Rotterdam Gateway accelerates terminal expansion

The €500 million investment, financed partly by existing lenders, will bring RWG’s total development investment to approximately €2 billion. Ronald Lugthart, chief executive and chair of RWG, said the project represents a major milestone for the terminal.

“This final phase marks a special moment in the development of RWG,” he said. “What started as an ambitious plan on a greenfield site on Maasvlakte 2 is now progressing towards the final phase of the terminal as originally conceived.”

The final phase will use the full quay capacity allocated by the Port of Rotterdam Authority and includes five new quay cranes, 11 storage modules equipped with 22 automated stacking cranes and 24 automated guided vehicles.

RWG is also examining the potential introduction of a BoxBay system for empty-container storage, with capacity of about 30,000 teu. Automation and sustainability remain central to the development, with plans to increase charging capacity for electric equipment while expanding office and maintenance facilities.

Gate capacity and storage for non-standard cargo will also be increased. Once complete, the terminal’s total storage capacity is expected to reach around 5 million teu.

The fourth-berth development will be carried out in phases alongside the third-berth expansion announced in 2023. RWG expects that project to enter commercial operation in 2027, while the additional capacity from the latest phase is expected to be operational before 2030.

Lugthart said the investment would strengthen Rotterdam’s wider role in European logistics.

“The last phase will not only strengthen RWG’s continuity, it will also enhance the competitive position of Rotterdam as the most important gateway to Europe,” he said.

RWG said the project represents an investment in the terminal, the region and Rotterdam’s international logistics position, supporting its ambition to provide ‘seamless access to Europe’.