Category: Allgemein

Development of train capacity utilization concept for the Clusters 2.0 Horizon 2020 project which will affect the Scandinavian-Mediterranean corridor

Wilhelm Borchert was tasked to advise and support Trelleborg port in their Clusters 2.0 Horizon 2020 project. The goal was to find an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) system which would allow them to increase the rail freight/ intermodal transport share by train and better utilize the existing train tracks/ paths and train capacities at the port. The project intends to connect different stakeholders within the transport industry through the use of a common ICT tool.

The support Wilhelm Borchert offered to the project started with the review of the EU projects which had similarities to the goals. The projects that were researched included Horizon 2020 projects, TEN-T and CEF-T projects. Wilhelm Borchert also researched how the airline industry coordinates its booking systems as a best practice example. The relevant European Railway information technology legislation and framework was also studied to see how it would affect the project or govern a new direction for the project.

Wilhelm Borchert supported in the fulfilment of the project’s obligations such as deliverables needed as part of the wider Clusters 2.0 project and at the same time helped to conceptualize how they should approach the development of their ICT train capacity booking system.

This project is of considerable importance since train freight transport is an environmentally friendly way of transporting freight over long distances. The project would therefore support the efforts to reach the requirements set by the Paris Agreement and the Swedish government defined long-term target of 70% reduction in Green House Gas emissions.

It is expected that this project will have a strong impact of stakeholder within Finland, Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Italy.

Application and implementation of a plan approval procedure for a combined transport terminal in the seaport of Lübeck

With the help of Wilhelm Borchert, the Hans Lehmann KG was awarded with 1 million euros in funding for the implementation of the planning measures including the realisation of a plan approval procedure for the construction of an intermodal freight terminal. The project should be implemented by December 2022. The projects thematic focus is, among other things, on the requirements of the Environmental Impact Assessment. The results from the study will pave the way for a shift to more sustainable transport flows, such as rail.

The Wilhelm Borchert GmbH was in charge of the application and is now, after the successful application, responsible for the project management.

Support of autonomous and electric tractors for hinterland traffic in Sweden

DFDS Logistics AB and Volvo Trucks are working together to automate hinterland transport by self-propelled electric tractors operating between Volvo’s factory premises and the port of Gothenburg. At the same time, the project is preparing the automation of terminal processes and loading and unloading of RoRo ferries. With the support of Wilhelm Borchert, the companies were able to raise almost 4 million euros for the project from the European Commission for the implementation of the developed vehicles. The project “Smart, Electronic and Autonomous Multimodal Transportation System and Port Operations” is funded via the CEF-T-2018 MAP Transport call.

For the project consortium Wilhelm Borchert has created the application for funding and is currently supporting the consortium in the implementation of the project and compliance with all funding-relevant tasks.

Successful support of a European funded project for the provision of LNG as a maritime fuel

In order to establish liquified natural gas (LNG) as an alternative fuel in the European maritime sector an experienced project consortium of a French LNG terminal operator, two shipping companies and a mineral oil company have come together to achieve this goal.

In the framework of this project the project partners want to build the necessary scaled-up port-side infrastructure and put a bunker barge into operation to cover the LNG demand for Ultra Large Container Vessels on their round trip from Europe to the Far East. In addition, all LNG relevant procedures and safety regulations for the execution of bunkering operations of LNG during the loading and unloading operations will be developed.

Wilhelm Borchert has raised EUR 11 million in funding for investments and activities from the European Union for the implementation of this project. The project will be funded under the 2017 CEF Transport Blending multiannual program call.

For the project consortium Wilhelm Borchert has created the application for funding and is currently supporting the consortium in the implementation of the project and compliance with all funding-relevant tasks.

UPDATE: April 30th, 2021 – the world’s largest LNG bunker vessel GAS AGILITY, owned by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) & chartered by Total Marine Fuels Global Solution (Total), realised the first ship-to-containership Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) bunkering operation in France when refueling the world’s largest containership CMA CGM JACQUES SAADE powered by LNG. The LNG originated from the LNG terminal, modified for small-scale operations, at the Port of Dunkerque. It also marked the terminal’s first loading of a small-scale LNG vessel.

With the successful loading and following LNG bunkering operation the project consortium, constituted of MOL, CMA CGM, Total and Dunkerque LNG SAS, achieved two major milestones for the CEF-T Blending Action’s implementation.

Congratulations to the consortium & achievements!

Following the 2015 climate agreement in Paris international stakeholders, especially from the European side, will put greater pressure on shipping companies to make their contribution to the implementation of the climate goals 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 shipping companies 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.

Under the recently concluded 2016 CEF-T multi-year call Wilhelm Borchert successfully handled five innovative applications for the Motorways of the Sea priority. This is an extension of capacity and the introduction of new technologies in the field of NOX, SOx and CO2 reduction in ships.

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.