ECT and Kloosterboer to develop Cool Port

Together, the companies will develop an intermodal hub for the transhipment and storage of temperature controlled cargo such as fruit, meat and fish. The planned location for this hub is the Prins Willem Alexanderhaven on part of the current ECT City Terminal.

At the existing terminal, a frozen storage facility and a cross docking facility will be built and integrated into the transhipment process. This will ensure rapid and efficient transit operation. Quality check and inspection will also be performed directly at the terminal and services such as pre-trip inspection and the return of an empty container will be offered.

The aim is for Rotterdam Cool Port to become the centre for temperature controlled products. The products will be transported from the port further into Europe in an efficient and sustainable way. Due to the design of the hub, it will be place emphasis on inland shipping, rail and short sea and will link the port with Greenports in the Netherlands.

Construction is expected to begin in September 2013 and it could be fully operational just over a year later.