Dear Readers,
It is Thursday the 29th of June and our last issue before the summer break after which we will start publishing again on the 10th of August.
I am actually sitting in a hotel room in Hong Kong writing this editorial, and for me, it’s a very special thing because this is my favourite Asian city by far. I haven’t visited it since about 3 1/2 years ago mainly due to Corona. Hong Kong was always a crossroads between East and West and thus became the magnet for many businessmen.
I was there during the handover in 1997 with my first ex-wife (from Hong Kong) when the UK handed Hong Kong back to China and rightly so most hoped that the ‘one country, two systems’ would indeed continue. I do believe that at least until recently, it has been kept pretty much so. It seems, however, that there has been a massive brain drain with lots of capable people leaving for overseas living and work, but still I suppose it is early days to call the result on Hong Kong.
For me, the memories here were and are overwhelming. So many nice people over the years since arriving here in 1986 enroute to China. In those days we couldn’t fly direct to China but had to transfer in Hong Kong onto a CAAC flight which I did and then flew into dark and dusty Beijing with everyone in a Mao suit..and what a change since.
I got married at Happy Valley, St. Margaret’s Church just across from the race track, so perhaps that was another race… ? Anyhow, to give you all some ideas about the Hong Kong that I cherish and love, see these pictures compiled from a couple of decades of visiting regularly.
I am leaving for Kota Kinabalu, East Malaysia/Sabah today and then Singapore/Perth and Bangkok where I will have just one more week on vacation before returning to Scandinavia on July 16th. I am traveling with my middle son in tow, and what better way to learn about the facts of life and life’s stress and meeting people than traveling on a schedule that is tight, requires planning, forethought, and no secretary or mum to help you out – at least it is my hope that my 14-year-old will take something from it besides forcing him to look up from his iPhone!
On another note, I had an interesting conversation and link up with a German (Mr. Hans-Dieter Burfiend – see his background here) living in the country of Burundi in Africa. His contact details was given to me by Mr. Herbert Loesing of COLI Schiffahrt in Hamburg. I became interested because of the following video (49 seconds long) that Herbert shared, i.e., the launching of a cargo/passenger vessel on Lake Tanganyika.
It is not everyday that you see a ship’s launching in a “landlocked” lake that is very important for the countries bordering it. It shows that you can live outside Germany (and as indeed can I live outside Scandinavia), but we are creatures of habit. One thing is for sure: better to regret something you did than something you didn’t do. So why not see the world, move out. Perhaps you will find that the bubble of convenience you are living in, thinking you are a global citizen and traveling without seeing anything, can be burst if you really move out. And moving out means NOT living in a compound with your countryfolk, but in fact, daring to live on your own.
I have met so many expats calling themselves ‘global citizens’ but in fact, knowing nothing or next to nothing about the country they live in. Indeed, that goes for some of the Scandinavians living in Thailand that I have met or expats working for major shipping companies abroad. They choose to only mingle in the pub with the same people that they sit in the office with bitching about this and that. Who are we to teach the locals what to do? When in Rome, do like the Romans do. That goes for all, including the ones who wish to call Europe home.
About moving to Europe and people seeking a better, life don’t get me started on the people smugglers’ ‘golden days’ and why has it been like that for 20 or so years ? To me, it is because the EU is afraid of being called non-politically correct or worse. So they are unable to make any hard decisions to stop the “feeder service” running north from Libya and Tunisia. Australia can do it– you don’t see boats capsizing near Australia with death in the hundreds. How incompetent the EU is beggars belief.
With this being the last issue before the summer, we do have an excellent “programme” in store for you if you have the energy to scroll further down.
1. We interview a forward-thinking group called DEUGRO, strong in renewable equipment and building ships and partnerships to serve their customers long term; if you are into green, renewable, and sustainable, you better listen in on this!
2. Shipping is no good without ports. Thus, we then speak to GULFTAINER and their manager at the Port of Khor Fakkan who are keen to develop this efficient port even better. Do look into this interview as well. I visited Khor Fakkan twice: once onboard mv CMA CGM Berlioz disembarking and once onboard CMA CGM Christophe Colomb in transit to Port Kelang. Do remember to take sunscreen and double sunglasses due to the sun and heat!
3. Another efficient port section run by an efficient and longstanding company with a proud history is C. STEINWEG. So we speak to them as well, focusing on their Terminal 6 in Rotterdam.
4. Interview with a competent fair and expo organiser called EASYFAIRS, headquartered in Belgium and responsible for the renowned and upcoming ANTWERP XL 28-30 November!
We, of course, have our usual shipping news, trade intelligence and wise words before finishing off with featured picture and video of the week. Don’t forget when lazing in the summer that you can listen to interviews or read them in our mobile app totally for free.
