Belgium News

Euronav Acquires 3 Newbuild VLCCs

Belgium's tanker shipping company Euronav NV has entered into an agreement for the acquisition through resale of three very large crude carrier (VLCC) newbuilds.The three VLCCs are currently completing construction at the DSME shipyard in South Korea and are being acquired for an aggregate purchase price of USD 280.5 million or USD 93.5 million per unit.All three vessels will be fitted with Exhaust Gas Scrubber technology and Ballast Water Treatment System.The vessels are due…

EDF Buys Stake in Irish Offshore Project

French electricity giant Électricité de France (EDF) is moving into the Irish energy market.EDF Renewables, a subsidiary of the French energy utility, has acquired a 50% stake in the Codling offshore wind project from Hazel Shore, a company linked to the property developer, Johnny Ronan.EDF Renewables will develop and build the project alongside Fred Olsen Renewables, which owns the other 50% stake in 1100MW Codling Wind ParkIt is the first investment by the international energy player in the Republic.The Codling project is located south of Dublin…

Exmar Secures FLNG, VLGC Financing

Belgium-headquartered manager of specialized floating assets Exmar said that China Export Credit Insurance Corporation (Sinosure) approved the release of $40 million from the debt service reserve account under the TANGO FLNG loan facility.The documentation for the release of the restricted cash has been signed and the effective release will occur within the coming days.In the meantime the TANGO FLNG has exported its second cargo for YPF in December 2019 and the third cargo is being produced.Exmar has two Very Large Gas Carriers under construction at Jiangnan…

Jan De Nul Completes Harelbeke

The provider of maritime construction services Jan De Nul said that a new lock complex along the Lys river in Harelbeke, Belgium is inaugurated.The Joint Venture ‘Leieland’, a partnership between contractors Jan De Nul nv, Herbosch Kiere nv, Engie Fabricom nv and Aelterman bvba, was responsible for the design and execution of the works.In the past five years, the Joint Venture ‘Leieland’ worked by order of ‘De Vlaamse Waterweg’ (the Flemish Waterway Authority) on the renovation and modernization of the weir lock…

P&O Ferrymasters Expands in Turkey

European providers of transportation and logistics services P&O Ferrymasters has announced plans to open five new offices across Turkey over the next two years as it continues the expansion of its pan-European logistics services into Asia.In addition to its existing base in Istanbul, P&O Ferrymasters will develop a comprehensive network across the strategically vital country by opening offices in Izmir on the Aegean coast, the capital city Ankara, Mersin on the south coast, Bursa in the Marmara region and Gaziantep near the border with Syria.Murat Bog…

WiseTech Global Acquires Ready Korea

Global logistics software group, WiseTech Global has announced the acquisition of Ready Korea, a customs, bonded warehouse and trade compliance solutions provider in South Korea.Headquartered in Seoul, Ready Korea offers a cross-border compliance solution, which facilitates the lodgement of electronic transactions to the Korean Customs Service, including customs brokerage and refunds and Free Trade Agreement verification, along with bonded warehouse management.Ready Korea also…

Jan De Nul Cuts CO2 in Dredging Work

Jan De Nul Group, the international  dredging company, said that the maintenance dredging works in the marinas of Nieuwpoort on the Belgian coast got underway.“What makes this project so unique, are the CO2-reducing measures taken by Jan De Nul Group. An example for the industry and future dredging works in Europe,” said a press release from the company. "Its an example for the industry and future dredging works in Europe."The maintenance dredging works in Nieuwpoort entail the dredging works in the port access channel and in the marinas.

DFDS in Charter Deal with CLdN

Danish international shipping and logistics company DFDS has entered into two mutual space charter agreements with the Luxembourg-based short sea specialist Compagnie Luxembourgeoise d'Navigation (CLdN) CLdN that also operates a freight ferry route between Gothenburg and Zeebrugge.In June 2019, DFDS opened a freight ferry route between Gothenburg, Sweden, and Zeebrugge, Belgium, that currently deploys three freight ferries offering five weekly departures in each direction.However…

De Keukelaere Wins IADC "Young Author Award"

The International Association of Dredging Companies (IADC) bestowed the Young Author Award to Liesbeth De Keukelaere, R&D Professional at VITO in Belgium. IADC’s Young Author Award is given annually to “stimulate the promotion of new ideas and encourage younger men and women in the dredging industry”. The award is granted at industry-leading conferences, with a winning young author selected from the proceedings of the CEDA Dredging Days 2019, held on November 7-8, 2019, in Rotterdam…

