A woman was seriously injured in an attack by a wild boar in nature reserve 't Steen in Meerhout (Antwerp) It happened while she was taking a walk with her dog ‘It is possible the wild boar was protecting a nest and the animal felt threatened,’ says mayor Fons Hannes The local council is now posting warning signs It was around 11 o'clock this morning that the woman was attacked by a wild boar while walking her dog in nature reserve 't Steen ‘The dogwalker was transferred to Geel Hospital with quite serious injuries,’ Mayor Fons Hannes said but I hear it was quite a dramatic incident.’ Meerhout town council wants to avoid any more casualties and has posted warning signs on the approach roads to the nature reserve.’ 'We certainly do not want to make people scared but it is important to keep your dog on a leash and to keep a close eye on the bushes during walks When you realise a boar can weigh up to 150 kilograms you know an attack should not be underestimated," the mayor concludes Nike has opened a new distribution center in Ham that’s powered entirely by renewable energy – the latest milestone in the company’s move to zero carbon and zero waste to help protect the future of sport “Our new Court Distribution Center represents Nike’s continued investment in a fast and flexible supply chain to deliver the full range of our product to consumers when they want it “This state-of-the-art facility will increase our responsiveness as we accelerate our digital growth and better serve millions of consumers across Europe expands Nike’s logistics capabilities to meet growing consumer demand while advancing sustainability at scale The Court is 1.5 million square feet and operates completely from wind the Court’s rack-supported structure required less steel and concrete minimizing waste and reducing material used in the construction process The distribution center expands Nike’s European Logistics Campus which opened in 1994 and today is comprised of six distribution facilities across Ham The Court builds upon a tradition of 25 years of service and commitment to sustainability adding a logistics system designed for continuous improvement New capabilities such as single-order consolidation and faster digital shipments make it possible for the facility to ship a single order as efficiently as an order of 10,000 Key features of the European Logistics Campus include: Read More SGB Update Stories ©2025 SGB Media. 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Use of this Site constitutes acceptance of our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of SGB Media Senvion is responsible for delivery of four of its 3.4M114 turbines and foundation work on the Nivelles project developed by Ventis SA in the Walloon region Installation and commissioning are scheduled for Summer 2017 The company will also install five MM100 turbines for the Molenbaix wind farm developed by Eneco and the Cooperative CLEF and four MM100 turbines for the Moulins Saint Roch wind farm The commissioning is due to be completed at the beginning of 2018 for Moulins Saint Roch and in spring 2018 for Molenbaix Senvion will deliver three 3.4M114 turbines to Engie Electrabel’s Meerhout wind farm Wind4Flanders will operate the project when it is completed It will supply one 3.0M122 turbine for the Minderhout project developed by Storm Both projects are expected to be commissioned by the end of 2017 Senvion will provide full maintenance for the Nivelles Moulins Saint Roch and Minderhout wind farms for 15 years with an extension up to 20 years It will also provide maintenance for the Meerhout wind farm for five years with an extension up to 15 years Senvion Dutch shipping company Future Proof Shipping (FPS) officially launched the first hydrogen-powered zero-emissions inland container ship Nike introduced the H2 Barge 1 at its European Logistics Campus in Laakdal As part of its journey toward a zero carbon and zero waste future Nike is partnering with Future Proof Shipping (FPS) and BCTN Network of Inland Terminals Future Proof Shipping’s zero-emissions 110m x 11.45m inland containership H2 Barge 1 is chartered by BCTN on behalf of Nike EMEA expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2000 tonnes of CO2e per year will sail between Rotterdam and BCTN’s inland terminal in Meerhout several times a week The official launch of H2 Barge 1 took place in Rotterdam on 25 May Minister of Infrastructure & Water Management in the Netherlands with a special A-Zero (A0) emission label awarded only to zero-emission vessels “It’s my pleasure to present the very first A-Zero emission label to H2 Barge1 as it is the first vessel to truly qualify as zero emission I hope this achievement by Future Proof Shipping will persuade other shipowners to make the transition to emission free transport too and that many more A-Zero emission labels will be handed out in the future.” Also present to celebrate this collective achievement were the FPS team and various partner representatives from Air Liquide “We have been working for a couple of years now to ensure we tread more lightly on the planet This shipping project proves that moving cargo with zero-emissions and zero impact is possible and we hope it accelerates the industry to follow in Nike’s footsteps and move to zero I would like to thank our dedicated FPS team our founder Huib van de Grijspaarde for his unwavering belief in us and the project and all our trusted partners for enabling us to see it through not just for Future Proof Shipping but for the future of shipping.” Richard Klatten “Nike’s ultimate goal is to create a zero carbon and we’re setting even bolder goals for the future The H2 Barge 1 is an important example of how