methanol or hydrogen, will be. Increasing oil More information: prices would also provide impetus to the development www.fsg-ship.de www.dfdsseaways.de of oil and other raw material sources, as well as the use www.blg-logistics.com of alternative energies. This will require new large-scale www.jade-hs.de systems and equipment, which will need to be transported www.autoport-emden.de www.evag.com by flexible ro-ro vessels.” (bre)
Elb-Link relieves pressure on the tense transport situation in the north
After a break of 14 years, the ferry service between Brunsbüttel and example, they can book their ticket in advance, either online or by Cuxhaven commenced again on 20 August 2015. Operations were originally telephone, therefore avoiding waiting times. At the same time, the 75 to ceased because of a lack of cost-efficiency. Since it was relaunched, over 90-minute crossing offers a welcome opportunity to take one of the 500,000 passengers, more than 100,000 cars and around 20,000 lorries prescribed breaks. Bässmann also emphasises the aspect of time and cost have used the two modern double-ended ferries “Anne-Marie” and “Grete” savings: “Drivers from Scandinavia heading for the Benelux states in owned by Elb-Link Reederei to get across the Elbe. According to Elb-Link’s particular are delighted at not having to do the time-consuming and traffic Head of Operations Bernd Bässmann, the ferries were transporting only jam-prone stretch via Hamburg and the A7 Autobahn.” On top of that, he 15 to 20 lorries a day in the first few months; now the figure has increased says, a twelve-tonner travelling from the Danish border to Bremerhaven to 70 to 80 lorries daily. “It is particularly forwarders from Holland and via Elb-Link will, on average, get to its destination half an hour earlier and Denmark, as well as transit traffic en route to Bremerhaven, Brake and at a cost around 203 euros less. Each of the two ferries has space for Cuxhaven, that are relying on us,” says Bässmann. “We are also shipping 600 passengers, 160 cars or 52 lorries and 16 truck-trailer combos. There more and more hazardous goods for customers that want to avoid the are also twelve spaces available for hazardous goods. With its two ships, bottlenecks of the Elbe Tunnel and Glückstadt-Wischhafen. In addition, we Elb-Link offers up to twelve departures in each direction each day. Concern- now have heavy and special loads on board every day.” The advantages of ing the company’s tight liquidity situation, Bässmann recently made one the relaunched Elbe ferry are clear to see for many lorry drivers. For thing clear: “We are planning long term; our liabilities are covered.”
LOGISTICS PILOT December 2016 15 SAFETY & SECURITY
Safety is key
Before a ship owned by shipping company Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (WWL) can set sail, its load must be safely stowed on board. The fact that diligence takes utmost priority became clear during a recent visit on board the “Bohème”.
16 LOGISTICS PILOT December 2016 SAFETY & SECURITY
The “Bohème”, which was constructed in 1999 and was extended by 28 metres in 2005, has a transport capacity of 7,200 cars or 3,700 cars and 600 lorries.
In order to be able to be transported by ro-ro ship or on a FACTS PCTC like the “Bohème”, the load must have one charac- teristic in particular: it must be on wheels, in order to be Wallenius able to be driven up the 29-metre ramp onto the vessel. Wilhelmsen On the twelve decks, three of which are height-adjustable, Logistics cars are accompanied by goods such as various tractors, Merger in 1999 construction machines and a 50-tonne injection mould- between the shipping ing machine for producing plastic parts. High and heavy, companies Wallenius break bulk and project loads are also important load com- from Sweden (founded ponents. In 2015, around 146,000 tonnes of such goods in 1934) and Wilhelm- were handled for export and just under 163,000 tonnes sen from Norway were handled for import in Bremerhaven. (founded in 1861), each with a 50 per Special equipment cent share
WWL uses very different equipment, almost all of which is Headquarters: Lysaker its own, to load and unload ships with these goods, some of near Oslo, Norway which are extremely heavy and bulky. For example, railway 5,600 employees in waggons are loaded and unloaded using what are known over 30 countries as “air shuttles”. These make it possible to pull the waggons from the rails onto a ro-ro-compatible transport aid via 4.6 million movements quick glance at his mobile phone is enough for Har- a ramp. With jack-up trailers, almost any type of product of cars, rolling bourmaster Carl Bone to know exactly how many ve- can be transported, more or less regardless of weight and equipment and break hicles still have to go onto shipping company WWL’s size, because they facilitate flexible adaptation to suit the bulk units per year, of pure car truck carrier (PCTC) “Bohème” before it load. The majority are equipped with hydraulics on each which 1.8 million A by sea and 2.1 million sets off from Bremerhaven at half past one on its journey axis and on the rotatable bogies. Like other special trailers, to Gothenburg: 350 cars from various German automotive the Samson heavy-lift trailers were developed by the ship- by land manufacturers – from minibuses to saloons to superminis. ping firm. They are particularly suitable for medium-sized Over 55 ships on Bone also knows that 1,550 of these vehicles are already on loads such as transformers, generators and turbines, and 12 trade routes to six board. He receives the information in real time via an IT permit weights of up to 220 tonnes. continents interface with the tallymen’s electronic recording devices. The The most important aids, however – as is also the The equipment tallymen, also known as “tallies”, sit in little mobile huts just case for other ro-ro shipping companies – are rolltrailers, hub for Europe is in in front of the ramp, using vehicle identification numbers to also known as mafi trailers. These have been designed Bremerhaven. register each vehicle before it is driven on board. specifically for ro-ro transport, but are also suitable for the majority of break bulk. WWL uses trailers that are between Loads must be on wheels 20 and 80 feet in length and can carry up to 140 tonnes in weight. Where required, the rolltrailers are modified, However, the load is made up not only of vehicles – for example for oversized trains, allowing many special which account for around 53 per cent – but also of other products to be transported using them. Loads that are too
PHOTOS: CLAUDIA BEHREND CLAUDIA PHOTOS: goods of different types, weighing a total of 1,500 tonnes. big or too heavy for containers can be loaded onto
LOGISTICS PILOT December 2016 17 SAFETY & SECURITY
Chains are used for high and heavy goods and lashing belts with sheathed hooks are used for cars when securing loads on board a ro-ro ship.
