Cooperation on R&D

APM Terminals and the Port of Rotterdam Authority announce the signing of a five‐year agreement of cooperation on research and development for innovation in global container terminal operations.

The main objectives of the cooperative effort are to:

 

 

• Support environmentally proactive terminal planning and operating procedures with sustainable development

• Improve productivity and efficiency of terminal operations

• Optimize land use

Help to increase public awareness of the major role container facilities play in creating jobs and prosperity in the global as ell as in national, regional and local economies.

    

We aspire to be leaders in innovation, stated APM Terminals’ Vice President, John Verschelden, This is a very natural alliance between one of the world’s preeminent container ports‐ the largest in Europe‐ and APM Terminals’ Global Terminal Network, which includes 50 facilities in 31 countries and five continents; our scope is global, as are our goals, and it is our intention that the positive impact of our research projects shall be as well.

 

 

Globalization and economic growth generate a structural increase in goods transport. Our aim as a port authority is to make sure that this is facilitated within our port by increasing the productivity of existin terminals, by making new ones very efficient, and at the same time increase the sustainability of logistics. Because economic growth and sustainability must go hand in hand, said Rotterdam Port Authority CEO Hans Smits.

 

 

Research projects will be undertaken world‐wide under the auspices of the agreement, and will focus on container terminal environmental best practices, sustainability, safety, cargo security, cost reduction, intermodal movements, supply chain integration, and information management. The agreement covers global port projects; five projects per year at the current APM Terminals Rotterdam facility, which surpassed a 2.6 million TEU annual volume in 2007 and the future APM Terminals Maasvlakte II facility, construction for which is scheduled to begin shortly. The facility will launch a new generation of eco‐friendly ports while serving as the company's flagship terminal for innovation and environment sustainability.

Source: Transportweekly