DP World - Experts & Thought Leaders

Unifeeder A/S and MPC Container Ships ASA (MPC) announced a new strategic collaboration to make joint investments into Energy Efficiency Technology (EET). The partnership will see the parties unite to increase decarbonisation and efficiency in maritime transport, driving forward Unifeeder’s own target to cut its emissions by 47% by 2030 and support customers to accelerate their Scope 3 reductions. Advanced EET solutions Unifeeder and MPC will jointly invest in efficiency-enhancing retrofits with advanced EET solutions Under the agreement, Unifeeder and MPC will jointly invest in efficiency-enhancing retrofits with advanced EET solutions. The investments will be shared between the charterer, Unifeeder, and MPC.  Subsequent cost savings resulting from these energy efficiency enhancements will also be shared between the two parties, fostering a mutually beneficial relationship, lowering fuel costs for the charterer and increasing the value of the asset for the owner. A key aspect of this collaboration is the involvement of a trusted independent third party, Vessel Performance Solutions ApS (VPS), which will monitor on all the installation of technical solutions to measure the efficiency savings from the installed EET using real-time data.  Partnership with MPC Container Ships Unifeeder's Director Group Decarbonisation, Christian Hoepfner, commented, "We are excited to embark on this innovative partnership with MPC Container Ships. At Unifeeder, minimising fuel consumption and enhancing operational efficiency is a priority." Christian Hoepfner adds, "This collaboration not only aligns with our goals for decarbonisation but also sets a precedent for the industry to overcome traditional split incentive barriers. By jointly investing in a bundle of Energy Efficiency Technologies and sharing the resulting benefits, we are paving the way for a more sustainable future in maritime transport." MPC’s joint investments Unifeeder and MPC’s joint investments will focus on several solutions Unifeeder and MPC’s joint investments will focus on several solutions including the installation of variable frequency drives to adjust the outputs of high-consumption parts to suit the specific need at the specific moment and a filtration system to purify lubeoil. All together, these are expected to cut emissions by over 10%. Philipp Niesing, Managing Director at MPC, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, "This agreement with Unifeeder is a testament to our commitment to collaborative decarbonisation and efficiency enhancements. Investments in our existing fleet is a cornerstone of our USD 400 million fleet renewal investment program as this will immediately contribute to reducing emissions. By overcoming the traditional split incentive structure, we hope to drive positive change in the industry, and we are proud to partner with Unifeeder in this undertaking." Efficiency-enhancing modifications This new initiative joins several other Unifeeder sustainability schemes, which focus on increasing fuel efficiency, optimising vessel operations and replacing older vessels with methanol-powered ships that are due to enter operation by 2026. Unifeeder is also making a series of different efficiency-enhancing modifications and technologies in its chartered fleet of ships, including silicone coating, optimisation of power consumers, and increased use of biofuels.  Unifeeder - part of DP World’s Marine Services Division Unifeeder is part of DP World’s Marine Services Division and plays a key role in advancing DP World’s 'Our World, Our Future' sustainability strategy. Broader division-wide initiatives, of which Unifeeder plays a decisive part, include the Zero Emission Port Alliance (ZEPA) which is led in partnership with APM Terminals and is an industry-wide strategic coalition to accelerate the journey to zero emissions for container handling equipment (CHE) on ports.

