MSC - Experts & Thought Leaders

Hamburger Hafen und Logistik Aktiengesellschaft (HHLA AG) will continue to be majority-owned by the City of Hamburg and will be further developed together with the new major shareholder Mediterranean Shipping Company, the world's largest container shipping company. Following the approval of the Hamburg parliament and the EU Commission, all closing conditions have now been met with the approval of the Ukrainian merger control authority. Shares in HHLA AG The Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg will hold around 69% of the listed shares in HHLA AG, up from 50.1% As previously announced, the transaction will be completed by the end of 2024. MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company has acquired shares from shareholders through a tender offer and on the open market and will also acquire part of the shares previously held by Hamburg.  The Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg will hold around 69 percent of the listed shares in HHLA AG, up from 50.1 percent. As with Hamburg Airport, the company will be managed under municipal control, but with the expertise of a private sector partner. Strategic partner for HHLA Dr. Melanie Leonhard, Senator for Economics and Innovation, said: "Our port is an important location for international logistics in Germany and Europe. HHLA will continue to provide reliable services for all customers of the Port of Hamburg. However, in order to continue to fulfil its functions for Hamburg and its hinterland, we need to further develop and modernise the port." "With its expertise in maritime logistics, Mediterranean Shipping Company will be a strategic partner for HHLA in the necessary further development. After extensive consultation and review, all authorities and institutions involved have now determined that there are no legal concerns and that the transaction can be implemented as agreed." Future viability of HHLA Dr. Andreas Dressel, Senator for Finance: "Everything has been thoroughly examined, discussed and weighed up. All commitments will be honoured: The City of Hamburg will retain its majority shareholding in HHLA through our group holding company, HGV. Key agreements have been contractually agreed, including employee co-determination. The proceeds from the transaction and a capital increase by MSC will enable substantial investments of almost half a billion euros in the modernisation and future viability of HHLA, without us having to use additional taxpayers' money." "The partnership must and will now prove itself in practice over the next few years. In the interest of the Port of Hamburg, we should all respect the democratically made decision and wish the partnership every success in terms of value creation and jobs." Long-standing partnership Soren Toft, CEO of MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, said: "We are delighted that the transaction is now close to a successful conclusion. Together with the City of Hamburg as majority shareholder, we will support HHLA and the Port of Hamburg to return to a growth path." "As part of our long-standing partnership, we will further strengthen our presence in Hamburg and provide HHLA with additional equity to invest in the modernisation of its infrastructure." Further development of HHLA AG Hamburg and MSC announced a strategic partnership for the further development of HHLA AG On 13 September, Hamburg and MSC announced a strategic partnership for the further development of HHLA AG. The aim of the partnership is to create a strong basis for the sustainable further development of HHLA.  The Port of Hamburg will become an important hub in MSC's global shipping and intermodal network, strengthening its position as a pioneering North-West European trade hub. As part of the agreement, MSC will significantly increase its cargo throughput at HHLA's terminals in Hamburg from 2025. Invest in HHLA From 2031, MSC will handle a minimum volume of 1,000,000 TEUs in Hamburg. Even before the transaction, the shipping line had brought additional liner services to Hamburg. MSC will also locate its new German headquarters for several hundred employees in Hamburg and invest in HHLA. The conditions for completion included merger control clearance of the transaction by the European Commission and the relevant authorities in Georgia, Tunisia and Ukraine, the latter due to the terminal operated by HHLA in Odessa. Strategic partnership In addition, subsidy control approval had to be obtained from the European Commission and foreign trade approval from the competent authorities in Italy, Slovenia, Romania and Denmark. Further steps to implement the strategic partnership will not be taken until the transaction has been completed.

Peel Ports was pleased to welcome the first call of a new direct container service connecting the UK’s North-West with the Far East this week. MSC’s new Britannia Service creates a unique corridor between the two markets and significantly opens up export and import opportunities for businesses looking to utilise the Port of Liverpool’s unique proximity to the heart of the UK. Britannia Service The new service follows increased demand from retailers and importers looking to diversify their supply chain, improve resiliency, and reduce total road miles by ensuring goods arrive closer to their end destination. The first sailing for the service saw the MSC Tokyo arrive in Liverpool from Vietnam, after leaving China. Enhancing customer offerings Michael Collins, Commercial Director at MSC UK, commented, "We are delighted to see the arrival of this highly anticipated direct service connecting Asia with Liverpool which will significantly enhance our customer offering in the UK while reaffirming our partnership with Peel Ports Group." He adds, "Building on our extensive UK port network and established services between the Far East and the UK, the Britannia Service allows customers in the North-West of the UK to bring their cargo closer to its final destination." A smart, sustainable solution David Huck, Chief Operating Officer at Peel Ports Group, said, "The new Britannia service is a significant benefit for Liverpool, and indeed the North." He adds, "In collaboration with MSC, we are delighted to be able to provide businesses with a smarter and more sustainable solution to goods reaching the major distribution hubs of the UK. We’ve always invested for the long term in our facilities and this shows the benefit of that approach." Improving transit times David Huck continues, "With so much pressure currently on the supply chain, the economy, and the environment, this announcement positions a more balanced UK supply chain, bringing with it job creation and much needed leveling-up approach for the North." The updated network is designed to improve services and transit times between Asia and North Europe, offering new port pairs, while adapting to the ongoing challenges of port congestion in Europe.

