*********** Port Of Rotterdam ***********

[th0m]

Originally Posted by hkskyline

Despite the vicissitudes of history, the Netherlands' monarchy has endured, with the much-loved Queen Beatrix celebrating her 68th birthday today amid nationwide celebrations.

Just to be nit-picking, the 30th of April is "Queensday" here in Holland (which, this year was actually held on the 29th since the 30th is a sunday and we are after all still a religious monarchy), but this is not the birthdate of our current Queen, but rather the birthday of her late mother Queen Juliana. The birthday of Queen Beatrix is on the 31st of January, but since Queensday usually features a lot of outdoor parties, and we live in a rather moderate climate, she elected to keep the date on April 30th. Here's some more info : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queens_...he_Netherlands

[hkskyline]

Originally Posted by DiggerD21

this is just a marketing-text. Everybody knows that Rotterdam is Europe's biggest port. But it is normal that every port tries to find a niche to present itself as market leader. For example the port of Hamburg claims to be Europe's most important seaport for Far East and China Cargoes. Any data how much tonnage and TEU's are shipped from China to Rotterdam?

Incoming and Outgoing Goods Over Sea to / from Rotterdam 2004
http://www.portofrotterdam.com/mmfil...tcm26-9644.pdf

North-East Asia - 25,127 (13,864 incoming / 11,263 outgoing)
China - 11,649 (7,394 incoming / 4,255 outgoing)
Hong Kong - 3,943 (2,082 incoming / 1,861 outgoing)
Total Rotterdam - 352,759 (271,140 incoming / 81,619 outgoing)
Unit : Gross weight x 1000 metric tons

[Bikkel]

NL is no religious monarchy, it's a constitutional parliamentary monarchy. And Holland is a former duchy split into two provinces of The Netherlands. Holland is a region in Lincolnshire too.

[Nemo]

Guys, its better to proceed this discussion in the elsewhere. Let's keep this thread just for discussions about the port of Rotterdam.

Thanks!

[Bikkel]

Agreed though it's a correction, not a discussion. I haven't gone through all of the pages but have you included the Port Authority tower?

[Nemo]

Ha! Yes, see the first page for a picture of the WPC taken by Jan! But this picture you just posted is also a beauty.


Picture by @JAN

[Nemo]

www.ect.nl

[Nemo]

Half-year throughput constant
06-12-2006

FIGURES

Throughput figures for the port of Rotterdam remain high. In the first quarter of this year, 91 million tonnes of goods were handled, 0.7% up on the same period of 2005.

The fact that growth is less marked than expected is due mainly to a reduction in incoming trade in ores, coal and crude oil. Bulk chemicals, edible oils and mineral oil products continue to grow, by about 15%. Container throughput easily managed to match the extreme increase experienced in the first quarter of 2005.

Then, the easing of textile quotas led to an unprecedented influx of containers from China. Added to this, it was only towards the end of 2005 that competition from neighbouring ports was felt. In 2005, this resulted in a quarterly growth of 18%. In the first quarter of 2006, there was an improvement of 3.6%, to almost 23 million tonnes. Expressed in TEU (20-foot container units), this is 2,313,000 units (+4%).

A significant reason for the fall in the quantities of coal (-5%) and ores & scrap (-17%) handled was the low water levels. This hampered outgoing trade by inland shipping. As a result, stocks at the terminal increased to such an extent that imports by sea were also cut. To compensate, the power stations in Germany imported more coal by rail from Poland and the Czech Republic. In the course of the year, coal throughput recovered. However, the quantity of ore handled was not only affected by the water level, but also the temporary closure of a German blast furnace and the reduction of stocks at another steel complex.

Last year, the refineries operated to full capacity. As a result, we can expect some slight pressure on throughput (depending on the quarter) from maintenance work and incidents. The quantities of oil products (from naphtha right up to heavy fuel oil), bulk chemicals and edible oils handled has increased by double figures, about 15%, to become a mainstay of the port. This liquid bulk, together with other dry bulk (a lot of industrial minerals for the chemical and metal industry, +5%), is a good indicator of economic activity and the role ports play in this.
© Port of Rotterdam Authority


Special train tests the Betuwe Line
06-14-2006
This week, a special survey train started testing the Betuwe Line. The main task is to try out the power-supply and security systems.

The survey train consists of several vehicles. The complete train comprises a diesel locomotive, fitted with the new security system ERTMS, an electric locomotive that can handle a power supply that varies from 1500 volt to 25 kilovolt. There is also a container wagon, mounted with a pantograph (an arm on the roof for measuring the current), a dining car that has been converted into a test centre and a work vehicle. The first tests have already been conducted on the stretch of track in the vicinity of Tiel. Total costs for the line have now reached € 4.6 billion. If all goes according to plan, the freight line will go into operation at the beginning of next year.

