Transport communications

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Dedicated safety advocate celebrates 40-year career

London, 14th November 2024

TT Club’s celebrated advocate to the cause of risk mitigation and safety in the freight industry, Peregrine Storrs-Fox has stepped down as the mutual’s Risk Management Director and now takes on a consultancy role to further offer his expertise to TT’s membership and the industry at large.

Peregrine Storrs-Fox

After 40 years with the international insurance provider during which he started as a Claims Handler and worked up to global Claims Director, Storrs-Fox spent the last 22 years developing and enhancing TT’s now much heralded loss prevention function.  Valued by those insured by TT as a service proven to assist in ongoing operational risk, the loss prevention work initiated and overseen by Peregrine has significantly improved the safety and security of global freight supply chains.

Congratulating Peregrine on his achievements over his long career, TT Club CEO, Kevin King, said “It is impossible to overstate the significant loss prevention initiatives in which Peregrine has taken a leading role. His risk management knowledge is unique, his research meticulous and his communication skills renowned.  Peregrine has been particularly effective in bringing disparate interest groups together to present a united front.”

Tackling the causes of container fires has been one of Peregrine’s more persistent missions; helping all those engaged in the global supply chain to understand and uphold their responsibilities to declare, pack and handle not just hazardous cargoes but also to recognise the potential damage that may be caused by less obviously dangerous materials.

His influential work on VGM (verified gross mass) in the process leading to IMO regulation, and background analysis of required amendments to IMDG and CTU Codes have been critical in advancing safety in the transport industry.  In this Peregrine has demonstrated his ability to combine the efforts of many organisations and companies across the industry to achieve common safety and security goals. 

The success of the Club’s Innovation in Safety Award and its associated promotional programme is a great example of how his commitment has made a real difference in inspiring new technologies and enhanced procedures to improve the safety of crew, shore workers, cargo, infrastructure and the environment.  

“Peregrine will continue to provide his expertise and experience to the industry by fulfilling the role of consultant to TT,” said Mike Yarwood, TT’s MD Loss Prevention in adding his voice to praise Peregrine’s contributions over a long career, “He has dedicated most of his career to TT’s mission to make the global transport and logistics industry safer, more secure, and more sustainable.  I’m delighted that Peregrine is continuing to support our growing loss prevention function.”

His consultancy role began as of 1st October.

About TT Club

TT Club is the established market-leading independent provider of mutual insurance and related risk management services to the international transport and logistics industry. TT Club’s primary objective is to help make the industry safer, more secure, and more sustainable. Founded in 1968, the Club has more than 1500 Members, spanning container owners and operators, ports and terminals, and logistics companies, working across maritime, road, rail, and air. TT Club is renowned for its high-quality service, in-depth industry knowledge and enduring Member loyalty. It retains more than 97% of its Members, with a third of its entire membership having chosen to insure with the Club for 20 years or more.

www.ttclub.com

“K” LINE Releases Video Update on Medium-Term Management Plan and 2Q FY2024 Results

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE) has posted to its official website a video that explains progress in the implementation of the medium-term management plan and the results in the second quarter of FY2024. The video is also posted on “K” Line With, a video communication site for “K” LINE Group’s employees.

A video explaining progress in implementing the medium-term management plan and results for the the second quarter of FY2024

https://www.kline.co.jp/en/corporate/kline_with.html

“K” LINE provides quarterly updates on the progress of its medium-term management plan through “K” Line With. Based on the FY2024 theme, “Steady Steps Toward Further Growth,” in addition to the video outlining the latest performance forecasts, it also focuses on three key aspects of the management plan: business strategy, functional strategy and capital policy. It offers detailed insights into the company’s initiatives and progress of the management plan, aiming to share this information with both internal and external stakeholders.

The new video features the progress of the business strategy and capital policy under the Medium-Term Management Plan. Regarding the capital policy, the progress of cash allocation from the time of the announcement of the Medium-Term Management Plan up to the present and the thinking behind the cash allocation are illustrated. It shows that “K” LINE has been accumulating the “trust” it needs to realize its corporate principle and vision by consistently working to improve its corporate value, from the “Objective of the “K” LINE Group” to its latest efforts under the Medium-Term Management Plan.