The Port Authority of Valencia is committed to hydrogen research through the signing of an agreement with CNH2 (C.N.E. Hydrogen and Fuel Cells) to promote the technological development and implementation of this fuel in the Valencian docks. At the meeting of the Board of Directors of the Port Authority of València (PAV) gave the go-ahead to the signing of this agreement whose purpose is to give continuity to the authorisation for the occupation of an area of 446m2 of the port public domain in the north dock ‘Xità’ for the operation of a pilot station for mobile refueling of hydrogen.  4×4 hydrogen tractor Currently, the hydrogen station is being used by two vehicles associated with the operators Mediterranean Shipping Company Terminal Valencia, S.A. (MSC) and Valencia Terminal Europa, S.A. (VTE): the ReachStacker developed by Hyster, the 4×4 hydrogen tractor developed by Atena. These vehicles can only be operated by specially trained and qualified port personnel, and a subgroup has been created to carry out this work. Refueling action It is necessary for these vehicles to be ready and filled with hydrogen fuel before the first shift On the other hand, from the point of view of port operations, it is necessary for these vehicles to be ready and filled with hydrogen fuel before the first shift in the morning. Hence, it is necessary to locate the hydrogen facility within the port service area as it allows the refueling action to take place in the shortest possible time and avoids delays at the port access control points. Expansibility characteristic It is also important that hydrogen is refueled as soon as possible, as it is a gas with special expansibility characteristics that require a certain amount of time to refill the tanks of port vehicles. The success of this type of technology lies not only in environmental efficiency and 0% emissions but also in the correct adaptation to a world as competitive and strict in terms of operational efficiency as the port activity in port terminals where it is being tested. The signing is part of the European H2PORTS project financed by the European Commission, specifically the Fuel Cells Hydrogen Joint Undertaking, the European organisation in charge of financing and promoting hydrogen research, technological development, and deployment. Consolidated annual accounts The year-end figures show a positive result of 26,327,927.73 euros and a turnover of 141.3 million euros The Audit Report of the consolidated annual accounts of Valenciaport has received approval without qualifications from the General Intervention of the State Administration (IGAE). These year-end figures show a positive result of 26,327,927.73 euros and a turnover of 141.3 million euros, which means a decrease of 0.80% concerning 2022; a variation resulting from the decreases in the ship rate, cargo rate, and activity rate. Other matters of the PAV Board of Directors Train: Port of Sagunto / Cantabrian Corridor The Board of Directors has approved delegating to Mar Chao, president of the Port Authority of Valencia, the exercise of the competence to approve the text of the amending addenda and extensions of the agreements regulating the financial contributions of the PAV from the financial fund for port land accessibility about the “rail access to the Port of Sagunto” and the “contribution to improvement actions in the Sagunto-Teruel-Zaragoza line”. In this sense, Chao has been authorised to sign the amending addenda and extensions of the Agreements, thus empowering the presidency and the general management of the PAV to take the necessary steps. Acelor Mittal The Board of Directors of the PAV has resolved to ratify the actions of the president of the Port Authority of Valencia, Mar Chao, in the signing of the transactional agreement between Arcelor Mittal España S.A. and the Port Authority of Valencia, signed on June 13, 2024, about the concession of its ownership in the Port of Sagunto that allows the maintenance of the system of bonuses foreseen in its concession, observing the opinion issued by the Council of State. Extension of the UPV agreement The members of the Board of Directors have approved the extension of the business agreement between the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) and the Port Authority of Valencia for the development of the Valenciaport Chair of Logistics-Port Innovation. Adhesion to the agreement between the Secretary of State for Security and State Ports The Board of Directors has approved the adhesion of the PAV to the agreement between the Secretary of State for Security and Puertos del Estado for the installation of border control equipment in Spanish ports within the framework of the European Entry and Exit System (EES) and the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS).