ECG – The Association of European Vehicle Logistics Issue 17.07, 13th –17th February 2017

CONTENTS

NEWS FROM BRUSSELS 2

Commission green-lights German green cars infrastructure 2 Pressure mounts on EU to pull the plug on contentious German road toll law 2

AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY 3

PSA may buy Opel to become Europe’s second largest carmaker 3

EUROPE 5

Parliament’s emissions trading reforms the best outcome for reducing ship and aircraft CO2 5 Shipping does not belong in EU Emission Trading Scheme 5 Shipping industry tells MEPs to put ship CO2 in ETS in crucial vote 6

EU transport ministers back ‘ambitious’ vehicle safety improvements 6 IRU Commercial Vehicle of the Future report maps out action plan to reduce CO2 emissions 7

REST OF THE WORLD 7

Growing exports lead GM-Uzbekistan to consider plant in Russia 7

PRESS RELEASES 8

CLdN RoRo SA pushes ahead with expansion drive 8 UECC’s M/V AUTO ENERGY – Naming Ceremony for the world’s second dual fuel LNG Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC) 8 GLOVIS Europe welcomes new CEO 9 Stena Line’s four new vessels planned for routes to and from Belfast 10 The Port Authority of Valencia exposes the potential of its services of short sea shipping in Zaragoza 10

ECG - The Association of European Vehicle Logistics, BluePoint, Bd. Reyers 80, 1030 Brussels

Tel: +32-2-706-82-80, info@ecgassociation.eu; www.ecgassociation.eu

2

ECG & other industry events

►Maritime & Ports Working Group meeting, 21-22nd February 2017, Hanko, Finland ►European Shipping Week, 27th February-3rd March, Brussels ►Land Transport Working Group meeting, 7th March 2017, Munich Germany ►Quality Working Group meeting, 15th March 2017, Brussels, Belgium ►ECG 20th Anniversary event, 21st March 2017, Brussels, Belgium ►Eastern Regional meeting, 20th April 2017, Vilnius, Lithuania ►ECG Spring Congress & General Assembly, 18-19th May 2017, Malta ►ECG Conference, 19-20th October 2017, Venue TBD

NEWS FROM BRUSSELS

Commission green-lights German green cars infrastructure (Source: European Commission, 13th February 2017) The European Commission has decided that Germany’s scheme to roll out a network of user-friendly infrastructure for charging electric vehicles across the country is in line with EU state aid rules. It addresses a real gap in the market without unduly affecting competition in the Single Market. At a cost of in total €300m over four years, this measure promotes the installation of new standard and high-speed charging stations for electric vehicles, as well as the extension of the existing infrastructure. The scheme is open to all, including companies, individuals and local authorities, and support will be awarded progressively through an open and transparent tender procedure. It requires that the electricity for the charging infrastructure comes from renewable energy sources. The Commission considers that this measure will encourage a significant uptake of electric vehicles and therefore make a major contribution towards meeting the common interest of reducing emissions and improving air quality. The measure will also support the European Strategy for low-emission mobility, in particular in terms of the objective of speeding up the deployment of low-emission alternative energy for transport and contributing to the decarbonisation agenda. This support measure is expected to stimulate investment in a market that still requires incentives before it can function on its own. The Commission expects that the financial support for the construction of charging infrastructure will create the conditions for its further expansion without any further support in the future. It will also encourage the use of electric vehicles on German and European roads. On this basis, the Commission concluded that the measure is in line with EU state aid rules (Article 107(3)(c) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union), which allow aid to facilitate the development of economic activities in the common interest under certain conditions.