[Momo1435]

Originally Posted by Nemo

Special train tests the Betuwe Line
06-14-2006
This week, a special survey train started testing the Betuwe Line. The main task is to try out the power-supply and security systems.

The survey train consists of several vehicles. The complete train comprises a diesel locomotive, fitted with the new security system ERTMS, an electric locomotive that can handle a power supply that varies from 1500 volt to 25 kilovolt. There is also a container wagon, mounted with a pantograph (an arm on the roof for measuring the current), a dining car that has been converted into a test centre and a work vehicle. The first tests have already been conducted on the stretch of track in the vicinity of Tiel. Total costs for the line have now reached € 4.6 billion. If all goes according to plan, the freight line will go into operation at the beginning of next year.
*

The electric lokomotive

A 189 from Railion, but with Betuweroute branding

[Hed Kandi]

First customer for maasvlakte 2
APM terminals has made an agreement with Harbour authorities for a Terminal of 167 acres and a capacity which can rise to 4.5 milion TEU. this was one of the most important deals to ensure the start of Maasvlakte 2.
Article in dutch.

Eerste klant voor Maasvlakte 2
ROTTERDAM - Havenbedrijf Rotterdam en APM Terminals hebben een overeenkomst onder voorwaarden gesloten voor uitgifte van een containerterminal op Maasvlakte 2. De terminal wordt maximaal 167 hectare groot en kan groeien naar een capaciteit van zo'n 4,5 miljoen TEU. Daarmee is voldaan aan een belangrijke voorwaarde voor de aanleg van Maasvlakte 2. Naast de uitgifte voert het Havenbedrijf ook nog een zogenoemde open beoordelingsprocedure voor uitgifte van een containerterminal van 138 hectare

[Nemo]

APM Terminals first customer for Maasvlakte 2

06-21-2006
Port of Rotterdam Authority and APM Terminals have concluded an agreement, under certain conditions to be satisfied, for the lease of a container terminal on Maasvlakte 2.

The terminal will amount to a maximum size of 167 hectares with a potential handling capacity of 4.5 million TEU.

The terminal will be built in phases. The first part should be operational at the latest in 2014. CEO Hans Smits of the Port of Rotterdam Authority: “With this deal we have secured the first large customer for Maasvlakte 2. An important condition for the construction of Maasvlakte 2 has been fulfilled. At the same time we ensure that APM Terminals and Maersk Line will be able to grow in Rotterdam, also for the long term, which will benefit the competitive position of the port. I am therefore very pleased with this agreement.”

APM Terminals forms part of the Danish AP Møller - Maersk Group. Maersk Line, a sister company of APM Terminals, represents the combination of Maersk Sealand and P&O Nedlloyd, with a market share of 18%, is the world’s largest containership line. APM Terminals, is one of the top four largest, independent, global container terminal operator in the world, already operates a container terminal in Rotterdam, that handles predominantly Maersk Line volumes. The situation of APM Terminals and Maersk in Rotterdam is a special one, considering the incorporation of P&O Nedlloyd in Maersk Line as well as the agreements made on the construction of the Euromax terminal. With the signing of this agreement, APM Terminals now secures sufficient long term capacity to keep growing in Rotterdam. And at the same time Maersk Line’s future volumes can be handled in Rotterdam and will not need to be moved to other ports.

The Port of Rotterdam Authority is at present also performing a so-called Open Assessment Procedure for the lease of a container terminal of 138 ha. For this terminal, 14 terminal operators and shipping lines have been selected as pre-qualified candidates. The Port of Rotterdam Authority expects by the end of June 2006 the bids of the candidates. APM Terminals is one of these pre-qualified candidates but will withdraw from the tender procedure as soon as the conditions are satisfied. Hans Smits: “The two leases are separate. The market has a lot of interest to establish terminals on Maasvlakte 2. I therefore expect to be able to finalize the Open Assessment Procedure successfully mid next year. Already a third of Maasvlakte 2 shall at that point of time have been granted.” The planning aims at bringing the Open Assessment Procedure - terminal earlier into operation than the new terminal of APM Terminals.

