APM Terminals Maasvlakte II celebrated the official start of the expansion of its terminal on Monday. The first proverbial spade in the ground marks an important milestone in the development of one of the most advanced container terminals in the world.
The expansion, which is being carried out in close cooperation with the Port of Rotterdam Authority and the CareGo consortium, will double the capacity of APM Terminals MVII. This makes the terminal not only the largest, but also the most efficient and sustainable automated APM terminal in Europe.
“Investments such as these are crucial to ensure that the port remains attractive as a business location and maintains its position as a reliable and resilient container hub in Northwest Europe. In times of geopolitical unrest, this is of great importance for the security of supply and employment in the Netherlands and Europe,” said Boudewijn Siemons, CEO of the Port of Rotterdam Authority at the official ceremony.
During the small-scale event, which was attended by representatives from APM Terminals, the Port of Rotterdam Authority and CareGo, attention was paid to the intensive preparations, the intensive partnerships and the major challenges that have been overcome to reach this point. Eight directly involved parties therefore also jointly performed the symbolic first construction step, by placing a spade in the ground.
Direct connection to Germany
The new terminal is both highly sustainable and innovative. The expansion of APM Terminals Maasvlakte II includes the construction of 51 hectares of container terminal land, with 1,000 metres of deep-sea quay, truck and rail transshipment zones and the latest generation of Automated Terminal Trucks (ATT). Thanks to developments such as emission-free AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles) and fully electrified sustainable infrastructure, the terminal is ready for the future. A separate inland shipping area with six inland shipping cranes and a fully integrated rail terminal ensure smooth supply and discharge of containers to and from the hinterland.
The rail terminal is directly connected to the Betuweroute, which connects the port of Rotterdam with the German border at Zevenaar – Emmerich. Three intermodal rail cranes bridge all eight tracks, four existing and four additional tracks. The first phase of the expansion is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
This article was originally published in our sister publication SpoorPro.nl.
