The Netherlands: Strong Expansion of Gelderland Container Capacity Under Way

In the province of Gelderland, work is going into the expansion of container capacity in Rotterdam’s hinterland. If the plans are carried out in Tiel, Zutphen, Nijmegen and Haaften, 850,000 TEU can be added. Most concrete is the expansion of the BCTN terminal in Nijmegen by approximately 150,000 TEU, for which the permits have been granted. At the other locations, studies and preparatory work are being carried out.

Zutphen

The municipality of Zutphen wants to develop a container terminal and quay for the transshipment of bulk cargo at the ‘Fort de Pol’ location, along the Twente Canal. The project is in line with the restructuring of the industrial estate ‘De Mars’, where a terminal already exists. At ‘Fort de Pol’ over ten hectares are available for industrial activities and approximately one and a half hectares for the container terminal and the handling of bulk cargo. The container capacity is estimated at a maximum 50,000 TEU per annum. The tender procedure for the selection of an operator will be concluded mid January. After a final design has been accepted in mid 2011, the construction of the quay is planned for 2012/2013.

Tiel

At the current provisional mooring jetty along the Waal near Medel, in the vicinity of Tiel, a ‘wet’ industrial estate needs to be created, where transport by road and water are combined. Research conducted earlier this year revealed opportunities for fruit imports and the fruit trade. If these are to be profitable, a broader basis is necessary. We are thinking of a transshipment point for 80,000 to 100,000 containers a year. On behalf of the ten municipalities of ‘Regio Rivierenland’, a support survey will be carried out.

Haaften

The Rotterdam logistics service provider Van Uden wants to build a very large terminal, with a capacity of at least 350,000 containers, in Haaften. For several years now, the company has reserved eleven hectares with a 150-metre quay in ‘De Kerkerwaard’ port of refuge for inland shipping.

[mappress]

Source: portofrotterdam, January 13, 2011