bolsters by the shipper or manufacturer. Multi-pur- wind force of eight and five to six metre-high waves pose bogies are one of the more recent additions to WWL’s caused the ship to list; it was at risk of capsizing. The SEEHAFEN-LOGISTIK equipment. These allow the company to load almost any ship was designed for transporting rolling loads, but type of break bulk with a maximum weight of 120 tonnes alongside a large number of construction machines it and maximum length of 50 metres. was holding 3,600 tonnes of timber. The accident was caused by a piece of timber slipping. Thankfully the Safe stowage 26-man Filipino crew escaped unscathed, but the ship was a write-off. Safety and security are essential when it comes to loading. The lesson here is that preventing any movement This applies particularly to ro-ro ships, with their ramps of the load, including in a large swell, must have top Wir sind die, die auch unter Zeit- capable of bearing up to 500 tonnes, giant storage areas priority. In order to guarantee the safety of the crew, druck noch beste Arbeit machen. and multitude of load units. “If something comes loose ship and load, at WWL the load is secured as part of Wir sind die, denen ein guter on a swell, this quickly causes a chain reaction,” explains a multi-stage process. There are clear rules as to how Harbourmaster Bone. “A part that has slipped can slide many chains are to be used and to how tightly the load Kundenkontakt wichtig ist. Wir into another with great impact, causing the chains to snap is to be secured: one chain has a compressive load of sind die, die schon über 100 Jahre and the situation to escalate quickly. If too much weight 7.5 tonnes. This means that a vehicle weighing 28 tonnes ends up on one side, it may eventually not be able to be must be fixed with four chains on each side. “The com- Erfahrung haben. Wir sind die, die compensated by a shift in the ballast water.” pany’s own stevedores also carry out an inspection before den Hafen kennen. Wir sind die, die This is similar to what happened to ro-ro ship “Mod- departure,” says Bone. “At sea, an inspection is carried out sich der Verantwortung in Emden ern Express”, owned by Belgian shipping company Karim every six hours. In a heavy swell this increases to every two bewusst sind. WIR SIND DIE EVAG. Export, in the Bay of Biscay at the start of this year. A hours.” On large journeys and if the weather conditions are BEHREND CLAUDIA PHOTOS:
18 LOGISTICS PILOT December 2016 EVAG.COMEVAG.COM
EVAG_AZ_RoRo_220x140_2016_RZ.indd 1 27.10.2016 09:44:10 SAFETY & SECURITY
normal, the interval increases to twelve hours. Inspections Comprehensive safety concept are only suspended during storms, for the safety of the personnel. “Entering the cargo area is simply to dangerous The requirements in terms of the air in the room are also at this point in time,” says Bone. In addition, the chains, high. Because a lot of cars and commercial vehicles are driven on-board equipment and ramp are regularly checked for on board within a short space of time and emit a considerable functionality and wear. amount of exhaust gases, steps must be taken to ensure suf- The crew pays particular attention to the centre of ficient ventilation. There are ventilators on all twelve decks gravity when stowing high and heavy loads. “It’s not always of the “Bohème”. In the main hatches, the air is replaced at at the centre of the load,” says Bone. “When it comes to safe least 25 times an hour; in the smaller hatches it is replaced up stowage of high and heavy loads, it is usually the cubage – to as many as 50 times. This means that fresh air is fed into the volume – that is more important than the weight,” the ship’s cargo area, and exhaust gases are sucked back out. adds Oliver Schmidt, General Manager for Marketing A modern ship safety concept does, of course, also in- and Sales at WWL in Bremen. “It is also very important volve a sophisticated firefighting system. There is an extin-
that all employees are trained,” emphasises Schmidt. “Our guishing system, portable fire extinguishers and a CO2 flood More information: quality standards are very high, and if something should system installed in the cargo hatches, in the engine room and www.2wglobal.com happen, it is important that we learn from it.” inside the ship. (cb)
SEEHAFEN-LOGISTIK
Wir sind die, die auch unter Zeit- druck noch beste Arbeit machen. Wir sind die, denen ein guter Kundenkontakt wichtig ist. Wir sind die, die schon über 100 Jahre Erfahrung haben. Wir sind die, die den Hafen kennen. Wir sind die, die sich der Verantwortung in Emden bewusst sind. WIR SIND DIE EVAG.
