Report highlights more carrier-terminal operator partnerships
Carrier-terminal operator partnerships have become more common in box terminals, according to a report by Drewry Shipping Consultants.
“This has seen both Mediterranean Shipping Co. and COSCO utilizing their considerable interests in container shipping for greater terminal control,” Drewry said.
The report, “Annual Review of Global Container Terminal Operators 2004,” cites MSC’s operating partnerships with SSA Marine in Long Beach and TN in Le Havre.
The report shows there are five carrier-affiliated terminal operators and five independent operators among the top 10 marine terminal operators worldwide, if P&O Ports is counted as being affiliated to P&O Nedlloyd. The biggest carrier-affiliated operators are APM Terminals (third in the world when measured in annual TEU volume), P&O Ports (fourth), COSCO (sixth), Evergreen (seventh) and APL (10th). The top independent port operators in TEU volume are Hutchison Port Holdings (first), PSA Corp. (second), Eurogate (fifth), SSA Marine and Dubai Ports Authority (tied for eighth).
The combined terminal throughput of COSCO and its part-owned affiliate COSCO Pacific “made significant progress during the past year, with volumes growing by over 50 percent during 2003 to 7.4 million TEUs,” Drewry said. This was driven by strong growth at Chinese ports, where the majority of COSCO’s port investments are located.
Drewry said two privately funded greenfield developments, by SSA Marine at Texas City and APM Terminals at Hampton Roads represent “a significant departure from the leased terminal or common-user terminal arrangements found at most ports.”