Pressure mounts on EU to pull the plug on contentious German road toll law (Source: EurActiv, 16th February 2017) European Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc has defended the European Commission’s move to vouch for a controversial German road toll bill that has spurred blistering critique and threats of a lawsuit from 11 neighbouring countries. Bulc came under fire on 15th February in a plenary session of the full 751-member European Parliament when MEPs railed against the Commission for waving through the German bill, which would charge drivers based on how many days they use roads but reimburse that fee only to vehicle owners registered in Germany. The Transport Commissioner told MEPs that an overhaul of EU road toll rules that she plans to propose this spring could lay down measures against discrimination of vehicle owners from another EU country. “It is very important for me and the EU that Germany now agrees to put their road charging forum in the context of a future EU-wide system,” she said. Bulc said her proposal could also introduce the first EU-wide toll rules for passenger cars. Currently, EU law includes measures on road tolls for trucks. Austrian Transport Minister Jörg Leichtfried, who is leading the 11-country charge against the bill, said in a statement on 15th February that Bulc should “rethink her position” and reject the “clearly discriminatory” German law. He warned that the Commission’s approval of German Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt’s plans creates the impression that big EU countries always get their way. “If everyone tries to hurt the other and break the rules, Europe will fall apart. The European Commission has to be aware of this danger,” Leichtfried said. For over a year, the Commission put up a fight against the bill, which is expected to face a vote in the Bundestag this spring. But the executive agreed last December to freeze a lawsuit against Germany over the law in exchange for new measures that would charge lower rates to drivers with more environmentally friendly car models. Bulc said in plenary that the Commission could still reopen

ECG - The Association of European Vehicle Logistics, BluePoint, Bd. Reyers 80, 1030 Brussels

Tel: +32-2-706-82-80, info@ecgassociation.eu; www.ecgassociation.eu

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the legal case if it determines the toll rules break EU law once the final version is passed by the Bundestag. “The infringement will be closed if and only if the Commission is convinced the German laws do not discriminate against foreign drivers,” she said. Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker intervened to negotiate the deal in December in a move that signalled the bill’s political importance. The planned road tolls have been a political priority for Dobrindt, a member of Bavaria’s centre-right Christian Social Union, the sister party to Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats. The road toll was a major campaign promise from the Bavarian conservatives ahead of the last Bundestag elections in 2013. With new elections looming on 24th September, getting a green light for the law could bolster Dobrindt’s party standing. But he could still suffer a major blow over the embattled road toll law. A group of experts from Austria and 10 other neighbouring countries met in Brussels last month to weigh their options against the bill. Another meeting is planned for March and politicians in those countries are threatening to bring Germany to the European Court of Justice over the law. On top of that, lawmakers in the European Parliament’s Transport Committee are pressuring the Commission to drop its support for the contentious road toll bill. A non-binding resolution slamming the bill and criticising the Commission for backing it will be voted in the Committee at the end of the month and then brought to the full Parliament in a March plenary session. According to a draft of the resolution seen by Euractiv, MEPs call the road toll law discriminatory and argue that it will make it harder for cars to cross borders. They also said it might conflict with the Commission’s plans to create road toll rules that charge cars higher fees if they pollute more. “Road charging systems for any type of motor vehicles should be electronic and distance-based and should comply with the ‘user pays’ and ‘polluter pays’ principles,” they wrote. The MEPs also called for the Commission to “clarify all relevant legal aspects why the infringement procedure against Germany was put on hold.” Environmental groups have pushed for road tolls that charge vehicles based on how many kilometres they drive and not how many days drivers spend in a country. They argue a so-called distance-based toll system would incentivise less driving. If Dobrindt’s bill is approved, Germany would become one of eight EU countries with road tolls that charge based on how many days drivers stay in a country. Critics say short-term vignettes sold at unfairly high rates discriminate against foreign visitors who are more likely to buy them. Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovenia sell short-term road vignettes for seven-day use, while Slovakia, Czech Republic and Austria sell vignettes that are valid for ten days. Germany’s proposed law would offer vignettes for ten-day, two-month or one-year periods.

AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

PSA may buy Opel to become Europe’s second largest carmaker (Source: Automotive Logistics, 15th February 2017) French carmaker PSA Group has confirmed it may acquire General Motor’s European business, which includes the Opel and Vauxhall brands. The move could lead to further logistics synergies between the carmakers and logistics provider GEFCO. The deal may be the car industry’s biggest since the Fiat-Chrysler merger was completed post the global financial crisis, and also help PSA pass Renault as the EU’s second biggest carmaker, behind VW, with a 15% market share. PSA sold 1.45m cars in the EU during 2016 and Opel just fewer than 1m, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association. “PSA Group and General Motors confirm they are exploring numerous strategic initiatives aiming at improving its profitability and operational efficiency, including a potential acquisition of Opel Vauxhall by PSA,” said a joint statement from the companies. PSA owns the Peugeot and Citroën car brands. General Motors has undergone major changes across its European business over the past seven years, from shrinking its production footprint to