EVAG.COMEVAG.COM
EVAG_AZ_RoRo_220x140_2016_RZ.indd 1 27.10.2016 09:44:10 LOGISTICS STORY
A tailwind for ro-ro cargo
Siemens has been using rolling transport to move its heavy-duty components for offshore wind turbines – and avoiding crane work where possible – since 2010. Now the technology group plans to add a new chapter to the history of super-heavy cargo with two innovative ro-ro ships.
anish transport provider Deugro is currently as 360 tonnes – each. Even the towers weigh between 180 manufacturing two 141 metre-long and 20 me- and 220 tonnes. Their individual segments are generally only tre-wide special ro-ro vessels for Siemens. Their assembled at the installation port. D project names are “Necon I” and “Necon II”, The “Necon I” will also be equipped with a telescopic roof and they are expected to transport wind turbines from the in order to protect the nacelles from sea water. The “Necon manufacturing plants currently under construction in Cux- II” will have a lifting device, allowing the rotor blades to be haven and Hull (UK) to the installation ports in Sassnitz, loaded in two layers. Both ships will be able to either take on Belfast (Northern Ireland), Great Yarmouth (England) and their ro-ro loads via their bow hatch, or – in ports without Port of Nigg (Scotland) from the end of 2016. Depending on a ramp – be loaded and unloaded using a crane. According the type of system, the 2,000 m2 decks on the two ships will to information from the company, further advantages of house four to ten nacelles, as well as six to twelve rotor blades these special vessels are their high speed of up to 15 knots or several tower segments. These are real heavyweights: the – although they will generally be run in what is known as rotor blades are up to 75 metres in length and weigh some “eco mode”, at 12.8 knots – and their considerably reduced 25 tonnes each, whilst the nacelles can weigh up to as much fuel consumption.
20 LOGISTICS PILOT December 2016 LOGISTICS STORY
because of the constantly increasing heights and weights, the current seven-megawatt offshore turbines may be the last that are even able to be transported by road.
Production facilities on the water
The development of the new special vessels goes hand in hand with the construction of the rotor blade factory in Hull and the nacelle factory in Cuxhaven. The first ro-ro transporter is expected to be commissioned by Deugro when the factory in England opens just before the turn of the year, and the second will begin operations in autumn 2017, when the first wind power turbines are built at the new German factory. With its two new factories, Siemens is doing justice to its corporate strategy of shifting its production sites to the water. From there, components can be taken by ro-ro ship to the installation port “in one go” and without needing transport by road. At the installation port they are assembled and loaded onto jack- up installation vessels, which take them to the offshore construction sites at sea. “With our new logistics concept we are continuing Wind turbines are getting heavier on our path towards a highly industrialised economic chain, with the aim of reducing power generation costs “We had two core thoughts following our positive experi- in offshore wind power to under ten cents per kilowatt ences with ro-ro on our factory premises in Brande and at hour by 2020,” says Michael Hannibal, Offshore CEO of our key offshore port in Esbjerg, as well as in the shipping the Siemens Wind Power and Renewables Division. “De- of components. On the one hand, we were thinking about pending on the location of the offshore wind project, this how to reduce the use of cranes and road transport further, new solution will reduce transport costs by around a fifth.” and on the other we wanted to make ro-ro the cornerstone of our offshore transport chain,” explains Björn da Sousa, Cuxhaven as a key component Commercial Head of Offshore Project Management in the Siemens Wind Power and Renewables Division. The Alongside this new transport concept, Siemens is also plan- reason for this is that crane work involves considerable ning optimisations in the installation and commissioning occupational safety measures and safety risks – and there- of its offshore wind power turbines. This will include, for fore high costs. example, nacelles being completely assembled on land and The same applies to transport of heavy and extra-long tested for use at sea in Cuxhaven. This will also save money offshore turbines by road, where a number of logistical because the people responsible for testing will not need to be challenges must be overcome – from route planning transported to the wind farms out at sea. “Cuxhaven offers to clearance restrictions to a competent escort service. the perfect conditions for the completion and testing of our “With this in mind, and given the fact that wind turbines nacelles,” says de Sousa. “There we have a largely ready port are becoming increasingly powerful and heavy, the two facility with sufficient capacity for further expansion and new ships are safer, faster, more cost-effective and, most integration of suppliers. The location also facilitates direct More information: importantly, more future-proof than all of our previous access from the North Sea without any locks. This also makes www.siemens.com
PHOTOS: SIEMENS, DEUGRO SIEMENS, PHOTOS: logistics solutions,” summarises de Sousa. He believes that our logistical processes considerably simpler.” (bre)
LOGISTICS PILOT December 2016 21 PORTRAIT
From a stevedore to an all-round service provider
111 years ago, Friedrich Tiemann founded a stevedoring firm in Bremen – with just a handful of employees. Now, with around 250 full-time staff, the group is a real mainstay of the ports of Bremen, and is a sought-after all-round service provider for container services, export packaging and vehicle technology.
