Category: Shipping

1TP5Understanding the sea: Container jumbos with LNG propulsion in Hamburg

Posted by | 18 Dec 2020 | , , , | 0

The world's two largest container ships currently powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) have arrived in Hamburg for the first time on their maiden voyage between the Far East and Northern Europe. The "CMA CGM Jacques Saade" moored at Eurogate Container Terminal Hamburg on 8 November 2020, followed by the "CMA CGM Champs Elysee", which entered the Elbe on 7 December 2020. Both ships are around 400 metres long, 61.5 metres wide and have a slot capacity of 23,112 standard containers (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit, TEU). Liquefied natural gas propulsion is a step forward in container shipping, both technologically and ecologically. In addition to greater energy efficiency, the use of LNG also reduces local emissions. Compared to conventional oil-based propulsion fuels, 20 per cent less carbon dioxide (CO2), 99 per cent less sulphur dioxide (SOx) and soot particles and up to 85 per cent less nitrogen oxides (NOx) are emitted. Noise emissions are also significantly reduced. Nevertheless, there is also criticism of this technology: the production and storage of LNG is very energy-intensive and also highly controversial in terms of its environmental impact. Text: Eurogate/Steffen...

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1TP5Understanding the sea: China's Silk Road Initiative - An Opportunity?

Posted by | 20 Sep 2017 | , , | 17

At the beginning of September, the special edition "griephan Edition 2017" - produced by griephan in cooperation with the Federation of German Industries (BDI) - was published with the theme "The challenge of global trade - setting standards creates markets". The issue includes articles on China's Silk Road Initiative, the G20's protectionist reflexes, free trade as an expression of free societies and the Port of Duisburg, the current starting and finishing point of the Silk Road. The Silk Road Initiative, consisting of the continental "Silk Road Economic Belt" and the "Maritime Silk Road of the 21st Century", is Beijing's geostrategic concept to link Africa, Asia and Europe and the seas that connect them for trade. The Chinese approach can be described as "strategic synchronisation", meaning the integrated use of diplomatic, economic policy and military strategy instruments. The principle of "flag follows trade" applies here, meaning that the Chinese military initially plays a subordinate role, for example by participating in stabilisation missions at important hubs such as Djibouti. In Germany, the first question to ask is whether participation in strategic cooperation with China has been neglected for too long. It has become clear that China has taken the strategic initiative into its own hands and is successfully setting the agenda. The current Silk Road initiative has the potential to shift the existing balance of power and create long-term dependencies. However, this realisation should not lead to a fundamental defensive reaction. Anyone who opposes the Silk Road initiative for national or even...

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1TP5Understanding the sea: The Federal Transport Infrastructure Plan 2030 & the waterways

Posted by | 21 Mar 2016 | , | 4

On 16 March, the Federal Transport Infrastructure Plan 2030 was presented by the Federal Minister of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, Alexander Dobrindt (CSU). According to the ministry's plans, the federal government will invest 264.5 billion euros in German roads, railways and waterways by 2030. The maintenance and renovation of existing infrastructure is to be prioritised over new planning, with a share of 70 % of the planned funds. According to Minister Dobrindt, the programme has been closely coordinated with the Ministry of Finance and the money will be available over the next few years. All planned measures should at least be started by 2030. Almost half of the 264.5 billion euros, namely 130 billion euros (49%), is to be used for the road network, with the remainder of 105.8 billion euros (40%) for the rail network and 28.7 billion euros (11%) for the waterways. Overall, the BMVI wants to invest more money than ever before in German infrastructure over the next 15 years. The Federal Transport Infrastructure Plan 2030 states the following about the importance and scope of German waterways in the investment package: "In the case of waterways, qualitative bottlenecks in the infrastructure have an impact on the economic efficiency of transport on all affected routes over the entire transport length, even if the majority of the transport route allows for better quality navigability. The waterway projects [...] will result in a total of eight qualitative bottlenecks on the federal waterways with a total length of around 300 km as well as seven qualitative bottlenecks and one bottleneck on the...

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Low oil price changes global shipping routes

Low oil price changes global shipping routes

Posted by | 14. Mar 2016 | , | 1

The price of oil on the international market has various effects on the global economy - one of which is that it is apparently more favourable for commercial shipping to take the diversions around Africa than the Suez Canal. The completion of the Suez Canal was a Herculean task and was expected to take 20 years to open and require the labour of over 1.5 million workers. When it was finally in operation, the journey time from Europe to Asia was now reduced by several weeks through the Mediterranean instead of around Africa; a revolution for global trade at the time. Its global economic and strategic importance...

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The "new Suez Canal"

The "new Suez Canal"

Posted by | 9 Aug 2015 | , , | 2

Reports about the opening of the "new Suez Canal" (http://www.arcor.de/content/aktuell/news_politik_ausland/3897896,1,Neuer-Suezkanal-wurde-eröffnet,content.html) are making the rounds in the media. This is in fact an extension of the existing canal. The very short construction period of just one year is remarkable. Egypt financed the construction with private funds from its citizens and is now hoping for more ship passages and an economic upturn in the canal region. Internationally, it has touted the project as its gift to the world. The expansion means that passing traffic is possible on larger sections, but not on the entire route. For shipping, the time spent in the roadstead or in the Bitter Lakes will be reduced.

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