The new terminal for APM Terminals will be built in phases. The first part is 60 hectares. This may be extended in three phases to a total of 167 hectares, under the condition that an agreed amount of containers will be handled on the terminal. The terminal will have a minimum deep-sea quay wall of 2400 meters with a depth up to 20 meters and a barge quay of 500 meters with a depth of more than 10 meters. The terminal has a width of 600 meters, and a capacity of approximately 4,5 million TEU. A direct connection will be made with the rail tracks of the Betuwe Route. The capacity of the current terminal of APM Terminals in Rotterdam is approximately 2,5 million TEU.
For the new terminal of APM Terminals lease conditions, for instance in relation to sustainability and technique, will be comparable to those of the terminal which will be leased via the Open Assessment Procedure.

© Port of Rotterdam Authority

[EuroMaster]

Good news! When will theybegin with the building of Maasvlakte II?

what do you think what will happen with the lighthouse on the Maasvlakte? Maybe they build a new one at Maasvlakte II.

What are the progresses of the Euromax Terminal? When the Cranes will arrive?

[hkskyline]

INTERVIEW-Rotterdam port eyes major expansion, focus on energy
By Anna Mudeva

ROTTERDAM, July 27 (Reuters) - Europe's biggest port of Rotterdam expects to spend some 8 billion euros in the coming years to expand capacity, with a special focus on energy, to keep in step with booming world trade, a senior official said.

Chief Executive Hans Smits told Reuters in an interview that the Dutch port was aiming to become a European distribution hub for biofuels and liquefied natural gas as the continent struggles to reduce dependence on crude oil imports.

"By the years 2012-2013 we will have some 8 billion euros in investments in capacity expansion at Rotterdam ... 5 billion (of which) will come from the private sector," Smits said.

The port itself has announced plans for a major 3 billion euro expansion project, which will add 1,000 hectares to its existing 10,000 hectares by 2013 to provide a long-term cure to surging trade flows, partly caused by China's growing economy.

Smits said a number of new energy facilities are planned at Rotterdam, which enjoyed a record high growth of 5 percent in cargo volumes in 2005 to some 370 million tonnes.

The port, which is already a major European spot for imports and trade with vegetable oils, wants also to become a hub for biofuels and expects to have two biodiesel and possibly two ethanol plants up and running in the coming few years.

"We see a growing role for biofuels in Europe," Smits said.

Dutch storage company Vopak and Swiss Biopetrol Industries plan to build a biodiesel plant at Rotterdam by the third quarter of next year, while British TMO Renewables and a Dutch consortium will build a bioethanol plant by 2008.

Smits said there was a plan for another biodiesel plant and the port was now talking with an investor to build a big ethanol facility but could not give more details.

LNG, POWER

The port, which is a key trading spot for the European oil industry and houses five oil refineries, expects to have two LNG terminals and three new power plants in the coming years.

"We want to become an LNG hub as we see that north-western Europe needs extra LNG capacity because Europe does not want to become too dependent on crude oil imports and especially on Russia," Smits said.

The Dutch national gas grid operator Gasunie and Vopak are developing an LNG import terminal at the port, which is also the site of another project by oil refiner Petroplus.

"A lot of expansion is also taking place in oil storage facilities. Some of the refineries we have here are modernising their facilities, adding new technology," Smits said.

The port, which will report first-half cargo volumes next week, saw about a 15-percent increase in first-quarter cargo of oil products, bulk chemicals and edible oils, which have become mainstream goods for Rotterdam.

Smits said total second-quarter volumes grew but the port still needs a recovery in the second half of the year to compensate for the slowdown in the first quarter, which was caused by a reduction in imports of ores, coal and crude oil.

China will remain the main driver in the expected increase in container shipping at Rotterdam in the coming years, he said, adding that the Asian country accounted for half of the 12-percent growth in the container business in 2005.

The port will have a new container terminal in 2008 and has been adding other facilities as well to avoid a repeat of the 2004 congestion problems, when ships, barges and trucks laden with Asian containers had to queue for days.

[Nemo]

First half-year throughput figures up
08-03-2006

FIGURES

In the first half of 2006, 186 million tonnes of cargo were handled in the port of Rotterdam, 1.1% more than in the first half of 2005. Outgoing trade increased more sharply than incoming trade, at 2.6% and 0.7% respectively, and the 1.7% growth in general cargo was almost twice that of bulk (+0.9%). There was a positive trend in the throughput figures for coal (+6%), other general cargo (+10%), other liquid bulk (+13%), mineral oil products (+7%) and containers (+1%). Expressed in numbers, container throughput was 2% up, at 4.7 million TEU (20-foot units). There was less incoming and outgoing trade in agribulk (-9%), ores and scrap (-3%), crude oil (-3%), roll on /roll off (-1%) and other dry bulk (-2%).

