The leading global ports group has set a target for its three UK ports to achieve net zero by 2035 

Hutchison Ports (Hutchinson) has set a goal to achieve net zero for Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2035. The goal encompasses its three UK sites: the Port of Felixstowe, Harwich International, and London Thamesport.  

It comes as part of the company’s ambitious science-based target to reduce emissions in every region. It is aiming to reach net zero globally by 2050. 

Commenting on these targets, Clemence Cheng, Executive Director of Hutchison Ports and Managing Director of Hutchison Ports Europe, said: “Hutchison Ports operates in many markets throughout the world, and we have set both near-term and net-zero targets in line with the Science Based Targets initiative’s net-zero standard.“

Developments at the Port of Felixstowe

“Our journey has already begun,” he states. “We are investing in new and more sustainable equipment and the UK will be amongst the first of our business units to reach the target.” 

The Port of Felixstowe is leading the way for Hutchinson’s sites. It signed a deal in April 2023 with a vision to tackle its emissions. The deal ensures that all the port’s electricity moving forwards is generated by solar, offshore wind, or other renewable sources. 

Additionally, Felixstowe has introduced battery-powered autonomous trucks with the latest battery swapping technology. It commissioned two 11Kv high voltage substations in May 2023, which will enable charging for up to 20 vehicles.

It will take delivery of its next 22 electric-tractors in July 2023, with a further 24 vehicles arriving in November. In total, Hutchinson plans to acquire 150 electric-tractors at Felixstowe over the next two years.  

Clemence Cheng commented: “Historically, there was no option but to use fossil fuels to power the majority of port equipment. We have made significant progress at the Port of Felixstowe, converting our yard cranes to electricity with 50 electric cranes in operation and another 17 on order for delivery this year.  

“All new equipment across our three UK ports will be sustainable and we have a program to replace our entire vehicle fleet with battery-powered or alternative fuel options by 2033.”

The autonomous, zero-emission delivery robot, HeRo (Helsinki Robot) will carry parcels from Würth’s Center to worksites in the vicinity  

A new pilot project is underway in Helsinki, Finland, this summer. It sets out to test whether electric and autonomous vehicles can deliver small loads of construction supplies to worksites in the area both successfully and efficiently.  

Würth, a service provider of construction tools and supplies, is trialing the robot, which will enable customers operating in the Kalasatama district to order small supplies and have them efficiently delivered to site via robot.  

The scheme is part of the international URBANE project, which seeks to identify new ways of completing deliveries in urban areas. By finding innovative means of local logistics, the project aims to reduce emissions and traffic in urban areas.

The pilot robot, HeRo, which has also been dubbed ‘a hero providing zero-emission deliveries,’ was built and customized by French company, TwinswHeel. The technical details and customer interface were implemented by Finnish French company, LMAD, which is developing a software platform to operate and manage autonomous robots. 

“The advantage of autonomous robots is that they can make urgent deliveries in the area flexibly without interrupting the customer’s work. Autonomous robots could be an excellent addition to the services of our extensive Würth Center network. The deliveries being zero-emission is another benefit,” says Terhi Vesala, Logistics Manager at Würth.

The English-speaking robot, model CiTHY L, can carry loads of up to 300 kilograms. It is predicted to save customers’ time, as it can deliver orders flexibly and punctually to meet sudden demand. 

LMAD’s Gergely Horvath said: “Electronic and autonomous robots are the future of eco-friendly deliveries and distribution. Autonomous robots can help companies reduce the price of last-mile deliveries and improve the customer experience, as well. Cooperating with DB Schenker and Würth Oy on a real use case is a fascinating step towards developing autonomous deliveries in the EU.” 

After successful local street grid testing, the robot is currently making deliveries in the area, accompanied by an assistant to ensure it runs smoothly. The scheme will end in July, with URBANE planning to carry out similar projects in Italy, Spain, and Greece. 

The Port of Cork Company (PoCC) has entered an agreement with Innovez One, a provider of port management systems

This will accelerate the digitalization of its port calls and operations. Under the agreement, Innovez One will provide its flagship software, marineM, to fully digitize and optimize crucial marine services for vessels arriving and departing Ireland’s second-largest port.

Grant Ingram, CEO of Innovez One for the UK and Europe, said: “Digitalization is an essential foundation that enables ports to tackle the most pressing challenges they face today, from persisting congestion to the need to reduce their emissions. Smart ports will also be best placed to position themselves in the greener supply chains of tomorrow, supporting decarbonization in shipping and beyond.”

MarineM will automate and improve the scheduling of port, tug, and pilotage services, which are crucial for efficient operations. Using algorithms powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, marineM’s planning module will manage schedules and dispatch resources – assigning pilots and tugboats to jobs in the most efficient way, and reallocating resources seamlessly if a vessel’s ETA changes.

