http://www.haven-gateway.org/ 15 http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/helping_smes_take_to_the_rails Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:48:55 +0100 Easy does it! The Low Carbon Freight Dividend project is aiming to help SMEs move containers from road to rail – but it’s also designed to keep things simple. At the launch of this innovative £7.5 million project,Tony Berkeley, chairman of the Rail Freight Group, highlighted the complexities of rail freight operations and welcomed the fact that we will be supporting SMEs through the process and also running workshops to help them find ways to reduce their carbon emissions. http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/helping_smes_take_to_the_rails http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/record_year_in_store_for_cruise_trade_at_harwich Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:47:52 +0100 Harwich has, for many years, had a great reputation as one of the UK’s top ports for handling cruise turnrounds – that’s when the cruise starts and finishes at the port. And more recently it’s been developing a strong position as a port of call, too – that’s when Harwich is included on the cruise itinerary, with the ship dropping in for a day so the passengers can take shore excursions. This year promises to be an excellent cruise year for Harwich, with a season that’s starting earlier and ending later and a record ten transit calls by a range of different cruise operators. http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/record_year_in_store_for_cruise_trade_at_harwich http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/low_carbon_project_encourages_small_and_medium_enterprises_to_make_green_choices Wed, 28 Mar 2012 15:37:01 +0100 Off the roads and on to rail: about 30,000 containers are likely to be transported in a ‘greener’ way over the next three years, thanks to a unique low-carbon project launched in Suffolk on 8 March 2012. The £7.5 million Low Carbon Freight Dividend project, created by the Haven Gateway Partnership, was officially launched in Felixstowe by Baroness Hanham, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Communities and Local Government. Lord Tony Berkeley, chairman of the UK’s Rail Freight Group, gave the keynote speech at the launch ceremony. The project has secured nearly £3 million of funding from the European Regional Development Fund and is designed to encourage small and medium sized enterprises in the East of England to make important changes in their transport choices. Small and medium enterprises eligible for the scheme will be offered a Low Carbon Freight Dividend (grant) of up to 30% for moving their freight from truck to train, where traditionally they have only used road transport. http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/low_carbon_project_encourages_small_and_medium_enterprises_to_make_green_choices http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/low_carbon_project_leads_way Wed, 28 Mar 2012 15:35:17 +0100 By Richard Morton, projects director, Haven Gateway We were already proud of our unique Low Carbon Freight Dividend project, which aims to move 30,000 containers off the roads and on to rail; but we were doubly encouraged by the words of communities and local government minister Baroness Hanham and Rail Freight Group chairman Lord Tony Berkeley at the project launch. The Low Carbon project will be a ‘trailblazer’, giving the lead that other container ports should follow, said Baroness Hanham. “There are huge opportunities here for the Haven Gateway to become front runners in reducing carbon and getting freight off the road and on to rail,” she said. “We will really keep an eye on this, and we hope other ports will be watching too. http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/low_carbon_project_leads_way http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/welcome_recognition_for_port_s_latest_investment Wed, 28 Mar 2012 15:34:17 +0100 By David Ralph, chief executive, Haven Gateway It’s always great to have some central government recognition for the Haven Gateway, its achievements and its importance to UK trade and the economy. And there were some really positive words from shipping minister Mike Penning when he visited Felixstowe for the groundbreaking ceremony of another major investment at the port. Mr Penning officially started work on the new €37 million North Rail Terminal project, which will be the third at the UK’s largest container port and the first in the UK designed to handle 30-wagon long freight trains capable of carrying 90 teu (standard 20-ft containers). http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/welcome_recognition_for_port_s_latest_investment http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/full_house_for_dryport_congress Wed, 29 Feb 2012 10:11:10 +0000 By Richard Morton, projects director, Haven Gateway Partnership Congratulations to our Dryport partners in Emmen/Coevorden in the northern Netherlands, who organised a Dryport congress – and got a full house. More than 260 delegates, representing shippers, shipping lines, rail companies, terminal operators, consultants, logistics companies and local authorities attended the congress, entitled ‘A Smart Logistics Hub’; they heard about and discussed the opportunities the region can offer for greener and more efficient logistics, and how a developing dryport can support the giant ports of Amsterdam and Rotterdam, particularly providing a smooth route into Germany. http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/full_house_for_dryport_congress http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/join_the_fight_for_better_broadband