European ports intensify cooperation

The two have already worked together on optimising logistical connections since 2020.

“We are facing major challenges that we will overcome together much faster, more efficiently and more intelligently,” said Markus Bangen, chief executive at duisport. “Particularly in the areas of digitalisation and the energy transition, it is important to work together and share our knowledge and expertise.”

More than a million teu of containers are exchanged between the Port of Rotterdam and duisport each year with a third shipped by rail. The two are now working to create the most digitalised and sustainable port-inland connection in the world by linking Duisburg’s Rail Freight Data Hub with Rotterdam’s Rail Connected.

The agreement will also explore linking the port community systems Portbase (Rotterdam) to the RheinPorts Information System (Duisburg) and learning from each other’s initiatives in the area of digital twin projects.

Hydrogen hubs

Both ports are independently investigating whether they can take on the development of hydrogen hubs – Rotterdam as the future ‘hydrogen gateway’ to Europe and duisport as the hub for Germany – therefore setting up a physical link between the two is an obvious step.