#ESPOconference -The European Sea Ports Organisation (EPSO) Conference 2014 concluded last Friday in Gothenburg. A presentation of EPSO's memorandum for the European elections in which European port authorities identify six points of attention for the incoming Parliament and Commission:

1. Important role of transport and ports in the move towards economic growth
2. No ports no industry
3. Ports in the TEN-T policy: from word to action
4. The internal market for maritime transport, no time to waste
5. European ports in an economic, societal and environmental context
6. A ports policy that empowers Europe's ports to meet tomorrow's challenges

There was a clear plea for more clarity on state aid from both the port sector and the Council.

In his keynote speech, the Greek Minister for Shipping, Maritime Affairs and the Aegean and President of the Transport Council, Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, asked the new Commission to come up "with a stable and clear framework for state aid in ports in order to ensure that each investment does not have to be investigated on a case by case basis. This case by case approach causes delays in investments and harms the competitiveness of European ports".

The Commission from its side considers that some basic principles on transparency as provided for in the Port Regulation proposal are a pre-condition for developing a framework on state aid for ports.

In his intervention onIn his intervention on Thursday afternoon, Olivier Onidi, Director for the European Mobility Network in DG MOVE spoke about "a two-step approach".

MEP Knut Fleckenstein to continue his work on the port regulation after the EU elections

In full campaign, the Rapporteur for the Port Regulation proposal, Knut Fleckenstein joined the conference to give his views on the way forward with the Port Regulation proposal after the EU elections. He stated that there should be more flexibility when it comes to the setting of port infrastructure charges, the consultation bodies and the supervisory body. On the other hand, he was calling for a stricter framework on transparency in port accounts.

Mr Fleckenstein stressed he wanted to continue to work on the Port Regulation proposal. He stated that all main policy players had or would be changing in the coming months: the shadows, the Commissioner, the Director General.

Ex aequo on the basic conference question: level playing field, a must or a myth!

For the first time, participants were invited to express their opinion on the different topics of the conference through an online voting system. The vote on the main theme of the conference gave a 50-50 outcome. For half of the audience, the level playing field between ports is a must, for the other half it is a myth.

Participants were very active on twitter. Under the hashtag #ESPOConf2014 you can follow all tweets and pictures from the conference.

"We can look back at a successful conference and event here in Gothenburg. We are happy that the Council is helping us in putting the state aid guidelines for ports on the political agenda. The presence of both the Commission, the Parliament and the Council allowed us to have a good debate on the best policy for European ports. We hope to continue this constructive dialogue with the incoming European Parliament and Commission", said ESPO Chairman, Santiago Garcia Mila.

The next edition of ESPO's annual conference will take place in Piraeus on 21 and 22 May 2015.

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

Container Market: Reliability improves for first time this year - The reliability of container carrier lines improved for the first time this year in March, according to the latest Global Schedule Reliability report from SeaIntel Maritime Analysis. The report found that 72.3% of vessels arrived on time, up from February's 68.4%. Whilst March saw improvements, reliability is still considerably lower than last year's level of 82.8% for March.

Tanker Market: LNG fleet surpasses 400 mark - The Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) carrier fleet surpassed the 400 vessel mark for the first time mid-April. The global LNG carrier fleet has experienced a remarkable growth path since the first commercial cargo of LNG was delivered from Algeria to the UK almost 50 years ago, in October 1964.

Freight Modes: Air freight loses out to sea transportation - Sea transportation has been annually taking 100,000 TEU away from air freight for the last 10 years, according to a report published by transportation consultancy Seabury. The study found that 5.4m tonnes of cargo had shifted from air to sea transportation since 2000, with much of the shift attributable to the increasing standards of refrigeration technology aboard ships.

Regulation: IMO closes in on mandatory container weighting – The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) are said to be very close to amending the SOLAS convention to make it a mandatory requirement to verify the gross weight of containers before loading aboard a ship. The mis-declaration of container weights has been a concern to the maritime industry for some years, potentially contributing to a number of incidents.

For more on each of the above and other stories click the PDF downloadable of the IMDO Weekly Markets Review (Week 19).

In addition to coverage on Afloat.ie's dedicated Ports & Shipping News section.

