On the morning of February 13, it became known about the acquisition by DP World of TIS container terminal. While the heads of the companies accept congratulations, the editors of MCI «Shipping» are thinking about the future of the terminal.
According to the company’s press center, the partnership with DP World will give TIS Container Terminal new opportunities. Among them are new container lines, the development of additional services inside the terminal, the expansion of the basket of general and bulk cargo. In the near future, the company plans to create new services and improve the quality of service. Is there any chance that in Ukraine they will make an industrial park similar to the largest free economic zone Jebel Ali Free Zone?
However, according to the editorial staff, even the arrival of such a giant of port operations as DP World is unlikely to increase the influx of cargo into Ukraine. As part of global agreements with container lines, the new TIS owner may well transfer some lines from other ports to the South. The port of Odessa, the terminal of KTO, will be the first to enter the “sight” of the transition. To give a full assessment of this possible situation until it comes out. All container lines can consider the possibility of moving from Odessa to Yuzhny; the most likely applicants for the transition are ONE and MSC line services.
«The entry of DP World into the capital of the TIS Container Terminal has become possible, thanks in part to the dynamic development of the terminal in recent years. In 2019, its cargo turnover grew by 75%. We actively invested in the construction of moorings, equipment, the development of related services, in particular container trains», — the TIS press service said on the Facebook page.
«Today DP World enters Ukraine! One of the leaders in the global port industry announced the acquisition of control at TIS Container Terminal Ukraine. From today, the TIS container terminal is part of the DP World global family, which guarantees the highest level of service! What an incredible pride it is to watch how the company you grew up grows stronger, develops and strengthens with such partners», — commented TIS co-owner Andrey Stavnitser on Facebook.
«I well remember how the idea of building a container terminal was born. In 2003, I returned from an internship at the port of New Orleans. TIS then designed the coal and ore terminals. We talked, looked at the global trends in containerization, which then grew at a tremendous pace. We recruited a team and began construction», — added Andrey Stavnitser.
«It was very different from bulk cargo. I remember how long we argued what a CT coating pie should be and what technology to choose. The terminal was completed in August 2008 — exactly in time for the global crisis. The start was difficult, if only briefly. But judging by the result, we did a good job», — said the head of TIS.
According to him, the deal was organized and conducted by the SD Capital team. The deal became one of the five largest direct M&A from a foreign investor, which occurred in the Ukrainian infrastructure industry.
Reference: SD Capital investment company Andrey Stavnitser and Philipp Grushko, established in 2016, collaborates with global and local companies in order to maximize the value of investments in the Ukrainian economy.
SD Capital has already completed three large investment projects in which major international companies participate: the construction of a modern grain terminal with the American corporation Cargill, the acquisition of a towing operator P&O Maritime in Ukraine and the deal with DP World.
«We are pleased to expand our presence in Ukraine. DP World praises the growth potential of the TIS Container Terminal. The goal of our company is to create the best industry solutions for optimizing the global supply chain. We believe that our strategic partnership will allow the TIS Container Terminal to strengthen its position on the sea map of the world», — said Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman and CEO of DP World.
«The country in which DP World is an important player in the global maritime shipping and global trade market. The benefits of this transaction will be felt not only by its direct participants, but also by the whole country. This is a quality mark for the country’s investment climate, and a pillar for further growth», — added SD Capital partner Philipp Grushko.
The news was also commented by the Minister of Infrastructure Vladislav Krikliy. He thanked Andrey Stavnitser for the work done and added that “the Qatari people with the concession will no longer be alone” (the Qatari company QTerminals won the tender for the concession of property of the stevedoring company Olvia, — ed.)
TIS-Container Terminal is the deepest container terminal in Ukraine. Terminal berths were built in 2009; The longest container berth in Ukraine is equipped with the largest loading cranes manufactured by ZPMC and rear loading cranes of the same manufacturer.
DP World (headquarters — Dubai) is one of the largest global port operators. It operates 78 sea and land terminals in 50 countries on six continents. The staff is 45 thousand people. In 2018, the company increased container turnover compared with 2017 by 1.9% — up to 71.4 million TEU. The total cargo turnover of the company in 2019 exceeded 71 million TEU (for comparison, the container turnover of all Ukrainian ports in 2019 amounted to just over 1 million TEU).
It is obvious that collaboration with DP World will give the TIS-KT team access to the best stevedoring technologies, IT solutions, labor and safety standards. The arrival of a new international investor can create new jobs and positively affect the development of the container terminal. Also, attracting another international investor has a positive effect on the investment attractiveness of the Ukrainian transport industry.