This latest step in the PoCC’s digital journey will boost the efficiency of service fleets, eliminate unnecessary journeys and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It will also assist the port in enhancing berth management, and agents will be able to register their vessels, order services, and track the progress of each job from an online portal. Furthermore, the system will automate the billing process, thereby boosting transparency and accuracy, and helping to eliminate billing issues, delays and disputes.

The achievement was announced during an event attended by His Excellency Shadi Malak, Chief Executive Officer at Etihad Rail, alongside Marty Haycraft, President and CEO at Progress Rail and Henry Pang, Executive Director, MENA at CRRC.

The achievement comes in line with Etihad Rail’s efforts to achieve the objectives of the UAE Railways Programme, the largest land transport system of its kind in the UAE, which was launched as part of the Projects of the 50, the largest set of national strategic projects that seek to set up a new phase of development across UAE for the next 50 years. The UAE Railways Programme aims to set a new roadmap for transporting goods and passengers via train across the country, which will contribute to developing a sustainable land transport system that connects the cities of the UAE via railways.

The company will increase its fleet to 45 heavy transport locomotives and 1000 multi-purpose wagons. Progress Rail will handle the manufacturing and supply of the new electro-motive diesel locomotives while China’s CRRC Group will be responsible for the new fleet of wagons.

Mohammed Al Marzouqi, Executive Director of Rail Relations at Etihad Rail says: “Upon completion and becoming fully operational, the network will contribute to revitalizing and bolstering economic growth in the UAE, particularly during the next 50 years, by providing reliable and safe freight services with high efficiency. This achievement comes as part of the company’s preparations to operate the network according to the highest global standards in the future.”

Petregaz, a subsidiary of the Petredec Group, has concluded an agreement to acquire the 35 LPG trucks and tankers and truck horses from OneLogix. The OneLogix Group will retain its other assets and businesses. The Sale Agreement is effective from 1 April 2023 with all suspensive conditions having already been met.

Through the acquisition of these assets, Petregaz will be able to expand its supply chain capabilities, provide primary logistics services to a larger client base and work closer with its existing and potential new key clients across the LPG industry.

Commenting on the acquisition, Managing Director at Petregaz, Matthew Costello said, “We are thrilled to have entered into this transaction. The addition of these assets to our business together with a focus on a high standard of service delivery will significantly enhance our logistical capabilities which are key to the reliable supply of LPG in Southern Africa. We will build on key focus areas including security of supply of LPG in Southern Africa as well as provide supply chain excellence to Petregaz’s valued existing and potential new clients.’’

The OneLogix Group is a niche logistics provider with over 30 years’ operational experience. The Group offers a range of world-class logistics solutions and related services to the Southern African region.

“OneLogix firmly believes that the sale of our LPG division to Petregaz will result in enhanced service delivery given Petregaz’s extensive experience, infrastructure and customer base. The transaction also reduces OneLogix’s risk profile following its recent delisting. We wish Petregaz well with its future expansion and development in the LPG industry,” concludes Cameron McCulloch, CEO of OneLogix.

As part of its strategic growth plan, CEVA Logistics has announced announced today that it has closed the acquisition of Spedag Interfreight, an international freight forwarding expert covering several countries in East Africa.

The announcement comes after finalizing all customary closing conditions, including receiving regulatory approvals by relevant authorities. CEVA purchased the logistics entity from the M+R Spedag Group, a family-owned transport and logistics company headquartered in Switzerland.

Local expert in freight forwarding, key industries

Spedag Interfreight is one of the most competent and reliable logistics providers in East Africa with dedicated industry teams possessing leading expertise in relevant market verticals including energy and infrastructure, aid and relief, oil and gas, and commodities. Approximately 400 employees at 24 locations in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and South Sudan have joined CEVA as a result of the transaction’s closing.

CEVA extends global reach, local know-how

CEVA Logistics remains committed to a “think global, act local” growth strategy by adding Spedag Interfreight’s local market understanding to CEVA’s leading global network. The acquisition further supports CEVA’s global end-to-end logistics capabilities. CEVA Logistics is now present in 44 countries in Africa.

The company’s ambition is to make the African market account for a significant share of its revenue by 2025, and Spedag Interfreight will open new opportunities to the growth potential in East Africa. For example, Kenya acts as a key maritime gateway for East Africa. Through a recent expansion and modernization project, the port of Mombasa is expected to move more than 1.7 million TEUs in 2023. The Kenya Ports Authority expects the port to handle 47 million tonnes of cargo by 2032—a 57 percent increase from current levels.

Strategic development, growth ongoing

CEVA continues to implement its strategic growth plan under the vision of the CMA CGM Group. With the Group’s support, CEVA welcomed more than 20,000 new employees through acquisitions of Ingram Micro’s former Commerce & Lifecycle Services business and Colis Privé, France’s leading private last mile provider.

In addition, the CMA CGM Group announced in April that it had signed an agreement to purchase nearly 100% of the capital of GEFCO, the European leader in automotive logistics and an international expert in multimodal supply chain solutions. The European Commission authorized the Group to acquire the capital of GEFCO immediately, pending the final approval.

