"Soft launch" at London Gateway

[chrisg46]

Whilst filming the most recent batch of cranes arriving at London Gateway on Tuesday for Shipping TV, I suggested that their launch event should include a visit from a Maersk Triple-E (whichever one is in N Europe at the the time), and a live webcast from the top of the Shard or whichever large central London building gives them a view beyond the QE bridge.*

However, I think they're pretty happy with the plan to bring in the MOL Caledon, scheduled to arrive on 7 November - it means they can slowly rev up operating crews and systems, and have everything on stream properly before any jumbo-sized vessels arrive.

On the topic of Gateway's operating systems, some shots of equipment and systems will be accompanying an interview with DB Schenker's Steve Pryce - Head of Business Analysis Logistics . . . so we can all get the word from a real expert!

* I may admit that I claimed this scheme in a small sweepstake, which would have given me a nice night-out if they'd decided to follow this option!

[Alan Green]

Maersk have now created a schedule for London Gateway:
 
 MOL CALEDON  London Gateway UK 06 Nov 2013 23:00 07 Nov 2013 15:00
 SAFMARINE NOKWANDA  London Gateway UK 13 Nov 2013 23:00 14 Nov 2013 15:00
 SAFMARINE NOMAZWE  London Gateway UK 20 Nov 2013 23:00 21 Nov 2013 15:00
 MAERSK GATESHEAD  London Gateway UK 27 Nov 2013 23:00 28 Nov 2013 15:00
 DAL STELLENBOSCH  London Gateway UK 04 Dec 2013 23:00 05 Dec 2013 15:00
 MOL CULLINAN  London Gateway UK 11 Dec 2013 23:00 12 Dec 2013 15:00
 DAL KALAHARI  London Gateway UK 18 Dec 2013 23:00 19 Dec 2013 15:00
 LARS MAERSK  London Gateway UK 25 Dec 2013 23:00 26 Dec 2013 15:00
 MOL CALEDON  London Gateway UK 01 Jan 2014 23:00 02 Jan 2014 15:00
 SAFMARINE NOKWANDA  London Gateway UK 08 Jan 2014 23:00 09 Jan 2014 15:00
 SAFMARINE NOMAZWE  London Gateway UK 15 Jan 2014 23:00 16 Jan 2014 15:00
 MAERSK GATESHEAD   London Gateway UK 22 Jan 2014 23.00 23 Jan 2014 15.00
 DAL STELLENBOSCH  London Gateway UK 29 Jan 2014 23:00 30 Jan 2014 15:00
 MOL CULLINAN  London Gateway UK 05 Feb 2014 23:00 06 Feb 2014 15:00
 DAL KALAHARI  London Gateway UK 12 Feb 2014 23:00 13 Feb 2014 15:00
 LARS MAERSK  London Gateway UK 19 Feb 2014 23:00 20 Feb 2014 15:00
 MOL CALEDON  London Gateway UK 26 Feb 2014 23:00 27 Feb 2014 15:00
 SAFMARINE NOKWANDA  London Gateway UK 05 Mar 2014 23:00 06 Mar 2014 15:00
 SAFMARINE NOMAZWE  London Gateway UK 12 Mar 2014 23:00 13 Mar 2014 15:00
 MAERSK GATESHEAD  London Gateway UK 19 Mar 2014 23:00 20 Mar 2014 15:00
 DAL STELLENBOSCH  London Gateway UK 26 Mar 2014 23:00 27 Mar 2014 15:00
 MOL CULLINAN  London Gateway UK 02 Apr 2014 23:00 03 Apr 2014 15:00
 DAL KALAHARI  London Gateway UK 09 Apr 2014 23.00 10 Apr 2014 15.00
 

 
 
 

[Alan Green]

The operators of the SAECS service (Maersk, Safmarine, MOL and DAL) have announced that they will be upgrading the service in the first quarter of 2014. The service will continue to operate with 8 vessels but capacity of each will be in the region of 6700 teu.

The current fleet as outlined in the previous post have capacities ranging from 4500 to 5057 teu.

It will be interesting to see the details of the incoming vessels, no doubt being cascaded from elsewhere.

[davidships]

Also worth noting that Kotug have now positioned RT CHAMPION and RT LEADER to London Gateway - and SD SHARK due 27/10.

[Robert J Smith]

Also heard that SD SEAHORSE + 1 other will be used at London Gateway once its up and running.

[DAVE NINNIM]

I believe the RT Champion and RT Leader are on the Thames as Kotug have the contract for Coryton which is due back online imminently. As for the Gateway I'm not sure that contract has yet been signed.

[chrisg46]

Ah, thanks - that makes more sense than all of these tugs arriving for a one berth terminal!

[davidships]

I believe the RT Champion and RT Leader are on the Thames as Kotug have the contract for Coryton which is due back online imminently. As for the Gateway I'm not sure that contract has yet been signed.

Interesting - but I thought that extensive terminal modifications had to be made before the Thames Oil Port import terminal would be commissioned.  Has that already happened?

On LG, my understanding is that there will not be "a contract" for the terminal, but that containerline customers will make their own towage contracts.

Either way, they have clearly not come over for the fun of it.  So something to watch.

[DAVE NINNIM]

I believe the RT Champion and RT Leader are on the Thames as Kotug have the contract for Coryton which is due back online imminently. As for the Gateway I'm not sure that contract has yet been signed.

Interesting - but I thought that extensive terminal modifications had to be made before the Thames Oil Port import terminal would be commissioned.  Has that already happened?

On LG, my understanding is that there will not be "a contract" for the terminal, but that containerline customers will make their own towage contracts.

Either way, they have clearly not come over for the fun of it.  So something to watch.

I believe Coryton is to start taking ships early in November.

Now that you have pointed it out, you jogged my memory, that is same info I have regarding Gateway tugs. Kotug are placing their tugs for that reason.

[davidships]

First ship "for real" on Thursday 7/11??

[Alan Green]

The latest press release, courtesy of JOC:

London Gateway, the first major new port to be built in the U.K. for several decades, will open for business on the north bank of the River Thames on Wednesday, Nov. 6.

The arrival of the MOL Caledon, a 5,000-TEU container ship operated by Japan

[chrisg46]

Shipping TV should have film from the quayside available Thursday Evening/Friday morning . . be interesting!

[davidships]

No sign of a third Kotug coming over for tomorrow.

[Robert J Smith]

I note that SD SHARK is now operating on the Thames having arrived this morning in the early hours. Just assisted RT LEADER & RT CHAMPION berthing the tanker IASONAS at Shell Haven.

Regards

Bob

[John Jones]

This is all good news. I also hear that the Thames Oil Port import terminal at the former Coryton site is undergoing final commissioning and should be operational by the end of this year.

Best Regards
John J.