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Tag: Port of Antwerp-Bruges | Ferry Shipping News

May 03
3

DIGITAL

By | 2025 Newsletter week 18 | No Comments

Hyundai Glovis Embraces Digital Fire Safety for EV Shipping

As EV exports rise, Hyundai Glovis is tackling fire risks with digital innovation. Partnering with Consilium Safety Group, the company is equipping its fleet with the SMiG system—an advanced fire control interface that maps real-time smoke and heat data across ships.

Instead of vague alerts, crews now get pinpoint locations and early warnings—often gaining up to four extra minutes to respond. “It’s a digital guardian at sea,” says Consilium’s Nordberg.

The goal? Smarter, faster, data-driven safety—onboard and potentially in car parks and logistics hubs on land.

Read the full article: https://www.consiliumsafety.com/en/hyundai-glovis-and-consiliums-push-for-safer-ev-shipping/

Apr 25
3

FINANCE, FACTS AND FIGURES

By | 2025 Newsletter week 17 | No Comments

Port of Antwerp Bruges Is Carefully Monitoring the Trade Climate

In Q1 2025, Port of Antwerp Bruges handled 67.7 million tonnes of cargo, a 4% decrease compared to the same period last year. The drop is mainly due to a significant decline in bulk traffic, although container volumes showed growth. RoRo did grow a little too.

The port continues to navigate a challenging environment marked by shifting market trends, geopolitical tensions and ongoing pressure on the European chemical sector. With the United States as its second-largest trading partner, the port is closely monitoring how the changing trade climate may impact the months ahead.

More details in the newsroom of Port of Antwerp Bruges.

Feb 02
2

PORTS

By | 2025 Newsletter week 5 | No Comments

Annual Figures for Port of Antwerp-Bruges Show Growth Despite Challenging Times

  • Containers were the driving force behind the 2.3% growth in total throughput in the ports of Zeebrugge and Antwerp, amounting to 278 million tons.
  • RoRo throughput decreased by 3.4% in 2024 compared to 2023. This decline was noticeable in transportation equipment, such as new cars (-9.4%), used cars (-31.8%), trucks (-3.2%) and High & Heavy (-22.0%).
  • Belgian car sales were down 5.8% (Jan-Nov), and European electric vehicle sales were also down 5.4% (YTD), mainly due to a sharp drop in Germany.
  • The throughput of unaccompanied cargo on RoRo ferries in Zeebrugge increased by 3.4%, with decreases in traffic to the UK (-2.8%) offset by increases to Ireland (+1.4%), Scandinavia (+16.3%) and Spain/Portugal (+34%).

More details on the Port of Antwerp Bruges website

Oct 25
2

Port of Antwerp Bruges: Unaccompanied RoRo on the Rise

By | 2024 Newsletter week 43 | No Comments

Port of Antwerp Bruges published its results for the first nine months, and what we are particularly interested in are the ferry statistics.

The RoRo ferries operating from Zeebrugge saw an increase of 2.8% in unaccompanied cargo throughput (excluding containers). The 4.1% decline in traffic to and from the UK was offset by substantial growth in throughput to Spain and Portugal (+35.7%), Scandinavia (+16.7%), and Ireland (+2.2%).

Overall RoRo (including the massive amount of PCTC’s) traffic dropped by 5.5%, primarily due to reduced imports rather than increased customer demand, which eased pressure on car terminals.

Transport equipment throughput declined by 13.3%, high & heavy vehicles by 23.5%, trucks by 10.3%, and used cars by 42.6%.

New car shipments, which had surged in 2022 and 2023, decreased by 11.4% in the first three quarters of this year.

Source: Newsroom Port of Antwerp Bruges

Jul 19
2

Growth for Port of Antwerp-Bruges in first half of 2024

By | 2024 Newsletter week 29 | No Comments

Positive trend in container throughput expands to other product groups 

RoRo traffic dropped in the first half of 2024 by 5.7% – a minor improvement compared to the end of the last quarter.  

The congestion at the RoRo terminals persists due to the altered business model of the car manufacturers stockpiling at the ports, decreased ​ demand and delayed exports caused by sailing around the Cape of Good Hope. This resulted in a decrease in throughput for all transport materials by 13.2%. The lower throughput of second-hand cars in particular (-45.8%) contributed to this, followed by high & heavy (-22.7%), trucks (-17.6%) and new cars (-9%).  