n the eyes of the current Managing Director, Dieter Kan- Export packaging as a new area of business ning, continual expansion of the portfolio was an obvious choice to a certain extent. “Each new area of business was In the course of the economic miracle the company ex- I a logical step in adding to the existing range of services,” panded its core competency of stevedoring – which was says Kanning. Looking back, he views the decision to try primarily utilised by English shipping clients in the early starting again at two sites, Bremen and Bremerhaven, after years – to include the field of export packaging in the the Second World War in particular as a landmark decision 1950s. A key factor in taking this step was the realisa- in the successful development of the group. tion that, at the time, the packaging used in maritime
22 LOGISTICS PILOT December 2016 PORTRAIT
transport often had qualitative defects and was in need of optimisation. Back then it was primarily engines and electronic goods that were exported around the globe from Germany, whereas today the group prepares goods such as complex power plant systems and machine tools for the automotive industry for the special conditions of Correct securing and packaging of loads is right at the top of transport on land, at sea and by air. “I could grin every Friedrich Tiemann’s list of priorities. time experts talk about proper packaging for transport by sea,” says Kanning. “This is because they are only tak- ing account of a small aspect of the job. For example, if the ship’s load is to be unloaded in India and then cover vehicles, as well as agricultural machinery and tractors, FACTS hundreds of kilometres on bumpy roads, the goods need on 18 workshop tracks in Bremerhaven. The group even to be packaged and secured in a such way that they will maintains vehicles that are used on board ro-ro ships, Friedrich be able to tolerate these stresses.” such as deck lifters, tractor units and forklifts. As in the Tiemann case of container repair, it offers both maintenance in its Sites: Bremen and own workshops and deployment of mobile service teams. Container business as the third pillar Bremerhaven Where required, the latter can go directly to the termi- In the mid-1970s the company progressed into the container nals and go on board the ships to carry out the necessary 250 employees business by setting up its own container depot and repair repairs. In the case of two ro-ro shipping companies, the Track record: workshop. “By this time, the container had long since revo- service provider even provides mobile teams outside of In Bremen, 200,000 lutionised shipping, and it was clear to us that we needed to the ports of Bremen. tonnes of piece goods integrate it into the packaging process. I believe that if we are shipped in had continued to function solely as stevedores, we would Ensuring quality and supply of specialists containers each year; no longer be here today,” reflects Kanning. Container in Bremerhaven the service has now become one of the group’s main areas of The main principle that the group prides itself on is “high figure is 90,000 business, whilst stevedoring only makes up five to ten per service quality”. Kanning believes that the ongoing train- tonnes. The depot in cent of the company’s activity. ing of employees represents an essential element of this. Bremen moves In the container segment, the Tiemann Group primarily Additional factors that make his company stand out from 40,000 containers takes care of the repair and maintenance of containers for the competition are, in his opinion, its modern operating each year; the depot in numerous well-known shipping companies and container and handling equipment and its communication and IT Bremerhaven 60,000. leasing firms. The company has its own skilled staff and facilities. “In a way, however, we still like to be a little workshops as well as 250,000 square metres of depot space old-fashioned,” admits Kanning, “as despite all the dis- – of which 170,000 are located in Bremerhaven and 88,000 cussions about digitisation and shipping 4.0, our focus is are located in Bremen. Container cargo stations with an still personal contact with customers.” In order to be able area of 16,000 square metres are also operated at both sites. to continue to draw competent staff from its own ranks These package all units that can be shipped and implement in future, up to five new training contracts are concluded thorough load securing. In Bremerhaven, the company has each year. The main focus is on training mechatronics and also specialised in loading of heavy goods and oversized construction technicians. loads via its cargo station. Where the path of Friedrich Tiemann will lead in fu- ture, however, is something that Kanning leaves open. “I’d Vehicle technology on the up have to look in my crystal ball. But our customers can be sure that if we tap into new areas of business, they will not Around ten years ago, the group diversified even fur- only have to fit into the overall system, but also be able to More information: ther and launched the vehicle technology division. Since be handled by our existing staff,” says the Managing Direc- www.tiemann.de
PHOTOS: TIEMANN PHOTOS: then it has been carrying out service work on commercial tor. “‘Hire and fire’ is not our philosophy.” (bre)
LOGISTICS PILOT December 2016 23 SUSTAINABILITY
Shorter transport runs – more environmental protection
Speaking to LOGISTICS PILOT, Peter Theurer, Site Manager at the Mercedes-Benz factory in Bremen, and Heiko Gaiser, Head of Worldwide Transport Logistics for Cars, Lorries, Vans & Buses at Daimler, talk about new and proven approaches to environmental protection in vehicle transport.
You are now producing a total of ten models at the Mercedes-Benz factory in Bremen. What are your main sales markets? PETER THEURER: Mercedes-Benz’s main sales markets are generally China, the USA and Germany. Many of our Bremen models, such as some variants of the C-Class, are currently only made at our site. As such, we send our vehicles all over the world for our international customers.
Your factory is in Sebaldsbrück, just under 80 kilometres away from Bremerhaven, the second most important port in Europe when it comes to vehicle handling. What benefits does this bring, and how many of the 2.3 million vehicles that we handled there in 2015 came from your factory in Bremen? THEURER: The geographical location is, of course, a major advantage. Thanks to our proximity to the port, our transport routes are short. A large chunk of our vehicles that come off the conveyor at the Bremen factory are exported via Bremer- haven. Last year we produced a total of 324,000 vehicles.
