'K' Line consolidates hub at Rotterdam's Euromax

"K" LINE plans to increasingly consolidate its transhipment volumes in Rotterdam, including its volumes for the ScanBaltic region, using the Euromax Terminal as its hub.

Fer Penders, managing director of "K" Line Netherlands, was quoted as saying in a report by magazine Port Special, June 2010: "We believe that a further consolidation of our transhipment in Rotterdam will additionally benefit our service levels to customers.

"Important to note is that Rotterdam must of course remain supportive in terms of opening its port by all means to this strategy."

"K" Line also believes that it will benefit from use of the Extended Gates in the hinterland of Rotterdam. "A deep-sea vessel discharges between 2,000 and 4,000 containers here in the port. Let's say 50 per cent is destined for the Netherlands, Belgium and the Ruhr. What could be better than putting these boxes aboard push barges directly after they have been discharged at the deep-sea terminal, moving them directly to an Extended Gate such as Moerdijk (inland port) and from there arrange the further distribution?"

Mr Penders said "K" Line "enthusiastically supports" the modal shift being mooted by the Port of Rotterdam Authority. However, such action would not be without challenges. "It is important to note that the container volumes are growing as rapidly again as before the economic crisis. We therefore cannot expect that overall truck transport will decrease. Road transport is a substantial part of our modal split and will continue to be so."

He added that there also exist possibilities for a Container Transferium to the east of Rotterdam. "To relieve the pressure on the A15 motorway in the port, there are studies to cluster road transport containers before entering Rotterdam, after which barge shuttles will take them to and fro the Euromax Terminal. We definitely support these kinds of initiatives."
(Source:www.schednet.com)