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Combines global and European data and information on the automotive industry in general, and the finished vehicle logistics sector in particular

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ECG - The Association of European Vehicle Logistics, BluePoint, Bd. Reyers 80, 1030 Brussels

Tel: +32-2-706-82-80, info@ecgassociation.eu; www.ecgassociation.eu

4

concentrating its sales and brands across the region. The business has reported a loss for the US carmaker in every year since 1999 and, according to private bank Berenberg, is estimated to have burned $11.7bn of cash between 2010 and 2016. GM pulled out of a deal to sell the business in 2009. The US carmaker and PSA are not completely unfamiliar to each other. As pointed out in a press statement confirming a potential acquisition, the two have been implementing an alliance since 2012. From a logistics perspective, the two companies are already linked. Former PSA logistics subsidiary GEFCO signed a contract with GM in 2012 following the wider alliance talks, which involved the distribution of GM vehicles across Europe as well as imports such as Chevrolet from South Korea, and Cadillac and Corvette from North America. The fourth-party logistics (4PL) contract also gave GEFCO control of inbound material from European suppliers or ports to GM’s assembly and powertrain plants in Germany, Poland, Spain, the UK and Russia. In November, GEFCO signed a new €8bn deal with PSA Group in which 4PL services for global operations featured prominently. At the time, GEFCO’s Anne Lambusson, who is responsible for managing services for PSA, told Automotive Logistics that GEFCO “will of course work on implementing synergies” between the two contracts (PSA and GM), as well as between all other operational, functional and regional teams at GEFCO. Other initiatives under the alliance between the two companies include the manufacturer launching a number of cross-production projects, including a Citroën van in 2017 alongside the next generation Opel Meriva van in Zaragoza. A deal would also mean the acquisition by PSA of Vauxhall, the UK brand. The country is GM’s largest sales market in Europe. Astra and Vivaro models are produced at the Ellesmere Port and Luton plants in the country. In total, Opel’s European facilities employ over 34,500 people with the majority located in Germany, where the company is headquartered. Holden, a GM brand located in Australia, also receives vehicles manufactured from Opel’s plants in Poland and Germany. Some flows go to North America too. In 2015, Opel started shipping the Buick version of the Opel Cascada to North America from its plant in Gliwice, Poland. Exports to South Africa have also been launched over the past two years.

Booklet on national legislation for car

transporters published

A comprehensive booklet

has been assembled by ECG on the laws of each EU

Member State referring to car transporters.

The booklet is designed to help ECG and its members lobby for the long-standing aim of the Association: at least 20.75m loaded length within the European Union. The new publication can also be a precious tool for our members to settle any eventual litigation with the police as the document contains the legislative text also in the original language. The well-known maximum loaded length table has also been updated and included at the end of the document.

If you spot any inaccuracies

or have any additional information or comments,

please contact ECG at

info@ecgassociation.eu

ECG - The Association of European Vehicle Logistics, BluePoint, Bd. Reyers 80, 1030 Brussels

Tel: +32-2-706-82-80, info@ecgassociation.eu; www.ecgassociation.eu

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Events in Brussels

The European Parliament’s TRAN Committee will hold a hearing on the Economic losses of transport companies because of strengthened border checks on 28th February

The Nordic Logistics Association holds an event on ‘The Nordic Road to Decarbonisation of Road Freight Transport‘ on 1st March

ERFA organizes its annual event on the theme ‘Rail market opening: unfinished business, what next?‘ on 7th March

The European Road Transport Research Advisory Council is organising its annual conference on ‘Digitalisation and Decarbonisation – Towards the future European transport system‘ on 8th March

CER is holding the event ‘Reducing rail freight noise: what should we do?‘ on 3rd May

ECG always attends these events whenever possible. If a member is interested in any of

them, please contact ECG.

