K-Line consolidates transhipment in Rotterdam
With the Euromax Terminal as its basis, K-Line aims to increasingly consolidate its transhipment volumes – also for the ScanBaltic – in Rotterdam. According to Fer Penders, managing director of K-Line Netherlands, the company believes that further consolidation of its transhipment in Rotterdam will improve service levels. K-Line also sees the potential of using Extended Gates in the hinterland of Rotterdam. Penders points out that a deep-sea vessel discharges between 2,000 and 4,000 containers in the port. If 50% is destined for the Netherlands, Belgium and the German Ruhr area, it makes sense to load these boxes aboard push barges after discharge at the deep-sea terminal and move them directly to an Extended Gate such as Moerdijk (an inland port approx. 60 km from Rotterdam) for onward distribution. Penders indicates that K-Line enthusiastically supports the modal shift that the Port of Rotterdam Authority wants to bring about. He does, however, warn against taking this challenge too lightly. "It is important to note that the container volumes are growing as rapidly again as before the economic crisis. We therefore cannot expect that overall truck transport will decrease. Road transport is a substantial part of our modal split and will continue to be so." However, Penders does see possibilities for a Container Transferium to the east of Rotterdam: "To relieve the pressure on the A15 motorway in the port, there are studies to cluster road transport containers before entering Rotterdam, after which barge shuttles will take them to and fro the Euromax Terminal. We definitely support these kinds of initiatives." Quelle: eyefortransport |