Wed, 29 Feb 2012 10:08:50 +0000 By David Ralph, chief executive, Haven Gateway Partnership We need better Broadband – and we need to make a noise about it! The government is making important decisions about which areas of the UK will benefit first from superfast Broadband, and it’s up to us all to make sure that Suffolk and Essex are at the top of the list. This isn’t just a matter of being able to download your favourite film or song more quickly (although of course that would be a bonus); superfast Broadband is vital to the economic growth of the Haven Gateway subregion, and we have to make that clear. http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/join_the_fight_for_better_broadband http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/colchester_borough_council_transforming_spaces_arts_use_of_empty_shops_and_other_disused_spaces_saturday_17_march_2012_9_30am_5_15pm_firstsite_colchester Tue, 21 Feb 2012 10:45:36 +0000 A Regional conference hosted by UK premier Empty Shop organisation Slack Space Colchester, in partnership with firstsite. The event will look at working in empty shops and other disused spaces and will combine an interactive focus on case studies and success stories with practical advice and contextual understanding. http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/colchester_borough_council_transforming_spaces_arts_use_of_empty_shops_and_other_disused_spaces_saturday_17_march_2012_9_30am_5_15pm_firstsite_colchester http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/accounting_for_business_resilience_surviving_climate_change Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:20:15 +0000 An innovative series of workshops for accountants and financial advisors is being run from late February 2012 across the East of England. http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/accounting_for_business_resilience_surviving_climate_change http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/significant_gains_in_the_dryport_adventure Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:16:56 +0000 By Richard Morton, projects director, Haven Gateway. In the fast-moving world of ports and logistics, dryports (and the added value they can deliver) are getting higher on the agenda.  Dryports offer many virtues: increasing the capacity of sea ports under pressure; enabling cargo to be whisked inland with minimal delay; offering ‘green’ supply chain opportunities; providing critical hubs to serve the import/export needs of landlocked countries; helping to provide trade growth in developing countries. It’s clear that dryports have many common features but also many differences; when it comes to the detail they are, essentially, what you make them.   http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/significant_gains_in_the_dryport_adventure http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/better_located_and_no_m25 Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:02:28 +0000 By David Ralph, chief executive, Haven Gateway For a long time the proposed London Gateway container terminal on the River Thames seemed speculative. Announcements that construction was starting always seemed caveated – but now London Gateway is on the way. After some considerable delays, port owner and operator DP World has confirmed that the new deepwater container facility will open in the fourth quarter 2013. Suddenly a proposal that’s been beyond the distant horizon for longer than most can remember is going to become reality. What does that mean for the Port of Felixstowe and the wider Haven Gateway’s shipping and logistics sector? Undoubtedly it means new competition – we would always support that. Clearly, it’s also a time when we must redouble our efforts and make sure the world knows what the Haven Gateway has to offer. http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/better_located_and_no_m25 http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/haven_gateway_ports_holding_up_well_in_tough_economic_climate Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:58:24 +0000 By David Ralph, chief executive, Haven Gateway Partnership Contributing an estimated 32,000 jobs to the local economy and comprising some 12% of the GVA of the local economy, the performance of the Haven Ports is increasingly vital to both our local economy and UK plc. Last year [2011] was extremely challenging for the ports sector – but in reality, the performance of our ports held up well, underlining their strong position in millions of supply chains. The Port of Felixstowe celebrated its 125th anniversary last year and of course this was an occasion to look back on a proud history. But this is a port that’s looking forward with confidence. The anniversary celebrations were held in combination with the official opening of the new deepwater Berths 8&9. http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/haven_gateway_ports_holding_up_well_in_tough_economic_climate http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/a_european_year Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:37:47 +0000 By Richard Morton, Projects Director, Haven Gateway Looking back on 2011, one of the key messages from the Haven Gateway is: Another busy and successful year in Europe! As a core partner in three important EU projects, the Haven Gateway continued to extend its influence across Europe, while also benefiting from substantial ongoing European funding. In September, we proudly took ‘centre stage’ to host the EU Dryport project’s annual general meeting and conference, welcoming partners and colleagues from Sweden, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and