A new logistics and freight yard beside Southampton Container Terminal is predicted to give a significant extra competitive edge to cargo and haulage operations in the port.  The new yard and operation has been created in a deal between Southampton Container Terminal operator - DP World and Williams Shipping, one of Southampton’s oldest and most established maritime and logistics businesses. Cargo expansion The yard is twice the size of the existing Williams Shipping yard, which is outside the port, and it is predicted that the short move and expansion of operations could at least double the amount of cargo passing through.  Jonathan Williams, Managing Director of the Cargo Division of Williams Shipping, said the cramped conditions in their previous yard restricted capacity but the expansion into the new yard had opened up several opportunities to grow and diversify cargo and haulage operations. Efficient shipping experience "We have been running cargo operations for decades, but this side of our work has grown significantly in recent years," stated Jonathan Williams. He continues, "It is a really good fit for our maritime customer base, creating a more efficient shipping experience for them, from import into the docks and on to road haulage, or the reverse for goods for export." 22-truck fleet Williams Shipping’s 22-truck fleet is a familiar sight on the country’s roads - hauling from 44 tonnes Jonathan Williams adds, "The increased capacity that this creates in port haulage operations will be a significant benefit to freight forwarding companies and shipping lines that have often been forced onto a waiting list for their chance to move their goods." Williams Shipping’s 22-truck fleet is a familiar sight on the country’s roads - hauling from 44 tonnes up to 150 tonnes gross - and seven brand new DAF trucks are being added to the fleet this year in a further significant financial investment in the business. Cargo transportation Jonathan Williams said, "We are working very closely with several freight forwarders across the country helping them to support their customers bringing cargo into Southampton from all over the world for onward delivery, or transporting it to Southampton for export." Much of the haulage work the Williams team is fulfilling is awkwardly shaped industrial goods that would not easily fit inside a shipping container. Recent examples include very heavy and wide cable reels that needed heavy haulage, a significant number of large, industrial batteries, and a Rolls Royce aircraft engine. Equipment investment Jonathan Williams adds, "Our team spends a lot of time speaking with our freight forwarding clients, so we can completely understand the technicalities or any awkward issues with the products they need to move, so we can ensure that we are geared up to handle them." He continues, "We have invested heavily in equipment in the new yard - from very high-end forklifts to reach stackers to make sure that whatever the item, we can move it." Cargo Division Jonathan Williams concludes, "Moving into this new yard alongside the Container Terminal is a significant milestone for Williams Shipping, especially our Cargo Division. We see this leading to significant growth for both us and DP World over the coming years as a direct result of this move."  The existing Williams Shipping Millbrook cargo yard will continue to be used for additional open-air and long-term equipment storage. Williams Shipping will be showing off the capabilities of its new yard at Breakbulk Europe 2024 and Multimodal 2024 in Birmingham from June 11th to 13th, 2024 - both exhibitions specific to the cargo and project cargo industries.

Unifeeder Group has completed a long-term charter agreement for two additional methanol-capable container feeder vessels. This follows the agreement for two initial vessels announced in October 2023, underscoring the group’s commitment to greener shipping solutions.   1250 twenty-foot TEU vessels The latest agreement is in partnership with German-based ship-owning group Elbdeich Reederei and Norwegian shipowner MPC Container Ships (MPCC), who are responsible for one vessel each. The 1250 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) vessels, scheduled for delivery in 2026, will be deployed on Unifeeder’s European network. The addition of these new vessels reinforces the group’s ongoing efforts to reduce emissions across its network. Fuel efficiency Unifeeder collaborates with industry partners to address the challenge of renewable methanol supply Simultaneously, Unifeeder is enhancing fuel efficiency throughout the fleet while increasing the utilisation of biofuels in its conventional vessels. In alignment with its parent company, DP World, Unifeeder collaborates with industry partners to address the challenge of renewable methanol supply. This requires off-take commitments to establish production at the scale needed to replace conventional fossil fuels within the industry. Methanol-powered vessels Jesper Kristensen, Group CEO of Unifeeder Group, said, “Building upon our commitment to methanol-powered vessels last year, this marks another significant stride towards the green transformation of our fleet and operations." "We anticipate the vessels to enter into operation in the next two years, advancing our steadfast commitment to sustainable solutions. We offer our customers alternatives that align with their sustainability journeys while making meaningful progress towards our own ambitious decarbonisation goals.” Decarbonisation plan Unifeeder has committed to a 25 percent reduction of emissions by 2030 and to reach net zero by 2050 The investment in the two new additional ships further supports Unifeeder Group’s ambitious decarbonisation plan. Surpassing the industry average, Unifeeder has committed to a 25 percent reduction of emissions by 2030 and to reach net zero by 2050 with no new fossil greenhouse gas emissions. It aims to achieve this by emphasising fuel-efficient practices, regular maintenance and refitting processes of the existing fleet, and fostering a culture of learning and collaboration, sharing best practices across markets to drive effective carbon reduction strategies. Reducing carbon footprint Unifeeder Group is part of DP World Marine Services, which announced in December 2023 that it had reduced its carbon footprint by more than 16% in 2023 from its 2019 baseline of 2,118 ktCO2e by creating efficiencies across its operations. DP World also joined the First Movers Coalition, setting a target for 5% of its marine power to come from zero-emissions fuels by 2030, marking its commitment to decarbonisation – a sentiment echoed by the Unifeeder Group.