EUROPE

Parliament’s emissions trading reforms the best outcome for reducing ship and aircraft CO2 (Source: Transport & Environment, 15th February 2017) On 15th February MEPs backed reforms of the EU emissions trading system (ETS) that will, for the first time anywhere, regulate international ship CO2 emissions as well as significantly tighten the cap on aviation emissions. Transport & Environment welcomed the reforms as both a much needed first move to kick-start maritime climate action and evidence that aircraft emissions will now be treated on a par with those of other ETS sectors. The sustainable transport group called on EU governments to support the European Parliament’s amendments to the ETS in the coming trilogue negotiations. By including shipping in the ETS, this sector, which has CO2 emissions equal to those of the Netherlands, will start contributing to the EU’s emissions reduction targets for the first time. The proposal will see shipowners buy ETS allowances from 2023 onwards or pay an equivalent amount into a new Maritime Climate Fund. The fund will minimise administrative burden by buying allowances on the sector’s behalf and reinvesting the revenues to make ships and ports cleaner and more efficient. The measure will only enter into effect if the International Maritime Organisation does not agree global action by 2023. Bill Hemmings, aviation and shipping policy director at T&E, said: “This cross-party proposal will end the anomaly of shipping being the only sector in Europe not contributing to the 2030 emissions reduction target. EU governments must follow Parliament’s lead and agree that ship CO2 emissions must go in the EU ETS if the IMO does not act. The benefits to our climate through less warming and to our industry and economy through lower fuel costs cannot be ignored.” MEPs also endorsed reforms to aviation provisions in the EU ETS after 2020, including reducing the emissions cap and the number of free allowances – thus requiring the sector to make a fairer contribution to Europe’s climate effort.

Shipping does not belong in EU Emission Trading Scheme (Source: ECSA, 15th February 2017) Members of the European Parliament voted on 15th February in plenary on the Commission’s proposal to revise the European Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) Directive. A majority of MEPs voted to include shipping in the scheme as of 2023, if there is no comparable system operating in the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in 2021. Commenting from Strasbourg, ECSA Secretary General Patrick Verhoeven said: “Putting unrealistic pressure on IMO with regional measures that will gravely hurt a global sector and do very little for climate is not the way to proceed. It will unduly complicate the achievement of an effective and timely global agreement in IMO that everyone in the end wants. We thank those MEPs that voted against the inclusion of shipping and hope this spirit will prevail in the upcoming trilogue negotiations.” With COREPER discussing the Council general approach on the EU ETS proposal on 15th February, negotiations with Member States and Commission could start relatively soon. ECSA will continue to strive for the full exclusion of shipping, so that the IMO roadmap agreed in October last year will have maximum chance of succeeding. The IMO roadmap has defined tasks and timelines to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships. It complements the decision to have a mandatory global GHG data collection system in place as of 2019. The data collection system will make it possible to define the contribution of international shipping to the climate goals set by COP21 in Paris at the end of 2015. The adoption of an initial strategy to meet the Paris’ objectives is already planned for 2018 and an agreement on targets and measures, including an implementation plan, will come about in 2023 once real time data have been analysed. The timing of the roadmap is entirely consistent with the timeframe agreed in Paris.

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Shipping industry tells MEPs to put ship CO2 in ETS in crucial vote (Source: Transport & Environment, 14th February 2017) Just before a crucial vote by MEPs, associations of shippers and cargo owners have called on the European Parliament, Council and Commission to include shipping emissions in the EU emissions trading system (ETS) under a special fund. In two letters sent on 14th February, the shipping industry’s customers backed the European Parliament’s Environment committee’s proposal to regulate the sector via a Maritime Climate Fund from 2023 “if IMO (the UN’s International Maritime Organisation) does not deliver a global measure to address shipping GHG emissions”. The Clean Shipping Index, which represents 29 major companies involved in shipping goods around the world, said that action by sections of business alone will be insufficient and that “first mover action” at state or regional level has in the past helped trigger action at a wider international level. In its letter, BICEPS, which is a network for AB InBev, AkzoNobel, DSM, Farm Frites, FrieslandCampina, Huntsman, IOI Loders Croklaan, Lamb Weston/Meijer, and Vion Food Group, said it was time to “to boost actions at international level to reduce ship CO2”. It called on MEPs and EU governments to “ensure that EU related shipping contributes to the EU’s 2030 climate targets from 1st January 2023 via the ETS or Maritime Climate Fund if IMO does not deliver a global measure to address shipping GHG emissions.” The European Commission should facilitate this process, it added.