What importance does your factory assign to environmental protection in logistics? THEURER: The issue of environmental protection is import- ant to us from all angles; initiatives associated with our lo- gistical processes are no exception. Over the last few years we have implemented numerous measures in Bremen, for example shifting vehicle transport runs to Bremerhaven and Zeebrugge to rail, and setting up the Autoterminal Bremen (ATB) near the factory. This is a handling and consolidation point with an efficient rail connection, and is run by DB Cargo Logistics. Among other things, the ATB functions as a delivery area for customer vehicles from other Mer- cedes-Benz and Smart factories, which then go out to our Peter Theurer, Site Manager at the Mercedes-Benz factory in Bremen customers on time.
24 LOGISTICS PILOT December 2016 SUSTAINABILITY
How important is rail transport for Mercedes-Benz? HEIKO GAISER: Transport by rail is very important, and becoming increasingly so. We access our four export ports with block trains loaded with new vehicles from Heiko Gaiser, Head of Worldwide the European Mercedes-Benz factories. Some of the trains Transport Logistics for unloaded in Bremerhaven are re-loaded with imported Cars, Lorries, Vans & vehicles from the USA, South Africa and Finland right Buses at Daimler in the port. Others are rerouted to Autoterminal Bremen. There, vehicles produced at the Bremen factory destined for the markets of Italy, Spain and Switzerland are loaded into closed waggons along with vehicles for the customer Does this also provide new opportunities for FACTS centre in Sindelfingen, and sent off towards the southern environmental protection? hub at the Sindelfingen factory. This return transport GAISER: Definitely. Optimisation of transport networks Mercedes-Benz makes it possible to avoid empty runs for the waggons, using big data combined with complex planning systems factory which are initially used in Sindelfingen for the export of makes it possible to find consolidation points for pooling in Bremen vehicles via Bremerhaven. goods flows. This makes it possible to make full use of the Founded in 1938 available transport capacity, as well as optimising networks. In addition to trains, inland vessels have a This will be of benefit in terms of environmental protection. Premises: around 1.5 positive environmental footprint. What role do these Even today many forwarders are taking the opportunity to million square metres play in your logistics? optimise their fleet’s consumption through use of intelligent With more than GAISER: We use inland vessels to transport engine compo- telematics systems. 12,500 employees, nents from Stuttgart, as well as parts from logistics centres the biggest private Does Mercedes-Benz have other forward-looking in Speyer and Germersheim for dispatch overseas. The same employer in the region applies to transport of lorries from Wörth and Sprinters from concepts for more environmentally-friendly vehicle Düsseldorf. Wherever waterways link up our logistics hubs, transport? Models produced: we look thoroughly into the logistical and economic validity GAISER: The lorry will remain a core part of our transport Saloon, T-Model, of using inland vessels. concept in future. Use of vehicles with modern technol- C-Class coupé and ogy holds considerable potential, which we place a lot of convertible, E-Class To what extent will digitisation and automation emphasis on when choosing transport partners. Use of coupé and convertible, have an effect on network planning for outbound vehicle long lorries, which is currently limited to goods trans- GLC 4x4 and CLC transport today and in future? port but which we are intensively pushing, is also making coupé and SLC and GAISER: Digitisation is playing an increasingly large role, very positive contributions in this respect. I hope that the SL sports cars not just in the outbound sector. It is about evaluating and framework conditions for large-scale use will soon be Over seven million using the available data in a logical way. The knowledge created. In addition, I am expecting equipment solutions cars were produced at gained about vehicle flows, space usage and transport that will increase the load factor for vehicle transport. the factory between capacity must be utilised accordingly. We believe that the We are also working on a number of other initiatives. In 1978 and 2015. intelligent linking of data will make it possible to reduce order to link up the conurbations and therefore contribute downtimes, vehicle movements and empty kilometres to sustainability in the transport sector, we are currently dramatically. This taps into considerable economic and developing rail transport using “train hubs” throughout ecological potential. What is essential is that all of those Europe. At the same time, we are investigating the set-up involved in the supply chain work closely together and of the ports used as part of our ports strategy. Our aim is push for rapid implementation. We are also expecting to shorten transport routes in terms of distance from the significant future savings through autonomous vehicle factory to the target market, therefore making a positive
PHOTOS: DAIMLER AG, MERCEDES-BENZ-WERK BREMEN MERCEDES-BENZ-WERK AG, DAIMLER PHOTOS: movements. contribution towards environmental protection.