Lydia Oldendorff Sets Record

The largest German bulk carrier company Oldendorff Carriers GmbH, which operates around 700 ships, said that its Lydia Oldendorff (207,562 tdw built 2015) has set a record as the largest vessel to load coal at Puerto Bolivar, Colombia.The Newcastlemax vessel has a length of 300 meters and a breadth of 50 meters and was loaded on a trial cargo draft of 17.5 meters. The cargo loaded is destined for Flushing, in the port of Antwerp in Belgium, where it will again be the largest vessel to enter the port.Oldendorff Carriers currently operates a fleet of about 65 modern eco-Newcastlemax (203-211…

Zeebrugge Port Deploy 5G Network

Port of Zeebrugge, Belgium, will have its own private 5G network this year, disclosed the container, bulk cargo, new vehicles and passenger ferry terminal port in the municipality of Bruges.The port’s management will collaborate with Citymesh, which is the only operator to have a license for 5G networks in Flanders and Brussels."The private 5G network in the Port of Zeebrugge will be the accelerator for innovation in and around the port," the port said.The network’s brain is located in the port’s datacenter.

Exmar Reports Strong Earnings for VLCCs

Belgium's Exmar, the Nicolas Savery-led shipowner, reported strong earnings for the very large gas carriers (VLCCs), and midsize gas carriers for the the third quarter of 2019. The current trading fleet of Exmar in the VLGC segment is the 83,300 m³ BW TOKYO. During the quarter the vessel has been extended to a first-class counterpart at a profitable rate to Exmar in line with strong market fundamentals.The two 88,000 m³ next generation dual fuel newbuildings with a long-term charter to Equinor are progressing according to schedule with expected delivery second and third quarter 2021…

Duisburg to Open New Trimodal Terminal

The largest trimodal  container terminal in the European hinterland is being developed in the Port of Duisburg.Duisburger Hafen AG (duisport) is set to build a US$111.2mln  new 220,000 m² trimodal container terminal on the site of its current coal island in response to a sharp decline in coal handling as a result of the energy transformation.The trimodal terminal is to be developed with duisport’s intermodal partners COSCO Shipping Logistics, Hupac SA and HTS Group and aims to…

Interview: Dr. Catherine Warner, Director, NATO CMRE

At CMRE, it’s not just about the science. It’s about building trust and confidence in resilient systems. An interview with Dr. Catherine Warner, Director, NATO Center for Maritime Research and Experimentation, La Spezia, ItalyTell us a little about yourself and CMRE. What does CMRE do, and how do you see your mission evolving?I came here from the Pentagon, where I was the science advisor for the director of operational test and evaluation. My experience has been working with operators on systems that they’re getting ready to field.

IMO Progressing in Global Climate Action

The UN Climate Action Summit in New York (23 September) is giving global leaders the chance to show the world concrete proposals and tangible actions being taken in the fight against climate change.IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim has been reporting on the solid progress being made by the Organization to reduce GHG emissions from international shipping, in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in particular SDG 13 on Climate change.Lim delivered a keynote address at the opening of the World Economic Forum event on decarbonizing shipping.

Shipping Sector Sets Course for Zero Carbon

Leading ports, banks, oil and shipping companies on Monday launched an initiative which aims to have ships and marine fuels with zero carbon emissions on the high seas by 2030, in another step by the maritime sector to reduce CO2.International shipping accounts for 2.2% of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and the U.N.'s International Maritime Organization (IMO), has a long-term goal to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50% from 2008 levels by 2050.Achieving this target will…

World First: Hydrogen Tug at Antwerp Port

Europe's second-largest seaport Port of Antwerp has ordered construction of a tug powered by hydrogen, the first in the world.The unique "Hydrotug" is driven by combustion engines that burn hydrogen in combination with diesel. The motors also comply with the very strictest standard, the EU Stage V, making them the lowest-rated for emissions on the market.The Belgium-based port operator said that this ultra-low-emission tug is being built by Compagnie Maritime Belge (CMB), a pioneer in the field of hydrogen power for shipping.