EU transport ministers back ‘ambitious’ vehicle safety improvements (Source: European Transport Safety Council, 10th February 2017) Eight EU transport ministers have called on the European Commission to ‘speed up’ plans to upgrade vehicle safety standards saying road safety should be ‘top priority’. In a letter to the European Commissioner for industry Elżbieta Bieńkowska, the transport ministers of Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg and The Netherlands said ‘ambitious’ new vehicle safety standards are needed ‘to help Member States halve the number of road deaths by 2020’. 26,000 people die on European Union roads annually, with at least 135,000 suffering life-changing serious injuries. Progress on reducing these numbers has been dramatic over the last two decades, but has slowed to a halt and even gone into reverse in some countries in the last three years. Improved vehicle safety standards are critical to reducing deaths and serious injuries, but the EU’s rules have not been updated since 2009. In December 2016, the European Commission published a list of 19 lifesaving safety technologies that could be made mandatory on new vehicles in proposals expected later in 2017. At the time, the European Transport Safety Council said several critical areas for action are missing, and the proposed timescale is far too long considering that most of the technologies are already available today. Commenting on the letter from Transport Ministers, Antonio Avenoso, Executive Director of the European Transport Safety Council said: “It’s great to see transport ministers demanding faster action on vehicle safety in Europe. They recognise that, while national governments can take many measures to improve road safety, improving vehicle safety is absolutely critical. Tougher European standards are urgently needed to ensure that effective, proven and widely available technologies like overridable Intelligent Speed Assistance, Automated Emergency Braking and Advanced Seat-belt Reminder Systems are fitted as standard, not as optional extras.”

ECG Office

Mike Sturgeon Executive Director

T: +32 2 706 8282 Mike.sturgeon@ecgassociation.eu

Cliona Cunningham

External Relations Manager

T : +32 2 706 8285

cliona.cunningham@ecgassociation.eu

Oleh Shchuryk Research & Projects Manager

T: +32 2 706 8279 oleh.shchuryk@ecgassociation.eu Szilvi Kiss Research & Projects Manager

T: +32 2 706 8284 szilvi.kiss@ecgassociation.eu

Andreea Priftis Communications Officer

T: +32 2 706 8280 info@ecgassociation.eu

External:

Tom Antonissen EU Affairs Adviser tom.antonissen@ecgassociation.eu

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Tel: +32-2-706-82-80, info@ecgassociation.eu; www.ecgassociation.eu

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IRU Commercial Vehicle of the Future report maps out action plan to reduce CO2 emissions (Source: IRU, 14th February 2017) Decarbonisation of commercial road transport and logistics should be linked to safety improvements and efficiency gains if the ambitious EU CO2 emissions reduction targets are to be met. That is the key finding of a major new report on the future of commercial road transport in the EU, published on 14th February by IRU. Measures to decarbonise road freight transport could provide new opportunities to further improve road safety and optimise operational efficiency as the industry attempts to meet the challenging but achievable environmental targets. That is the main outcome of the report. By adopting a holistic approach to the sector a unique forward-looking vision on the future of road freight transport and logistics has been created. This report’s aim is to take stock of how evolving technologies and trends could shape the use of commercial vehicles in the future, and how these measures might have positive cross-over benefits for improving road safety and operational efficiency. Marc Billiet, who leads IRU’s work on road freight transport and environmental affairs in Europe, said: “The road freight transport & logistics industry is well under way to meet its voluntary commitment to reduce CO2 emissions by 30% by 2030. But, it will be very difficult to reach these targets without close co-operation with partners in the public and private sector such as the European Institutions, national governments, vehicle and component manufacturers, fuel producers, ITS providers, clients and NGOs.” Marc Billiet continued: “The academically backed report was developed by a public–private partnership of EU road transport professionals, civil servants and experts. Their objectives have been to develop medium- and long-term policy and business recommendations, to propose an action plan on how to reach a 30% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030 and a 60% reduction by 2050. The Commercial Vehicle of the Future report does just that.” The freight transport and logistics industry is the lifeblood of the European economy. By investing in improvements in operational efficiency, combined with new technologies, new vehicles and infrastructure and by providing incentives transport operators can meet their environmental obligations and continue to be the driver of economic growth.