LOGISTICS PILOT December 2016 25 PEOPLE
SUMMARY NEWS
APPOINTMENT. Bremen University of Reiner Heiken Applied Sciences appoints took over management of honorary professor the Europe INAUGURATION. Bremen-based lawyer for maritime trade and business region as CEO of transport law, Elke Wietoska, has been appointed Honorary Professor of DB Schenker on 1 December. Bremen University of Applied Sciences (HSB) for Transport Law for the Formerly the Director for winter semester. Wietoska held her inaugural lecture on “Blue Growth – in- Germany at Kühne + Nagel, he troduction, opportunities and selected legal issues” at HSB on 11 October. succeeded Ewald Kaiser. Heiken She then received her certificate of appointment from HSB’s President Karin began his career with training as a Luckey. “Ms Wietoska is well known and respected as an expert in the field navigational officer at Ha- of maritime trade and transport law,” explained Luckey. At the same time, pag-Lloyd. This was followed by a she expressed optimism that Wietoska’s involvement would help to further Diplom degree in nautical studies, expand HSB’s leading role as a think tank for the maritime sector. positions as a navigational officer as well as managerial positions with major shipping companies TKMS reorganises its and Kühne +Nagel. With 40,000 executive management employees, the Europe region is DB’s largest logistics subsidiary. REORGANISATION. Thyssen- krupp restructured the manage- ment of its shipyard division on 1 October. Peter Feldhaus, a former strategy boss at Thyssenkrupp AG, was appointed as the new CEO. At the same time, Andreas Burmester, DOUBLE DECISION. BLG appoints Eck NPorts: Wewerka
who used to hold this post, took on Shipping group Bernhard Schulte the role of Chief Operating Officer Shipmanagement (BSM) to the Board succeeds and Chief Technology Officer. With appointed two new Regional of Management Schoolmann the reorganisation, Thyssenkrupp Managing Directors in October. CHANGE. The Supervisory Board Marine Systems (TKMS) plans CHANGE. Hannes Wewerka Since then, Neil Mc Neil (right) of Bremer Lagerhaus-Gesellschaft to weave the strategy and sales has been the new Head has been representing BSM in (BLG) has appointed Andrea Eck to divisions more closely together of Department for Technical the British Isles, whilst Mingfa its Board of Management as head of and generate more force for Service at port company Liu (left) has been leading up the the Automobile division of BLG winning contracts. Niedersachsen Ports in Norden China region. Mc Neil previously Logistics Group. She will succeed (Norddeich) since September. worked as Regional Fleet Michael Blach on 1 January 2017. He took over the role from Alfred Manager at BP Shipping, and Blach will be moving to Eurogate’s Schoolmann, who has retired. most recently as Managing Group Management Board, and will Wewerka has been working as a Director at V-Ships in the USA. be responsible for the Container mechanical engineer in Norden Liu previously worked as division on BLG Logistics’ Board of for over two years. In his new role, Managing Director at V-Ships, Management. Eck has been working he will be responsible for all and as Managing Director at for Volkswagen AG since 1985, and maintenance and servicing work Wallem in China. brings extensive experience in the at all of Niedersachsen Ports’
PHOTOS: BSM, DB SCHENKER, HSB, BLG, THYSSENKRUPP, ANDREAS BURMANN/NPORTS, ANDREAS THYSSENKRUPP, BLG, HSB, DB SCHENKER, BSM, PHOTOS: GERMANY WISTA IMPERIAL, POST, DEUTSCHE automotive industry to the job. island supply ports.
26 LOGISTICS PILOT December 2016 PEOPLE
Imperial expands its Management Board
APPOINTMENT. In August, Michael Lütjann became the third member of the Management Board of Imperial Logistics International, where he will function as the Chief Information Officer (CIO). Change of leadership From 2017 he will also take on at HHLA the superior position of CIO for the logistics segment of the umbrella SUCCESSION. Angela Titzrath group, Imperial Holdings Limited. joined the Executive Board of Carsten Taucke (CEO) and Thomas Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG Schulz (CFO) complete the (HHLA) on 1 October 2016. She Management Board alongside will take over chairmanship from Lütjann. Klaus-Dieter Peters on 1 January Encouragement to promote women 2017. HHLA is also expecting another change on the Executive AWARD. Women’s network WISTA Germany (Women’s International Board: Stefan Behn, who is Shipping & Trading Association) declared Natallia Dean “Personality responsible for the Container of the Year” at SMM 2016. The prize aims to provide encouragement and IT divisions on the Executive to promote women and raise the profile of female personalities in the Board, has announced that he will maritime industry, whose careers and dedication serve as motivation leave the company at the end of for other women. Dean is the Director of shipbuilding association March 2017. Pella Sietas.
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LOGISTICS PILOT December 2016 27 APPOINTMENTS
Save the Date
The port groups of Bremen/Bremerhaven and Seaports of Niedersachsen are already working hard on their preparations for 2017: next year the partners will once again be presenting their range of services at numerous industry trade fairs and informational events.
