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Shipper
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EPCA unveils
Berlin programme
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The open standard will start with refrigerated containers, but then be expanded to cover all container types
COA to launch telematics
interoperability standard
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he Container Owners Association (COA)
says its Telematics/Track Trace Work Group
will take the unprecedented step of providing
an open standard (at the application layer
level) to permit interoperability of telematics
device data from the various solution
providers in the maritime shipping sector.
The open standard, which will start with
refrigerated containers, but then be expanded to
cover all container types, will pave the way for
container owners to have multiple choices of
vendors and platforms for their container fleets
when choosing telematics systems. This will reduce
risk and provide a more competitive and innovative
marketplace of solutions to be explored and
deployed.
Commenting on the initiative, Brian Darnowski,
COA chairman, stated: “We are very pleased that
July/August 2019
the COA has been able to facilitate the coming
together of all the prominent telematics vendors in
the market today and support them to agree to
take this vital step that is essential for the growth
of technology solutions in our industry.”
He continued: “This new open standard will
allow container owners to explore more complex
IT, artificial intelligence and even blockchain
applications to bring efficiencies and cost savings
to our members.”
The first step of this open standard is at the
application layer, but the COA Work Group has
also drawn up a roadmap to be expanded right
down to device level in terms of specification. The
open standard is scheduled to be published in
October 2019
www.containerownersassociation.org
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he European Petrochemical Association
(EPCA) has released programme details
for its 53rd Annual Meeting, on 6-9 October
in Berlin, Germany.
On Tuesday 8 October the meeting, this year
themed ‘Writing Together the Next Chapter of the
European Petrochemical Industry’, will be officially
opened by EPCA president Marc Schuller, executive
vice-president of Arkema Group.
Karin Helmstaedt, presenter and reporter at DW
Culture, will for the first time moderate the
Meeting.
The opening session will look at how the
petrochemical value chain can contribute to a
sustainable and sustained growth in Europe. Paul
Romer, co-winner of the 2018 Nobel Prize for
Economics, professor at NYU and former chief
economist at the World Bank, will deliver the
keynote introductory address.
Professor Romer will share his perspective on the
key factors for long-term sustainable and sustained
growth in a physical world determined by resource
scarcity and sustainability challenges. Exploring the
strengths of the European ecosystem, he will also
investigate how the regulatory framework and
social norms can help shape innovative ideas.
It will be followed by two response addresses by
captains of industry. Tom Crotty, director, Ineos
Group, will present the key factors for long term
sustainable growth in Europe that motivate Ineos’
large-scale investments in Antwerp.
Laurent Auguste, senior executive vice-president
development, innovation and markets, member of
the executive committee, Veolia, and representative
of Veolia within the AEPW (Alliance to End Plastic
Waste), will share the vision of Veolia as a major
downstream player on how it contributes to drive
Europe’s growth.
Later the same day, a Digital Café Workshop will
discuss ‘Innovation & Digitisation in the
Petrochemical Supply Chain’.
Facilitated by Prof Ann Vereecke, full professor
and partner, Vlerick Business School, the workshop
will provide an opportunity to engage with peers
on issues such as the circular economy, low-waste,
and maximum reuse of assets and resources, and
how these might impact the petrochemical supply
chain.
On the morning of Wednesday 9 October, the
Logistics and Supply Chain Session will highlight
the strategic importance of infrastructure in Europe
as a key asset for sustained and sustainable growth
of the petrochemical sector and industry at large, in
the current turbulent trade and market conditions.
Speakers will share their vision on the current
status of European infrastructure and on the key
priorities they see for a more efficient, competitive,
reliable and sustainable European logistics and
transport network, connecting countries, including
Russia and the Far East.
During the session, the contribution of transport
and storage facilities in meeting the economic,
energy and sustainability challenges of today and
tomorrow will be emphasised as well as the need
to foster investment in new facilities or in
upgrading existing equipment.
The importance of shifting to intermodal
transport, and in particular to increase the share of
rail transport to absorb the planned increase of 30
percent in freight transport at the horizon 2030 will
also be debated during the session, together with
the role of digital technologies and technical
innovation to support this modal shift and leverage
the logistics sector sustainability ambitions.
The welcome address will be given by Dirk
Verstraeten, chairman of the Supply Chain Program
Committee (SCPC) and director global logistics
procurement, Covestro Deutschland AG. Jacques
Vandermeiren, CEO, Port of Antwerp, Clemens
Först, spokesman for the board, Rail Cargo Group,
chairman of the CEO Taskforce of UIC and CER,
and Bernhard Kunz, managing director, Hupac
Group, will share their vision on this crucial theme
for the sector.
The Pavilion and Garden Lounges I & II on the
ground floor of the Hotel InterContinental will host
the ‘Logistics Village’.
www.epca.eu
Shippers should pray for continued alliances
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1,500 Tapelines 62,000 Looms
35 years of excellence
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hipper opposition to deepsea liner
shipping alliances may be dangerously
misplaced, delegates at the TOC Container
Supply Chain event in Rotterdam heard.
Lars Jensen, chief executive and partner of
SeaIntelligence Consulting, said that efforts by
some to bar container lines from operating in
alliances, claiming that they have become anti-
competitive – such as the International Transport
Forum’s report earlier this year – would result in
freight rates “skyrocketing”.
The EU’s Block Exemption Regulation (BER),
which is the de facto legislation covering liner
alliances and vessel sharing agreements (VSAs) on
container trades to and from Europe, is set to
expire on 25 April next year, and European
Commission regulators are currently assessing
whether to extend it for a further five years.
“If the anti-trust exemption isn’t extended that
doesn’t necessarily mean that shipping lines can’t
run alliances, it may well just mean that the lines
have higher hoops that they have to jump
through, and I have no doubt that they will do
that, but it will mean a lot in legal costs and the
carriers will have to recoup those costs and the
only way they can do that is through higher
rates,” Jensen said.
“However, if shipping alliances are outlawed
altogether then freight rates will skyrocket because
alliances are the only way that carriers can operate
ultra-large container ships (ULCVs) effectively.”
He explained that on its own, Maersk Line could
only run two Asia-Europe services a week with its
fleet, and even then it would have a much more
limited port rotation than currently under its 2M
alliance with MSC.
“I think you would see these services calling at
just three Chinese export ports and making three
main European port calls,” he said. “If you are
shipping from Shanghai container yard to
Rotterdam container yard then that’s fine, rates
will stay relatively low, but for any other origin or
destination you will have to use far more
transhipment and shippers will be faced with an
enormous jump in freight rates.
“So I am of the opinion that shippers should pray
that lines are allowed to continue to operate
alliances,” he concluded.