we are investing in sustainable progress across logistics and transportation to protect the environment for future generations.” Eb Mukhtar Vice President Operations & Logistics – Nike EMEA “Green and blue are our colours: we navigate the inland waterways and respect nature We wish to be the preferred inland operator of our customers we are building a zero-emission future.” David Huybrechts The FPS Maas/H2 Barge 1 retrofit project is supported by grant funding from the Interreg North Sea Region Programme (Zero Emission Ports North Sea – ZEM Ports NS) Port of Rotterdam and Expertise- en InnovatieCentrum Binnenvaart Disclaimer : The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only While we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct we make no representations or warranties of any kind suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profits arising out of Do you have info to share with us ? Suggest a correction Marine Insight News Network is a premier source for up-to-date and insightful coverage of the maritime industry Marine Insight News Network prides itself on delivering accurate Signup today and get maritime ebooks submitted to your inbox directly.  © 2010 - 2025 Marine Insight — All Rights Reserved We respect your privacy and take protecting it very seriously The new Meerhout terminal will take lorries off the road and increase the capacity of inland shipping in Belgium by working with logistics specialist GHEYS to expand its operations from 8,500 containers per year to 20,000 by 2020 BCTN has a long term aim to increase this capacity to 50,00 by including other logistics partners and forming a network between Meerhout and its seven other terminals (pictured below) The new terminal will feature an electric gantry crane that will load push barges through the Albert Canal five days a week with freight bound for the ports of Antwerp Two barges will be in Beringen every day and one in the Port of Antwerp BCTN was the only inland operator to be awarded the second Lean & Green Star the main recognition for sustainable entrepreneurship in the logistics sector “BCTN tries to carry out its services as sustainably as possible among others by using low-energy equipment “GHEYS and BCTN's terminals in Geel and Beringen will result in more than 50,000 and in the long term 80,000 less lorries on the road every year.” DP World is set to implement OneStop Modal and the OneStop Vehicle Booking System (VBS) The US House of Representatives has voted to overturn the Environmental Protection Agency‘s (EPA) 2023 global schedule reliability surged to 57.5 per cent Container throughput at the Port of Melbourne totalled 267,000 TEUs in March 2025 Cover image: ©Associated Press The death toll has risen to at least 70 Rapidly growing occurrences of cargo theft in the US have compelled two early-stage technology companies to use data around truckload movements to assist law enforcement Paper and forest product exports climbed for the first time in more than five years in 2024 but various headwinds will challenge demand in 2025 The broader goal of NYSHEX’s new container index is to provide rate information that will support the use of hedging tools for shippers NVOs and carriers against increased volatility Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited Dutch shipping company Future Proof Shipping (FPS) officially launched its first hydrogen-powered inland container ship The ship was retrofitted with money coming from state coffers Nike is partnering with FPS and BCTN Network of Inland Terminals Future Proof Shipping’s zero-emissions 110 m by 11.45 m inland containership H2 Barge 1 is chartered by BCTN on behalf of Nike expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2,000 tonnes of CO2e per year commented: “We have been working for a couple of years now to ensure we tread more lightly on the planet and we hope it accelerates the industry to follow in Nike’s footsteps and move to zero… This is a pivotal moment not just for Future Proof Shipping but for the future of shipping.” IMO is bound by the membership of its Flag.. 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The pressure on electrical energy utilities has never been greater with the race to strengthen upgrade and build transmission system infrastructures able to accommodate increasing quantities of renewable energy This requires significant work and investment often to fulfil government targets Many countries do not have sufficient renewable energy resources to meet their needs due to insufficient land space for onshore windfarms or the lack of a coastline for offshore windfarms Transmission system operators (TSOs) must therefore be able to support the energy needs of their own customers and be capable of importing and exporting electricity across their borders the growing demand for electricity which in Europe is estimated to grow by some 70% by 2050 illustrates the magnitude of the challenges ahead is playing a large role in supporting efforts to tackle these challenges and facilitate the energy transition The utility is committed to the United Nation’s (UN’s) Sustainable Development Goals and the European Union’s (EU’s) Green Deal as demonstrated via the development and implementation of the Group’s ActNow Sustainability Program ActNow published in January 2021 defines concrete and measurable objectives which embed sustainability across all of the group’s business processes Elia and 50Hertz (the group’s German subsidiary) both contribute to the fulfilment of ActNow objectives via their local ActNow Roadmaps Road to Net Zero outlines the organization’s vision for building a climate-neutral energy system by 2050 Electricity will play a major