As in previous years Danube Logistics, general investor and operator of Giurgiulesti International Free Port, invited for a picnic reception to celebrate the Danube Day on 29th of June. The Danube Day is jointly celebrated in 14 countries of the Danube River basin promoting the connection of its people and nature. Since ancient times the Danube river is a historic trade route and since twelve years, when the Giurgiulesti International Free Port received his first vessel, the Republic of Moldova again participates at this important trade route connecting to the Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea.
The event took place on a natural platform at the port premises overlooking the Danube River and the port facilities. More than 100 Moldovan and international guests participated, among the honorable guests were the Minister of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment, Ms. Georgeta Mincu, the Ambassador of the Delegation of the European Union, Mr. Peter Michalko, the Ambassador of Germany, Ms. Angela Ganninger, the Ambassador of Austria, Ms. Christine Freilinger, the Ambassador of Sweden, Ms. Anna Lyberg, the Ambassador of Poland, Mr. Bartlomiej Zdaniuk, and the Head of European Investment Bank Representation in Moldova, Mr. Antonio Castillo. Further representatives of central and local authorities including the mayors of Giurgiulesti and nearby villages as well as business clients attended the event with Moldovan food and wines and traditional music.
On 25th of June Danube Logistics together with the Civil Protection and Emergency Situations Service from Cahul conducted one of its regular emergency exercises at the premises of Giurgiulesti International Free Port. The objective of this exercise was to test the readiness of fire fighting in the event of a fire at the oil terminal.
The focus of this year’s exercise was on training of the operational staff of the oil terminal in cooperation with the firefighting brigade of Giurgiulesti village. As specific aims of this exercise the response time of the firefighting brigade was tested after being alerted of a fire at the truck loading station as well as the synchronization of the needed actions undertaken by both the firefighting brigade and the oil terminal staff in order to achieve an effective joint intervention.
As Danube Logistics provides an educational program to familiarize employees with the general principles of the premedical First Aid training on trimestral base, an element of the exercise was providing first aid to a person who was injured by the simulated fire. In addition the training included the handling of using various types of fire extinguishers.
Due to professional and combined actions of the Cahul Emergency Department and Danube Logistics the drill was successful and the readiness and ability of cooperation of both the firefighting brigade and the oil terminal staff during an emergency situation was demonstrated and important lessons were learned.
Since 2016 Danube Logistics has developed a Carbon Footprint Report in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol on an annual basis. As in previous years the 2018 report refers to CO2 and CO2 equivalent emissions resulting from activities of Danube Logistics at the premises of Giurgiulesti International Free Port.
The findings of 2018 show that in course of increased transshipment volumes the facilities and equipment can be utilized in a more emission efficient way and the CO2 emissions per ton transshipped decreased. In addition energy efficient measures such as switching from conventional to LED based outside lighting result in a decrease of electricity related emissions.
Transshipments via Giurgiulesti International Free Port (GIFP) increased by more than 10% to a new record of 1,050,000 tons during 2018. Mathias von Tucher, the general director of Danube Logistics SRL, the general investor and operator of GIFP noted:
“Last year we noticed a significant increase in transshipments of dry bulk cargo, in particular aggregates, coal and fertilizer. Due to increasing demand for transshipments and for land in GIFP’s business park we plan to more than double the capacity of the multi-purpose dry cargo terminal with additional equipment and the construction of another berth.”
During the course of 2018 Giurgiulesti International Free Port facilitated exports to 53 countries and imports from 33 countries. 76% of the imports via GIFP originated from the European Union while 57% of the exports facilitated by the port are bound for the European Union.
Danube Logistics SRL is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Dutch company Danube Logistics Holding BV, while the economic interests associated with Danube Logistics Holding BV’s shareholding in Danube Logistics SRL are shared with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
