APM Terminals Opens High-Tech, Zero-Emissions Maasvlakte II Container Terminal in Rotterdam

APM Terminals Maasvlakte II Rotterdam facility. Photo: Maersk/Facebook

APM Terminals has opened its new Maasvlakte II container terminal at the Port of Rotterdam, said to be the most technologically advanced and environmentally sustainable facility of its type anywhere in the world.

The APM Terminals Maasvlakte II Rotterdam facility is constructed on land entirely reclaimed from the North Sea and designed as a zero-emissions multi-modal hub to reduce truck traffic in favor of barge and rail connections to inland locations.

The facility is the first to use remotely-controlled STS gantry cranes, moving containers between vessels and the landside fleet of 62 battery-powered Lift-Automated Guided Vehicles (Lift-AGVs), which transport containers between the quay and the container yard, including barge and on-dock rail facilities. The Lift-AGV’s also represent the world’s first series of AGV’s that can actually lift and stack a container. A fleet of 54 Automated Rail-Mounted Gantry Cranes (ARMGs) then positions containers in the yard in a high-density stacking system.

The terminal utilizes wind-generated electricity to power its operations, producing zero CO2, emissions or pollutants, and is also considerably quieter than conventional diesel-powered facilities.

The terminal was officially opened on Friday during a ceremony attended by The Netherlands’ Monarch King Willem-Alexander, and 500 senior representatives from the global shipping industry and world governments.

APM Terminals CEO Kim Fejfer said: “We are honored to officially dedicate our new terminal with you today. APM Terminals Maasvlakte II is clearly a game-changer port in the shipping industry designed to exceed our customers’ expectations. It is significantly safer for our people and all users of the port. It runs on a zero emissions, sustainable business model using renewable energy, benefitting the people of Rotterdam and Europe. And, equally important, our shipping line customers will experience 40% higher productivity – thanks to automation.”

Construction of Maasvlakte II began in May 2012, with the first commercial vessel call in December 2014. Successful systems testing and ramp-up have been completed to bring the first phase of APM Terminals Maasvlakte II into full operational status.

The 86 hectare (212 acre) deep-water terminal features 1,000 meters of quay, on-dock rail, and eight fully-automated electric-powered Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes, with an annual throughput capacity of 2.7 million TEUs, representing an APM Terminals investment of EUR 500 million. At planned full build-out, the terminal will cover 180 hectares (445 acres) and offer 2,800 meters of deep-sea quay (19.65 meters/64.5 feet depth), with an annual throughput capacity of 4.5 million TEUs.

“The future of terminal operations is safer, high-volume, high-productivity performance” added Mr. Fejfer, adding “We are pleased to welcome that future here today.”

The existing APM Terminals Maasvlakte I Rotterdam container terminal, which will remain in service, handled 2.46 million TEUs in 2014.

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