The Port of Rotterdam Authority and Maersk have reached an agreement for the establishment of a 185,000m2 site in the Dutch port.
Maersk will build a 23,000m2 cross-dock and a 35,000m2 cold store on the site at the southern tip of the Prinses Amaliahaven, with the complex scheduled to be completed in 2023.
The site in question had already been reserved for container transhipment by APM Terminals, a Maersk’s subsidiary.
The cross-dock will be used for the short-term storage of fast-moving consumer goods, while the cold store will be used for the transshipment of a range of agri-food products, including frozen meat, fish, vegetables and fresh fruit.
The refrigerated cargo handling location will enable carriers to temporarily store and process their cargo in large volumes safely and keep it refrigerated, if necessary.
“Rotterdam is Maersk’s largest port for temperature-controlled cargo,” said Jens Ole Krenzien, vice president at Maersk North West Continent. “The establishment of the cross-dock and the cold store is, therefore, a logical step towards strengthening our strong position and enabling us to grow further in the port of Rotterdam,” he added.
Once operational, the cross-dock and the cold store will allow Maersk’s clients to respond faster to market fluctuations, reduce their carbon footprint and shorten their lead times, according to Krenzien.
The development of the stores that will be energy-neutral will cost around US$56.3 million (€50 million) and the complex will provide employment for 200 people, according to a statement.
In the meantime, deep-sea and inland shipping quays of 1,825 and 160 metres respectively, are currently being constructed in the Prinses Amaliahaven.
Container terminals Rotterdam World Gateway (RWG) and APM Terminals have already signed options to use the quays and further develop the sites around this port.
“We’ve declared our intention to double the capacity of our APM Terminal on Maasvlakte II. Concrete plans for this expansion and the necessary transformation are now being carefully discussed with the trade unions and Works Council,” declared Rolf Nielsen, head of hub APM Terminals.
“Hopefully, there will be a concrete plan that all the parties involved can stand behind before the end of March, that will allow us to finally be able to operate at full capacity by early 2026,” Nielsen added.