Expansion for Far East and Trans-Siberian Railway

FESCO Transportation Group, the largest intermodal transport operator in Russia, and Polish rail operator PCC Intermodal S.A. agreed on developing services of expedited cargo delivery from Japan, South Korea and China to European countries and vice versa through the Far East and Trans-Siberian Railway.The agreement of intent was signed during the Eastern Economic Forum.Using their experience and expertise, the companies are going to work on increasing the volumes of transit cargo shipped with Trans-Siberian Landbridge service launched this summer…

Euronav to Store Low-Sulfur Oil

The crude oil tanker company Euronav has purchased a total of 420,000 metric tons of compliant fuel oil and marine gasoil so far, the company revealed as it detailed its IMO 2020 sulfur cap plans. In aggregate the purchase value of very low sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO) has been at $447 per metric ton compared to a bunker price (HFO-3.5% Sulfur content) of $400 per metric ton over the same procurement period.According to the Belgium shipping company, the oil is currently aboard a ultra large crude carrier (ULCC) Oceania, a vessel built in 2003, and will soon be on its way to Singapore.

Konecranes Retrofits Crane in DP World Liège

Konecranes Port Services, the team of crane and lifting engineers, software developers and product technicians, will retrofit electrification to a Model 2 Konecranes Gottwald Mobile Harbor crane in DP World’s Liège Container Terminal in Belgium, lowering the terminal’s local emissions and noise.The Port of Liège, strategically located along the Meuse river in eastern Belgium,  is the third-largest river port in Europe, directly linked to both Antwerp and Rotterdam.The DP World Liège Container Terminal (DPW LCT) is the only trimodal terminal in Wallonia…

Shoreham Port Welcomes Sea Cadets

Sea Cadets from the Netherlands and Belgium recently enjoyed a visit to Shoreham Port while on a celebratory trip to the South Coast of England. Travelling aboard the TS Zeefakkel, the party arrived at the Port having visited Southend-On-Sea and the Isle of Wight during their 2-week round trip. The group’s visit to the UK was organized in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Zeekadetkorps (Sea Cadets Corps) in the Dutch Town of Hellevoetsluis, located to the south of Rotterdam.

Shanghai Ports Tops in Connectivity

The Shanghai port has topped UNCTAD’s 2019 ranking of the world’s best-connected ports, released yesterday (7 August).The Chinese port garnered a connectivity score of 134 points, followed by the ports of Singapore (124.63 points), Pusan (114.45 points) in Korea and Ningbo (114.35 points), also in China. The index is set at 100 for the best-connected port in 2006, which was Hong Kong, China.Besides the Asian ports, the other ports on the top 10 list are those of Antwerp (94 points) in Belgium and Rotterdam (93 points) in the Netherlands.

CSP Zeebrugge Terminal Deploys Navis N4

The terminal operating systems (TOS) provider Navis announced  that CSP Zeebrugge Terminal, part of COSCO Shipping Ports, has successfully gone live with Navis N4.The unit of Cargotec Corporation and provider of operational technologies and services that unlock greater performance and efficiency for the world’s leading organizations across the shipping supply chain, the terminal connecting European market will use N4 to focus on real-time data sharing and efficiency for better service.The terminal…

Fourth Global Regulatory Summit Held at FMC

Senior government officials from the European Union (EU), the People’s Republic of China (PRC), and the United States met Wednesday at the Washington, D.C. headquarters of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to participate in the Fourth Global Regulatory Summit.Attendees represent the competition authorities responsible for regulating international liner shipping in the world’s largest liner trade lanes. The delegations were led by Director Henrik Morch from the Directorate General for Competition of the European Commission and Deputy Director-General YI Jiyong of the Water Transport Bureau…

Exmar Repays its 2014 Bond

Exmar Netherlands,  a fully owned subsidiary of Belgium’s Exmar and a manager of specialized floating assets, has completed the bond repayment issued in 2014, extended in July 2017 and maturing in July 2019.According to a press note from the Nicolas Saverys-led shipowner,  the outstanding senior unsecured bond was issued in 2014.This repayment has been funded partially with the new, unsecured NOK 650 million ($75 million) bond issued by Exmar on May 16, 2019, with final maturity in May 2022…

Kalmar to Deliver Forklift to Antwerp

The provider of lifting solutions, Kalmar has been awarded a contract to supply Antwerp Euroterminal NV (AET) with six Kalmar forklifts of varying specifications, including one fully electric model.The order, which also includes a Kalmar Complete Care service contract covering all the machines, was booked in Cargotec's 2019 Q2 order intake with delivery scheduled to be completed during Q4 2019.AET, is the largest multipurpose terminal in Europe and home to vessels of the Grimaldi Group.