APM: Future Begins as Maasvlakte II Progresses (The Netherlands)

Equipment orders, software programming and initial construction have forged ahead at APM Terminals’ new 2.7 million TEU annual throughput capacity terminal with a brief presentation and inspection tour held today on land recently reclaimed from the sea at the Maasvlakte 2 site at the Port of Rotterdam. Construction is scheduled to be completed in 2014 with operations set to begin in November of that year.

“The era of commercial containerized cargo transportation began here at the port of Rotterdam in May 1966, 46 years ago, and so it is only fitting that the newest era in container handling and technology will start here as well in what will be the world’s most advanced and environmentally sustainable container terminal operation” said APM Terminals CEO Kim Fejfer, speaking to the approximately 100 invited guests attending the presentation.

The Maasvlakte II facility will be capable of handling the world’s largest containerships, and will support the existing APM Terminals Rotterdam terminal, one of the largest in Europe, with an annual capacity of 3.4 million TEUs. APM Terminals Maasvlakte II will feature an on-dock rail terminal, with four tracks when opened in 2014 and eight tracks when fully built out, and will make extensive use of Europe’s river barge network for ease of access to inland points and reduction of truck traffic as part of APM Terminals’ commitment to environmental sustainability, and in compliance with the Port of Rotterdam’s requirements to increase non-road intermodal container transportation.

APM Terminals has also signed contracts with Dutch building firm Boele & Van Eesteren for the construction of Maasvlakte II’s main office and workshop, with the intention of qualifying for BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) certification for environmental performance, as adopted by the Dutch Green Building Council. Contracts will soon be announced with Navis and TBA Netherlands for the development of the advanced Terminal Operating and Equipment Control software systems – both key components of the high productivity standards which have been designed into the terminal.

The use of electrification of all equipment and green energy generated power will enable APM Terminals’ Maasvlakte II facility to be free of all CO2, NOx and particulate emissions. Earlier in 2009, APM Terminals Rotterdam’s Maasvlakte I facility became the world’s first container terminal to be powered by wind-generated “green” electricity.

“Through the use of automation and new technologies, as exemplified here, including such innovations as battery-powered Lift-AGVs, we are creating a new era in ports that will increase efficiency” noted Mr. Fejfer, adding “today the future of the port industry begins right here”.

Summary of equipment ordered:

8 ship-to-shore gantry cranes – operated by remote control an industry first. (Cargotec)

2 barge quay cranes – (Cargotec)

26 automated rail-mounted gantry cranes (Kuenz)

2 rail cranes (Kuenz)

37 battery-powered Lift AGV’s. First company to order. (Gottwald)

2 robotic battery exchange stations (Gottwald)

31 ship-to-shore spreaders (Bromma)

Other contract selections:

Dutch contractor Boele & Van Eesteren for construction of main office building and Maintenance and Repair workshop.

Navis (part of Cargotec) and TBA Netherlands (part of Gottwald) to jointly develop the Terminal Operating (TOS) and the Equipment Control (ECS) software systems.

Timeline for next steps in project (phase A):

June 2012 – April 2014: Civil construction works

March 2013: Delivery of first automated vehicles for testing

December 2013: Delivery of first cranes & start of integration testing

November 2014: Commercial opening

APM Terminals Maasvlakte II terminal specifications:

Phase A when opening in November 2014:

86 hectares of which 60 hectares is terminal area

1000 meter deepsea quay with 20 meter draft

500 meter barge quay with 9 meter draft

Further expansion possible in future

Phase B: addition of 500 meter deepsea quay + land

Phase C+D: addition of 1300 meter deepsea quay + land

Total area phase A-D: 167 hectares

Ownership: APM Terminals: 100%

Concession to 2025 with renewal option to 2050

About APM Terminals in The Netherlands

Home to Rotterdam, Europe’s largest container port, The Netherlands has a population of 16.7 million, serving as a vital transit point and corridor for global trade. The World Trade Organization ranked the Netherlands as the world’s 5th-largest merchandise exporter in 2010 with $572 billion, and the 7th-largest importer with $517 billion. With a GDP of $858 billion in 2011, the Netherlands is the 5th-largest economy in the Euro-zone. APM Terminals (which has headquarters in The Hague), operates one major container facility in the Netherlands, with another currently in development. The Port of Rotterdam was the destination of the very first international containerized cargo shipment in 1966 (from Port Elizabeth, New Jersey), and is currently the world’s 11th-busiest containerport with a throughput of 11.9 million TEUs in 2011.

APM Terminals Rotterdam, one of the largest container terminals in Europe, opened in October 2000. In November 2009, it became the first container terminal to “go green” with wind-generated electrical power for cranes and other operations. Rotterdam is a major transshipment center for the British, Irish, Scandinavian and Baltic Markets, with multi-modal access to the 320 million-strong consumer, commercial and industrial centers of Continental Europe. The current modal split at the Rotterdam terminal is 40% barge, 40% truck and 20% rail. Throughput at the Rotterdam Terminal was 2.7 million TEUs in 2011. APM Terminals is also developing a new terminal at the Port of Rotterdam’s Maasvlakte II site.

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Dredging Today Staff, June 25, 2012