Growing number of ULCS on the port of Antwerp

Port of Antwerp in 2013: Container business was slightly down compared with 2012, while the overall volume recorded an 3.6% increase

The port of Antwerp (Belgium) handled 190.85 million tonnes of freight last year, an increase of 3.6% compared with 2012. The final figure is slightly higher than the already record volume expected at the end of 2013. The main driving force behind the growth was liquid bulk, with the container volume being slightly down as a result of the continuing recession.

The container volume showed a small contraction, both in tonnes and in the number of containers. In terms of twenty-foot equivalent units the number of containers handled was down slightly (by 0.7%) to 8,578,269 TEU. In terms of tonnage the drop was 1.7%, with the total volume coming to 102.3 million tonnes for the 12 month period. The ro/ro volume for its part declined by 4.9% to 4.56 million tonnes, although the number of cars actually rose by 4.8% to 1,299,961. Conventional breakbulk also contracted during the course of the year, by 7.4%, with the final figure being 10,09 million tonnes.

During the past 12 months the number of seagoing ships calling at the port of Antwerp was 14,220, a decrease of 2.3% compared with the previous year. On the other hand the gross tonnage rose by 3.5 to 329,636,387 GT. The number of ULCS (Ultra-Large Container Ships of 10,000 TEU or more) was 198, or 31 more than the previous year. This growth is due exclusively to the category of +13,000 TEU vessels.

The current year has got off to a good start with the arrival of the 14,074 TEU CLSL Jupiter. After MSC, Maersk Line and Cosco, China Shipping is the fourth shipping company to send such Ultra-Large Container Ships to Antwerp.

www.portofantwerp.com/en

Quelle: LogEastics
Portal: www.logistik-express.com