REST OF THE WORLD

Growing exports lead GM-Uzbekistan to consider plant in Russia (Source: Automotive Logistics, 14th February 2017) Uzbekistan managed to significantly expand its vehicle exports last year, the country’s Ministry of Economy has confirmed, with deliveries to Middle East and Africa markets including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Ghana, Senegal, Somalia and Nigeria. The growth in exports was wholly accounted for by GM-Uzbekistan, the joint venture between state-owned OJSC UzAvtosanoat (which holds a 75% stake) and GM and the only company with a production facility for light passenger vehicles in the country. Over the past few years, Uzbekistan has been drawing up an export strategy that includes automotive. The target for 2017 is to deliver goods worth $10.8bn to foreign markets and the government has taken steps to encourage GM-Uzbekistan and its suppliers to export in support of this. In 2016, tier one suppliers based in the country started exporting powertrains and engine components to the UK, brake disks to Latvia and oscillators to Korea, according to the Ministry of Economy. In addition, GM-Uzbekistan began exporting the Ravon model to Russia last year – though this was not without controversy as certain volumes were reportedly involved in a shadowy re-export scheme that led to the arrest of several executives. In general, however, Ravon sales did well in Russia last year. The Ravon R2 was the most popular small engine capacity vehicle in November and December, according to Russia’s Autostat consulting agency. And last week (February 8th) Russian media outlet, Life Auto, reported that the success of Ravon in Russia had led Uzbekistan into talks with Russia over the possible launch of an assembly line for GM-Uzbekistan cars there. According to an unnamed source, GM-Uzbekistan is considering assembly at the Derways plant in Cherkessk, in the south-west of the country on the northern Caucasus, with output most likely from complete knockdown (CKD) kits. If so, GM-Uzbekistan could exploit the terms of the industrial assembly agreement Derways has in place until 2018. That includes the ability to import automotive components with customs duties of 0-5%, instead of 25-30% as standard. A key advantage of production there from a logistics perspective would be that automotive kits and components could be shipped via the Caspian Sea, avoiding the need for long journeys overland via Kazakhstan. For GM, launching production in Russia would be a way of getting mainstream Chevrolet models back into the country, too. While low volume models continue to be imported, mainstream production ended when GM shut down the St Petersburg plant back in 2015. There are still some issues to resolve, however. One is that Uzbekistan has asked for some delay in the payment of the utilisation fee applied to finished vehicles moving into Russia. Every foreign import is currently subject to an up-front fee equating to 5% of the sale price to cover the cost of recycling under this scheme. This issue could be up for discussion at the next session of the intergovernmental commission on economic co-operation between Russia and Uzbekistan, however, according to the source quoted in Life Auto.

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Tel: +32-2-706-82-80, info@ecgassociation.eu; www.ecgassociation.eu

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PRESS RELEASES

CLdN RoRo SA pushes ahead with expansion drive (Source: C.RO Ports Automotive, 6th February 2017) CLdN has confirmed the order of an additional two 5,400 lane meter vessels from the Korean shipyard, Hyundai, with options for a further four of the same class. This to complement the previously announced firm orders for four vessels, of which the first two 8,000 lane meter vessels will be delivered within 2017, and are muted to be placed on the Zeebrugge / UK trade, which will, immediately in parallel, facilitate a large expansion of the Rotterdam and Zeebrugge / London service. To complement these orders and prepare for expansion, a new 59 Hectare Port facility at Albert II Dock, Zeebrugge will be opened in the second quarter 2017. European short Sea Ro-Ro specialist CLdN RoRo SA, who operate 24 modern Ro-Ro vessels, offering in excess of 130 sailings per week between the ports of Zeebrugge, Rotterdam, London, Killingholme, Dublin, Gothenburg, Esbjerg, Hirtshals, Santander and Porto had previously announced its intention to add 12 new vessels to its fleet over the coming years, of which six are now confirmed and with additional options for a further four. CLdN, whose core services have traditionally been the Continent / UK, which commenced in December 1974, have steadily expanded their geographical presence into new markets, including Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, Spain and Portugal in recent years A Company spokesperson described the additional orders as excellent news, keeping us on track to meet the target of 12 new additional vessels to expand the fleet by 70% of today’s capacity. ‘These additions, coupled with the massive expansion of our Zeebrugge Port facilities, will allow CLdN to replicate the hub and spoke concept developed in the recently expanded Rotterdam facility. We will, with immediate effect, have our Iberian services, from Rotterdam to Santander and Leixoes, call twice weekly into Zeebrugge also. This will open up a new market segment and also allow direct shipments from all ports served by CLdN, in one transaction. In addition, we will also direct new builds to serve the Scandinavian corridor, where the present vessels are not optimum for this trade. We will start ramping up for their arrival immediately, in preparation for their deployment during 2018. We are two years into the four-year vision outlined by CLdN and are pleased to be well ahead of predictions on all fronts, with some exciting developments in the pipeline’.