t will all begin with the traditional tomers, even though growth in China is Selection of events (subject to change) “logistics talk new year reception” slightly slower at the moment,” says Inke on 12 January, when port management Onnen-Lübben, Managing Director of logistics talk transport logistic I company bremenports and logistics Seaports of Niedersachsen. “Despite its new year reception 9. – 12. 5. 2017 12. 1. 2017 firm TFG Transfracht will be inviting guests size and international nature, the trade Munich, Germany to Berlin. Alongside the panel discussions, fair in Europe is like a family get-together, Berlin, Germany www.transportlogistic.de the focus of the popular series of events is because the market players know us and www.bremenports.de/ veranstaltungskalender Bremen reception the subsequent get-together, which offers our range of services very well – and vice transport logistic the perfect platform for maintaining or de- versa, of course.” Michael Skiba, Head VIA BREMEN-Fach- 11. 5. 2017 veloping customer contacts. of Marketing at bremenports, very much forum Projektlogistik Munich, Germany 16. 1. 2017 From 8 to 10 February, Bremen’s port agrees with this statement: “The ports of www.bremenports.de/ and logistics hub will be exhibiting at Bremen, which will once again be repre- Bremen, Germany veranstaltungskalender “FRUIT LOGISTICA” www.via-bremen.com – also taking place sented with a joint stand, are considered Offshore WindEnergy in Berlin – for the tenth time. This year one of the ‘founding members’ of Break- FRUIT LOGISTICA 6. – 8. 6. 2017 8. – 10. 2. 2017 the international trade fair for all logis- bulk Europe, not least because of their London, England tics matters concerning the goods of fruit close and trusting relationships with nu- Berlin, Germany www.offshorewind2017.com and vegetables is expected to bring in merous exhibitors and visitors, meaning www.fruitlogistica.de 2,884 exhibitors and over 70,000 visi- that taking part is a duty that we and our 27th Niedersächsischer Breakbulk China Hafentag tors, representing the entire value co-exhibitors perform gladly.” 13. – 16. 3. 2017 (Lower Saxony port day) creation chain. At the same time, the Another important date is “transport 1. 9. 2017 Shanghai, China logistic” event offers excellent opportunities to , which will be taking place in www.breakbulk.com Cuxhaven, Germany make contact with the most important Munich once again from 9 to 12 May as www.seaports.de target groups, as well as providing an part of its two-year pattern. Seaports of Intermodal South America Kapitänstag overview of innovations, products and Niedersachsen and bremenports will be 4. – 6. 4. 2017 (Captains’ Day) services in the sector. bremenports will exhibiting at it once again in the coming 1. 9. 2017 São Paulo, Brazil be attending with a 60 m2 joint stand in year with their own trade fair stands. www.intermodal.com.br Bremen, Germany hall 25 – along with DAL Deutsche Afrika After all, there is virtually no other trade www.bhv-bremen.de Linien, OHB Logistics Solutions, Heuer fair better suited to finding out about new Breakbulk Europe Logistics and Fruit Insurance. trends and developments in logistics at 24. – 26. 4. 2017 Husum Wind 12. – 15. 9. 2017 Port marketing company Seaports the same time as showcasing themselves Antwerp, Belgium Husum, Germany of Niedersachsen will be flying the flag to a broad expert audience. www.breakbulk.com www.husumwind.com at both “Breakbulk China” (13 to 16 Cruise Europe March in Shanghai) and “Breakbulk Conference PPI Symposium Europe” (24 to 26 April in Antwerp). 24. – 27. 4. 2017 25. – 27. 9. 2017 “Individual ports in Lower Saxony are Bremerhaven, Germany Savannah, USA already involved in project shipment www.cruiseeurope- events.risiinfo.com/ operations with China. However, we conference.com transport-symposium see considerable potential for new cus- Joint trade fair appearance under the umbrella brand of German Ports 28 LOGISTICS PILOT December 2016 APPOINTMENTS
The speakers at “Hafen trifft Festland” in Cologne (from l.): Peter Fischer (Managing Director of Dörpener Umschlaggesellschaft), Oliver Bergk (General Manager for Sales at Eurogate), Ingo Meidinger (Head of Sales at Container Terminal Wilhelmshaven JadeWeserPort-Marketing), Inke Onnen-Lübben (Managing Director of Seaports of Niedersachsen), Oliver Hämel (Deputy Head of West/Switzerland Regional Division at Experts get together (from l.): Michael Albers and Wolfgang Schiemann from TFG Transfracht), Marcus Braue (Head of Branch at DFDS Seaways) Eurogate and bremenports’ Austria Representative Alfred Wolfram
Review of events
“Port meets mainland” in Cologne “logistics talk” in Vienna and Graz
SUCCESS. Around 60 representatives from the logistics and shipping NEW FEATURE. The “logistics talk series” organised sector took up their invitation from port marketing organisation Seaports by bremenports takes place up to six times a year in of Niedersachsen and Container Terminal Wilhelmshaven JadeWeser- various regions of Germany and neighbouring European Port-Marketinggesellschaft and attended “Hafen trifft Festland” (“Port countries. On 12 October, the event stopped in at the meets mainland”) on 14 September in Cologne. The event was organised major Austrian cities of Vienna and Graz with its new in collaboration with the chambers of industry and commerce of Cologne, format, “The match-making edition”. As part of the format Düsseldorf and Mittlerer Niederrhein, and showed companies from the change, BLG Cargo Logistics, Datalog, Eurogate and Züst Rhineland new opportunities for optimising their logistics chains that & Bachmeier Project took the opportunity to make the would arise through targeted collaboration with the seaports of Lower approx. 120 guests aware of their services with individual Saxony. The prospects offered by the site of Wilhelmshaven, with the only presentations. “The event is intended to give the deep-water container terminal in Germany and its freight village, were companies within Bremen’s port economy the opportuni- highlighted using expert lectures and presentations. The range of services ty to maintain existing customer relations in the hinter- offered by the other seaports in Lower Saxony also formed an important land and make new contacts,” says bremenports’ Head part of the lively discussions. of Marketing Michael Skiba.
