Rotterdam begins Container Exchange Route construction

The €175m CER project will link the deepsea container terminals, empty depots, rail terminals and distribution companies at Maasvlakte and is expected to reduce exchange costs between companies and improve European hinterland connections.

Ronald Paul, chief operating officer at Rotterdam Port Authority, said: “The CER offers the opportunity to combine container streams, which means that trains, inland vessels and feeder vessels no longer need to go to the different terminals.

“With the CER, the Port Authority is introducing a completely new, advanced and unique system. The CER will improve links between container terminals at Maasvlakte and reduce congestion, which will result in cost reductions and further improvements to the Port of Rotterdam’s competitive position as container hub.”

Components

The project comprises both the construction of the infrastructure and the purchase of terminal systems, the construction and modification of IT systems and logistic agreements on how the transport of containers will be handled via the CER.

Consortium KWS Infra & Van Hattum en Blankevoort will this year begin building a concrete road outside the industrial parks of the container companies at Maasvlakte.

The CER is scheduled to be fully completed and operational by the end of 2020.