Mathieu Friedberg, chief executive officer, CEVA Logistics, says “With the addition of Spedag Interfreight in East Africa, we are continuing to execute key regional initiatives in our strategic growth plan. This acquisition is the perfect follow-on to our organic growth and M&A activity in Africa over the past two years, as well as the recent acquisitions of Ingram Micro CLS and Colis Privé. Our global scale allows us to offer a wide range of responsive logistics solutions thanks to our experienced local teams.

The successful collaboration between SKF Power Transmission Components and SKF Training Solutions has resulted in the delivery of an integrated, fully customised customer solution.

The customer, who is a leading fan manufacturer specialising in mining ventilation, needed a customised disc coupling for a large fan and reached out to SKF for assistance.

Micaela Willers, SKF Product Manager: Power Transmission, explains that the project presented the team with several challenges. “In addition to the coupling requiring a non-standard tolerance, the customer also asked for a plug-and-play solution as the unit will be exported for fitting on to a 2.0m diameter fan that operates in a secluded mine.”

The SKF Power Transmission Components team specified the correct disc coupling and presented the technical capabilities and expertise required to develop a customised solution to meet this specific application. SKF secured the order and due to the coupling’s excellent quality-price competitive value, the customer decided to purchase a second coupling.

Coupling installation is scheduled for November 2023. “As this particular coupling is extremely rare in the market, we wanted to add further value for our customer,” continues Micaela. SKF Training Solutions stepped in, offering Precision Shaft Alignment training to help up-skill their artisans and service agents, they are able to install their couplings correctly.”

The customer is further looking to invest in Dynamic Balancing training and is also very keen on buying SKF’s quality Mapro products that were demonstrated during the training courses.

“This projected presented us with a wonderful opportunity to showcase SKF’s integrated solutions. A power transmission order lead to a training opportunity which generated a MAPRO enquiry, ultimately resulting in the original order quadrupling in value in only three months!” concludes Micaela.

/ends/

SKF is a world-leading provider of innovative solutions that help industries become more competitive and sustainable. By making products lighter, more efficient, longer lasting, and repairable, we help our customers improve their rotating equipment performance and reduce their environmental impact. Our offering around the rotating shaft includes bearings, seals, lubrication management, condition monitoring, and services. Founded in 1907, SKF is represented in approximately 129 countries and has around 17,000 distributor locations worldwide. Annual sales in 2022 were SEK 96,933 million and the number of employees was 42,641. www.skf.com

® SKF is a registered trademark of the SKF Group.

For further information, please contact:

Samantha Joubert, Marketing Manager

Tel: +27 (0) 11 821 3602 / Fax: +27 (0) 86 681 4342

samantha.joubert@skf.com

A process plant at a gold mine in Ghana has become the first in Africa to install WEG’s fully withdrawable WEG CCM06 boards, which safely improve the plant’s flexibility when isolating selected circuits for maintenance and repair.

“The customer’s existing motor control centre (MCC) regulated many operations, which all had to be shut down when attending to a single item of equipment,” says Foster Yeboah, regional sales manager for West Africa based at Zest WEG’s Ghana branch. “This led to significant downtime, which the customer wanted to avoid.”

The mine required a solution which would allow the plant to isolate the electrical feed to specific equipment, allowing targeted maintenance to be conducted on those items without necessitating a complete plant shutdown, says Yeboah. The answer came in the form of a double containerized electrical house or E-house with a key element of this solution being the fully withdrawable boards.

Plant’s efficiency

“The WEG CCM06 boards are compartmentalized functional units which can be turned off and pulled out, without affecting the power to the other units,” he explains. “This is a valuable feature when considering that important equipment such as mills and discharge pumps must ideally operate continuously to keep the plant efficient.”

Already a force to be reckoned with in the African power generation sector, Steinmüller Africa has taken its service delivery offering to the next level with its plant and equipment hire services.

Through its Middelburg Depot, the company has expanded its plant and equipment hire services, now offering a pool of over 24 000 items for clients in the power generation, petrochemical, chemical, mining, renewable energy, pulp and paper and general Industrial sectors. To date the Middelburg Depot has handled plant projects in Sasolburg, Rustenburg, Newcastle, Richards Bay and Eskom power stations in Mpumalanga.

The plant hire division boasts a comprehensive range of equipment consisting of cranes, trailers, tractors, welding machines, generators, rigging, grinding and drilling equipment. “Through this depot, we are showing our commitment to supply our clients the best equipment for their project requirements, With this hire solution, they can get their projects up and running quicker while mitigating equipment ownership costs,” said Mpho

Muvhango, Corporate Communications Specialist at Steinmüller Africa. Muvhango added that the company also offers expert advice to their clients on equipment selection: “We are committed to giving our clients the best quality customer service and ensuring that our high standards are upheld in all that we offer. Our team assesses our clients’ projects and their intended outcomes to provide them with a comprehensive solution,” she said.