Ports & terminals

Members of the Port Authorities Roundtable (PAR) recognise the COVID-19 pandemic as a serious global crisis that has far-reaching impact on many fronts, including global trade.

In order to support companies in the port in these exceptional circumstances, Antwerp Port Authority has agreed to delay payment of port dues for seagoing ships and barges.

Port of Antwerp is teaming up with Rombit to prevent corona infection on the workfloor.

India’s Prime Minister has further extended the nationwide lockdown which started on 25 March, until 3 May 2020, to stem the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

The industrial branch line that Ports of Stockholm has built to Stockholm Norvik Port was recently connected to the railway network and electrified, creating a direct railway link with the port on the Green Cargo intermodal network.

An EastGate report has stated that Chinese steel stockpiles have reached record highs amid the coronavirus outbreak, but are now steadily easing.

International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the World Customs Organization (WCO) have released a statement urging customs administrations and port state authorities to establish a proactive approach to maintaining the global supply chain.

The month of April has seen a busy start for the Port of Kings Lynn, which has already welcomed 9 ships carrying 25 000 t of cargo, thus keeping the supply chain moving despite the global pandemic.

The Port State Control regimes have highlighted its commitment to ensuring shipping continues to trade safely, securely and efficiently during the coronavirus pandemic.

The British Ports Association looks at how ports are keeping the UK supplied in difficult circumstances.

Sevi Katemoglou, EastGate Shipping Inc. writes: It is a tricky venture for one to gauge the full impact of the coronavirus crisis on the dry bulk shipping market. However, fleet growth and fleet utilisation projections offer some positive insights.

The Port of Helsinki is building a new onshore power connection for Stockholm traffic at the Olympia Terminal berth.

The Port of Rotterdam is adding the Track and Trace service Boxinsider, launched in October 2019, to Portbase.

The world’s maritime sector is standing in solidarity with communities around the world battling the coronavirus pandemic by joining Abu Dhabi Ports’ initiative ‘Horns of Hope’.

The third meeting of the Port of Antwerp COVID-19 taskforce has confirmed that the port platform is 100% operational.