“K” LINE has posted the video on its official website in addition to “K” Line With to make outside stakeholders more aware of the Company’s activities. “K” LINE also aims to deepen understanding of the medium-term management plan among business sites on land and sea within the Group, globally promote internal communication and information sharing, encourage a sense of solidarity as a source of the Group’s strength, and reinforce the foundation of its business operations.

A news release related to “K” Line With

November 17, 2023: Sharing Information within the Group Using Video Communication Site for Employees “K” Line With

https://www.kline.co.jp/en/news/other/other-20231117.html

“K” Line : Financial Highlights for 2nd Quarter FY2024

5 November 2024

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd.

Please be advised that “K” Line Tokyo Head Office made the following press release today, please refer to the attached PDF documents.

It is also available on the Website both in English and Japanese.

https://www.kline.co.jp/en/

Financial Highlights for 2nd Quarter FY2024

Notification of Stock Repurchase and Share Buyback through Off-Auction Own Share Repurchase Trading (ToSTNeT-3)

Notice on Revision to Dividend and Dividend Forecast for the Fiscal Year Ending March 2025

“K” Line Wind Service and Japan Marine United Sign Agreement for Phase 2 of NEDO’s Green Innovation Fund Project

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd.

Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen Kaisha, Ltd.

“K” Line Wind Service, Ltd.

“K” Line Wind Service, LTD. (“K” Line Wind), a joint venture between Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. and Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen Kaisha, Ltd., has signed an agreement with Japan Marine United Corporation (JMU) for a commissioned study on efficient mooring construction methods as part of its participation in the Development of the Southern Akita Floating Offshore Wind Demonstration Project Aimed at Overseas Expansion via Cost Reductions, (the Project). The project is a part of the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO)’s Green Innovation Fund Project*¹/Cost Reductions for Offshore Wind Power Generation/Floating Offshore Wind Power Demonstration Project  (Phase 2).

JMU received formal notification of the approval of the NEDO grant for the Project. The Project is being conducted by a consortium led by Marubeni Offshore Wind Development Corporation, with the participation of JMU, Tohoku Electric Power Co., Inc., Akita Floating Offshore Wind Corporation, TOA CORPORATION, TOKYO SEIKO ROPE MFG. CO., LTD., Kanden Plant Corporation, JFE Engineering Corporation, and NAKANIHON AIR Co., Ltd. The main objectives of the Project are to install two 15 MW-class wind turbines in the southern offshore region of Akita Prefecture, to address technical challenges related to the mass-production method of floating foundations and to reduce the cost of installation.

Image of the multi-functional floating offshore windfarm support vessel (MFSV) *³, expected to be used in mooring installation

“K” Line Wind has been involved in phase 1 of the Green Innovation Fund Project/Cost Reductions for Offshore Wind Power Generation/ Floating Foundation/Low-Cost Installation Technology Development Project (2021–2023) and conducted intensive research for efficient mooring methods for large-scale Floating Offshore Wind farms.*² As a result of these efforts, in February 2024, “K” Line Wind, JMU, and Nihon Shipyard Co., Ltd. have announced the  approval in principle (AiP) for the design concept of the multi-functional floating offshore windfarm support vessel. *³ Additionally, in September 2024, the company published the Guidelines for the Towing and Mooring Installation of Floating Offshore Wind Power Equipment in collaboration with the Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK).*⁴ The work commissioned in phase 2 builds on the mooring installation technologies developed in phase 1, advancing them for their practical application in commercial-scale projects.

To efficiently install large-scale floating wind turbines, specialized vessels suitable for Japan’s unique maritime and weather conditions must be used. “K” Line Wind, in collaboration with JMU, is dedicated to the research and development of efficient mooring installation techniques, with the aim of reducing costs and improving the construction efficiency of floating offshore wind farms. “K” Line Wind will continue to be committed to contributing to the development and implementation of floating offshore wind power technologies through its research and development efforts. The company aims to promote the large-scale deployment of floating offshore wind power generation systems and the reduction of their cost while also contributing to the realization of a low-carbon and decarbonized society.