role in reaching this objective because it is regarded as a low emissions source of energy for transportation and other uses It will enable major societal shifts to occur such as the growth of electric vehicles and the use of heat pumps in homes Elia are also facilitating the connection of renewable energy resources such as solar panels and onshore and offshore wind farms to the transmission system as Belgium plans to adapt to a gradual nuclear phase-out by 2025 Elia’s Consumer Centricity program promotes the building of smart houses and commercial premises which will include domestic appliances and equipment to use electricity when there is a surplus of cheap renewable energy this will require collaboration with players from across the whole energy supply chain The success of these and other initiatives will hinge on the optimization of Elia’s operational systems to make them more flexible Investment has already been made to increase the capacity of interconnectors that link Belgium with its neighbors — the Netherlands More large-scale programs are being developed to increase the ability of Elia’s transmission system to transport more electrical energy Improvement in the transmission system infrastructure is the most important requirement for enabling the energy transition Elia plans to connect more offshore windfarms in the coming years in the North Sea the development of offshore wind resources must be coupled with onshore infrastructure development to transmit the renewable energy to regional load centers Advanced conductors such as CTC Global’s ACCC conductors will have an important role for future transmission system infrastructure development as they can allow route capacity restraints and ground clearance issues to be addressed with minimal additional investment These advanced composite-based conductors generally have little or no requirement to strengthen the overhead line supporting towers (pylons) so the overall project costs associated with the use of these conductors is reduced coupled with the fact that the technology offers easier right-of-way (ROW) permitting procedures and the long-term transmission efficiency gains of between 25% and 40% in the load transfer capacity results in significant savings over the entire lifetime of ACCC conductors compared with traditional aluminum steel-reinforced (ACSR) conductors One of Elia’s major projects is the upgrading of the Massenhoven-Meerhout-Van Eyck (MMVE) high-voltage (HV) overhead transmission line to enhance the capacity of a key connection in Belgium’s 380 kV transmission system The MMVE line forms part of the backbone of Elia’s 380 kV transmission system which efficiently transmits large quantities of electrical energy With the share of renewable electricity in Belgium’s electricity mix set to increase this project will allow Elia to transmit and disseminate these electricity flows faster and more effectively across the 380 kV transmission system it will also facilitate the cross-border exchange of electricity between Belgium and the Netherlands an interconnection which is vital to maintain the security of supply in Belgium The existing 380 kV overhead transmission line route between the Massenhoven and Van Eyck HV substations is approximately 92 km (57.2 miles) long From the Massenhoven HV substation in Zandhoven the 380 kV overhead line is erected alongside the Albertkanal (Albert Canal) to the Geel and Meerhout HV substations The overhead line then continues onto the Van Eyck HV substation in Kinrooi/Masseik which is near the borders of the Netherlands and Germany This complete 380 kV overhead line spans 15 Belgian municipalities As a result of the complexity of the 380 kV overhead line upgrade and the time constraints imposed on this project building a new connection was not a viable option Elia selected to employ new technology able to increase the load transfer capacity by reconductoring the 380 kV transmission system backbone with high temperature low sag (HTLS) composite core conductors Thereby upgrading the 380 kV circuit between the Meerhout and Van Eyck HV substations The reconductoring of the 380 kV transmission line between the two HV substations began in early 2021 following intensive theoretical and intensive practical training of the installation team conducted by Lamifil and CTC Global staff The circuit upgrade of this 380 kV three-phase twin-conductored overhead line involved the installation of 395 km (245 miles) of CTC Global Arlington ACCC conductors in a “Z” profile manufactured by Lamifil in Belgium the structural integrity of each of the conductor drums were tested using CTC Global ACCC InfoCore System before and immediately following conductor stringing This time-critical upgrade project was subjected to the external pressures of the international supply chain difficulties and general logistics bottlenecks associated with the pandemic the pandemic also impacted on the installation and supervision workforce the project was successfully energized on target in Jan Elia plan to upgrade the existing 380 kV transmission line between the Massenhoven and Meerhout HV substations using the same HTLS conductors in a project that is scheduled for completion in late 2024 CTC Global development of the ACCC InFoCore System was prompted by an incident (fault) involving an HTLS conductor in Belgium in 2018 The conductor breakage resulted in the 380 kV transmission line being unavailable for several days while the conductor was replaced The post-fault investigation on the conductor section that failed included a forensic examination including the use of microscopy a CT Scan and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) evaluation by research