Throughput of unaccompanied cargo (excluding containers) carried on RoRo vessels, on the other hand, rose by 2.4%. The decline in throughput to and from the United Kingdom (-4.6%) was more than compensated by an increase in throughput to and from Spain and Portugal (+35%), Scandinavia (+18%) and Ireland (+1.4%). 

For the complete results: Newsroom Port of Antwerp Bruges 

Click for the complete results: Newsroom Port of Antwerp Bruges
May 24
2

Gotlandsbolaget Quarterly report January-March 2024

By | 2024 Newsletter week 21 | No Comments
  • Revenue and Costs: Revenue for Q1 2024 was 384.9 MSEK, up from 362.9 MSEK in Q1 2023. Costs were 419.6 MSEK, a slight decrease from 425.8 MSEK last year.
  • Adjusted Operating Result: The adjusted operating result was -66.7 MSEK, compared to -62.9 MSEK last year, impacted by costs from the new cruise initiative.
  • Significant Events:
    • A bid was submitted for Gotlandstrafiken 2027-2035.
    • The first cruise of M/S Birka Gotland took place in March.
    • A partnership was formed to develop a high-speed catamaran.
  • Future Focus: Emphasis on expanding passenger shipping, real estate, and energy developments.

Source: Gotlandsbolaget (in Swedish)

May 24
2

Port of Antwerp Bruges’ quarterly figures reflect resilience

By | 2024 Newsletter week 21 | No Comments

The total cargo throughput of Port of Antwerp-Bruges amounted to 70.4 million tonnes in the first quarter of this year, a rise of 2.4% compared to the same period last year. In an ongoing complex geopolitical and macroeconomic context, this performance, driven by a return to growth in container throughput, underscores the port’s resilience.

Roll-on/roll-off traffic decreased by 6.9%.

The ongoing congestion at RoRo terminals resulted in a decrease in throughput of all transport equipment (-9%). This is mainly due to lower throughput of used cars (-52.5%), as well as high & heavy (-25%), trucks (-23.9%) and new cars (-5.5%).

Throughput of unaccompanied cargo (excluding containers) carried on RoRo vessels grew by 1.7%. The decline in throughput to and from the United Kingdom (-4.4%) was offset by an increase in throughput to and from Spain and Portugal (+31.5%), Ireland (+6.4%) and Scandinavia (+13.5%).

Read the full report by clicking on the graph.

Feb 09
1

Plans for e-methanol factory in Antwerp terminated

By | 2024 Newsletter week 6 | No Comments

The planned e-methanol factory in Port of Antwerp-Bruges will not be built. Despite receiving 1 million euros in subsidies from Flanders and the involvement of major players such as INEOS, Fluxys, and Engie, the green fuel for ships is too expensive and not attractive to shipping companies. Energy prices have risen due to the war in Ukraine and increasing geopolitical instability, further raising the costs of sustainable methanol. After extensive research, it has been concluded that customers are not willing to pay the higher price.

Source: Powertomethanolanantwerp.com

Oct 27
0

Airbus renews its transatlantic fleet with lower-emission ships

By | 2023 Newsletter week 43 | No Comments

Airbus will renew the entire fleet of chartered vessels that transport aircraft subassemblies between production facilities in Europe and the United States with three modern, low-emission roll-on/roll-off vessels, supported by wind-assisted propulsion.

Airbus has commissioned shipowner Louis Dreyfus Armateurs to build, own and operate these new, highly efficient vessels that will enter into service from 2026.

Source: Airbus
Oct 27
0

Continued economic instability impacts Port of Antwerp-Bruges’ throughput figures, but Ro-Ro is stable

By | 2023 Newsletter week 43 | No Comments
  • Ro-Ro traffic remains unchanged (0.9%).
  • Throughput of transport equipment grew by 8.9% thanks to growth in the throughput of new cars (+12.6%) to 2.67 million units.
  • 7 million tons of unaccompanied cargo (excluding containers) was shipped on RoRo vessels (-1.4%).
  • The portion of this cargo related to Ireland grew by 18.5%, while traffic to and from the UK fell (-3.8%).
Source and full details