#MOSconference – A conference on the European Commission's Motorways of the Sea (MoS) initiative to streamline and promote intermodal maritime-based logistics chains is to be held in Liverpool.

The free-to-attend conference is being held at No. 1 Mann Island on 20-21 May, during the United Kingdom's Trade & Investment (UKTI) Export Week, also being held in the city.

Keynote addresses will include former Deputy Prime Minister and Ship's Steward, Lord Prescott. Technical sessions will showcase learning and solutions from 20 EU-funded projects, and highlight key issues to be addressed via future EU policy and funding.

The conference will be moderated by former North West MEP and European Parliament Transport Committee chair Brian Simpson, who is now the Motorways of the Sea project coordinator.

Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership executive director Mark Basnett said: "Do not be mistaken that this event is just a talking shop: it has real purpose, not least during UK Export Week. The chance to get the latest information and influence policy and funding decisions, combined with the opportunity for a face-to face session with key officials, makes this is a must-attend event for anyone interested in trying to secure funding from the Motorways of the Sea and wider Connecting Europe Facility programmes."

To attend the free event, delegates should register at http://attending.io/events/liverpoolmos2015

In advance of the event, on the afternoon of 19 May, 30-minute surgery sessions are available with EU Commission and UK Department of Transport officials in order to discuss potential projects. For further details contact [email protected] to arrange

#Ports&Shipping - The latest IMDO Weekly Market Review includes the following stories as outlined below.

Irish Maritime News: Bantry Harbour €8.5m Plan Gets the Green Light - Bantry harbour is set for a major €8.5m redevelopment which will see a new 20-berth marina, a deeper inner harbour, and a longer and wider pier completed by 2017. It is hoped the newlook harbour can attract cruise ships, and marine tourists, who will be able to berth leisure craft.

Container Market: Cheaper Fuel to Boost Container Shipping - Lower oil prices are reducing the cost of shipping from Asia to the US and Europe as the cost of bunkers fall. Container shipping companies deal with volatile fuel prices by adding a bunker adjustment/fuel surcharge to freight rates, with adjustments made periodically to reflect changes in average fuel consumption, sailing time, vessel capacity and fuel quality changes.

Growing Concerns about Container Liner Shipping Alliances - There are growing concerns among manufacturers, retailers and wholesalers about the long term threats of a concentrated container liner shipping industry through alliances, the European Shippers' Council (ESC) says.

For more of each of the above stories and much more click the IMDO Market Review (Week 17) here.

In addition to further dedicated coverage visit Afloat.ie's Ports & Shipping news.

#LondonGateway - The Logistics Park's first warehouse at the London Gateway, the UK's newest deep-sea hub port is to begin operating this week.

The Common User Facility is set to be 60% allocated within the next few months according to the Gateway owner DP World.

Graeme Clark, implementation director for London Gateway, told delegates at last week's Multimodal exhibition event in Birmingham that the multi-year project to build the port and its logistics infrastructure had entered a new phase of its implementation, urging supply chain companies and retailers to buy into the facility before their competitors do.

Phase 1 of the 386,000 sq ft multipurpose cargo-handling centre sees the opening of 185,000 sq ft complete with 15,000 rack positions.

Operated on DP World's behalf by Southampton-based Import Services, it will provide logistics services and activities on a 'pay-as-you-go' basis, ranging from basic devanning to cross-docking, storage and value-added activities such as pick-and-pack, labelling, pre-retail and distribution.

For more details click LloydsLoadingList.com 

#OceanSüdMembership - Hamburg Süd would be interested in joining the Ocean Three alliance according to Lloyds Loading List .com, if its first steps into the east-west trades prove successful.

That would also mean becoming a tonnage provider and eventually contributing 18,000 twenty equivalent unit (TEU) class ships in the Asia-Europe leg of the global partnership, Hamburg Süd's executive board chairman Ottmar Gast said in an interview following the release of the German line's 2014 performance review.

Acknowledging that becoming the fourth member of the new alliance was still a sensitive issue and not under formal negotiation at this stage, Mr Gast nevertheless said in the long-run, it would "make sense" for Hamburg Süd to have "a higher share of the overall capacity" in the Asia-Europe trades if its initial foray works out.

That could result in full membership of the Ocean Three group of CMA CGM, United Arab Shipping Co (UASC) and China Shipping, which was formally inaugurated a few weeks ago, if the other members agreed.

Hamburg Süd has already signed a global co-operation agreement with UASC that will give it access to the Pacific and Asia-Europe trades through slot charter arrangements. In return, UASC will have space on some of Hamburg Süd's South American trades.

Unlike the other global alliances, Ocean Three is a more flexible group that allows members to team up with other carriers where appropriate.

For much more on this story click this LINK to Lloyds Loading List's coverage of the container shipping development.

#ESPOplea- The European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) is joining a group of transport stakeholder associations in a plea to further exploit the full potential of the short-sea shipping sector.

The group of stakeholders include European association for forwarding, transport, logistics and customs services (CLECAT), The European Community Association of Ship Brokers and Agents (ECASBA), The European Community Shipowners' Associations (ECSA), ECS, European Shortsea Network (ESN), the European Sea Ports Association (ESPO), the Federation of European Private Port Operators (FEPORT), Interferry and World Shipping Council, in addressing an open letter to European policymakers.

By this letter, and through their individual contributions to the Mid Term Review, the associations listed above are calling on the European Commission and Member States to work together to put in place practical, meaningful and effective solutions for the issues currently facing the maritime sector. The plea is so that it can achieve the outcomes envisaged in the Athens Declaration and contribute fully to the economic and social development of the European Union.

