A part of Watch Media

ShippingWatchTuesday3 October 2023

  • Latest
  • Search
  • Log in
  • Carriers
  • Suppliers
  • Offshore
  • Ports
  • Logistics
  • Regulation
  • Search
  • Log in
ShippingWatchTuesday3 October 2023
  • Search
  • Log in
  • Carriers
  • Suppliers
  • Offshore
  • Ports
  • Logistics
  • Regulation
Ports

DP World: Mega ships put pressure on ports around the world

The major ports between Asia and Europe aren't the only ones that need to be modified for billions of dollars because of the new mega ships. The smaller ports will also have to be expanded, says DP World to ShippingWatch.
BY TOMAS KRISTIANSEN

The major port terminal companies, as well as port authorities around the world, are facing massive billion dollar investments as the new mega ships are delivered. Right now Maersk Line's first 18,000 teu ship is on its maiden voyage, having departed from the shipyard in Korea. And before that, it was CMA CGM's 16,500 teu series with ships such as Marco Polo, which require wider berths, bigger cranes, and greater water depth. And increased logistics on land in order to receive and forward the many containers.

Do you want to be kept up to date with the latest developments in Danish and International shipping? Subscribe to our newsletter – first 40 days are free

But according to the world's third-largest terminal operator, DP World, the major ports on the main route between Asia and Europe aren't the only ones where investments will have to be made, or have been made. Because, as the new ships are inserted onto Asia-Europe, many of the current ships on the route will become superfluous and will have to find employment, cascaded, elsewhere. These would often be container ships of 10,000 to 13,000 teu, which will have to work on trade lanes such as Asia-Africa, Europe-South America, or on internal traffic in Asia. But many ports won't be ready to receive ships of that size, meaning that preparations are already underway for new, capital-intensive investments in the port network around the world in order to make room for the ships.

Challenging for the whole sector

"The new mega ships, such as Maersk Line's Triple-E, create a series of challenges. Not just for DP World, but for the whole sector. Ships of up to 12,000-13,000 teu will be inserted onto other routes as the new mega ships are inserted onto Asia-Europe. I think it's a development we'll see in all the main ports around the world within a period of 2 to 3 years," says Flemming Dalgaard, Senior vice president & Managing Director, DP World Europe Regional Office, to ShippingWatch.

DP World has already performed massive investments in its port network between Asia and Europe in order to be able to receive the new mega ships. This includes both the Asian ports as well as ports in Rotterdam and London. In the new major port in Rotterdam, Maasvlakte 2, DP World, together with the four carriers MOL, HMM, APL, and CMA CGM, will invest around 700 million euros in new facilities and equipment. And in the new, huge English container port, London Gateway, in the Thames, DP World plans to invest around 1.5 billion GBP in a combined port and logistics park. Both facilities had to be constructed regardless, but they've now been furnished according to the new mega ships, whose requirements include cranes that can work across layers of 10 containers stacked on top of each other, as well as water depths of up to 16.5 meters.

New cranes for the ports

"There are massive requirements for the ports and the companies that operate them, especially when the port is upriver. In the Port of Hamburg, there are a lot of environmental considerations to keep in mind, as well as the fact that many ports weren't designed to have ships of 400 meters turning around in the port basin, and many ports don't have berths wide enough to support ships of that size," says Flemming Dalgaard.

Another challenge that comes with the arrival of larger ships is whether the underlying infrastructure is sufficient. Is there enough railroad capacity? Are there enough highways? Are the veterinary authorities sufficiently staffed when the amount of incoming reefer containers doubles?

In Europe, in addition to the ports in Rotterdam and London, DP World has installed or is installing new cranes in the ports of Antwerp, Le Havre, and Southhampton. But the company already knows that futher upgrades will have to be made, for instance in the Port of Marseille.

"We have to look at the needs practically everywhere in the time to come, in order to make sure that we're ready to handle the new, bigger ships. But we believe that we're well-equipped to handle the challenge in most of our container terminals," says Flemming Dalgaard.

