Environmental factors increasingly important at ports
“Environmental factors will become increasingly important in the logistics sector,” says M. Rauanheimo’s CEO Tero Kosonen.
Logistics must answer the call in the same way as other links in industrial production and supply chains. We must find low-emission solutions, and this will require a new approach to what kind of equipment we invest in both now and in the future,” says M. Rauanheimo’s CEO Tero Kosonen.
According to Kosonen, this is already being clearly reflected in shipping companies’ decisions.
“When companies build new ships, their method of propulsion is a big issue. What fuel should they invest in? Is the solution a traditional oil-based fuel or should they keep their options open with the potential for converting to another fuel at a later date?
Objectives seem to be heading in a certain direction at the moment, but we still don’t know where technology will take us. There is no easy and obvious answer.”
The forestry industry needs low-emission machinery
“Our Group includes logistics companies that provide services to sectors such as the forestry industry. Procurement decisions in that sector are already clearly influenced by the type of machinery being used and how low-emission it is. These developments will definitely flow out into the world of ports and shipping as well.”
“For example, the port cranes that currently run on diesel could be powered by electricity in the future. General advancements in technology will lead to an increasing number of issues related to remote control.”
“For example, when a wheeled loader is handling a dust-generating material, you could imagine how the driver might no longer need to work in the unpleasant conditions of that dust cloud. Wheeled loaders could be steered remotely from a control room. These kinds of solutions may well emerge.”
“It seems that the price of energy will continue to rise over the long term, so energy-saving solutions will become more important regardless of the form of energy in question,” says Kosonen.
Short connections to Central Europe will increase
Kosonen believes that short, fast and efficient connections from Finland to Central Europe will soon be raising their heads.
“Railways will benefit from this, as they already have an emission-free option. We will see an increase in the relative competitiveness of ports with railway stations and ports with short distances and frequent scheduled links to main ports in Central Europe.”
Kosonen says that customer demand for the Port of Helsinki is high, so that if the port can find natural places to expand and develop its operations, Rauanheimo has the capacity for it. There is also interest in the Port of Loviisa.
“Although traffic to Loviisa has been on hold for a few months, we’re constantly discussing it with our customers. There is currently clear demand for bulk products and, as the price of energy is high, Loviisa is ideal for certain types of special bulk products.”