Until the 10th of August, I remain,
Yours sincerely,
Bo H. Drewsen
bo.drewsen@projectcargo-weekly.com
Video Interview
deugro Denmark
Hans Henrik Groen, Branch Manager & Managing Director of deugro, Denmark interviewed by Bo H. Drewsen, Editor in Chief at PCW
Video Interview
Gulftainer, U.A.E.
Simon Aynsley, Chief Sales Officer (CSO) at Gulftainer interviewed by Bo H. Drewsen, Editor in Chief at PCW.
Video Interview
C. Steinweg – Handelsveem Terminal – Rotterdam, Netherlands
Neil Fletcher, Head of Stevedoring at C. Steinweg Handelsveem Terminal, Rotterdam, Netherlands interview with Bo H. Drewsen, Editor in Chief at PCW.
Video Interview
Easyfairs / AntwerpXL
Margaret Dunn, Portfolio Director at Easyfairs/Antwerp XL interviewed by Bo H. Drewsen, Editor in Chief at PCW
Breakbulk Europe 2023 – 10,445 Industry Professionals from Across the Supply Chain Came Together in Rotterdam
Editor’s Note:
There is no denying that Breakbulk Europe 2023 was an overwhelming success certainly in the no. of participants almost to such a degree that you hardly could say hello and speak for 15 seconds before someone tapped you on the other shoulder… but yes an impressive event and well organised.
The exhibition on 6-8 June saw total attendees increase by 15 percent compared with 2022, with more than 126 countries represented – another record high across Breakbulk events. Visitors from the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium led the pack, while countries including China, India, Turkey, the UAE, Brazil and Singapore posted the biggest jumps in numbers.
Long An International Port Container Handling Service Launch
Editor’s Note:
Long time since we shared any shipping news from Vietnam so this time we publish the latest we just received…
On June 24, 2023, Long An International Port officially connects its 7 berths and launches its container handling services. This marks an important milestone in its strategic vision towards becoming an internationally recognized seaport in Asia.
COSCO Finally Acquires Stake in Hamburg Terminal – But Smaller than Intended
Editor’s Note:
What is Germany & EU afraid of ? that COSCO should take a larger share in Tollerort, why is that a worry coming from a country that made a deal with Russia…I dare not consider the cost of Nordstream already to the German taxpayer – but surely if you want to trade and live off overseas customers you gotta accept that they “invade” you as well.
Wrapping up a year of political back and forth, COSCO Shipping Ports has finally purchased a minority stake of just 24.99% in HHLA’s new Container Terminal Tollerort (CTT) in Hamburg.
COSCO had initially sought a 35% share in CTT and, although HHLA was happy, the German authorities stepped in to prevent the deal, on the grounds that giving COSCO – and by extension, the Chinese government – a controlling stake in a Hamburg terminal would be a strategic liability.
ESC Newsletter – 15 June 2023
Editor’s Note:
European Shippers Council has their bi-weekly newsletter as well as we have in PCW. There are some interesting articles in it which you may find useful.
Here is the next edition of our bi-weekly newsletter, containing a selection of the most relevant news, information, and events in the field of transport & logistics from the shippers’ perspective. It is published in the middle and at the end of the month and contains an overview of all posts within the respective reporting period. For more regular news, please visit our website frequently, as we are writing news posts regularly.
Alleima Receives Breakthrough Order of Steam Generator Tubes for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)
The steam generator tubes for NuScale Power, a provider of proprietary and innovative advanced nuclear Small Modular Reactors (SMR) technology, will be installed in one of the first VOYGRTM SMR power plants. The receipt of this order is an important breakthrough for Alleima, and a milestone for growth in power projects of the future.
Micron is Committed to China, Plans Investment
The memory chipmaker announced its plans in a Chinese language press release, in which it states that the company has decided to acquire packaging equipment of a subsidiary of Powercheng Semiconductor (Xi’an)
Co., Ltd., and plans to build a new plant at Micron’s Xi’an factory and introduce new and high-performance packaging and testing equipment.
Youngone Corpn Breaks Ground for Facilities at Kakatiya Textile Park in Warangal
Seoul-based textile giant Youngone Corporation on 17 June, 2023 performed the ground-breaking ceremony for setting up of 11 factories as part of its Evertop Textile & Apparel Complex at Kakatiya Mega Textile Park (KMTP) in Warangal district of Telangana.
Envision Energy Secures Contract from Serentica Renewables for 350 MW Wind Turbines
Renewable energy solutions provider Envision Energy has secured a 350-MW wind energy contract from Serentica Renewables. The project will be set up in Maharashtra, and is expected to be commissioned by December 2024.
Arriving Lisbon by Air Including a View of the Container Terminal
Editor’s Note:
Flew from Amsterdam to Lisbon and it was a fantastic day for flying see the footage here from landing in Lisbon where we passed over pretty much downtown including the container terminal.
Editor’s Note:
Some special vessels indeed seen during a harbour tour in Rotterdam during Breakbulk Expo.