staff at the Catholic University of Leuven The investigation revealed that excessive bending which probably occurred during installation of the conductor led to buckling or “compressive failure.” CTC Global were already working on embedded optical fiber systems when this breakage occurred This incident accelerated their efforts to commercialize the system to ensure such events could be identified and rectified during the conductor stringing work prior to circuit energization The ACCC InfoCore System uses optical fibers and robust data capturing and recording methodology Each inspection can be performed in a few minutes a key advantage in the fast-moving field installation environments The process involves accessing the conductor at each end and preparation of the core ends using tools provided in the ACCC InfoCore Confirmation Kit A transmitter and receiver are then attached to either end of the conductor and the controller receives reviews and captures the result in the cloud The whole process which is capable of confirming the integrity of each drum length takes around five minutes when the conductor ends are accessible As the results are stored in a cloud-based project database they can be accessed by the TSO (Elia) at any time during or after the project The conductor failure incident in 2018 demonstrates the possible issues that can arise with early adopters of new technologies It also highlighted the way that challenges can drive innovation with promising outcomes The initial ACCC InfoCore System prototype was first tested as part of a pilot project that was undertaken during the installation of Oslo ACCC conductors near Mons in Belgium in early 2020 The work involved enhancing the transmission capacity to cater for Crystal Computing’s requirements which included the upgrading and re-routing of the existing double-circuit 150 kV transmission line By replacing the original AAAC-2Z 346 conductors with ACCC Oslo conductors the transmission capability of the circuit was increased by 130 MVA Elia installed a total of 250 km (155 miles) of CTC Global’s Antwerp ACCC ULS conductors that offer added strength on a 40 km (245 mile) length of transmission line between Horta and Avelgem This 380 kV transmission line forms part of the upgraded interconnector between France and Belgium effectively doubling the existing circuit’s load transfer capacity Elia now specifies the use of the ACCC InfoCore System technology in all project contracts that involve the installation of advanced composite core conductors They firmly believe that this improves a project’s reliability and it is a safe fast and inexpensive way of confirming that the composite core conductor has been successfully installed Jean-Francois Goffinet is a senior expert on primary systems at Elia Engineering SA and has 20 years of experience in the design of overhead lines a Belgian representative of Study Committee B2 on overhead lines a member of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and a member of the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC) work groups on conductors and overhead lines Goffinet has been involved in more than 20 publications By Alexander Whiteman (The Loadstar) – Shippers say they feel powerless over the barge congestion crisis in northern Europe – one believing there may be no early solution Stanley Black & Decker’s senior transportation manager for EMEA-ANZ told The Loadstar congestion at Antwerp had been a problem since last year “Although things may have seen a slight improvement over the last month it seems there is no immediate solution in sight – with shippers being left out of the discussion and nobody willing to talk to Dutch barge operator Contargo last week claimed barges were waiting up to five days for container loading and unloading which had led to the imposition of a €19.50 container surcharge Mr Lenaers said delays of five to seven days had become increasingly frequent with peak periods seeing even more severe congestion He said whenever he tried to speak to the inland terminals about the delays they had directed him to the ocean carriers who pointed him back to the inland terminals and port authorities but our biggest concern remains the lack of alternatives and this has its own problems,” he continued “The roads in Belgium already suffer from heavy congestion and by using trucks we too would be creating bottlenecks at the port of Antwerp Tool supplier Stanley Black & Decker has its main warehouse in Tessenderlo approximately 5-6km by road from the BCTN-operated Meerhout inland terminal on the Albert Canal “Various factors make using the canal the quickest form of transport We have the goods delivered to Meerhout and then truck them the last few kilometres,” Mr Lenaers said which not only delays delivery but is also prohibitively expensive and it remains a possibility in future cases where cargo cannot come by barge but this is not sustainable in the long term.” Another shipper also told The Loadstar the barge congestion had been problematic Mr Lenaers said there were no other ways for shippers to offset its impact nor could they find a direct correlation between the delays and loss of sales Port of Antwerp said it was “well aware” of barge delays including a shortage of dock labour and capacity as a result of the rising volumes of shipping One inland terminal operator told The Loadstar congestion in Antwerp had turned into a “real disaster” The Loadstar is fast becoming known at the highest levels of logistics and supply chain management as one of the best sources of influential analysis and commentary Check them out at TheLoadstar.co.uk, or find them on Facebook and Twitter Sign up for gCaptain’s