(*1) The Green Innovation Fund Projects

To achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, a fund established under NEDO provides continuous support for R&D projects, demonstrations, and social implementation projects for up to 10 years to companies that commit to ambitious goals.

(*2) January 21, 2022: Joint project on “Mass-production and Cost Reduction of Floating Offshore Wind Installation” adopted as Green Innovation Fund

https://www.kline.co.jp/en/news/carbon-neutral/carbon-neutral-20220121.html

(*3) February 28, 2024: NEDO Green Innovation Fund Project: Approval in Principle (AiP) from Japanese Classification Society Class NK for the design concept of the Multi-functional Floating offshore windfarm Support Vessel

https://www.kline.co.jp/en/news/carbon-neutral/carbon-neutral-20240228.html

(*4) September 24, 2024: the Guidelines for the Towing and Mooring Installation of Floating Offshore Wind Power Equipment Related to the NEDO Green Innovation Fund Project “Technology Development Project for Basic Manufacturing and Installation Cost Reduction for Floating Wind Turbines.”
https://klinewind.jp/pdf/press_release_20240924.pdf

TT Club & COA : Guidelines to Flexitank Safety Issued

Steady growth in flexitank usage around the world prompts container owners and specialist insurer to offer safety guidelines to assist shippers, forwarders, carriers and terminals to handle cargo carried in these units with minimal risk. 

Global freight insurance provider, TT Club has issued the latest in its series of Stop Loss publications together with the Container Owners Association (COA).  Focusing on the increasingly popular flexitank unit to ship bulk liquid cargoes, Flexitanks in the supply chain – defining safe operations seeks to identify the applicable risks, highlight good practice and provide practical risk mitigation guidance for those in the supply chain who procure, fit, pack, unpack and handle cargoes being shipped in flexitanks.

It is intended to be consulted and used in conjunction with the IMO/ILO/ UNECE Code of Practice for Packing Cargo Transport Units (CTU Code¹) and the Container Owners Association’s (COA) Flexitank Code of Practice².

In recommending the Stop Loss document, Mike Yarwood TT’s MD Loss Prevention said, “An increasing number of shippers recognise the benefits of shipping their bulk liquid cargoes in flexitanks. The demand continues to grow globally and both TT and the COA consider our publishing of these guidelines timely in order to maintain the safety of the process.”

As in essence a large single use bladder with valves that fits inside a general purpose freight container, the flexitank operates as part of a system which includes the container, its fittings and restraining equipment. While there are advantages to their use in transporting liquids the context of the system as a whole does require additional considerations and risks at various stages of the supply chain. These include cargo compatibility and transit circumstances. 

Various liquids are commonly carried from fruit juices to molasses and from edible oils to pharmaceutical products.  Each commodity has considerations for the material from which the flexitank is made, the nature of valves and pipework, and serious reflection on the potential damage caused should leaks occur.  Multi-modal transits, enabled by the use of containers bring concerns over intermodal terminal awareness of and expertise in flexitank operation as well as the consequences of variable movement and temperature conditions.

The involvement of the COA in the preparation of the Stop Loss has been invaluable in bringing the vast experience of members in the safe operation of these units and the implementation of best practice throughout the supply chain to which both TT and the COA are dedicated.  This Stop Loss is aimed at advancing the cause of improved safety.

