The Port of Rotterdam Authority has signed an agreement for the development of a distribution center on the last vacant lot at the City Terminal site with Neele-Vat Logistics, one of the Netherlands’ biggest logistics services provider.
According to a statement, the deal will see Neele-Vat use the distribution center for ‘cross-docking’ – unloading cargo from an incoming transport unit and combining it with other cargo which is then loaded onto an outbound transport unit. The entire process takes place with next to no need for interim storage.
Credit: Port of Rotterdam Authority
The Port Authority says the City Terminal is steadily developing into the port’s second large-scale container location, accommodating a range of logistics parties that include RST/Steinweg (containers), MRS (container services) and Kloosterboer (reefer transport).
Its development is being funded by both the Port Authority – US $68.1 million – and the private companies, who have invested approximately $181.7 million.
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Emile Hoogsteden, the Port Authority’s Director of Containers, Breakbulk and Logistics, spoke of City Terminal’s potential for improving port operations: “A number of major short sea shipping companies have told us that they see added value in a cross-dock facility.
“This agreement is in line with the further development of the City Terminal site into a multimodal short sea hub and European continental cluster”.
Credit: Port of Rotterdam Authority
Cuno Vat, Neele-Vat Logistics’ CEO expanded on what the company’s plans are for the terminal.
“Neele-Vat Logistics wants to build a hall with around 10,000 m² of storage capacity, 60 dock doors and an annual throughput of some 50,000 containers,” he said.
“We expect to start on the center’s construction next year and to start our distribution activities there in the course of 2021”.
