The Legend of A Ten-year' s Leap of a Port Giant

Ten years ago, Port of Amsterdam was plain but nowadays it has become the  NO. 4 port in the Le Havre/Hamburg range with a market share of 7,7% in 2008. After the first meeting with Mr. Hans Gerson, President and CEO of Port of Amsterdam in the year 2007, this time at the tenth-year of his presidency Shippingchina.com has the honor again to interview with Mr. Hans Gerson to explore the legend of a ten-year' s leap of this port giant.

J: During your almost ten years’ presence as President and CEO of Port of Amsterdam since the year 2000, what are the most significant/ impressive changes taken place for the port?

Mr. Hans Gerson: The Port of Amsterdam has grown faster than its competitors in the Le Havre/Hamburg Range. With a market share of 7,7% (2008) it is now the no. 4 port after Rotterdam, Antwerp and Hamburg. The Port of Amsterdam has widened its scope with the revolutionary Ceres Paragon terminal (after the takeover by Hutchinson it is now called the Amsterdam Container Terminal – ACT). Amsterdam has also become the leading player in the oil product business.

J:  Under your leadership the Port of Amsterdam has grown to become the number 4 port in Northwest Europe. Would you share us the secret of your personality that leads you to achieve this success?

Mr. Hans Gerson: I strongly believe that the strength of our business is determined by the quality and work ethic of our people. We combine commercial and nautical expertise, offering our customers first class and integrated services. As part of the city organisation I also make sure that the port authority can continue to count on the support of the city government and the local business community

J:  At present, what is your consideration on the port’s development strategy under the global financial crisis?

Mr. Hans Gerson: We continue to work very closely with the port community. We have initiated new policies and funds to stimulate innovation and sustainability.

J: Which are the Chinese ports partners for your port? What are the hottest cargoes transferred to your port from China for your port liners (e.g. the barge service between the Port of Amsterdam and the German hinterland & EU1 & EU2 & EU5)?

Mr. Hans Gerson: We have our representative office in Shanghai –and obviously Shanghai is very important to us in relation to the flow of containers. As we are very positioned to the West-European and German hinterland by barge and rail, all the big Chinese export ports are of prime importance to us.

J:  As the port giant in Netherlands, how is your cooperation condition with the other giant Port of Rotterdam? Such as the Betuwe Line (rail line that connects the two ports with the German hinterland), and the joint port community system for Port infolink in Rotterdam and PortNET in Amsterdam?

Mr. Hans Gerson: The ports of Rotterdam and Amsterdam have grown much closer over the last few years. We share a common goal in providing a first call service to the ever-growing flow of goods from all over the world to the hinterland. There is and also will be competition between cargo handling and logistics business in our ports, but the general framework is much more that of collaboration. Our joint ownership of Keyrail and the new port community system are exciting new ways of working together. We also work very closely together on new ventures in sustainability.

J:  What is your consideration on the cooperation with China in 2009? Any trip or projects arranged for China in 2009?

Mr. Hans Gerson: We have also looked upon on our cooperation with China as a long term partnership. In the years to come we will continue to do so; from our representative office in Shanghai, and also with our sister city Beijing and our sister port of Tianjin. I will again be leading mayor Cohen’s fourth consecutive visit to China in November 2009; also we are anticipating taking an active part in the Shanghai World Expo in 2010.

J:  In the tenth year of your presidency, what are your expectations upon your port and yourself to be accomplished?

Mr. Hans Gerson: My tenth year as president and CEO of the Port of Amsterdam will see further investment in our port to strengthen our base in the oil product market. Apart from further improvements on the existing four terminals, 2009 will see the world’s no. 1 company in oil product storage, Rotterdam-based VOPAK, start to build a brand-new, state of the art terminal.

We also expect a major breakthrough in talks with our national government on the building of the second large lock at IJmuiden. This investment will secure the port of Amsterdam’s future for the next twenty years and more.

J: Thank you for your participation in DIALOGUE.

Journalist: Betty Chen