European Gateway Services (EGS) and Danser Group have started operating a new ‘Intercity Barge’ service — connecting terminals at the port of Rotterdam with other nationwide terminals.
The two partners have scheduled three inland shuttles per week between the ECT terminals on Maasvlakte and other terminals in the Waal- and Eemhaven area, Merwehaven, Botlek, Alblasserdam, and Ridderkerk.
The new initiative operates in line with the targets agreed upon in the port of Rotterdam Authority’s inland container shipping consultations, which were held in September, 2017.
The consultations were undertaken in response to a number of reports regarding the increasing waiting times at Rotterdam’s deep-sea terminals.
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ECT has guaranteed a free quay for the Intercity Barge if the vessel can take at least 200 container transfers per run.
By expediting the handling of containers, the Intercity barge will be able to improve the competitive edge of the inland shipping sector.
Rotterdam has a throughput of over 12 million TEU annually — 3 million of which are moved in and out of the port by inland vessels.