The full text of the open letter can be found here.

#LondonGatewayUASC – The London Gateway, the UK's newest deep-sea hub port as previously reported on Afloat.ie, has this month seen the United Arab Shipping Company (UASC) start services on the South America 2 service (SAM2).

The UASC offering is part of an existing fixed day weekly service from DP World London Gateway calling at leading ports in Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay.

The first UASC cargo arrived at DP World London Gateway on Friday April 17.

The service provides more options for food and beverage exports to the UK, with key ports on the service including Paranagua (Brazil), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Montevideo (Uruguay), Rio Grande (Brazil), Itapoa (Brazil) and Santos (Brazil). The sailing time from Santos to London Gateway is 18 days.

The level of reliability given to port and shipping line customers is world-class due to weather beating technology deployed at Britain's newest deep-sea port. London Gateway has not had to close due to heavy winds, when other ports have, which means shippers don't need to suffer from port closures when they choose London Gateway.

Cameron Thorpe, Port General Manager, DP World London Gateway, said: "We are delighted UASC is now calling at DP World London Gateway on the South America service and we will be working with them to ensure the highest levels of customer service is delivered."

DP World London Gateway is sponsoring the Cafe at Multimodal 2015 which opened today in the NEC Birmingham. The major three-day event for the UK and Irish freight transport, logistics and supply chain management industry continues to this Thursday.

#Ports&Shipping - The latest IMDO Weekly Market Review includes the following stories as outlined below.

Irish Maritime News: "Many benefits" to Bantry Inner Harbour Development – A steady stream of interested parties were drawn to a public information meeting held by the Bantry Bay Port Company to outline development plans as previously reported on Afloat.ie.

The Port of Cork said: "Phase 1 of the Bantry Inner Harbour Development which the Port of Cork will undertake on behalf of its subsidiary company, Bantry Bay Port Company, which is likely to cost €8.5m".

Global Maritime News: World's largest container ship enters the Panama Registry - The Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) has announced that the Merchant Marine Department has inscribed in the Panama Registry the world's largest container ship, the MSC Oscar. The AMP says this is a reflection of the effort made by the present administration, to attract newly built vessels.

Container Market: Asia-Europe box rates drop 13% in a week - The cost of shipping containers from Asia to Europe continues to slide, with spot rates tumbling another 13% over the past week. The question now is whether general rate increases that were due to take effect on April 1 are able to reverse the current downwards cycle.

Technology: The CMA CGM Group is launching the first real-time container tracking mobile application for clients - The CMA CGM Group, world's leading container shipping companies, is pleased to announce the launching of its first mobile application offering a follow-up solution and real time data collecting on the container's position, the upcoming vessels departures and other services by CMA CGM.

For more of each of the above stories and much more click the IMDO Market Review (Week 15) HERE.

In addition to further coverage from Afloat.ie's dedicated Ports & Shipping news by clicking HERE.

#LargestShip - A ship over 290 feet in length was pulled by tugs into Dingle Harbour at high tide this week reports RadioKerry.ie

The Wilson Dublin cargo vessel was there to collect 3,500 tonnes of chipping from Corca Dhuibhne which is being brought to the UK for use in roads construction.

Arkil Ltd, the Lispole quarry, has secured a deal which will see some 50,000 tonnes of this sandstone aggregate shipped to Britain over the next year.

It's expected up to five jobs will be created locally.

Afloat.ie adds that the 2,452 tonnes cargoship was the largest ever to come alongside the pier at the south-western harbour.

Wilson Dublin has since departed and is currently underway in the English Channel.

She is bound for the Port of London at Gravesend on the Thames estuary.

#DroghedaPort225th –This year celebrates the 225th anniversary of Drogheda Port Company whose origins date to 19th of April 1790 when the very first board meeting was held in the town's Tholsel.

Drogheda Port Company can trace it historical roots to be that of the oldest remaining indigenous industry in the Co. Meath town having employed more than 1,700 workers over the period.

The present day port located downriver along the Boyne remains as vital now as then in the economic well-being of the region.

The company, or commissioners as they were then titled, were established by Act of King George 111 for the 'improvement of the Port and Harbour of Drogheda, and the better regulation of the Police of said town.'

It was recognised at the time that a separate company would be the best vehicle for the future management of the commercial port and would contribute considerably to the advancement of trade and prosperity.

#CargoshipsEnd - Lysblink Seaways, the paper-products cargsoship, which ran aground off the Scottish west coast in February, is according to InverClydeNow.com to be broken up on the Clyde after damage proved too extensive to repair.

The side-loading carrier vessel was originally towed to Greenock following the incident near Ardnamurchan Point and has been in Inchgreen Drydock as previously reported on Afloat.ie for more than a month for inspected.

But yesterday she was towed across the river to DRB Marine Services at Rosneath. They have confirmed that they have been awarded the job of taking the ship apart for recycling.

The 394ft-long (120-metre) Lysblink Seaways was carrying paper from Belfast to Norway when she got into difficulty at Kilchoan in the early hours of Wednesday 18 February.

The ship, which was built in 2000 and lengthened in 2004, had called at Greenock Ocean Terminal just three days before the accident.

Kasper Moos, vice president of technical organisation at the ship's owners DFDS Group, confirmed that the hull damage is too extensive for the ship to be repaired. "Therefore, it has been decided to recycle the vessel," he said.

To view photographs from the news report which shows the vessel after the incident been assisted by tugs on the Clyde, click here.