newsletter and never miss an update and updates delivered daily straight to your inbox 2025 (Bloomberg) –Sudan’s army said its opponents used drones to strike a military airbase and other locations in Port Sudan May 3 (Reuters) – India said on Saturday it had banned the import of goods coming from or transiting via Pakistan and barred Pakistani ships as tensions rise between the nuclear-armed neighbours in the wake of a deadly attack on.. May 3 (Reuters) – The mayor of the Russian port city of Novorossiisk declared a state of emergency on Saturday after local authorities said a Ukrainian drone attack had damaged a grain terminal.. Subscribe to gCaptain Daily and stay informed with the latest global maritime and offshore news Stay informed with the latest maritime and offshore news For general inquiries and to contact us,please email: [email protected] To submit a story idea or contact our editors, please email: [email protected] For advertising opportunities contactEmail: [email protected]Phone: +1.805.704.2536 Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe With more options for watching TV series than ever these days we are absolutely spoilt for choice Sounds like a real first world problem doesn’t it There’s only so many hours in a day though so we’re almost having to be pickier with what we watch now General TV is usually dominated by UK and US shows without delving into Amazon and Netflix and then there’s output from other countries worldwide How are we meant to know what’s worth our time I’ve been lucky enough to review a number of foreign series that form part of the Walter Presents collection on More4 and it’s safe to say that Walter Iuzzolino has won me over as a man to trust when it comes to international television worth watching is unsurprisingly another solid crime drama that manages to stand out from his other choices We all know how many similar shows there are out there and you could spend all day watching procedurals but it’s the quality of writing and performances that really make a show and this is no different This Belgian offering may not have the twists and turns of other series or the most imaginative storylines but lead actress Hilde De Baerdemaeker is captivating enough to make anything work As Commissioner Liese Meerhout she delivers a strength and determination often reserved for male dominated shows Rough Justice is all about her willingness to do whatever it takes to get to the truth no matter how others try to cover it up If you’re missing Line of Duty and Vicky McClure’s no nonsense Kate Fleming then this should keep you going for a while Considering we’ve just had International Women’s Day it’s good timing to get into another female led drama that proves they’re as intelligent and hard hitting as any man can be in a tough environment In fact it’s clearly even more difficult for Meerhout to succeed and she has to work twice as hard to be taken seriously – often by her colleagues and sometimes even those she’s trying to help Yet beyond that obvious gender challenge there’s a respect that is earned and a belief that as long as she gets the job done it doesn’t matter who she is As important as it is to recognise the strength of women it’s sometimes nice to just have everyone treated the same without debate as if there’s nothing unusual or unexpected about a female in a position of power.Based on the novels by Toni Coppers and using a mixture of existing stories and new ideas Rough Justice doesn’t deviate too far from the tried and tested crime formula but that’s not necessarily a bad thing Sometimes you need to play to the strengths of the genre and that’s exactly what the show does It looks at different cases while carrying an overall arc regarding Meerhout’s history and an old case she thought she had buried Each episode has something new to allow casual viewers to dip in and out while the bigger picture will keep fans coming back for more Meerhout isn’t just a straight-laced boring cop character that no one can relate to Instead there’s a human side to her and one that leaves the viewer appreciating her unorthodox techniques and quirky If there’s anything that makes Rough Justice worth sticking with then it’s absolutely our drum playing lead Whether it’s a suspicious car crash or a murder that needs solving Meerhout and her team put their all into every investigation often going way beyond the normal protocol Hilde De Baerdemaeker has great chemistry with her colleagues including Luk Wyns as the troubled policeman Michel Masson and Lotte Pinoy as Superintendent Sofie Jacobs Each of the main cast members delivers a solid and believable performance that feels like they’re all contributing to a team willing to work together for a common goal They may have their own individual issues they’re all dealing with but when it comes to work they all band together as well as they can It’s safe to say that Walter has managed to find yet another international drama worth your time and while you may think we’ve had enough moody detective series over the years I’d argue that Hilde De Baerdemaeker could definitely persuade you otherwise And really on a cold and rainy Friday night what else are you going to be doing So curl up on the sofa under a blanket and enjoy another quality piece of drama Rough Justice airs on Fridays at 9pm from 9 March 2018 on More4 I should like to know what is the music in the background of the series "These bands are way too popular to be in arrears." "Guess you'll have to go Steal This Album if you want to hear it now.." making this weekend the perfect time to stay in and watch Rough Justice which premieres in the UK today and is already streaming in the US is a police procedural