Port of Kiel starts handling containers

 
Seaport of Kiel cooperates with Baltic Terminal Kiel International 

The Port of Kiel has started regular container operations. On March 13, MS “Vera Rambow” arrived at the east shore port with the first hundred 20ft-containers. Dr. Dirk Claus, Managing Director Seehafen Kiel GmbH & Co. KG said: “This is an important step for the development of the port. Container handling allows us to gain a foothold in a new business area.”

Container traffic between Riga and Kiel is based on transport of Ferroalloys, high-quality aggregates for the West European and Scandinavian steel industry, for which Baltic Terminal Kiel International GmbH (BTKI) signed a long-term contract. The company’s target is to handle 10,000 TEU in the first year at the east shore port. “Once Kiel is established in the transport chain, turnover volumes will rise in the following years.” This is the prognosis of BTKI Managing Director Jan-Rainer Straßburg.

Ferroalloy is produced and packed into containers in Kazakhstan, Central Asia. The containers are transported by blocktrains from Kazsakhstan to Latvia. At the Port of Riga the containers are loaded to sea vessels going towards Kiel. In Kiel the containers containing pre-sorted aggregates are directly switched to the rail. However if aggregates are not yet sorted, this is carried out at the east shore port in a closed hall. Depending on volumes and destinations the goods are further forwarded by truck, rail or also by inland vessels in the future. Empty containers are returned via Kiel and Riga to the shipper.

Quelle: Österreichische Verkehrszeitung