Flexitanks in the supply chain – defining safe operations can be downloaded HERE

¹IMO/ILO/UNECE Code of Practice for Packing of Cargo Transport Units (CTU Code) | UNECE

²COA Flexitank Code of Practice V6-O Operators 07.2019

About TT Club

TT Club is the established market-leading independent provider of mutual insurance and related risk management services to the international transport and logistics industry. TT Club’s primary objective is to help make the industry safer, more secure, and more sustainable. Founded in 1968, the Club has more than 1500 Members, spanning container owners and operators, ports and terminals, and logistics companies, working across maritime, road, rail, and air. TT Club is renowned for its high-quality service, in-depth industry knowledge and enduring Member loyalty. It retains more than 97% of its Members, with a third of its entire membership having chosen to insure with the Club for 20 years or more.

www.ttclub.com

About COA

The Container Owners Association (COA) is an international organization representing the common interests of all owners of freight containers. Its principle aims are to develop standards in order to enhance industry efficiency, to disseminate information through conferences, training and education, to promote the safe of operation of containers and to strengthen environmental awareness. Full Members of the Association include container shipping lines, leasing companies and intermodal operators, while Associate Membership is open to suppliers of a wide range of container equipment, systems and services.

www.containerownersassociation.com

“K” LINE UNIVERSITY 2024 Held

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE) organized “K” LINE UNIVERSITY 2024 (KLU 2024) to instill the “K” LINE Group’s management policy into and create a sense of unity among the members of the “K” LINE Group.

KLU 2024 took place over four days from Monday, October 21 to Thursday, October 24, following up on last year’s event, the first in eight years, and 24 members of the Group from “K” LINE’s overseas bases and Group companies in 18 countries and regions participated in the event.

“K” Line University 2024 –
Souvenir photo shoot after the closing ceremony

For the “K” LINE Group, embracing diverse values is a source of competitiveness in global business. On the subject of leadership, KLU 2024 featured explanations of the business strategy by management executives, a guided tour of the shipyard, workshops with participants including head office staff and other programs. By participating in a range of exchanges of views, the participants engaged in face-to-face communication designed to develop their embrace of diverse values and sense of unity (diversity and inclusion).

Moving forward, “K” LINE is committed to the continued growth of the Group as a whole while increasing its corporate value by embracing diverse value to secure and train personnel capable of supporting the portfolios of the different businesses and execute business strategies at a high level.

GEODIS Secures Supply Chain Innovator and Seafreight Partner of the Year at the Supply Chain Asia Awards 2024

Strengthening its position as a leader in providing multimodal freight solutions and helping customers optimize delivery efficiency and sustainability.

GEODIS has been recognised at the 2024 Supply Chain Asia Awards for their outstanding achievements, earning the titles Supply Chain Innovator of the Year, for their industry-leading GEODIS Road Network, and the Seafreight Partner of the Year.  The Awards gala, held in Bangkok, celebrated companies that have demonstrated best-in-class creativity and innovation in their business operations.

Caption Left to right: 
Onno Boots, President and CEO, Asia Pacific and Middle East, GEODIS.
Jaya Moorthi, Vice President, Global Supply Chain & Procurement, Schneider Electric.

Onno Boots, Regional President & CEO, GEODIS Asia Pacific and Middle East said, “These awards reflect our commitment to innovation and excellence in logistics. The Asia Pacific freight and logistics market is set to grow at a CAGR or 6.5% in the next 5 years and is expected to reach 3.67 trillion USD by 2030. Our strategic investments in our Intra-Asia Pacific multimodal freight network and logistics infrastructure have positioned us well to meet market demands. We are proud to lead the way in providing innovative and sustainable solutions that meet our customers’ need for more resilient supply chains, especially in today’s dynamic environment.”

The GEODIS Road Network is certified to (TAPA TSR) 2023 Level 1 Standard, the first in the international freight forwarding industry for cross-border road freight between Singapore and Malaysia. Leveraging industry-leading Internet of Things (IoT) security features and infrastructure, the GEODIS Road Network is integrated with major air hub and seaports, connecting Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and China.  The Road Network enables an extensive range of multimodal options to meet customer needs for agile and flexible supply chains particularly during peak seasons and times of supply chain disruption.

GEODIS is amongst the top global players for Full Container Load (FCL) & Less than Container Load (LCL) services, connecting ports across the globe. Their solutions include 100% carbon insetting with sustainable marine fuel (SMF), optimized cargo flows through proprietary freight management technology, real-time freight visibility and tailored solutions for unique projects.