UECC’s M/V AUTO ENERGY – Naming Ceremony for the world’s second dual fuel LNG Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC) (Source: UECC, 10th February 2017) As reported earlier, United European Car Carriers (UECC), jointly owned by Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) and Wallenius Lines, has signed a contract to construct two dual fuel LNG PCTCs with 1A Super Finnish/Swedish ice class. The world’s second dual fuel LNG PCTC M/V AUTO ENERGY had her formal Naming Ceremony at the Malmö Port in Malmö, Sweden on 7th February 2017. It was an exciting day with representatives of UECC’s owners (NYK and Wallenius), UECC’s customers and partners who had gathered to celebrate this occasion. Despite a rare heavy snowfall that had not happened in Malmö for many years, there was still a high level of energy in the atmosphere as we gathered for the traditional christening ceremony. The remarkable energy we had held a deep significance to this event.

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Mr. Bjorn Svenningsen (Head of Sales & Marketing/UECC) was the Master of Ceremony and he welcomed the guests with an introduction to the history of naming ceremonies held in Malmö. Distinguished guests were also introduced to the audience. We were honoured to have Mrs. Eva Kleberg, wife of Mr. Jonas Kleberg (Owner and Chairman of Wallenius Lines), as The Godmother of M/V AUTO ENERGY. We also had the privilege of Mrs. Katrin Stjernfeldt Jammeh, the Mayor of Malmö gracing the event. Joining the event were also Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry (President of the World Maritime University), Mr. Johan Röstin (CEO of Copenhagen Malmö Port) and Mr. Takao Kusakari (Senior Advisor of NYK Line).

Mr. Glenn Edvardsen (CEO of UECC) said: “As active members of society, we all have a shared obligation to do our part of creating a greener, more sustainable world. For UECC personnel both at sea and on land, this vessel makes us really proud, which is a heartfelt comment and sentiment shared by many, and hope you all really appreciate the exciting step UECC is taking towards a greener and more environmentally friendly shipping.”

“It is also the first PCTC of its kind in the world to be fitted with a dual-fuel LNG propulsion system, allowing it to complete a fourteen-day round -trip voyage solely on LNG without refuelling. AUTO ENERGY not only meets existing emissions regulations but also exceeds them, allowing her to trade in any Environment Control Area, worldwide.” “She is also constructed to meet the highest ice class standard: Super 1A Finish /Swedish Ice Class. I am confident that our customers will value her flexibility, the moveable decks and increased ramp capacity, which have been strengthened to allow High & Heavy cargo, or in fact to carry almost any kind of rolling stock. By running on LNG, we can greatly help to reduce the overall emissions throughout the supply chain. AUTO ENERGY will continue to help UECC achieve its vision: The leading provider of short sea Ro-Ro transport in Europe.”

GLOVIS Europe welcomes new CEO (Source: GLOVIS Europe, 7th February 2017) GLOVIS Europe welcomes the new CEO Mr. Soo Chul Kim (Ritchie) on 7th of February. He follows Mr. Suk Yong Kim (Sean) who handed over the lead of the European businesses after seven years. Mr. Sean Kim was significantly responsible for the development of the company during the recent years. The foundation of offices in Austria, Italy, Netherlands and Spain as well as the acquisition of the Polish logistics company Adampol S.A. underlines the large and successful change from a fourth- to a third party logistics provider. This is associated with the extension of the product portfolio in the field of finished vehicle transportation, parts supply logistics, freight forwarding and LED trading.

