Author: Maren

The Baden-Württemberg based Erdgas Südwest GmbH intends to build an innovative bio-LNG plant (annual capacity of approx. 3,700 tonnes of biogenic LNG). The plant will only liquefy and store locally produced biogas (on a pure biomass basis). The bio-LNG can be delivered as an environmentally friendly fuel to the transport sector or fed as gas or electricity into the (European) energy network.

The high level of innovation as well as the congruence of the project with regional, national and European energy and transport targets has prompted Erdgas Südwest to apply for EU funding within the 2016 CEF Synergy Call.

Wilhelm Borchert advised the company strategically and designed, prepared and submitted the application for a 60 percent subsidy. If the application is approved by the responsible agency of the European Commission (INEA) then Wilhelm Borchert will also assist the beneficiary in the mandatory project management.

Wilhelm Borchert GmbH advised the British port operator PD Ports on public part-financing of a major port and intermodal logistics project.

Wilhelm Borchert examined potential European and national financing instruments for future-oriented investment and expansion projects and prepared possible financing concepts on behalf of PD Ports. Our analysis and recommendations for action have been used in the decision-making and long-term project planning of the customer.

PD Ports is one of UK’s leading port and logistics service providers. The company also manages a comprehensive real estate portfolio. PD Ports is part of Canada-based investor Brookfield Asset Management Inc.

The Finnish ferry company Finnlines Plc (Finnlines) is part of the Grimaldi Group and with about 20 of its own combined passenger cargo-ships it mainly serves the Baltic Sea and North Sea shipping areas. Every year Finnlines carries more than 570,000 passengers, 624,000 loading units, 156,000 cars and more than 2 million tons of freight.

In the period 2014 to 2017, Wilhelm Borchert worked for Finnlines Fördermittel i.H.v. 17.9 million Euros was raised (number of grant applications: three under the European program CEF-T) with a cumulated investment volume of just under 60 million Euros (corresponding to a funding rate of 30%). Thematic focus of the promotion was on the ship related i.e. the conversion to more environmentally friendly technologies and increased efficiency. In doing so Wilhelm Borchert made a major contribution to ensuring that Finnlines can continue to live up to the regulations and changed requirements of the market and celebrate its best operating result since the company was founded.

Wilhelm Borchert is responsible for ongoing project management and all related administrative tasks in addition to the application for funding. This includes the creation of reports and the planning and execution of working meetings in addition to communication with all project partners (including the INEA, which is the EU’s competent executive agency).

Currently, in consultation with Finnlines, Wilhelm Borchert is looking for additional opportunities to support Finnlines’ large-scale ship-side investment program with suitable funding opportunities.

The high-frequency ferry connection between the TEN-T core ports of Trelleborg and Swinoujscie links the growth markets of Sweden / Scandinavia and Poland / Central-East Europe. Since 2007 the transport volume (predominantly accompanied traffic) has grown by more than 15% per year.

In three successive applications for funding (TEN-T and CEF-T) Wilhelm Borchert has continuously advised and supported the consortium consisting of the port authorities and municipalities of both countries since 2011. In doing so Wilhelm Borchert have taken on the relevant evaluations and descriptions and the management of the documents and stakeholders as well as actively supported the development of the subsidy agreements and the reporting system.

By the end of 2019, over a period of just over 7 years, almost 30 million Euros of EU funding for funding, construction, development and investigation work will have flown into the Trelleborg-Swinoujscie line.

In his previous position as senior advisor at BMT Transport Solutions Roman Poersch played a leading role in the vendor due diligence of the port holding EUROPORTS for the then owner Babcock & Brown Infrastructure.

EUROPORTS Holding Sarl manages a portfolio of European terminal and logistics companies with locations among others in Belgium, Bulgaria, China, Germany, Finland, Italy and Spain. Overall the 25 port terminals handle around 46 million tonnes of bulk and general cargo as well as containers.

In the multi-month process Mr. Poersch was responsible for the preparation of economic due diligence (portfolio, service and location assessments, sensitivity and SWOT analysis, turnover and turnover forecasts). In subsequent sales rounds Mr. Poersch supervised the seller in Q & A sessions.

The high-frequency ferry service (“Traffic Machine”) between the ports of Rostock and Gedser connects Germany with Denmark. Since 2011 the terminal facilities of both ports have been rebuilt and finally two new RoPax ferries entered service (2016/17). The doubling of capacity also necessitated the adaptation of the hinterland connections of both ports.

Wilhelm Borchert has contributed significantly to the financing of short sea shipping. In 2010 (TEN-T) and 2014 (CEF-T) Wilhelm Borchert successfully applied for funding from the European Commission totalling EUR 30.8 million for the MoS project. Since then Wilhelm Borchert advises the consortium of Scandlines and the port of Rostock on strategic issues and supports the partners in the project implementation. In addition, Wilhelm Borchert are responsible for the entire reporting system.

Wilhelm Borchert advises the port management Bremenports GmbH & Co. KG as well as the Bremen Senator for Economy, Labour and Ports on questions of strategic financing of port projects. Various projects were supervised, such as the construction of a LNG-powered folding barge, the construction of a heavy goods terminal (OTB) and the renewal of railway infrastructure (including modern control and traffic control technology).

Since the beginning of 2011 grants amounting to almost 8 million Euros – mainly from the European TEN-T / CEF-T programs – have been generated and implemented. In addition, other national and European funding opportunities for current or planned projects are regularly examined. An important aspect of Wilhelm Borchert’s consulting services is the strategic design of a corresponding project.

The ports of Bremen and Bremerhaven are the core ports of the European Transport Network (TEN-T) and thus of outstanding importance for European and German transport. As one of the largest railway harbours in Europe, Bremerhaven holds a lighthouse position. In addition, the city of Bremen has set an early sustainable development strategy for their ports.

Following the 2015 climate agreement in Paris international stakeholders, but especially from the European side, will put greater pressure on the shipping companies to make their contribution to the implementation of the climate goals that have been set. Over the last few years the IMO and the European Commission have adopted a series of regulations aimed at limiting emissions from seagoing vessels and making maritime services more energy-efficient.

Wilhelm Borchert currently supports a consortium of German and Cypriot shipowners in the strategic decision-making and financial implementation of planned energy efficiency measures. In a fleet-overlapping project data on ship-side bunker use and emissions will be collected, analysed and improved with the goal of sustainable energy efficiency enhancement.

Various funding opportunities at national and European level were examined for the customers. Based on our analysis and strategic recommendations an application under the European CEF-T program for 50% funding was designed, prepared and successfully submitted on behalf of the shipping companies.