Maximum dimensions container giants reached?
The chairman of the Business Association of the Port of Hamburg (UVHH) considers to file a petition at the European Commission to impose restrictions for shipping companies. The major shipping companies are currently united in three alliances. Antitrust rules do not allow such partnerships in general. However, the EU has made an exception till April 2020, according to the so-called Block Exemption Regulation (BER). It appears that with this approach the chairman of the UVHH attempts to safeguard the position of the port of Hamburg. Without these alliances it seems unlikely that bigger container vessels (of approx.. 25.000 TEU) will be built. And that is exactly the underlying reason for the petition. After the current deepening project along the River Elbe will be completed, the Port of Hamburg will have a maximum draught (depending on the tide) of 15.90 meters for vessels to arrive and 14.80 meters for vessels to depart. The Port of Antwerp has, due to its approach from the Westerscheldt, a maximum draught (depending on the tide, terminal and weather) of 15.56 meters for vessels to arrive and 15.20 meters for vessels to depart. The Maasmond Approach of the Port of Rotterdam has, according to the up-to-date Harbour Master Port Map, a nautically guaranteed draught of 23.80 meters. The container terminals at Maasvlakte 2 have a nautically guaranteed draught between 16.65 and 17.65 meters, allowing the biggest container vessels to call at the port of Rotterdam. However, if container vessels become even bigger, it might prove difficult for these container vessels to call at the ports of Antwerp and Hamburg. The ports of Antwerp and Hamburg will have to further to deepen their port and the access thereto. That would put the Port of Rotterdam in pole position to receive these new giants. If the ports of Antwerp and Hamburg do not invest in their infrastructure, the Port of Rotterdam will be the only serious possibility for these new giants to (un)load containers. With so little possibilities for (un)loading it might also have the opposite effect and put effectively an end to the ever growing dimensions of container vessels.
Inhaber
5 年L?ngst überf?llig
Industrial maintenance services
5 年Economy of scale is not the only way to become more competitive, the real limitation is the utilization factor: the fewer ports, the less chance to fill-up the vessel. Maybe ports like Antwerp and Hamburg could loose some transhipment traffic, but if they focus on land-side connection, they will remain attractive. 25.000 teu vessel, compared to an 18.000 teu, could save 50$ pper slot, but such cost difference can be easily compensated by groound logistics
Consulente Marittimo
5 年I imagine so, larger sizes of the MSC GULSUN would be really IMPRESSIVE
managing director at Paccon Logistics SA (Pty) Ltd
5 年Hypocritical; the port wants to protect it's business but won't allow shipping lines to protect theirs
Freelance Author at Gordon Clark
5 年Years ago, I thought we would never need anything larger than the LHM 400 for ports. We now have an LHM 800.? Why should ships stop growing if companies find economies of scale? And do we really think ports won't be sculpted to fit the new ships? If one port gets too limiting, then a new one will shoot up. It's happened forever, so why stop now!