Do you want to be kept up to date with the latest developments in Danish and International shipping? Subscribe to our newsletter – first 40 days are free

DP World saw less activity in the first half of the year

Triple-E ships force ports to invest billions of dollars

APM Terminals close to securing 240 mil. USD deal in India

Drewry: Solid developments for DP World

Maersk’s port business moves up on the top 5 

Share article

Related articles:

  • Photo: Hyundai Merchant Marine

    DP World saw less activity in the first half of the year

    For subscribers

  • Photo: Worldslargestship.com / Maersk Line

    Triple-E ships force ports to invest billions of dollars

  • APM Terminals close to securing 240 mil. USD deal in India

Sign up for our newsletter

Stay ahead of development by receiving our newsletter on the latest sector knowledge.

Newsletter terms

Front page now

Geodis, the logistics company of the French National Railways, is committed to building a global network through acquisitions and organic growth. | Foto: Chafion Madi/AFP/Ritzau Scanpix
Logistics

French DB Schenker rival aims to close "white spots" on the world map

Systematic acquisitions are aiming at turning state-owned French logistics company Geodis into a fully global player. 
  • Logistics group Geodis buys Swiss freight forwarder
  • Media: Sale of DB Schenker enters next phase

For subscribers



Foto: Pr / Cma Cgm
Container

"I just don't understand what they will do with all the conventional ships"

For subscribers



In recent months, the group has bunkered biofuels for everything from cruise and ferry companies to container ships. | Foto: Roslan Rahman/AFP/Ritzau Scanpix
Ports

Bunker Holding is now able to supply biofuel to 80 ports

For subscribers


The ownership of the rail operator must be shared equally with the Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP). | Foto: Max Rossi/Reuters/Ritzau Scanpix
Logistics

MSC acquires 50 percent of Italian railway company

For subscribers


Unifeeder expects the two new vessels to be delivered in 2026. | Foto: Pr / Unifeeder
Carriers

Unifeeder invests in new methanol-ready vessels

For subscribers


In August, Cargill International tested a new wind-powered ship. Now, in a joint development project with Lloyds Register and others, the commodities company is launching a new kamsarmax dry cargo ship that can run on methanol and wind power. | Photo: Cargill Bulgaria/Reuters/Ritzau Scanpix
Carriers

Lloyd's Register and partners have designed environmentally friendly bulk carrier

For subscribers


  • The Port of Los Angeles, among others, has been disrupted by issues with labor strikes. | Foto: Mike Blake/Reuters/Ritzau Scanpix

    US dockworkers union files for bankruptcy after prolonged dispute

    The bankruptcy comes in connection with a lawsuit with the port company ICTSI, which sued the union after labor strikes back in 2019.

    For subscribers


  • Norway is the last country in Europe to announce that it will impose sanctions on ship-to-ship transfers. | Foto: Lars Klemmer/AP/Ritzau Scanpix

    Norway considers denying suspicious tankers access to its ports

    Norway will impose a number of the same sanctions against Russia imposed by EU earlier this year.

    For subscribers


  • Although the drought in Gatun Lake, which supplies the Panama Canal with water, continues to cause problems for the canal's traffic, the number of ships queuing is lower than last year. | Foto: Carlos Jasso/Reuters/Ritzau Scanpix

    Panama Canal once again limits the daily number of ships

    The downward adjustment of the daily number of ships allowed to pass through the canal is done in order not to further exacerbate the water crisis. 

    For subscribers


  • Foto: Pr/subsea 7

    Aker Solutions, Subsea 7 and SLB creates new joint venture

    The new joint venture will have two headquarters in Oslo and in Houston.

    For subscribers


  • ”We are able to deliver the technologies very quickly, ahead of fuel availability, and at a competitive price. So we are definitely not a bottleneck,” says Toni Stojcevski, general manager, Project Sales & Development at Wärtsilä, | Foto: Sune Høegh, Mediaspektrum

    Wärtsilä to introduce ammonia engine: "We are definitely not a bottleneck"

    The Finnish company, like several other engine manufacturers, is on the verge of launching its first ammonia engine and is currently negotiating with several shipping companies.

    For subscribers


  • Rising fuel prices in France in 2018 led to demonstrations and the "Yellow Vests" movement. | Foto: Jacob Ehrbahn

    Will the world come to need 12 million barrels of oil a day?

