New technology results in smooth transport
(15.06.2006) New technology will make the logistics between China and Europe simpler and faster. This is one of the
aims of the EU project that Port of Kokkola participates in. The penultimate meeting has been held in Kokkola.
The purpose of the project is to find new and develop old logistic solutions for the container traffics to and from Asia.
The project, called eLOGMAR-M, is a 100 per cent funded EU program which started in 2004 in Lithuania. The aim of the
program is to develop basic material for new web based and mobile computer based programs, which will offer faster and
simpler transports in the future.
– Today a lot of telephone calls are needed to fix a transport from or to China. With the help of new technology, for
example via a mobile phone, all this can be done much faster, says Carita Rönnqvist, Traffic Manager of Port of Kokkola.
Already now there is a demo program which shows how it will work. With GPS and new wireless technology a selection
between the various transport options can be made using a mobile phone. The various elements of the software have been
collected already but the actual computer program has still to be designed. The workshop that was organised in Kokkola
is the second to last of the project.
– In addition to the ports, researchers from various universities, as well as IT specialists participate in the project,
says Eberhard Bluemel, the project leader from Germany.
Because the program is funded by the European Union the material and the computer software will eventually be available to all ports.
Some container traffics
Another task is to examine the existing routes from China to the big ports, such as Hamburg, in Europe. But also the feeder
traffic between the main ports and, for example the Baltic countries and Finland, needs developing. Already now the traffic
is fairly intensive.
– 42 container vessels sail every month from Hamburg with destination Finland, Rönnqvist says.
Kokkola is still quite a small container port. Compared to the 3.5 million units handled in Kotka last year 3,500 containers
from and to Kokkola is a very modest figure.
- I remember when we only handled some 50 units per year, Hemming Renlund, Chairman of the Board of the Port, says.
He believes that the container traffic will increase, even if today’s main type of goods is general cargo.
Eu wants diversification
The Ports of Thessaloniki in Greece and Kokkola in Finland represent South and North in Europe.
Hamburg, London and Shenzen in China represent the big ports. Ports from all the Baltic countries are also participating.
– Our participation offers first hand information to the Port of Kokkola, and in addition we gain many new and useful contacts,
says Rönnqvist.
The program in Kokkola also included a study visit to the Port.
– I am very impressed by the all weather terminal. I have never seen anything like it before, says Mingtao Zhou,
chairman of the expert group that develops container traffics between the European Union and China. .
The last and final meeting will be held in Riga, Latvia, in September this year.
Marcus Jansson phone +358 6 8295248
marcus.jansson@osterbottningen.fi
More container traffic between Asia and Europe. New technology will help improve the logistics. From left to right
Hemming Renlund, Eberhard Bluemel, Mingtao Zhou and Carita Rönnqvist, participants in the workshop organised in Kokkola.
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