Hans Smits, Port of Rotterdam Authority CEO: “We got off to a slow start this year. The first quarter was rather meagre, but then things picked up. Unfortunately, this was tempered by computer problems at ECT, a strike in the agribulk sector and a shutdown for maintenance work on a blast furnace and a few refineries. In the second half of the year, the recovery process will continue. As a result, annual throughput figures could be up by 2% on last year”.

Dry bulk
The total quantity of dry bulk fell 1% to 44 million tonnes. Throughput figures for agribulk (grains, seeds, animal feed ingredients) have been fluctuating for a few years around the 5 million tonne mark, with some ups and downs. The main factor during the past six months was a protracted strike. An estimated 200,000 tonnes ‘was diverted’. In addition, the port handled less soya beans because a large crusher in the hinterland switched to rapeseed of continental origin. The fall in incoming trade (-13%) was alleviated to some extent by the increase in exports of (intervention) grain (+3%). For the year as a whole, agribulk throughput will probably fall slightly to 10 million tonnes.
Approximately 0.8 million (+6% to 14 million) tonnes more coal were handled. Throughput of coking coal (mainly) for the German steel industry was up slightly. Most growth was and is to be found in coal destined for the German power stations. German imports are increasing and, because a lot of power stations are not located alongside water, they have to be supplied by rail. In response to the already increasing demand and in anticipation of the Betuweroute, EMO will be putting a new rail loader into operation in the second half of the year. To offset this, competition is on the increase, as a result of increased capacity in Amsterdam. For Rotterdam, it seems reasonable to assume slight growth, to about 27 million tonnes, for the year as a whole.

Throughput figures for ores and scrap were 3% down, to 20 million tonnes. It was not possible to make up fully for the transport problems caused by the low water levels and the overhaul of a blast furnace earlier this year. Not even by the increase in outgoing trade (+20% to 1.3 million tonnes), for which exports of scrap metal were almost solely responsible. For the year as a whole, the Port Authority expects throughput to almost equal that of last year, at around 40 million tonnes.

Other dry bulk failed to match the extremely good first six months of last year: -2% to 6 million tonnes. Fewer minerals were imported from China, due to the massive domestic demand, and competition from neighbouring ports was also more strongly felt. The deepening of a set of buoys in the Botlek will be a boost for mineral throughput. About a quarter of other dry bulk is handled at buoys.

Liquid bulk
The total increased by 2% to 87 million tonnes. Incoming trade in crude oil was down slightly (-3% to 50 million tonnes) in comparison with the corresponding six months of last year. There is plenty of demand for oil products and the refinery margins are good. These basic factors keep incoming trade in crude oil at a high level of 100 million tonnes or more. Fluctuations are due mainly to shutdowns for maintenance work. This spring, it was the turn of Shell Pernis, the largest refinery in Europe, and Shell Wesseling (Germany.) In addition to this, Koch (Europoort) was unable to operate at full capacity due to technical problems.
Incoming trade in oil products increased by 12% to 15 million tonnes, whilst outgoing trade remained unchanged at close on 8 million tonnes. When it comes to incoming trade, gas oil increased the most. Western Europe produces too little gas oil (for industrial use and as diesel for vehicles). Imports from Russia, in particular, fill the gap. In terms of outgoing trade, there was most marked growth in the amount of petrol (overcapacity in Western Europe) shipped to Mexico, England and the United States.

Exports of fuel oil from Rotterdam fell slightly.

Throughput figures for other liquid bulk - mostly basic chemicals - were 13% up, to 15 million tonnes (outgoing trade +13%, incoming trade +12%). Results have been good for the seventh consecutive year now. The main products showing an increase, among the 500 or so frequently handled, in the first half of the year were methanol (indisputable number 1 for a long time) and MTBE (methyl tertiary-butyl ether). Edible oils and fats are doing extremely well. Last year, the palm oil refineries of Loders Croklaan and KOG went into operation. Now, the demand for biodiesel is boosting imports of rapeseed and soya-bean oil. The rapeseed oil comes mainly from France, with Canada as an up-and-coming land of origin.

General cargo
The first six months of the year was lukewarm for the general cargo sector, with an increase of 1 million tonnes (+2%) to 55 million tonnes. Both incoming and outgoing trade in containers were up by 1%. In weight, throughput increased by 500,000 tonnes to 46 million tonnes. Expressed in numbers, by 2% to 4.7 million TEU (+91,000). The increase is below average, mainly as a result of the competition from Amsterdam and Antwerp (already expected to have effect last year). Serious computer problems at ECT meant further losses in the region of 50,000 TEU.
The increase in scale in container shipping is illustrated by calls from (extremely) large ships. In the first half of 2005, 30 calls were made by ships in excess of 8000 TEU, as opposed to 119 in the past six months. Nineteen of these ships were even larger than 9000 TEU.

