Optimising inland container shipping chain

• Scaling up in marine shipping

  We can observe further scaling up in marine shipping: both the sea-going vessels themselves and the number of containers that need to be loaded/unloaded per port call (call size) are growing in volume, as are the peaks in the call sizes. The largest sea-going vessels that currently call on Rotterdam have a capacity in excess of 23,000 TEU.

• Formation of alliances

  Greater consolidation and collaboration between the major container shipping lines are resulting in the increased bundling of volumes on board large vessels. These shipping alliances are including Rotterdam on their itineraries, taking advantage of the port’s range of deep-sea terminals.

• Growing volumes

  Container volumes in the port of Rotterdam have seen a strong increase since 2010. Likewise, inland container shipping to and from Rotterdam has grown to 3 million TEU in 2018. Pressure on the port’s quays is expected to rise further as a result of growing deep sea, feeder and barge volumes.

• New terminal capacity

  The deep-sea terminals of Rotterdam World Gateway and APM Terminals Maasvlakte II started operations at Maasvlakte 2 in 2015. These facilities can accommodate the expected growth in container volumes entering and leaving the port. With no fewer than five deep-sea terminals at Maasvlakte, the planning of inland container shipping in Rotterdam has become more complex than ever.

• Free time, demurrage & detention

  Agreements regarding free time, demurrage & detention have a strong impact on the container process. The regulations for retrieving or dropping off containers are becoming stricter, leading to a reduction in the time available for inland container shipping.

• Initiatives in the inland container shipping sector

  The Port of Rotterdam Authority is facilitating structural sector-wide negotiations between all players in the container chain: shippers, shipping companies, freight forwarders, barge operators, inland terminals, deep-sea terminals and empty depots.* To accommodate developments in the container chain and provide an effective response to the consequences of these trends, all parties in the chain are working together on a more transparent and efficient structure for the inland container shipping chain. A variety of initiatives have been taken in this context.

*APMT, BDB, BDI/DSVK, CBRB, Deltalinqs, EBU, ECT, evofenedex, FENEX/TLN, Royal BLN-Schuttevaer, LINc, Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, Portbase, Port of Rotterdam Authority, RWG, SPEDLOGSWISS, SSC, SVS, VRC, VRTO

• Nextlogic

  Nextlogic provides an integrated planning for the settlement of inland container shipping flows in the port of Rotterdam. This leads to the optimal utilisation of assets at the deep-sea terminals, empty depots and barge operators and increases the efficiency and reliability of the inland shipping products for shippers and freight forwarders.

• Portbase

  Portbase uses the Port Community System to provide a platform for all parties to exchange information relating to the logistics chain via Rotterdam – simply and efficiently. The parties can use Portbase’s services and share information with each other to gain real-time insight into a container’s current status within the chain.

• Digitalisation

  In the PortForward project, the Port of Rotterdam Authority develops digital tools that are intended to improve processes in the port and its hinterland. These intelligent solutions are suited for shippers, freight forwarders, carriers, terminal operators and companies in the port that aim to increase their insight into, and control over, their logistics chains.

• Bundling

  Collaboration between sector players has resulted in the bundling of container volumes in the hinterland and in the port. New agreements with deep-sea terminals regarding call times (fixed windows) and call sizes can further improve the reliability of the container shipping product. Terminals are offering fixed windows, on certain conditions, to support bundling initiatives by means of guaranteed handling times.

Overflow hubs

Parties in the port are exploring the possible use of overflow hubs to utilise capacity more efficiently, absorb peaks more effectively, spread volumes and respond to changes in the chain without time restrictions. These overflow hubs can be both virtual and physical. In addition, researchers are looking into the possible use of push-barges.

Infrastructure

The port of Rotterdam continues to pay attention to its extensive network of intermodal transport connections (rail, inland shipping, road and pipelines) with the hinterland. The capacity of this network is structurally expanded through programmes like the widening of the A15 motorway, the Breeddiep waterway, Botlekbrug, the Theemsweg route and the Port Railway Line.

The Port of Rotterdam Authority is actively involved in the Cargo Transport Corridors Programme, in which the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, Topsector Logistiek and the Provinces of Gelderland, Limburg, Noord-Brabant and Zuid-Holland are working together to improve the ‘Topcorridors’ transport infrastructure.