Freight transportation reports, projects and other news from outside North America
9/19/2023
Ground Transportation Systems business unit sale to Hitachi nearing finish line, Thales officials say
On Sept. 18, officials from Paris-based Thales Group announced the company and Hitachi Rail had made "significant progress" toward completing the sale of Thales' Ground Transportation Systems business to Hitachi Rail.
The companies have cleared most of the regulatory hurdles, Thales officials said. Following "constructive informal discussions" with the Directorate-General for Competition of the European Commission, Hitachi Rail refiled its notification of the transaction, they added.
Meanwhile, Hitachi Rail also expects to receive a decision on the proposed transaction from the U.K. anti-trust authority soon, Thales officials said.
"Thales and Hitachi Rail are confident that this transaction will have a positive impact on competition and will benefit rail signaling and mobility customers in Europe and globally," Thales officials said, adding that "positive discussions" with regulatory authorities will continue.
Both companies expect to complete the transaction sometime in 2024's first half, officials said.
City of Hamburg, MSC Mediterranean Shipping forge strategic partnership
On Sept. 13, the city of Hamburg, Germany, and MSC Mediterranean Shipping Co. S.A. (MSC) entered a strategic partnership regarding Hamburger Hafen und Logistik Aktiengesellschaft (HHLA).
Under the binding memorandum of understanding, MSC will acquire all free-floating A-Shares of HHLA and plans to launch a voluntary public takeover offer at EUR 16.75 per A-Share (57% premium to 30-day volume weighted average price). HHLA will be operated as a strategic joint venture, with the city of Hamburg holding a stake of 50.1% and MSC ultimately holding a stake of 49.9%.
Over time, MSC will "substantially increase" its container volume at HHLA terminals in Hamburg beginning in 2025, then raise it to at least 1,000 twenty-foot equivalent units per year beginning in 2031, MSC officials said. MSC also will establish its new German headquarters with several hundred employees in Hamburg.
The partnership's aim is to establish a "strong and well-funded basis for the further development of HHLA and the entire Port of Hamburg, making it a central hub for MSC’s globally connected network of container services and logistics chains," officials from both organizations said in a Sept. 13 statement.
Through its subsidiary Terminal Investments Ltd., MSC operates 70 terminals worldwide, including facilities in Antwerp, Singapore and Rotterdam. MSC also recently acquired Africa Global Logistics, which offers intermodal solutions and 21 port concessions.
Croatia: Port of Rijeka breaks ground on remote-controlled container terminal
Croatia's Port of Rijeka recently began construction on a 380 million Euro Rijeka Gateway terminal.
"Rijeka Gateway will be the first port on the Adriatic with remote-controlled, electrical container cranes, and with a quay depth of 20 meters, we are ready to welcome some of the world's largest container vessels," said Rijeka Gateway CEO and Chairman of the Management Board Koen Benders on Sept. 13.
More than 200 million Euros will be invested in the container terminal's first phase over the next two years, with an additional 180 million Euro investment planned for the project's 10-year second phase.
The project is the port's largest-ever investment; the new terminal will begin operating in 2025, port officials said.
Rijeka Gateway is a joint venture comprising A.P. Moller – Maersk, through APM Terminals, and the ENNA Group, through ENNA Logic.
Maritime M&A in the Netherlands: GTS acquires SSL
Logistics service provider Global Transport Solutions (GTS) acquired Ship Spares Logistics (SSL), which had been part of Burando Maritime Services, GTS announced on Sept. 11. Terms weren't disclosed.
An international logistics service provider providing supply chain and forwarding solutions primarily to the maritime industry and other time-critical verticals, GTS operates through the brands Marinetrans and Best Global Logistics, and has a geographical presence in all continents.
A marine logistics specialist, SSL provides on-board deliveries, warehouse consolidation and freight forwarding services to clients in the maritime and offshore industries.
“This transaction allows SSL to join forces with a long-standing partner, GTS, and offer its clients an international proposition," said Andreas Drenthen, co-CEO of Burando Maritime Services. "We believe this strategic move will unlock new potential and opportunities for both companies, and we are excited to see where this collaboration leads.”
Equinor, Maersk partner to secure green methanol supply for methanol-enabled container vessel
A.P. Moller-Maersk and Equinor inked a pact to secure the supply of green methanol for Maersk’s new methanol-enabled feeder vessel during its initial months of operation — from September 2023 into the 2024's first half — the companies announced on Sept. 8.
The agreement ensures green methanol supply for the ship from its entry into operation on a loop from Northern Europe into the Baltic Sea. The green methanol will be bunkered in Rotterdam.
Equinor serves the European methanol market through its production plant at Tjeldbergodden.
"It is critical to get energy majors to the table and start supplying future fuels at scale," said Rabab Boulos, chief infrastructure officer for Copenhagen-based Maersk. "This is the form of engagement we need to continue accelerating the pioneering journey towards a green fuel economy for global shipping. With more than 100 methanol enabled vessels on order across the industry, the demand for green fuel production is rising and will continue to do so in the years to come."
Vossloh acquires two rail technology companies
Werdohl, Germany-based Vossloh AG recently completed two acquisitions.
On Sept. 18, Vossloh announced it was "joining forces" with from Luleå, Sweden-based data analysis company Predge. Terms weren't disclosed.
"This strategic collaboration combines Vossloh's in-depth expertise in the development and manufacture of point machines with Pledge’s extensive expertise in the fields of data analysis and artificial intelligence," said Vossloh CEO Oliver Schuster.
On Sept. 14, Vossloh announced it had acquired Bonn, Germany-based RailWatch GmbH, a provider of monitoring technology. Terms weren't disclosed.
The technology developed by RailWatch uses optical and acoustic sensors to identify the condition of rail cars and locomotives as they pass by measuring stations, which feature high-resolution cameras and LED technology "for optimal and glare-free illumination," Vossloh officials said. Data captured includes information on "wheel damage, brake blocks, and train and car numbers," they said.
VTG exec: 'How important is rail when it comes to transporting New Energies?'
"In the coming decade, Europe will be facing a transformation in terms of its energy sources and their supply chains. At the same time, it’s clear that not all commercial and industrial consumers will be able to meet their needs by using pipelines. This means that rail will be needed to transport large volume flows to them safely, reliably and cost-effectively and, such as when it comes to CO2, to transport them from emitters in the hinterland to the right terminals or storage sites. Without rail transport, it won’t be possible to achieve either the short- or long-term decarbonization goals of policymakers and companies. VTG connects the hinterland with the import and export terminals – but, to do so, we also need the right framework conditions." — Stefan Siegemund, VTG’s business development manager-New Energies, in the 9/12/23 edition of Hamburg, Germany-based VTG GmbH’s “RailMail” newsletter