Roll-on / roll-off traffic remained more or less constant at 4.9 million tonnes. The ferry companies announced results varying from positive to slightly negative. Virtually all shipping companies are seeing an increase in the number of containers (on ‘MAFIs’, a sort of sledge), at the expense of trailers and the majority of companies are expanding capacity. In the second half of the year, a substantial increase in Rotterdam’s ferry throughput is expected, due to such factors as the start of Norfolkline.

Other general cargo recovered what it had lost last year: +10% to 4.6 million tonnes. Important growth products were metals, non-ferrous metals, semi-manufactured goods and project cargo. More and more fruit is being transported by container but, thanks to the influx of bananas, conventional throughput (on pallets in the ship’s hold) is receiving a boost this year after all.
© Port of Rotterdam Authority


Rotterdam based Thialf Heavy Lift Platform from Heerema

[Isaac Newell]

Are those container carriers driverless ?

[karot]

Yes, since 1993. See: http://www.ect.nl/public/static/ProvenTechnology.htm

[delmaule]

El puerto de ROTTERDAM si que me impresiono, por lo moderno y por las dimensiones monumentales que tiene, es impresionante

[Nemo]

Krohne to build super calibration facility in port

DORDRECHT – The Dordrecht firm Krohne Altometer is to start work on the world’s largest calibration facility for flowmeters for the oil industry before the end of this month. The two-hectare complex will be built alongside the Shell and Argos refineries in the port of Rotterdam, on the former site of the Nerefco refinery.

With the new facility, which carries a price tag of thirty million Euro, it will be possible to calibrate and adjust flowmeters with a diameter of up to sixty centimetres. These meters are used for loading and unloading oil tankers, by oil rigs and refineries. “The smallest deviation in these meters can make a massive difference financially,” according to Krohne director André Boer. “A client of ours has a station in Saudi Arabia where supertankers are filled. Six million barrels of oil a day pass through the meters there. A deviation of a five-hundredth of a percentage costs him a hundred and seventy thousand dollars a day."

Krohne manufactures, among other things, flowmeters for water, cola and oil. At the moment, the largest calibration facility for oil meters is located in Marseille, France. The flowmeters produced by Krohne are transported there and back by lorry. According to Boer, that is very time-consuming and, moreover, this facility dates back to the 1970s. The new facility in Rotterdam can pump round more than one and a half times as much oil as that in Marseille and adjust meters for thin (petrol), slightly thicker and thick (fuel oil) oil. Boer: “Furthermore, we can reduce uncertainty to 0.02 percent. This will make it the most accurate calibration facility in the world. We will be setting a new standard, which also reflects well on the Netherlands and Rotterdam."
In order to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interests - Krohne would be calibrating its own meters at the new facility - the complex will be leased, following construction, to the Nederlands Meetinstituut (NMi), also of Dordrecht. Any company will therefore be free to use it.

If all goes according to plan, the calibration facility will be completed by next August. After six months of trials, it will go into operation on 1 January 2008.
© AD

------------

Approval for Maasvlakte II
10-13-2006
The Dutch House of Representatives has approved the revised plans for the construction of the Second Maasvlakte. The Port of Rotterdam Authority is confident that work on the port expansion can start in 2008.

The plans had to be revised after the Council of State severely criticised several parts of the project early last year. The revisions have addressed the criticisms. Parliament also agreed to the plan to build the seawall of the Second Maasvlakte in one go. That provides major cost savings and is better for the environment as well.
© AD

[Nemo]

Stena Line investing heavily
11-01-2006
Stena Line is to invest €200 million in two new ferry ships for the freight route Hook of Holland-Killingholme. The first ship is expected to go into service in April and the other one six months later. Thanks to the new ships, Stena Line will be able to offer its freight customers better sailing times and more capacity. The ferry company had earlier announced its intention to increase the capacity of the superferries Stena Hollandica and Stena Britannica to a length of 240 metres. Stena Line is putting €100 million into this conversion.

Stena Line is to take its fast ferry HSS Discovery out of service next year. The last voyage of the catamaran on the Hook of Holland-Harwich route will be on 8 January, the company has announced. According to Stena Line, the catamaran is too expensive to really compete with the airlines.

The ship normally makes two round trips a day. The crossing to Harwich takes 4.5 hours, which is twice as fast as by normal ferry. But the speed can no longer justify the operating costs. The Discovery uses much more diesel than other ships in the company’s fleet, whilst the price of diesel has more than doubled in the past few years.

© Nieuwsblad Transport

[EuroMaster]

It's a pity. It was a special ship. But what kind of ships do they want to float with in the future?