The ECT Delta Terminal in Rotterdam handles increasingly larger sea-going vessels with increasingly bigger call sizes. These vessels in addition sail in extreme tight schedules. A stream-lined container handling operation requires high levels of planning and preparation from all parties concerned. This is why ECT Delta Terminal has revised the procedures pertaining to the physical delivery of containers. As of the 15th of February 2007, containers to be loaded on board of sea-going vessel must be physically present at the ECT Delta Terminal no later than 6 hours before the ship's expected time of arrival (ETA). Containers delivered after the cargo closure will roll over to the next sailing automatically. This revised procedure is applicable to the entire ECT Delta Terminal, all shipping companies and all modalities. No exceptions will be accepted.
Capacity Crunch fear on Asia-Europe cargo…
With several Asian box lines postig double digit growth in container volumes on the Asia-Europe tradelanes in 2006, the Far East Freight Conference (FEFC) said liftings were growing so strongly there could be a capacity crunch this year. The FEFC posted that 53 vessels of 6500teu will enter service on Asia-Europe tradelanes this year as compared to 47 back in 2006. With this threatened capacity crunch in mind, the FEFC pushed for rate rises of usd200 per teu for the westbound cargo from 1 st January 2007, with further hikes in April and July. The bullish view taken by the FEFC was backed by result from at least three Asian lines. OOCL posted a 24.5% rise in liftings on Asia-Europe services in the first nine months of 2006, after volumes rose to 497, 221 teu. The surge in growth also boasted revenues on the route by 4.6% from usd580mil between January and September 2005 to usd607mil in the same period in 2006. There was a similar picture at China Shipping Container Line (CSCL) which reported a 16.8% rise in liftings in the third quarter to 336, 000teu. CSCL has confirmed plans to incorporate six 9580teu boxships into its fleet by the end of 2007, which are likely be deployed on the Asia-Europe services. Cosco Container Lines saw liftings rise 25.6% to 336 000teu on Asia-Europe services in the third quarter of last year. Revenue from the sector increased 14.5% to Rmb2.87bn (usd359mil)
