The Vasa Line between Vaasa in Finland and Umeå in Sweden is the world's northernmost year-round international ferry route, transporting both passengers and freight. It recently received a battery upgrade with 12.6 MWh, the largest battery capacity ever installed on a RoPax vessel.

The formula for biodiesel made from residual and waste materials is "Ucome" (Used Cooking Oil Methyl Ester) , which reputable suppliers claim offers CO₂ savings of over 90% compared to fossil diesel. DHL and CMA CGM now intend to accelerate the use of this biofuel.

Time-sensitive freight will certainly not be delivered by stand-up paddleboard (SUP) in the future, even with the support of Kiel-based extreme athlete Michael Walther. An "Atlantic mission" supported by Gebrüder Weiss focused instead on the climate-neutral return transport of the nonetheless emission-free watercraft.

Calling the project "Tolkien" is certainly a clever move – even if it's not about J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy world in "The Lord of the Rings." The "hobbits" here, so to speak, are Andreas Gade and Daniel Scheible from Fraunhofer IML, who have developed a digital twin for ports. 

Gebrüder Weiss is celebrating a "jubilee container" these days in Wilhelmshaven, Germany's only deep-water port. Together with the terminal operator Eurogate and Hapag-Lloyd, the millionth sea freight container (TEU) of 2025 was handled.

The pioneering " enerPort II " project on the former coal island of the Port of Duisburg is entering real-world testing. Photovoltaic systems, combined heat and power plants, and fuel cell systems are intended to supply the energy for the largest container hub in the European hinterland.

Southeast Asia is one of the world's most economically dynamic regions. With the opening of a new subsidiary in Thailand, Gebrüder Weiss is now active in nine countries in East and Southeast Asia and Oceania. The regional network now comprises 35 locations with approximately 800 employees.

It took three years for the Federal Bureau of Maritime Casualty Investigation to thoroughly investigate a workplace accident on board a bulk carrier, in which a 32-year-old seaman was killed in August 2022 by several hundred kilograms of steel plates intended for welding work that toppled over.

With a capacity of 24,346 TEU, the MSC Loreto is currently considered the world's largest container ship – a floating giant belonging to the Geneva-based Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC). When such a behemoth docks in Hamburg, it's always an event. The quintessential transport box, the container, is causing quite a stir.

E. Herzog

Eva Herzog, member of the Council of States for the canton of Basel-Stadt, welcomes the complete revision of the Goods Transport Act in the spring session. She considers it a milestone for freight shipping on the Rhine, a financial commitment from the federal government to port infrastructure, and the introduction of climate-neutral propulsion systems in inland navigation.

 Despite the roll bar...

Interim report on the serious accident involving a forklift truck used on board a Ro-Ro ship for transporting heavy materials for container securing. A boatswain slipped and fell while driving the forklift up to the next deck. He died at the scene of the accident.

B. Simons

The gateway to the world for Rhine shipping from Basel to the world's oceans is not Hamburg, but Rotterdam, as is well known. From January 2025, Berte Simons will be at the helm there as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the port authority, succeeding Boudewijn Siemons in day-to-day operations.

Where millions of tons of coal were once handled, the Duisburg Gateway Terminal (DGT) is opening a new chapter for the logistics of the future. The recently opened tenth terminal, ideally located on the Rhine, is slated to become the largest in inland Europe upon completion.

 Image: DB Schenker

DB Schenker is introducing a new supply chain monitoring system to offer ocean freight customers planning certainty down to the ship, shipment, and container level. On an interactive map, "Ocean Bridge" displays AI-based data on the departure, arrival, and docking times of ships, as well as their port rotations.

The dronePORT, a special site for unmanned aerial vehicles and mobile sensors, recently went into operation in Hamburg. For the city of Hamburg and the HHLA port and logistics company's control center, it's the first ground infrastructure of its kind in Europe. Progress is also being made on the hydrogen test field.