series based in part on Flemish author Toni Coppers’ “Meesters in misdaad” (“Masters in Crime”) novels whose protagonist is Police Superintendent Liese Meerhout no-nonsense head of the federal judicial police’s homicide division in Antwerp Getting to the truth is what matters to her so she crosses the boundary between what is and isn’t legal when needs must she expresses herself more colorfully by driving a mustard yellow Mercedes and wailing on the drums at home the pathologist with a mega-crush on Liese the team investigates the murder of a journalist whose body was found with a toy doll and the presence of a similar doll raises the possibility that the two crimes are the work of a serial killer But Liese thinks otherwise and goes about searching for a link between the two victims she begins receiving emails from an unknown sender — all of them containing a picture of a young girl who was the victim in a case Liese had handled there are consequences if Liese doesn’t do as directed in the messages Rough Justice is a straightforward police procedural that features a closed-ended murder mystery in each episode The binge factor comes in both the tightness of the standalone crime stories and the intrigue of the tantalizing email arc and Rudy Morren (LouisLouise) in recurring roles The first episode of Rough Justice premieres in the UK today, Friday, 9 March 2018, on Channel 4‘s More4 digital channel Subsequent episodes will transmit every Friday on More4 through the 1st of June Viewers in the US can watch the entire season on Walter Presents and the Walter Presents channel on Amazon Add your comments on our Facebook, Google+, and Twitter pages More titles on our DVDs page Season 3 of French mystery-crime drama The Mountain Detective has premiered in the US Sign up for free trials to streaming channels on Prime Video Channels Where to stream filmed adaptations of Shakespeare’s works in the US Students & young adults, sign up now for a 6-month trial of Prime for $0! Practical things to know about FAST free video streaming Check now to see if you’re eligible to access all of Prime for just $6.99/month. Sign up for Amazon Business to help reduce costs at your business. Registration has been successfully completed Make a new account if you don't have one yet Puedes ver la versión Española de BeSoccer.com You can see the English version of BeSoccer.com Vous pouvez voir la version French de BeSoccer.com Puoi vedere la versione Italian su BeSoccer.com Você pode ver a versão Brasileira de BeSoccer.com Euroports is a relatively new name in the European port sector The company is headquartered in Luxembourg and owns a wide network of port terminals throughout continental Europe In a very short time it has grown to be the most diverse port operator in Europe – both in terms of the range of geographic port locations it is  present at and in the wide range of cargo types that it handles The Euroports network is still relatively young having only been assembled over an intense three-year period Euroports made its first acquisition in the summer of 2006 the specialist container terminal WCT in Meerhout particularly during the second half of 2007 when a number of industry-leading port businesses such as Westerlund Tarragona Port Services and Terminal Rinfuse Italia were acquired and brought together to create one of the largest port groups in Europe The company will continue expanding to complement its current portfolio either through bolt-on acquisitions or by developing new ‘greenfield’ terminal concessions The present Euroports portfolio consists of eight principal business units operating from 17 port terminals A further four terminals are currently under development Euroports has a strong focus in Belgium where the company has four terminal sites in Antwerp plus further terminals inGhent The  rest of the Euroports portfolio covers Finland Euroports has a strategy to operate a portfolio of port operations across a wide spectrum of product types – i.e it has positioned itself as a general port operator rather than focusing solely in one niche cargo sector Euroports handles products as diverse as steel From within this wide spectrum of cargo types Euroports has market-leading positions in the forest products Europor t s i s a European company headquar tered in Luxembourg and run by a team of port industry professionals Nick is joined by colleagues Richard Jennings as CCO and Julian Walker as Operations Director who bring extensive industry experience from ABP The company is owned by three international infrastructure investors – BBI Babcock & Brown Infrastructure Paris-based Antin Infrastructure (sponsored by BNP Paribas) and Milan-based Arcus European Infrastructure Fund Euroports is now further developing its unique portfolio by bringing together all of its businesses under the Euroports br and and adopt ing a pan- Europe an approa ch to the market Commercially it has already developed pan-European relationships with several of its key clients which typically include quar terly high-level business reviews and planning sessions to complement the regular discussions continuing at the individual portasset level The company adopts an open and flexible approach in its dealings with clients and prospective business par tner s believing that the traditional portclient relationships need to be challenged so that both parties can develop mutually beneficial partnerships over the long-term In the current difficult economic environment this approach has already proved to be beneficial as clients who are struggling to meet their forecasts at one port have found that the corporate relationship  encourages them to try and compensate into other regions.