#WicklowPort – As a snapshot into the shipping activity of Wicklow Port, this morning saw the departure of Lehmann Baltic (1997/2,820grt) with a cargo of refuse derived fuel (RDF) bound for Bremen, writes Jehan Ashmore.

RDF is mostly made of combustible components from municipal waste such as plastics and biodegradable waste which are shredded using waste converter technology to be processed as a source for fuel.

At almost 90m, Lehmann Baltic is a Dutch owned general cargo vessel operated by Wagenborg. She was loaded with the RDF cargo alongside the Packet Pier, one of two commercial quays operated by Wicklow Port Company.

The port is approximately only 35 miles from Dublin is experiencing a modest increase in traffic not seen since 2008, with exports of recycled timber and logs as well as glass cullet. The principal import is timber products which during the boom years were frequently shipped from Scandinavia to meet the demands of the construction industry.

Vessels generally small coasters and general cargo ships berth alongside north and south quays of the port, which as previously reported on Afloat.ie is currently undergoing dredging.

The Jenny T is carrying out the works within the port where the River Leitrim flows into the harbour which has not been dredged since 1998. The spoil is removed by the Sligo registered vessel and dumped a few kilometres off the harbour.

Further south in Arklow, Co. Wicklow's only other large port, is also to undergo dredging operations next month.

Likewise of Wicklow, as previously reported, such work has not been conducted in the port for some 15 years.

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

Container Market: Surplus to remain as slow steaming is here to stay - Overcapacity in the container market is expected to persist until 2017 at the earliest, according to research by Braemer Seascope, who further estimate an additional 12 Asia-Europe strings could be established during this period based on expected deliveries of ultra-large containerships, Lloyd's List reported. Currently, overcapacity in the market stands at 30%, without accounting for the effects of slow steaming and vessel lay-ups.

Regulation: A French proposal to force foreign trucks onto its motorways and off of the corresponding A-roads has been widely criticised by the EU. Lloyd's Loading List reported that the proposal came as an alternative to the country's HGV tax scheme which was postponed in autumn last year owing to significant opposition.

Innovation: First maritime carbon credit scheme - In an industry first, a carbon credit scheme has been established by International Paint (IP) and The Gold Standard Foundation to reward shipowners who invest in environmentally friendly technology.

Seatrade Global reported that under the scheme, owners who upgrade from biocide-based antifouling to International's Intersleek hull coating will qualify for receiving a quantity of carbon credits from the Gold Standard Foundation proportional to the bunker savings achieved by using the Intersleek coating.

For more on each of the above and other stories click the downloadable PDF IMDO Weekly Markets Review (Week 18). In addition to coverage on Afloat.ie's dedicated Ports & Shipping News section.

#Ports & Shipping Review – Over the last fortnight, Jehan Ashmore has reported on the shipping scene, where French route cruiseferry Oscar Wilde had to cancel a round-trip to Rosslare Harbour due to a technical fault of a radar, which was eventually repaired leading to resumption of service.

Port of Cork will this season have 54 cruise ships which despite the number of calls is slightly lower than 2013, however cruise vessels visiting in 2014 are larger and have higher passenger volumes.

The natural harbour is also where Brittany Ferries flagship cruiseferry Pont-Aven is operating on her 10th season on the Roscoff route.

Seatruck Ferries introduced a larger P-class freight-ferry on Dublin-Heysham route, the 110-ro-ro unit Seatruck Pace replaced R-class 65-unit vessel Arrow which subsequently went on charter.

This month traditionally marks the opening of the cruise season with ports around the island welcoming callers, Port of Waterford saw Noble Caledonia's Island Sky, which is on a Garden themed cruise that involved docking along the city's quays.

Galway Harbour which is to have one of the busiest cruise seasons in recent years  with polar expedition cruise ship Fram having anchored offshore. Further northwards in the Port of Londonderry, the same Norwegian-flagged vessel operated by Hurtigruten, also became the first visitor to the Lough Foyle port.

As for Dublin Bay ports, two cruiseships one large the other small each made separate calls to Dublin Port and Dun Laoghaire Harbour. Princess Cruises 3,082 passenger capacity Emerald Princess (2007/118,681grt) docked in the capital on the day of  'casting of the spear' ceremony. While Island Sky (1992/4,200grt) berthed in Dun Laoghaire.

