Photo courtesy APM Terminals
The Port of Rotterdam’s renowned Maasvlakte II terminal is set to undergo a massive expansion, as APM Terminals, a leading global container terminal operator and part of A.P. Moller – Maersk, plans to develop an additional 47.5 hectares with 1,000 meters of deep-sea quay.
The Port of Rotterdam Authority is currently constructing the new quay walls, with completion slated for mid-2024.
The ambitious expansion will bolster the terminal’s capacity by 2 million TEUs, from 2.7 million TEUs currently, and is expected to be fully operational by the second half of 2026. The project aligns with APM Terminals’ commitment to sustainability, as the new section will also boast net-zero emissions and be fully automated, with preparations in place for shore power installation.
The Maasvlakte II terminal, which opened in 2015, has already set a precedent for sustainable operations, being a fully automated facility with zero carbon emissions.
“We are very pleased with APM Terminals’ decision to expand the terminal and to choose Rotterdam as the hub for its Western European operations,” said Allard Castelein, CEO of the Port of Rotterdam Authority. “This additional terminal capacity is much needed to continue handling the increasing container volumes in the coming years in an efficient and sustainable way.”
Keith Svendsen, CEO of APM Terminals, emphasized the strategic importance of the expansion, stating that it reaffirms Rotterdam’s role as a critical link in global supply chains and the company’s network.
In 2022, A.P. Moller – Maersk leased an additional 18.5 hectares of land in the area for the development of cross-dock and cold store facilities, set to open in 2024. These facilities will offer on-dock services for Maersk, one of the terminal’s primary shipping-line customers. Furthermore, a 16-hectare empty depot will be constructed for Star Container Services, an A.P. Moller – Maersk subsidiary, adjacent to the APM Terminals Maasvlakte II.
The latest announcement for Maasvlakte II signifies that all remaining vacant sites in the port’s Amaliahaven area have now been leased to APM Terminals for expansion projects. As the Port of Rotterdam Authority aims to solidify the port’s position as a world-class logistics hub and industrial complex, the expansion project underscores its commitment to sustainable development, efficient operations, and digitalization in the port and logistics sectors.
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