The Supply Chain Asia (SCA) Awards aims to celebrate the achievements of professional individuals and corporations that have contributed to the growth and development of the industry.

The Awards recognises best-in-class activity, rewarding executives who have delivered excellence, as well as companies that have adopted creativity and innovation in their business operations, thus leading to successful outcomes. The Supply Chain Innovator of the Year awards are accorded to companies who have successfully developed, crafted, or deployed innovative and transformative projects. The nominations of recognition awards are selected from industry professionals and community members of SCA.

GEODIS – www.geodis.com    

GEODIS is a leading global logistics provider acknowledged for its expertise across all aspects of the supply chain. As a growth partner to its clients, GEODIS specializes in four lines of business: Global Freight Forwarding, Global Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express Transport, and European Road Network. With a global network spanning nearly 170 countries and 53 000 employees, GEODIS is ranked no. 5 in its sector across the world. In 2023, GEODIS generated €11.6 billion in revenue. GEODIS is a company owned by SNCF group. 

“K” Line : Presentation and Panel Discussion at “Japan CCUS Summit”

Satoshi Kanamori, Managing Executive Officer at Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE), presented “K” LINE’s projects regarding CCS (Carbon dioxide Capture and Storage) business developments at the “Japan CCUS Summit” *1 at Bellesalle Shibuya Garden in Tokyo, Japan on October 17.

In this presentation, he introduced “K” LINE’s initiatives for the establishment of CCS value chain through the Northern Lights Project*2 the world’s first full-scale CCS value chain project, and Offshore Sarawak CCS Project*3, which was selected as “Japanese Advanced CCS Project” by the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC).

Also, in the panel discussion, he discussed the prospects and challenges towards the establishment of CCS value chain based on the theme “Enhancing the CCUS Infrastructure and Transportation to Consolidate the Development of Its Supply Chain” with other speakers who engage in CCS projects in the world.

“K” LINE group is promoting a variety of initiatives to support the decarbonization of its own operations and society in accordance with its long-term environmental policy, “Environmental Vision 2050”. The knowledge gained through “K” LINE’s advanced liquefied CO2 transport projects will be utilized in the development of projects with liquefied CO2 shipping that will sequentially begin to operate in Japan and overseas in the future with the aim of realizing a sustainable society and increasing “K” LINE’s corporate value.

(*1) 「Japan CCUS Summit」

https://www.japanccussummit.com/

(*2)  February 6, 2024: “K” LINE enters into charter contracts with Northern Lights for third liquefied CO2 vessels:

https://www.kline.co.jp/en/news/carbon-neutral/carbon-neutral-20240206.html

(*3) September 13, 2024: Commission a CCS engineering design work in Sarawak, Malaysia as the “Japanese Advanced CCS Projects” in FY2024

https://www.kline.co.jp/en/news/carbon-neutral/carbon-neutral-20240913.html

MAWANI, HPA and HPC Forge New Collaboration at IAPH World Port Conference

Hamburg, 16 October 2024 – Saudi Ports Authority (MAWANI), Hamburg Port Authority (HPA), and HPC Hamburg Port Consulting (HPC) today signed a pivotal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) during the IAPH World Port Conference in Hamburg. This strategic cooperation will propel innovations in port operations, port development, and workforce capacity building. By harnessing their combined strengths, the parties are set to drive meaningful transformation in global port management.

The representatives in the photograph are (order from left to right):
Dr. Nils Kemme, Managing Director, HPC
Omar Talal Hariri, President of MAWANI
Lennart Kinau, HPA Board Member

The MOU signals a shared vision for tackling key challenges in modern port operations, including leveraging digitalization, optimizing waterborne transport infrastructure, and enhancing overall port efficiency. Each partner brings distinct capabilities to the table: MAWANI’s expertise in large-scale port management, HPA’s focus on port strategy and digitalization, and HPC’s deep knowledge of global project and innovation management in the maritime sector. Together, they will unlock synergies that aim to build smarter, greener and more resilient ports.

