Container Management In-depth articles on a wide range of topics in global port and terminal development

French line CMA CGM announced the forming of the “Ocean Three” trade alliance, after signing agreements with China Shipping Container Lines (CSCL) and the United Arab Shipping Company (UASC). The agreements concern the Asia-Europe, Asia-Mediterranean, Transpacific and Asia-United States East Coast maritime trade routes and include a combination of Vessel Sharing Agreements, Slot Exchange Agreements and Slot Charter Agreements. The ... Read More »

Terminal operator Cia. Bandeirantes Logistica Integrada (Bandeirantes) in the Brazilian Port of Santos has increased its container handling equipment fleet, with an additional two Terex TFC 46 M reachstackers. With a wheel base of 6.5 m and a maximum travel speed of 25 km/h, the machines can stack up to six full high-cube containers in the first row and up to five in the second row. ... Read More »

Transport logistics provider Pentalver has announced the exclusive UK rights to offer the CakeBoxx range of door-less shipping containers. With the first containers being introduced by Pentalver in September 2014, the patented CakeBoxx intermodal shipping container offers secure, cost-effective and damage-resistant container options for the global shipping and transportation market. Sam Baggley, Pentalver UK’s container sales manager said:  “The CakeBoxx ... Read More »

Rotterdam-based container specialist UNIT45 has designed and built a 45ft combined diesel-electric refrigerated container that can be used for journeys up to 10,000 km by rail, carrying, for instance, temperature-controlled goods from Europe to China and vice versa for up to 20 days. “By incorporating a specially designed 800 litre diesel tank into the power unit, we have solved the ... Read More »

Belgian customs, with the support of the Belgian port community, have developed a new customs licence which aims to speed up cargo flow. The licence, called “extended gateway” means that imported goods can be sent to a warehouse before being cleared by customs. Bart Van Mol, of the Antwerp Port Authority, said: “Extended gateways reduces the dwell time of goods ... Read More »

Long Beach City Council has unanimously approved an US$858m budget for the Port of Long Beach for the coming fiscal year, two-thirds of which will be set aside for capital building and modernisation projects. Starting at the beginning of the year, the budget includes US$579m, part of a decade-long US$4bn investment in port upgrades and efficiency improvements.  The ongoing Desmond ... Read More »

Kalmar has won a contract to supply the Port of Melbourne’s new Victoria International Container Terminal (VICTL), with over €40m (US$50m) worth of equipment and related automation technology. The order includes 12 automated stacking cranes (ASCs) and 11 automated shuttle carriers, to be delivered by 2016. To be operated by a consortium comprised of Filipino terminal operator International Container Terminal ... Read More »

Marking the start of construction, the cornerstone has been laid by Grup TCB of the yard extension at the Puerto Quetzal Container Terminal (TCQ) on the Pacific coast of Guatemala. The first phase of the improvements will be complete by the end of 2015. TCQ will operate the new port terminal under a 25-year lease agreement, with the facility equipped ... Read More »

Israeli shipping company Zim Line has announced an extension to its fortnightly Mediterranean-West Africa (MAE) service as part of its rationalisation programme. The move follows the announcement that the line made a net loss of US$67m in the second quarter of 2014, adding to its US$62m loss in Q1. The new MAE weekly service will operate six vessels via the ... Read More »