The Naval Service's newest ship, L.E. Samuel Beckett (P61) the first of a pair of OPV 90m class newbuilds, made her delivery voyage from a North Devon shipyard to Cork Harbour for the first time, the historic occasion marking a momentous chapter for the navy.

Another development in the lower harbour is the Port of Cork Company's planning application to An Bord Pleanála for the Ringaskiddy Port Redevelopment project which neighbours the naval base on Haulbowline Island.

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

Container Market: G6 proposes mega-boxship orders -The G6 liner alliance is planning to outdo P3, its main rival, by ordering even larger container ships than Maersk's Triple-E which can carry 18,000 (TEU) twenty equivalent foot-long units.

According to TradeWinds, G6 are considering up to 20 vessels over 19,000 TEU as analysts profess cost efficiencies, based on larger cargo volumes per ship, and economies of scale are crucial for G6 to successfully compete on the Asia-Europe trade routes with P3.

Alphaliner data shows that currently the average size of P3 ships is around 10,300 TEU in comparison 8,200 TEU for G6. The deal is expected to continue to fuel market overcapacity, with analysts believing that 21,000 TEU can be the absolute maximum size given yard and port constraints; however plans for 23,000 TEU ships have been drawn up.

Dry Bulk Newbuilds: Newbuild orders up 72% in March -Dry bulk newbuild market investment soared 72% year-on-year in March as some 140 vessels were ordered, up from 81 bulkers last year.

Statistics shows that 113 of the vessels are to be built in China with the most popular builds being Ultramaxes and Kamsarmaxes with 47 and 36 orders respectively.

Asian owners account for over half of March's orders following growing optimism from the large improvement in freight rates towards the end of 2013.

Infrastructure: Panama Canal hit by further strike action -The Panama Canal expansion works have once again been stopped, according to SeaTrade Global.

An indefinite nationwide strike has been called by the main construction union in the country, the Construction Workers National Union, who are demanding higher wages for their members. The canal expansion works are already 14 months behind schedule due to previous difficulties and Grupo Unidos por el Canal (GUPC), the European consortium building the third set of new locks, said in a statement that "construction workers, union members are heeding the call to strike.

For more on each of the above and other stories click the downloadable PDF IMDO Weekly Markets Review (Week 17). In addition to coverage on Afloat.ie's dedicated Ports & Shipping News section.

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

Shipping Finance: Worst annual losses for largest maritime lender - HSH Nordbank, the world's largest maritime lender, revealed losses recently of €814 million for 2013, an 18% increase on 2012 losses. The Financial Times reported the reasons for the increase were raised loan loss provisions for the bank's sizeable shipping portfolio during the closing months of last year, in addition to the costs of €902 million for a state guarantee of €10bn from the German states of Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein.

Irish Economy: Trade surplus increases on stronger exports -Ireland's trade surplus rose 4% in February as a result of stronger exports and the subsiding effects of the pharmaceutical patent cliff. Exports rose 1% (+€57mn) on a seasonally adjusted basis, compared with the previous month. Year-on-year figures meanwhile showed exports increased 3% (+€168mn) compared with February 2013, owing primarily to double-digit growth in food & live animal and essential oils exports.

Global Economy: WTO raise forecast for trade growth -The World Trade Organisation has raised its forecast for global growth in merchandise trade for 2014 to 4.7%, up from last September's estimate of 4.5%. The main drivers for this upward revision have been the accelerating global recovery combined with upturns in the US and key European economies. The raised forecast contrasted with the views of several trade economists who had instead predicted a downgrading of the earlier forecast of 4.5%, while the WTO acknowledge that "Downside risks to trade abound."

For more on each of the above and other stories click the downloadable PDF IMDO Weekly Markets Review (Week 16). In addition to coverage on Afloat.ie's dedicated Ports & Shipping News section.

#ShippingReview – Over the last fortnight Jehan Ashmore has reported on the shipping scene, where the longest cargoship ever to dock in Drogheda Port, Rusich-5 at over 420ft berthed under the shadow of the railway viaduct.

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company is to introduce added freight capacity later this month as previously reported on Afloat.ie, on the Douglas-Heysham route with the 84 unit ro-ro Arrow on bare-boat charter from Seatruck Ferries.

