Satisfied customers, higher throughput, increased market share in containers, energy and other sectors, efficiency gains in existing space utilization, an additional 250 ha of industrial sites allocated, upgraded vessel traffic guidance on the water, and performance improvements. These are the most important objectives that the Port of Rotterdam Authority has set itself for the 2006-2010 period. Following recent approval by the Non-Executive Board, the business plan has now been submitted to the shareholder, the municipality of Rotterdam.

The business plan is the first to set out the Port Authority's new course since last year's autonomization. A hallmark of the business plan is the way in which it states objectives in specific quantities, figures and amounts of money wherever possible.

Chairman Hans Smits comments: “As well as the things people are entitled to expect of us in strengthening the port of Rotterdam's competitive position, we will be focusing our attention in the coming years on corporate social responsibility and innovation. These two topics are a recurring theme throughout the business plan. The first reflects our conviction that the port can and must develop in a sustainable direction. The second is because innovation will enable the port to strengthen Rotterdam's competitive position. We have a pioneering role as Europe's largest port and as a Dutch mainport.”

Competitive strength
The Port Authority expects most of the expansion in the coming years to be in the containers, distribution, chemicals, oil products, independent tank storage, and coal handling market sectors. The aim in these areas is to increase market share relative to competitor ports in the Hamburg – Le Havre range, boosting port throughput from 352 million tons in 2004 to 397 million in 2009. This rise must be accompanied by greater productivity in the existing port area, and the Port Authority will be looking at ways in which it can help companies, including possible financial incentives. At the same time, the Port Authority wishes to see more favorable outcomes of customer satisfaction surveys.

Space
More sites, amounting to some 250 ha, will be allocated to make the higher throughput possible. The Port Authority also intends to repossess, restructure and reallocate 135 ha of leased sites. It hardly needs to be said that Maasvlakte 2 construction has a high priority in the program.

Shipping
Greater throughput leads to more shipping. At the same time, the average vessel size is increasing. These two factors combine to increase the demands on vessel traffic management considerably. The Port Authority will maintain or improve the current speed and safety of shipping by investing heavily in new technical systems for supervising traffic on the water as well as in related organizational improvements. Rotterdam will therefore continue to be a safe port.

Surroundings
Accessibility, air quality and safety are three topics that will be receiving much attention in the coming four years. The Port Authority and other parties are drawing up an integrated accessibility plan for the port and hinterland to maintain optimum accessibility of the port by road, water and rail. An air quality task force has now been set up to identify ways in which the Port Authority can help improve air quality and thus safeguard further development of the port. A possible outcome is financial incentives for companies to use clean means of transport and production methods.

Finance and organization
The Port Authority's target for return on capital invested is 8.55%, together with 4% annual turnover growth. At the same time, operating expenses are to remain unchanged. According to plan, 10% to 15% of jobs in the Port Authority will disappear in the coming four years. Discussions are currently in progress between General Management and the Works Council on the impact of this proposal. These developments will cause income to rise faster than costs, which will benefit the Port Authority's financial position. The above will be necessary if we are to raise funds for constructing Maasvlakte 2 and offer customers a reasonable price-quality ratio while fulfilling the dividend agreements with the municipality of Rotterdam and the national government (from 2006). In four years’ time, the Port Authority intends to be among the top 20 Dutch employers by providing attractive terms of employment and career development opportunities for its staff.