News - Rotterdam expands the Maasgeul

22/2/12: The Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment is to expand the Maasgeul channel at the Port of Rotterdam to reduce waiting times for ships entering the Port.
 

The Maasgeul, the Port explains, provides access for seagoing ships with drafts of more than 14.3 m.
 

"More and more of these ships come to Rotterdam because of the increase in scale and because the load factor of seagoing ships continues to grow," it says.
 

The Maasgeul is just under 10 km long and 500 m to 600 m wide.
 

It will now be widened by another 240 m "so that by the summer of 2012 large seagoing ships will be able to pass each other".
 

In other news, the first waiting berth for short sea and feeder vessels has now become operational at the Port's Maasvlakte area.
 

Consisting of the former Tor Line berth, the new facility "was used straight away" by the 137 m Oland operated by X-Press Container Lines.
 

The ship, the Port says, had previously unloaded containers at the Amazonehaven but then had to wait approximately 10 hours before all the return cargo had arrived at the terminal and could be taken on board.
 

"By realising waiting berths on the Maasvlakte, the Port of Rotterdam Authority is responding to strong demand from the market," the Port says.
 

"It also creates the conditions for smooth, safe and efficient cargo handling."
 

"Waiting berths form an important link in the logistics process of short sea and feeder vessels."
 

The Port says it is looking into adding a further three waiting berths in the area in the near future, with the Europahaven to the east of the Rhenus Terminal and at dolphins in front of the Electrabel quay all considered possible locations.
 

See also portfinanceinternational.com/news,745.

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