Scotland for two days of discussions and an operational visit to the Port of Felixstowe. We took on the challenge of bringing together the worlds of politics and business and asking them to share their experiences and views; the result was some thought-provoking presentations and discussions. http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/a_european_year http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/german_lessons_for_dryport Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:25:35 +0000 By Richard Morton, Projects Director, Haven Gateway DUISBURG can accurately be described as Germany’s most western port – many ships sail directly to the city from the North Sea, which is 250 kms away. Duisburg is also the world’s busiest inland port; it handles everything from containers to steel to dry bulks, and has long acted as a vital transhipment hub linking the major seaports of Antwerp, Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Zeebrugge to the European hinterland. Hardly surprising, then, that Duisburg, with its wide range of cargoes, added-value logistics activities and clearly ‘green’ credentials, are of great interest to the partners in Dryport, who are examining how hinterland intermodal freight transport hubs can best operate to cope with traffic flows and the challenges of port congestion. http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/german_lessons_for_dryport http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/haven_authority_remains_at_the_forefront_for_vts Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:23:55 +0000 By David Ralph, Chief Executive, Haven Gateway WHILE our port operators focus on providing berths, cranes, stevedoring, ondock storage and a wide range of added value services to the world’s shipping lines, Harwich Haven Authority has statutory responsibility for overseeing all commercial shipping within the estuary and harbour – as well as in an area extending 12 nautical miles from the harbour entrance out to sea, adding up to a total area of jurisdiction of 150 square miles. Needless to say, everyone wants to be in the right place at the right time, safety and efficiently. Tight schedules and sensitive cargoes are the everyday reality – time is money, and that’s even truer in difficult economic times. http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/haven_authority_remains_at_the_forefront_for_vts http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/invitation_to_tender_for_cruise_port_selection_in_the_north_sea_region Wed, 09 Nov 2011 15:34:11 +0000 Companies are invited to submit tenders with regard to Decision Criteria for Cruise Port Selection in the North Sea Region in accordance with the specification as part of the EU North Sea Region Cruise Gateway programme. http://www.northsearegion.eu/ivb/projects/details/&tid=125 and www.cruisegateway.eu [http://www.cruisegateway.eu/] Please be aware that the deadline for submission is noon GMT, 22nd November 2011. http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/invitation_to_tender_for_cruise_port_selection_in_the_north_sea_region http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/why_the_e_word_is_important Wed, 09 Nov 2011 09:21:30 +0000 By John Winn, Chairman, Haven Gateway private business forum IF YOU thought working in ports and logistics is all about cranes, containers and trucks, think again. These days it’s also about the E-word, especially on a European level. In short, we are facing an E-bombardment. E-maritime, Ship Reporting Formalities, E-customs … the European Union is treating us to a plethora of ICT initiatives, directives and projects designed to make transport and trade through Europe smooth, efficient and free of bottlenecks, be they physical or virtual. http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/why_the_e_word_is_important http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/putting_the_emphasis_on_skills_and_training Wed, 09 Nov 2011 09:20:37 +0000 By David Ralph, chief executive, Haven Gateway With the UK’s largest container port at Felixstowe, a major cruise and ferry port at Harwich and the country’s biggest grain export port at Ipswich, no one would argue with the clout of our subregion in the port and logistics ‘league table’. Studies and statistics confirm the importance of the sector to our regional economy, too. But they have also confirmed something else – that we cannot afford to sit back and assume all will move forward by itself. As the industry expands, so does the need for the right people with the right skills and qualifications. We must focus on training – otherwise, where is the next generation of workers going to come from? http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/putting_the_emphasis_on_skills_and_training http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/a_question_of_detail Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:57:32 +0100 By John Winn, Chairman, Haven Gateway private business forum Readers might be surprised to learn that a question regularly asked at Dryport meetings and never really answered is: ‘What is the definition of a dryport?’ And that’s because no two dryports are the same. A dryport can offer one, two or many different functions and services, depending, of course, on where it is, what is needed and what transport infrastructure is available. http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/a_question_of_detail http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/green_cruising_the_price_to_pay_and_the_opportunities_to_be_had Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:56:05 +0100 By David Ralph, chief executive, Haven Gateway Is the environmental agenda a good opportunity for the North Sea Region’s cruise ambitions? Can the NSR lead the way as a ‘beacon for sustainable cruise’? These were questions tackled by speakers and discussed by delegates at the very informative and thought-provoking GreenPort Cruise conference. http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/green_cruising_the_price_to_pay_and_the_opportunities_to_be_had http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/fred_olsen_cruise_lines_sweeps_the_board_at_the_first_ever_cruise_international_awards Mon, 19 Sep 2011 09:53:29 +0100 Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has swept the board at the first-ever ‘Cruise International Awards’, held at the Soho Hotel, London on 14th September 2011. The cruise line won the hotly-contested accolade of ‘Cruise Line of the Year’ in these new awards, which attracted some 180,000 votes from readers of Cruise International magazine and keen cruise customers, across 20 categories. The top award was presented to Fred. Olsen by Adam Coulter, Editor of 'Cruise International' magazine, celebrity business ‘guru’ Nick Hewer of TV’s The Apprentice and Classic FM’s John Suchet. http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/fred_olsen_cruise_lines_sweeps_the_board_at_the_first_ever_cruise_international_awards http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/sharing_problems_and_solutions Fri, 16 Sep 2011 10:42:29 +0100 By John Hinton, Elected Dryport Representative, Babergh District Council THIS month, as we welcome colleagues from Sweden, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and Scotland to the Haven Gateway for the Dryport annual conference, we are going to get political. That’s political with a small ‘p’, by the way! As politicians, our communities depend on the private sector to invest in job creation through port developments and associated logistics, warehousing and transport projects; but the private sector in turn depends on us politicians to facilitate and encourage such investments, through the planning policy we formulate, the way in which we implement it, and our general support. On day one of the Dryport conference, we will be encouraging politicians from all of the Dryport partners’ areas to exchange ideas; to describe what they operate or don’t operate, and why; to talk about the problems they have come across and how they got over them; to share their views on port and dryport projects and freight issues. http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/sharing_problems_and_solutions http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/leading_container_port_is_thinking_outside_the_box Fri, 16 Sep 2011 10:41:24 +0100 By David Ralph, Chief Executive, Haven Gateway ‘Felixstowe: Contain Yourself’. So reads the slogan, alongside the image of a stack of shipping containers, on a T-shirt recently spotted at a trendy on-line clothing shop. It’s good to know that Felixstowe, as the UK’s largest container port, is getting the recognition it deserves in the most unexpected places! Containerisation, with its enormous efficiencies, has transformed the global economy over the past few decades. But this is still a world where one size most definitely doesn’t fit all. Not everything will slot into a nice, neat maritime box and, indeed, not everything that goes through Felixstowe is containerised. http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/leading_container_port_is_thinking_outside_the_box http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/truck_to_train_initiative_offers_carbon_savings Wed, 14 Sep 2011 15:27:30 +0100 By Richard Morton, Project Director, Haven Gateway The Haven Gateway’s success in obtaining funds from Europe to benefit the local economy continues! As Communities and Local Government Minister Bob Neill announced at our annual reception, the Haven Gateway has secured nearly £3 million of European funding towards a £7.5 million project designed to shift about 30,000 containers off the roads and on to rail transport. The money – £2,998,931, to be exact – comes from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), a €308 billion programme of European Structural Funds across European Union member states for the period 2007-13. It will go directly to our three-year Low Carbon Freight Dividend project, to support more than 300 SMEs in making important, carbon-friendly changes in the way they transport freight. http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/truck_to_train_initiative_offers_carbon_savings http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/new_reality_for_investment Wed, 14 Sep 2011 15:26:03 +0100 By David Ralph, Chief Executive, Haven Gateway The Haven Gateway’s annual reception provided an excellent opportunity to look back on our achievements over the past year – and it was also time to reflect on ten years of successful and highly active partnership between the public and private sectors, since the Haven Gateway Partnership was first created in 2001. In the ‘new world’ of Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEP), the Haven Gateway’s strong track record in public/private sector working will be even more important as we plan for future growth and prosperity. We were delighted to welcome the Minister for Communities and Local Government, Bob Neill, as the keynote speaker at our annual reception. His presence clearly demonstrated and recognised the strategic role the Haven Gateway plays in this sub-region; and, of course, it is always useful to be able to explain our successes, achievements, hopes and concerns direct to the top! http://www.haven-gateway.org/news/new_reality_for_investment