Galway Port's ambitious expansion plans as reported earlier this year on Afloat.ie, faced objections from Limerick – as a Galway TD accused Shannon Foynes Port of trying to 'torpedo' his city's plans.

Containership Arslan II (1991/3,125grt) that grounded on Arklow Bank in January, and causing damage to her rudder, finally departed Dublin Port more than two months later and sailed to Turkey, from where it is understood that further repairs are to take place.

Seatruck Ferries are to introduce a larger P-class ro-ro vessel on the Dublin Port-Heysham service with the 110-unit vessel replacing the 84-unit Arrow as referred above.

First quarter figures for 2014 show Dublin Port Company is showing signs of accelerating cargo volumes with imports (+8.5%), exports (+12.1%) and in total volumes are up by 10.0%.

Veteran vessel, Hebble Sand, a humble dredger still remains in service for more than half a century and retains her original name despite her launch in 1963. This week she was working on the Boyne for the port of Drogheda.

#DredgingDrogheda - Most ships serve a career spanning three-four decades, however Hebble Sand still remains in service more than half a century later and in the same role since 1963, as a dredger carrying out her latest work at Drogheda Port, writes Jehan Ashmore.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the 757 tonnes Hebble Sand was sold to Abco Marine in 2012 following her sale by Dublin Port Company, has been working along the banks of the Boyne between the town quays and out to the mouth of the river. In recent years Londonderry Harbour Commissioners suction-dredger Lough Foyle has been contracted to carry out this work. 

When sold to Abco Marine, the veteran grab-hopper dredger headed for Campbeltown on the Mull of Kintyre, however during her previous career with Dundalk Port Company until she and company assets were transferred to Dublin Port Company, the dredger worked in other Irish ports, harbours and for marine infrastructure projects such as the Samuel Beckett swing-bridge in Dublin.

Remarkably despite serving a career over five decades, she still retains her original name since her launch from Richard (Shipbuilders) of Lowestoft who built her for British Dredging.

So with less than two months to go, Drogheda's town quays will be hosting The Irish Maritime Festival (13, 14 and 15 June) and which is to welcome six tallships, among them the 110 year old, Bessie Ellen. She is only one of three remaining classic West Country trading ketches from over 600 such traditional sail cargoships that traded in Irish Sea and also to Scandinavia.

By coincidence, Bessie Ellen and Hebble Sand participated at the last Dublin Docklands Maritime Festival held in 2010, where the vessel which was kept in very good condition was open to the public.

Her presence along the Liffey was a most unusual vessel to have welcoming visitors during that tallships festival and such efforts should be encouraged to broaden the mix of vessels for the public to experience.

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

Irish Trade: Food exports to UK - The UK imports over 30% of its food consumption and remains the largest export market for Irish food and drink, with 42% of Irish food and drink exports destined for the UK market in 2013. The value of these exports rose 8% in 2013 to € 4.2bn, over €1bn higher than in 2009. Beef and dairy exports were particularly strong, with beef exports increasing €90m to €1.12bn, dairy exports up €150m to €1.1bn. 37% of Ireland's total dairy exports now go to the UK.

UK Economy: IMF raises growth forecast for Britain as recovery proceeds - The International Monetary Fund last week raised their forecast for the UK's GDP growth to 2.9% for the current year, up from an earlier projection of 2.4% in January, as stronger than anticipated growth has been observed in the UK. According to the IMF, the stronger rebound in growth was due to easier credit conditions and increasing confidence, although exports and business investment continued to disappoint, leading to cautions of an unbalanced recover.

Ports: Mega-alliances to place pressure on European Intermodal transport - Increasing vessel size and fewer port calls are expected to place further pressure on intermodal transport on the European continent, according to Drewry Maritime Research. Over the last two years, the average container vessel size on the Asia/North Europe trade lane has increased by 17% to reach nearly 11,000TEU, while the number of port calls has dropped from 104 to 87. The establishment of the P3 Alliance later in the year will further increase the average container vessel size on the route and will see port calls in Northern Europe drop from 41 to 32 for Maersk, MSC and CMA CGM.

For more on each of the above and other stories click the downloadable PDF IMDO Weekly Markets Review (Week 15). In addition to coverage on Afloat.ie's dedicated Ports & Shipping News section.