    In a forecast, Jyske Bank predicts that the world will be hit by an oil shortage by 2030. A halt to new oil projects makes it worse.

    For subscribers


Further reading

Foto: Pr / Cma Cgm
Container

"I just don't understand what they will do with all the conventional ships"

The equivalent of 1.6 million teu of container ships have been delivered in 2023. Next year it will be 3 million teu raising one question in particular, according to Alphaliner’s senior analyst.

For subscribers



Geodis, the logistics company of the French National Railways, is committed to building a global network through acquisitions and organic growth. | Foto: Chafion Madi/AFP/Ritzau Scanpix
Logistics

French DB Schenker rival aims to close "white spots" on the world map

Systematic acquisitions are aiming at turning state-owned French logistics company Geodis into a fully global player. 

For subscribers



The ownership of the rail operator must be shared equally with the Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP). | Foto: Max Rossi/Reuters/Ritzau Scanpix
Logistics

MSC acquires 50 percent of Italian railway company

The major container carrier recently acquired a stake in the Spanish railway company Renfe and is now following suit with an ownership stake in the Italian rail operator Italo.

For subscribers


The price will determine whether the sale of DB Schenker will go through, sources tell DPA. | Photo: Marvin Ibo G'ng'r/AP/Ritzau Scanpix
Logistics

Media: Sale of DB Schenker enters next phase

After a long period of scrutiny, Deutsche Bahn is ready to pursue a sale of the major freight forwarder DB Schenker, report German media.

For subscribers



In recent months, the group has bunkered biofuels for everything from cruise and ferry companies to container ships. | Foto: Roslan Rahman/AFP/Ritzau Scanpix
Ports

Bunker Holding is now able to supply biofuel to 80 ports

New climate measures for shipping are paving the way for Bunker Holding to take an important position as a supplier of biofuel to ports around the world. 

For subscribers



Unifeeder expects the two new vessels to be delivered in 2026. | Foto: Pr / Unifeeder
Carriers

Unifeeder invests in new methanol-ready vessels

Unifeeder Group is committed to being climate neutral by 2040 and points out that the new vessels will play a significant role in reaching that goal.

For subscribers


Jobs

  • Vessel Superintendent

  • Head of Ship Accounting

  • Lifting Engineer – Offshore Wind Industry

  • Experienced Dry Bulk Operations Manager

See all jobs

Latest news

  • Bunker Holding is now able to supply biofuel to 80 ports –
  • Unifeeder invests in new methanol-ready vessels –
  • French DB Schenker rival aims to close "white spots" on the world map –
  • MSC får medhold i første sag om trængselsgebyr til kunde –
  • Lloyd's Register and partners have designed environmentally friendly bulk carrier –
  • Aker Solutions, Subsea 7 and SLB creates new joint venture –
  • Norway considers denying suspicious tankers access to its ports –
  • US dockworkers union files for bankruptcy after prolonged dispute –
  • "I just don't understand what they will do with all the conventional ships" –
  • MSC acquires 50 percent of Italian railway company –
See all

Jobs

  • Vessel Superintendent

  • Head of Ship Accounting

  • Lifting Engineer – Offshore Wind Industry

  • Experienced Dry Bulk Operations Manager

See all jobs

Colophon

ShippingWatch
Search

Sections

  • Carriers
  • Logistics
  • Regulation
  • Suppliers
  • Offshore
  • Ports
  • Sitemap
  • RSS feeds

Editor

Niklas Krigslund

nk@shippingwatch.dk

Tel.: +45 3330 8458

  • About ShippingWatch

Editor-in-chief

Anders Heering

Publisher

JP/Politiken Media Group Ltd

Banner Advertising

annoncering@infowatch.dk

Tel.: +45 7077 7445

Advertising

Job Advertising

job@infowatch.dk

Tel.: +45 7077 7445

Jobs

Subscription

Try ShippingWatch or get an offer for a subscription meeting the exact needs of you or your company.

shippingwatch@infowatch.dk

Tel.: +45 7077 7445

Learn more about subscriptions here

Address

ShippingWatch

Rådhuspladsen 37

1785 Copenhagen K, Denmark

Tel.: +45 3330 8360

Guidelines

  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © ShippingWatch — All rights reserved