“Night-before reception to the 33rd German “ECG Conference” Logistics Conference” in Berlin in Hamburg
NETWORK. More than 3,000 visitors from over 40 nations took the MEETING. This year’s conference took place opportunity to engage in exchange with managers from industry, logistics on 20 and 21 October at Hotel Atlantic Kempinski and commerce at this year’s three-day German Logistics Conference in in Hamburg. On the agenda this year was Berlin. On the night before the event bremenports and VIA BREMEN once “Digitalisation and Megatrends – The future of again invited guests to the traditional reception at the Bremen state offices automotive logistics”. Alongside numerous specialist in Berlin – and over 150 guests from the worlds of politics, business and forums and discussions about the automotive science attended on 18 October. Following a welcome from Bremen’s sector, Seaports of Niedersachsen highlighted to the “ambassador” in Berlin, State Advisor Ulrike Hiller, the guests enjoyed an conference participants the multifaceted logistical exciting presentation from Hendrik Witt, CEO of Ubimax, on the topic of services in the automotive sector that are offered “Example investments in the port and logistics hub of Bremen/Bremer- specifically by the seaports of Cuxhaven and Emden. haven”. The successful evening was rounded off with a get-together, which 270 delegates took part in the “ECG Conference”
PHOTOS: SEAPORTS, BREMENPORTS SEAPORTS, PHOTOS: was primarily used for sharing experiences. this year.
LOGISTICS PILOT December 2016 29 PREVIEW
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EDITION IMPRINT FEBRUARY LOGISTICS PILOT ISSN 2195-8548 2017 Publisher: bremenports GmbH & Co. KG Hafenstraße 49, 28217 Bremen www.bremenports.de Michael Skiba Focus topic Phone: +49 421 30901-610 Fax: +49 421 30901-624 Break bulk E-mail: [email protected] Challenges, special features Advertisement and project manage- ment: and potential of handling Ronald Schwarze Phone: +49 421 30901-612 Bremen Bremerhaven of bulk goods, heavy goods Fax: +49 421 30901-624 E-mail: [email protected] and project loads Advertisement price list no. 12 applies, Merry Christmas valid from 10 November 2016 www.bremenports.de/logisticspilot and a successful New Year! Publishing house: DVV Kundenmagazine GmbH Heidenkampsweg 73-79, 20097 Hamburg www.dvv-kundenmagazine.de At the end of every year, we take the time to pause and say thank you. Thank you for working together Save the Space Project management: Karin Kennedy with us so successfully in the past and for your Phone: +49 40 23714-338 confidence in our work. Secure a spot for your advertisement in the international logistics magazine E-mail: [email protected] for German ports: LOGISTICS PILOT. Media information can be found at Editor: www.bremenports.de/logisticspilot Thorsten Breuer (bre), responsible, The whole bremenports team would like to wish Claudia Behrend (cb) you a peaceful, contemplative Christmas season, E-mail: redaktion.logisticspilot@dvv-me- Focus topics of the upcoming editions: dia.com together with happiness, contentment and, above
February 2017: April 2017: June 2017: Layout, photos and illustrations: all, good health in the new year – and may you Break bulk Intermodal Wind power Design: Christine Zander, remain favourable disposed towards us! Closing date for submit- Closing date for submit- Closing date for submit- www.artldesign.de Title: Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics ting advertisements ting advertisements ting advertisements other images: see image credits
16.12.2016 24.2.2017 28.4.2017 Print: müllerditzenAG, Bremerhaven Your contact: www.muellerditzen.de Ronald Schwarze, Marketing – bremenports GmbH & Co. KG, LOGISTICS PILOT is published six times Phone: +49 421 30901-612, E-mail: [email protected] a year in a run of 5,000 copies (German). An English-language e-paper can be found at www.bremenports.de/logisticspilot
The publication, its articles and its illustrations are protected by List of advertisements copyright. Any copying or distribution This magazine is a must be approved by the publishing BLG Page 2 joint project of house or publisher. This shall also ap- bremenports Page 31 ply to electronic use or transfer into databases, online media (internet), bremenports Page 32 bremenports GmbH & Co. KG V. intranet or other electronic storage EVAG Page 19 Bremische Hafenvertretung e. media. The publisher and publishing World port house decline any liability for JadeWeserPort-Marketing GmbH & Co. KG photos, manuscripts and other data
Seaports of Niedersachsen GmbH media submitted without request. LOGISTICS CARGO BLG PHOTO: in good hands [email protected] VIA BREMEN Foundation www.bremenports.de/en 30 LOGISTICS PILOT December 2016 Bremen Bremerhaven Merry Christmas and a successful New Year!
At the end of every year, we take the time to pause and say thank you. Thank you for working together with us so successfully in the past and for your confidence in our work.
The whole bremenports team would like to wish you a peaceful, contemplative Christmas season, together with happiness, contentment and, above all, good health in the new year – and may you remain favourable disposed towards us!
World port
in good hands [email protected] www.bremenports.de/en Nobody caN teach me aNythiNg about parkiNg
britta hauerken, car driver at the bLg autoterminal in bremerhaven
Despite more than 100,000 parking spaces, it’s sometimes a tight squeeze. After all, Bremerhaven is Europe’s leading automotive hub. Every year, more than two million cars are handled safely, reliably and in compliance with strict quality standards.
www.bremenports.de/en/location