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The new CEO, Soo Chul Kim, accompanied already the foundation of GLOVIS Europe as executive co-ordinator for four years starting from 2006. He takes a bright range of professional experiences in the logistics fields of container- and Ro-Ro shipping and just demonstrated his proficiency as CEO of GLOVIS Turkey during the last three years.

Stena Line’s four new vessels planned for routes to and from Belfast (Source: Stena Line, 15th February 2017) Last year Stena announced a newbuild contract of four Ro-Pax ferry vessels with a planned delivery schedule during 2019 and 2020. The contract also contains an option for another four vessels to be ordered. The four vessels are being built at the AVIC Shipyard in China and the plan is to locate the vessels on the Irish Sea, specifically on Stena Line’s routes to and from its expanding Belfast hub. “The routes to and from Belfast are strategically very important to Stena Line and during the last number of years we have made significant investments in ports and vessels to improve and develop our capacity offering a frequent high quality service for our customers to and from Belfast. Looking ahead, we intend to continue our ambitious development plan for our business in the region and the new vessels are a part of this strategic plan. During the last few years we have seen a steady growth in freight and passenger volumes and we believe this will continue. Last year was a record year for us when we for the first time carried over 500,000 freight units through Belfast Port. These new vessels will be the largest ferries ever to operate between Belfast and Great Britain,” said Stena Line’s CEO Niclas Mårtensson. Joe O’Neil, Commercial Director, Belfast Harbour commented: “We are delighted that Stena Line is planning Belfast as the location for its next generation of Ro-Pax vessels in what is a significant investment in and enhancement of Northern Ireland’s premier freight and tourism gateway. Belfast Harbour has worked in close partnership with Stena Line over the last two decades to help it expand its Belfast routes into a flourishing hub and this very welcome investment news comes on the back of a record year for Stena Line’s freight business in Belfast Harbour. We look forward to welcoming the new vessels and the associated benefits they will bring to Belfast Harbour and the economy of Northern Ireland.” The new vessels are being constructed in line with Stena Line’s strategic focus on sustainability. “The new Ro-Pax vessels will be among the most fuel efficient in the world with approximately 25% lower CO2 emissions per cargo unit than current Ro-Pax tonnage. Our aim is to lead the development of sustainability within the shipping industry and set a new industry standard when it comes to operational performance, emissions and cost competitiveness. The vessels will run on traditional fuel, but are designed to the class notation “gas ready” and are also prepared for scrubbers as well as catalytic converters, giving us flexibility for the future,” says Niclas Mårtensson.

The Port Authority of Valencia exposes the potential of its services of short sea shipping in Zaragoza (Source: Port Authority of Valencia, 4th February 2017) The Port Authority of Valencia (PAV), participated this morning in the “Advantages for the companies of goods transport by road of the use of Short Sea Shipping” (TMCD), organized by the Spanish Association of Promotion of TMCD, with the aim of developing this type of transport in Spain, to talk about the effects achieved and its future development. The meeting, which was attended by Fatima Zayed, PAV Logistics Services Manager, was held in Zaragoza in the framework of the Training Aid Program in relation to road transport of the Ministry of Public Works. During her speech “TMCD’s service offer in the Port of Valencia”, Fátima Zayed has exposed the main quantities of traffic channelled through the three ports managed by the PAV (Valencia, Sagunto and Gandía) and highlighted the important role of the PAV ports serving the foreign trade of both the Valencian Community and its hinterland, where regions such as Madrid, Aragón, Extremadura, Murcia, Andalucia and Castilla y León stand out. The event was attended by representatives from companies such as GEFCO 4PL, Noatum Rail Terminal Zaragoza, NRTZ, Capsa, Marcotrans, Ebro Marítima or Uniport Bilbao, among others. Fátima Zayed stressed that the Port of Valencia has 9 regular short-distance services that connect the area with 22 ports in 13 countries around the world. Also, Valenciaport has two regular seaway services that connect Valencia weekly with Italian ports. These services have allowed the ro-ro traffic of Valenciaport to register an increase of 4.3% in 2016 reaching 8.9 million tonnes. In this sense, at the end of 2016, Ro-Ro traffic represents 12.5% of total channelled goods.