APM Terminals first to open for business at Rotterdam's Maasvlakte 2
MAERSK's standalone port operator APM Terminals is open for business at the long-awaited Maasvlakte 2 container complex in the Port of Rotterdam.
For the moment, the Hague-based APMT's automated truck gates are open for trucks, barges and rail services. Big ships will come in a few weeks.
The two automated terminals worry unions, noted Lloyd's List. Dockers claim that as many as 1,000 jobs are at risk if shipping lines move to automated terminals in the coming years.
The new barge terminal, with 10 metres alongside, will be accessible 24/7 with round the clock crane operations. On-dock rail is open with an initial three weekly services to central Europe.
This has been tested through the use of its wide-span rail and rail-mounted gantry cranes at its automated container yard. There will be 10 weekly services operating next year as supply chain capacity expands.
APMT also runs a Maasvlakte I terminal and expects its first big ship to dock soon with frequency increasing as it ramps up to its first regular service in February.
AMPT's new Rotterdam terminal is one of two terminals at the Maasvlakte 2 site, both able to accommodate the world's largest ocean carriers. APMT's has 20 metres alongside a 1,000-metre quay.
The second, Rotterdam World Gateway (RWG), is owned by a consortium of DP World, MOL, Hyundai Merchant Marine, APL and CMA CGM. It opens after New Year and will be run by DP World, It has 20 metres alongside and a quay length of 1,150 metres.
This is augmented with its own rail terminal and a 550-metre quay for inland and feeder vessels.
APMT Maasvlakte 2 will open with an initial capacity of 2.4 million TEU, and RWG a first-phase capacity of 2.3 million TEU.
