The EU Dryport project, in which the Haven Gateway plays a central role, continues to go from strength to strength, as its partners make excellent progress on their own specific initiatives.

Emmen and Coevorden, Dutch partners in Dryport, have announced some significant new regular rail services into the Euroterminal Coevorden rail hub, including a service from Poland bringing crushed rapeseed for producing cattle feed, and regular rail deliveries of tapioca, shipped from Asia through Rotterdam, for use in local manufacturing. In addition, the partners are appointing an expert to represent and promote their dryport facilities to major Dutch and German ports.

The project’s Swedish partners, meanwhile, have announced the completion of infrastructure and rail links for the Logistic Center Skaraborg, a facility being developed at Falköping to serve as a dryport/railport for the Port of Gothenburg and other regional harbours. Another important step forward has been the opening of Stora Enso’s brand new, purpose-build forest products terminal adjacent to this dryport site.

In the Haven Gateway, meanwhile, we continue to make progress with the development of a unique Carbon Calculator. This tool is being developed by AECOM on behalf of the Haven Gateway and Babergh District Council. It will offer logistics companies a user-friendly website where they can compare and contrast different cargo movement methods and the carbon emissions for each method or combination of methods, as they plan their transport to and from the Haven Ports.

Amongst our other EU projects, Cruise Gateway is preparing for its opening conference. To be held in Hamburg on February 17, this conference has attracted some high-profile speakers and delegates from a number of the world’s top cruise lines will be among those attending.

What are the EU policy goals for cruise shipping in the North Sea Region? How does cruise traffic fit into the sustainable development of European port cities? What are the operational challenges for ports in seeking to increase cruise business while also protecting the environment?

These are some of the questions that will be considered at the conference. Among the speakers will be Michael Ungerer, senior vice president of AIDA Cruises, who will discuss the potential of cruise shipping in the North Sea Region, and Patrick Verhoeven, secretary general of the European Sea Ports Organisation, who will talk about the role of cruise traffic in the sustainable development of European port cities.

Chris Hayman, the chairman of Seatrade Communications, has agreed to take on the role of moderator in all discussions, underlining the importance of this event.

‘Cruise Gateway – towards sustainable growth of cruise shipping in the North Sea’ is a €1.9 million, three-year Interreg IVB North Sea Region project. Its partners will be looking at ways of encouraging and promoting cruise activity while ensuring that the North Sea Region represents a beacon for sustainable cruise. That means focusing on how growth can be managed in a sustainable way, with environmental awareness and eco-friendly transport structures, and with attention paid to potential bottlenecks, including from both safety and security points of view.

Harwich International Port is already established as a major cruise terminal, for turnrounds and day calls. We look forward to sharing experiences and developing strategies for further growth together with colleagues from across the EU.