Europe

Strong performance from Milford Haven’s gas and oil activities in 2010 is to drive new plans to attract renewable energy and biomass businesses, alongside continued development of existing port infrastructure and services.

Since the downturn has left many ports with space to spare, some are looking at port-centric logistics and developing specialised clusters in a move to up the volumes and improve revenue.

Marine Spatial Planning, or MSP, is “both a threat and an opportunity” says Paul Holthus of the World Ocean Council, and its an issue that may leave some ocean industries behind.

Maersk Line has issued a “wake-up call” to the port and terminal sector, challenging it to get involved in an industry-wide debate on future-proofing the business.

The downturn has given some countries further justification for transport infrastructure privatisation, but care needs to be taken that funds are directed to the projects with the largest long-run social benefits.

“Investment is a difficult question for those managers sitting in a European port,” says Richard A Butcher, group marketing and sales director of IMS UK.

Southern European ports need to focus on the move to feeder roles and value-add solutions to survive. John Bensalhia reports