A Broad Scope for Collaboration
The partnership recognizes the vast potential for cooperation, particularly in optimizing port infrastructure and technology solutions. Through the MOU, the Parties have expressed their intent to promote best practices by regularly exchanging knowledge, expertise and best practice solutions. The focus will be on developing approaches to port management, building capacity, and driving technological advancements within the maritime sector.

Lennart Kinau, HPA Board Member, emphasized the significance of digital integration in modern port operations:

“As global trade evolves, ports must adapt with intelligent, data-driven systems. This partnership strengthens our position at the forefront of digital transformation, allowing us both to enhance efficiency and governance in port management as well as to achieve new levels of sustainability along critical trade routes like the East-West corridor.”

Enhancing Global Trade Connectivity
With its ambition to strengthen its role as a leader in the logistics sector, MAWANI views this collaboration as key to building connected and sustainable infrastructure across key global trade routes. Saudi Arabia’s ports are vital to international trade, particularly across Asia and Europe, and the MOU allows the Kingdom to leverage cutting-edge technologies to enhance efficiency and connectivity.

HPC’s Expertise Driving Innovation
With a history of executing complex port development projects worldwide, HPC plays a pivotal role in ensuring that this collaboration delivers tangible results. HPC’s extensive experience in digital transformation, coupled with its knowledge of sustainability practices, makes it a key driver of this alliance.

Nils Kemme, CEO of HPC, highlighted HPC’s role in shaping the future of ports:

“HPC has successfully delivered transformative port projects in over 130 countries for nearly half a century. This MOU builds on that legacy by focusing on the next generation of port solutions—automated systems, and smart digital platforms that redefine how ports operate and minimize environmental impact. We are excited to collaborate with MAWANI and HPA to push the boundaries of what modern and sustainable ports can achieve.”

A Framework for Action
Moving forward, the Parties will collaborate to develop actionable strategies. The focus will be on creating an agile, resilient port network that embraces technological innovations such as port AI, automated logistics, and advanced data-driven solutions. Regular knowledge exchanges and collaborative initiatives will ensure this partnership continuously adapts to the latest advancements in global maritime logistics.

The signing of this agreement at the IAPH World Port Conference marks the beginning of a bold journey to create future-proof, efficient ports that contribute to the global supply chain. By pooling their resources and expertise, MAWANI, HPA, and HPC are setting the stage for a transformative era in global port operations.

About HPC
HPC Hamburg Port Consulting is a global port and logistics consultancy specializing in strategic, operational, commercial, and digitalization services for the ports, terminals, and rail sectors. Since its founding in 1976, the Hamburg-based consultancy has successfully completed over 1,800 projects in 130 countries across six continents, covering the entire development cycle of port and terminal projects. HPC employs around 100 domain experts, including terminal operators, software engineers, logistics managers, transport economists, data scientists, and mathematicians. As a subsidiary of Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA), HPC has deep roots in container handling, break bulk, multipurpose, and hinterland operations. www.hamburgportconsulting.com

“K” LINE Carried Out Emergency Response Exercise

On October 10th, 2024, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE) carried out “the Emergency Response Exercise” as a part of training to optimally prepare for any major maritime accidents. The scenario of the exercise developed assuming that a coal carrier operated by “K” LINE collided with a tanker when she was transiting in the Tsugaru Straits. It confirmed a series of emergency response process by setting crisis-management headquarters upon receiving an incident report, establishing communication channel with ship owner, ship management company and conducting a mock press conference at the end of the exercise. During the press conference, journalists asked many questions, creating a tense atmosphere to a real conference.

While growing interest in safety and environmental protection over the world, “K” LINE Group positions the safe operation of vessels as the top priority in fulfilling its social responsibility as a shipping company. Moving forward, it will continue to contribute to society by preparing for unforeseen circumstances through large-scale accident response drills and by ensuring daily safe operations of its vessels.