shorts for Benelux feature

The number of loaded ships calling at the Port of Amsterdam in the first half of 2007 was 2,816, 2.9% down on the same period last year. Port chief executive Hans Gerson is nevertheless very pleased, because ships going through the lock complex are not only getting bigger, but are also making better use of their cargo-carrying capacity.He says: “The Port of Amsterdam continues to make a strong showing, and has now become an indispensable part of the whole Dutch logistics infrastructure.” He expects the Amsterdam Port Area – of Amsterdam, Beverwijk, IJmuiden and Zaandam – to handle more than 90m tons of cargo over the whole of 2007.

Three years of co-operation in the New Delta project towards the development of sustainable ports and port-related activities came to an end in early October in Antwerp and Brussels.

Under its European Union umbrella, the project involved ten partners from four countries seeking to strike a new balance between ports and nature, and promote sustainable development of ports and port-related activities in North-West European estuaries and coasts.

New Delta delivered practical guidelines, set up a partner network and implemented investment projects to develop practical experience; one at the Port of Antwerp, the other involving the De Zilk dunes in the Dutch coast.

The project has sought to ensure that 15-year-old European legistlation about habitat protection is applied evenly; to establish ecological goals and indicators, creation and restoration of coastal habitats and sustainable dredging technologies.

Port of Amsterdam president and chief executive Hans Gerson is to open Intermodal 2007 on December 4^th at Amsterdam’s RAI Congress and Exhibition Centre.

The choice of the port, traditionally a strong player in bulk and break-bulk transport, as this year’s venue reflects its continued mushrooming growth in container handling.

The two-day congress will cover intermodality, hinterland connections, environment, dealing with the empty shipping containers for return to China, ultra-large container carriers, container technology and ICT.

The same venue has also been chosen for the European Terminal Operators Conference on June 17-19 next year.

Half-year figures

The Port of Rotterdam’s income on normal operations during the first half of the year was up by ¢7m (3%) ($9.9m) to ¢93m ($132.2m) over the same period last year. The increase is said to be the result of growth in revenues and control of operating expenses. However, about 5% more vessels visited the port, and throughput was up 4%.

Shift in service

APL, MOL and Hyundai (New World Alliance) have moved the destination of their weekly South China Express sailings to Zeebrugge’s APM Terminals instead of Container Handling Zeebrugge. APM aims to develop the container terminal at the Albert II dock as a common user terminal. APM Terminals Zeebrugge started operations in May 2006, and received only Maersk Line vessels until the arrival of SCX.

Sitting comfortably in Antwerp

Bayer MaterialScience has chosen Antwerp as the site for a ¢40m plant to produce flexible polyurethane foam, used in large quantities worldwide for car seats, mattresses and upholstered furniture. The plant is to have an annual capacity of 60,000 tonnes, and is expected to be in production late next year.