In the Strategic Masterplan Winning Combinations, one of the spearheads is Containerisation. In the last five years, the ports of Vlissingen and Terneuzen have experienced a growing volume of containers, but, with a 1% share in the total throughput, their contribution is still small. Until now, most containers have been handled on the quays of multipurpose terminals, but in order to realise a significant growth, it is becoming increasingly evident that a terminal dedicated solely to container ships is necessary.
A 1km-long quay with a draught of 14.5m will be constructed in phases.
In the past, there have been several plans for the realisation of a dedicated container terminal but both economical and environmental issues have thwarted these initiatives. Today, however, with the recent signing by Zeeland Seaports and the Kramer Group of the exclusive Letter of Intent, efforts to position Zeeland in the league of container ports all seem to result in success.
Former Thermphos Terrain
Kramer Group has advanced plans for a container terminal in the Van Citterskanaal in the port of Vlissingen. With the terminal, Kramer is aiming at shortsea container and ro-ro services. On the waterfront of the former Thermphos terrain, a 1km-long quay with a draught of 14.5m will be constructed in phases. The first phase of the quay, measuring around 400m, will be equipped with three cranes and ro-ro facilities. Behind the quay, a terrain of around 30ha will be available for the handling and storage of the containers. To make the offer as attractive as possible, the services at the terminal will extend further than just loading and unloading. Facilities will also be realised for such things as cross docking, repair and maintenance (also for reefers) and storage for empty containers.
Complete service package
Mr André Kramer, CEO at Kramer Group, is convinced of the opportunities offered by the new terminal: “With the complete service package, we prefer to talk about a shortsea+ terminal. A new terminal in Zeeland for shortsea operations is a welcome enlargement of the container capacity in the surrounding ports such as Rotterdam, where we have a shortsea container terminal at the Maasvlakte. Currently, we are conducting a feasibility study in which we investigate the market. The most important task in this investigation is to consult as many stakeholders as possible, such as shipping lines and cargo owners, in order to tell them about the Zeeland terminal and to find out how they think about this.” Based on the results of the study, Kramer hopes to be able to take a final decision on this project in Q4 2017.
2.5 million TEU in the hinterland
Through previous research, Port Authority Zeeland Seaports has found out that there are around 400,000 TEU of containers in the region that are making an inland journey to the ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp and subsequently to sea. In the hinterland, around 2.5 million TEU of containers are shipped. A big advantage compared to the ports of Rotterdam, Antwerp and Zeebrugge is the congestion-free roads. Besides the good hinterland connections, space for warehousing and excellent logistics are a great advantage. Additionally, there are two ends to the benefit spectrum. As a supplier, if you are located in the hinterland and need to bring your shipment first to Rotterdam or Antwerp, the port of Vlissingen can offer a logistically faster and more cost-effective solution. For a shipping company, should volumes increase to the point that transport to Antwerp could be omitted, then you are eliminating the journey through the Belgian inland waterway network via the Western Scheldt river which saves 6 to 8 hours one-way, not to mention easier North Sea access.
The services at the terminal will extend further than just loading and unloading.
A jigsaw
The challenge in this project is to contract enough container loads to make it profitable for shipowners to start a liner service. Mr Kramer continues: “Together with Zeeland Seaports and with our Zeeland partner Alex Nelis, we have formed a commercial team that works closely together. We meet on a regular base to discuss the findings of our investigation. It is a kind of a jigsaw. All the pieces need to fit to make the larger picture complete. What we need is a few launching customers. Once we have proved to them the potential of our Kramer Container Terminal Vlissingen, more will follow.”
