Global Ports Group, a leading operator of container terminals in the Russian market, has installed two Liebherr LHM550 mobile harbour cranes at its Far Eastern terminal Vostochnaya Stevedoring Company (VSC), which is located in the deep-water port of Vostochniy in Primorskiy krai, Russia.

The new heavy-duty equipment supports the operation of VCS's five STS cranes, increasing vessel handling speed and efficiency and enabling a 200,000 TEU increase in berth yearly capacity in the future.

The harbour cranes were custom-built in Germany for Global Ports and shipped to VSC pre-assembled.

The machines have a 144-tonne lifting capability and can work in three modes: hook, spreader, and grab. Each crane has a maximum reach of 54 metres and can handle vessels with up to 16 rows of containers. The Global Ports Petrolesport terminal in St Petersburg already has similar equipment.

VSC's container throughput grew by 17.3% in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the first quarter of 2022, reaching 146,000 TEUs.

Global Ports has a steady investment schedule in place to boost terminal capacity in the Far East. In 2023-2024, nine new RTG and RMG cranes from China's premier manufacturer ZPMC will join VSC's fleet.

In addition, from the second part of 2022 to May 2023, the Group transferred about 30 equipment units, including RTGs, straddle carriers, reachstackers, and tractors, from North-West terminals to the Far East.

Furthermore, Global Ports started an extension project at VSC in September 2022 to develop the 470,000 square metre site adjacent to the port. The region will be developed with two container ports, storage areas, and a new railway front. The project will expand VSC's throughput capacity from 700,000 to 1.7 million TEUs per year by the mid-2030s.

Taiwan International Ports Corporation (TIPC) chairman Lee Hsien-yi stated on 5 May that the newly built No. 7 terminal in Taiwan's Kaohisung port is the country's first fully automated container terminal, and he hopes it will help increase the port's throughput.

Evergreen Marine Corporation started operating the No. 7 terminal on 1 May, after the first phase of construction was completed. The Taiwanese mainline operator has a 20-year concession to run the facility, and the second phase of construction is expected to be finished in June 2024.

Lee said the No. 7 terminal uses unmanned vehicles, remote control, Internet of Things network coverage, 5G and Artificial Intelligence systems, which can significantly improve the efficiency of container yard operations.

TIPC noted in a press statement that due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the operation of traditional container terminals that relied heavily on manual operations was greatly challenged. Under the circumstances of global labour crunch and sudden lockdowns, the pandemic caused berthing delays, congested terminals, and delays in container loading and unloading operations. Automation has, therefore, overcome these constraints.

Building the No. 7 terminal cost approximately US$1.33 billion, of which around US$660 million was funded by TIPC, and Evergreen contributed the remaining US$670 million.

For start, after the second phase of construction is finished, the terminal will have an annual handling volume of 4.5 million TEUs. Over the long term, the target is to achieve 6.5 million TEUs.

In 2022, Kaohsiung processed 9.49 million TEUs, a 4% dip from 2021, as container volumes began contracting after the pandemic-fuelled boom.

With a water depth of 18 metres, and five berths with a length of over 2.4km, the No. 7 terminal can accommodate four 24,000 TEU container ships at the same time.

Lee said, "The road to innovation and breakthrough isn't easy. We experienced a severe shortage of human resources during the pandemic, which led to construction challenges and other difficulties. TIPC and the construction companies, have been discussing and making major decisions with Evergreen for more than four years. We managed to build the No. 7 Terminal in the shortest possible time, to seize the opportunity in the ever-changing shipping market."

With Evergreen now occupying the No. 7 Terminal, it has vacated Kaohsiung's No. 5 Terminal, which will be taken over by its compatriot, Wan Hai Lines.

The world's largest container line MSC adds a new inter-Asia service, called Shikra, between major ports in China and India.

The new Shikra service will be operated solely by MSC and is named after the small bird of prey that inhabits much of Southeast Asia and India.

Starting with MSC Mara on voyage QS321A, with an estimated time of arrival at Qingdao port on 23 May, the rotation will be as follows:

Qingdao (China) – Shanghai (China) – Ningbo (China)– Kaohsiung (Taiwan) – Shekou (China) – Singapore – Colombo (Sri Lanka) – Nhava Sheva (India) – Mundra (India) – Colombo (Malaysia) – Port Klang – Singapore – Tanjung Pelepas (Malaysia) – Vung Tau (Vietnam) – Qingdao

The Port of Melbourne, Maersk, ANL (a subsidiary of CMA-CGM), Svitzer, Stolthaven Terminals, HAMR Energy, and ABEL Energy have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to investigate the commercial potential of building a green methanol bunkering centre at the Port of Melbourne.

The collaboration will examine a potential project involving the transportation of green methanol from production sites in Bell Bay, Tasmania (ABEL Energy) and Portland, Victoria (HAMR Energy) to Port of Melbourne for storage and bunkering services.

“Victoria has the most ambitious decarbonisation agenda in the country, and this announcement is another example of how we’re leading the development of renewable and alternative fuels,” stated Lily D’Ambrosio, Minister for Energy and Resources in Australia.

The MoU serves as a beginning point for the parties to collaborate in exploring the different aspects of building a green methanol bunkering centre, as well as identifying any problems that must be solved.

“Decarbonisation of the maritime industry is really gaining pace. As Australia’s largest container port with around 3,000 ships visiting annually, it makes sense that we look at ways to work together with customers, service providers and producers to understand the needs of the market,” said Saul Cannon, CEO of Port of Melbourne.

Germany will reevaluate its decision to allow COSCO Shipping Ports to purchase a 24.9% stake in Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) Container Terminal Tollerort (CTT), a major box terminal in Hamburg.

A spokesperson from the economy ministry of Germany stated that the government will examine its decision again, as the conditions have changed.

Tollerort terminal was classified as critical infrastructure this year and as a result, the German government wants to review if and under what conditions would allow the involvement of COSCO, which is owned by the Chinese government, in its major port network.

"The German side is very clear about the ins and outs of the Hamburg port issue, we hope the German side will refrain from politicising commercial cooperation, making it something about ideology or security, and setting barriers to such cooperation," responded Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin in a regular briefing.

The German government had given the green light for the COSCO takeover of a 24.9% stake in CTT in October 2022.