bremenports reviews terminal investors

bremenports reviews terminal investors    Germany's bremenports has entered the next phase of its search for investors for its new Offshore Terminal Bremerhaven (OTB) project.
   July 29 marked the closing date for companies and consortiums to submit their proposals for financing, planning, constructing and operating the cargo handling and assembly terminal, which is to be built in front of the Weser dyke over the next few years.
   “We have received sufficient candidatures to ensure that there will be real competition for the forthcoming concession award,” said Holger Banik, managing director of bremenports, in a statement.
   In contrast to previous major port construction projects, OTB will not be financed by public funds, but rather through a private investor or investment consortium. “I am confident that we shall achieve our goal. This would be a quantum leap in the execution of major maritime infrastructure projects,” Banik said.
   The Senate of the Free Hanesatic City of Bremen — represented by the port management company bremenports — intends to award the planning, construction and operation as well as financing of the future heavy lift terminal for the offshore industry in the form of a “works concession in the water, energy and transport sector.”
   “We are abiding strictly by the provisions of EU law,” Banik said. “The submissions will now be scrutinized in detail and evaluated on the basis of the criteria which were announced to candidates at the start of the process. Candidates which have successfully proved their aptitude will then be asked to submit an initial tender.”
   During the next stage, the initial tenders will be evaluated on the basis of 'transparent economic and technical contract award criteria.' The best tenders will then be selected by a steering committee of state councillors, chaired by Heiner Heseler, state councillor for industry and ports, which will then conduct negotiations with the preferred tenderers. The selected tenderers will then be asked to submit a final and binding tender and, after examination, the contract will be awarded to the most economically advantageous tender.
   Banik said that contract award is scheduled for the end of 2012. The concession will be awarded for a term of 30 years. The OTB is expected to preassemble and ship up to 160 wind turbines per annum for the offshore wind energy industry.