Finnish Transport Workers’ Union Rejects Employer’s Proposal, Strikes Begin at Ports

Feb. 15, 2023 - Finnish Transport Workers’ Union, Auto-ja Kjetusala Työntekijäliitto (AKT), commenced its strike action on 15 February at 06:00 am (local time) impacting all ports and terminals in Finland.

AKT and employer organisations are at an impasse over wages and working conditions.

The strike that started earlier today will last until further notice with all vessel operations in Finland's ports, gate moves and handling of containers within terminals having been suspended until further notice.

AKT said that it held collective bargaining negotiations with employer organizations and a mediator until the last moments on Tuesday evening, 14 February. European Labour Authority Mediator, Leo Suomaa, gave settlement proposals to both the stevedoring sector and the truck, tanker and oil product sector as well as the terminal operations sector.

According to AKT, its divisions and the union's board discussed reconciliation proposals in their meetings on Tuesday evening. However, the presentations had to be rejected as “completely inadequate.”

AKT said negotiations have been held since the beginning of December, but the two sides have not been able to come to an agreement on wages and working conditions.

AKT said the goal is to have the wage level improved and corrected so that real wages do not fall. In addition, there are also important issues still to be agreed upon in the qualitative development of working conditions.

The negotiating parties will recommence the negotiations by 17 February.

The largest ports affected by the strike are Hamina-Kotka, Helsinki, Hanko, Kokkola, Naantali, Pori, Oulu, Rauma, Turku and Uusikaupunki. With 90 per cent of Finnish goods exports handled at ports, the strike could have serious repercussions for the foreign trade of Finland.

A list of affected operations can be found here

SOURCE: AKT and news reports

Georgia Ports Authority Names Flavio Batista as Vice President of Sales and Marketing

Jan. 23, 2023 - The Georgia Ports Authority has named Flavio Batista as its new Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

“We’re delighted to add Flavio to our team,” said Cliff Pyron, Chief Commercial Officer at GPA. “His depth of knowledge and the energy he brings to this new position will continue and strengthen the customer-centered focus that has been a hallmark of Georgia Ports.”

Batista comes to GPA from the Wallenius Wilhelmsen Group, an ocean carrier focused on developing sustainable shipping and logistics solutions for manufacturers of cars, trucks, heavy equipment and specialized cargo.

In his new position, he will direct international marketing, business development, and the sales effort toward beneficial cargo owners. Batista said his experience finding end-to-end solutions for customers will inform his work promoting Georgia Ports.

“It’s not a matter of just getting the customer to bring their cargo to the port, as opposed to somewhere else,” Batista said. “It’s about adding value to our customers beyond the port, finding the best overall solution for them.”

Batista’s experience at Wallenius Wilhelmsen spans the globe. He most recently served as senior vice president and head of Americas sales, leading ocean and logistics commercial development and customer relations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Latin America. Prior to that position, he was executive vice president and head of commercial activities for Europe, Africa and the Middle East at Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics, based in Antwerp, Belgium. Prior to his time at WWL Europe, he was vice president for WWL in Sao Paulo, Brazil, responsible for South America.

Batista acknowledged that he is transitioning from the ocean carrier business to port administration at a challenging time when container demand is easing.

“More than ever, it is important for us to be able to highlight the benefits of using Georgia Ports,” Batista said. “During the height of demand, many new customers began using the Port of Savannah, because other ports couldn’t handle their volumes. Our work now is to transition this new business into long-term, loyal customers, and recruit new companies to move their cargo through our terminals.”

Batista said he and his wife and son are excited about moving from their current home in New Jersey to Georgia’s warmer climate and Southern hospitality.

Euroports Finland Buys Substantial Part of BB Logistics Oy

Dec. 30, 2022 - Euroports Finland Oy and the owners of BB Logistics Oy have signed an agreement, according to which the owners of BB Logistics will sell a substantial part of the company to Euroports Finland. The agreement brings together two innovative companies that share a commitment to providing the highest quality maritime supply-chain solutions to customers across the globe.

BB Logistics is a fast-growing, reliable logistics service provider operating in five ports in Finland: Kemi, Oulu, Kristiinankaupunki, Kaskinen and Hamina. The company has 40 employees, who will continue to work for BB Logistics. The name of the company and the current management team will remain unchanged.

Euroports Finland is the leading full-service port operator in Finland. The company provides a range of port services, including value-added services, with the highest standards of safety and quality, focusing on the sustainability of its operations. Euroports Finland is part of the international Euroports Group, which operates in approximately 50 terminals and logistic platforms globally and has a workforce of more than 3,000 employees.

“As part of Euroports Group Strategy supported by our Shareholders (RLogitech, FPIM, PMV) we are very pleased to be able to develop further our footprint in Finland with the investment into BB Logistics port operator in five terminals in Finland,” said Frédéric Platini, CEO Euroports Group. “This acquisition will complement our position both from a geographic as well as a commodity perspective in the Baltic Sea area with our existing terminals in Rostock, Rauma, Hanko, and Pietarsaari.”

Kim Lindström, Managing Director of BB Logistics, added, “We are excited about the new partnership with Euroports. We share the same logistic DNA which allows us to support our customers to be successful worldwide. Providing efficient logistics services is at the core of our service package.”

SOURCE: Euroports

Port of Antwerp-Bruges Provides Update on Certified Pick up

Dec. 28, 2022 (Press Release) - The terminals on the Antwerp port platform are further preparing themselves to implement Certified Pick up, the container delivery process based on identity rather than PIN codes. In the context of a digitally secure port, the implementation of Certified Pick up is one of Port of Antwerp-Bruges' priorities. Over the past few months, a lot of optimisations have taken place, in order to tailor the process even better to users' needs.

A clear customs light

Certified Pick up brings users more transparency about the delivery process of a container. Customs status is an important factor in this. In recent months, we have been working hard with the port community, customs, NxtPort and Port of Antwerp-Bruges to improve and extend the quality of the customs light of a container (CCRM). We have thoroughly tested the forwarding of the customs light messages and solved technical hick-ups together with customs step by step.

Furthermore, additional reporting and the development of port equalisation provides more transparency and makes the process operationally more efficient. Thus, the customs status of a container can be proactively monitored by multiple parties including shipping companies, forwarders and transport operators.

The new transparent customs light will be available during the first quarter of 2023. After a transition phase, the light will eventually become mandatory to be able to take containers away from the terminal.

Uniform procedures

Different partners in the supply chain handle the import process of a container differently. To achieve an optimal digital process, standardisation is needed. We mapped these different import processes and their settlement and established a uniform way of working. This was necessary to digitise the process and make it more efficient. These processes will soon be available as manuals and best practices.

Who is on board?

Certified Pick up is currently in operation at PSA's terminals (Q 869 and 913). DP World Antwerp Gateway and MPET will follow shortly. In addition, just about all shipping companies are connected and we are taking the final steps to make the release for truck operators go smoothly. We developed extra functionalities in the user interface to adjust larger volumes in one go. In the next phase, we will also implement this for inland shipping and rail.

In total, about 2,000 companies are registered on Certified Pick up today.

In order for the rollout to continue smoothly, we call on all parties to actively start using Certified Pick up already, receive the release right and then forward, accept, reject or revoke it. Only in this way can we ensure a smooth elimination of PINs soon.

A multidisciplinary team from Port of Antwerp-Bruges and NxtPort is working full steam ahead to ensure a further successful roll-out in 2023.

You can always contact the project team for questions at [email protected]. General information on this project can be found at www.portofantwerpbruges.com/cpu.

SOURCE: Port of Antwerp-Bruges