EUROPEAN/MED PORTS\\\ By Karen E. Thuermer


The Suez Canal bottleneck caused by the grounding of the Ever Given in late March has resulted in schedule changes and rerouting of some 400 vessels in the East-West and West-East trades carrying as much as 55,000 TEU a day. The impact is being felt particularly in Europe with ships arriving ports such as Le Havre, Antwerp, Rotterdam, Felixstowe, Bremerhaven, and Hamburg in quick succession. The impact is expected to be felt well into May. “This has created a lot


of confusion for market parties regarding their vessel’s estimated time of arrival,” comments Leon Willems, spokesman, Port of Rotterdam. While Europe’s ports


were not anticipating this immediate problem, many have been preparing for the challenges brought on by larger containers ships carrying increased loads. Many, like US seaports, have been experiencing exceptional volumes of TEUs as the world begins to reopen from COVID.


Port of Rotterdam


The Port of Rotterdam Authority is implementing digitization initiatives to provide better control and management of the port, port infrastructure and logistics processes in anticipation of large ships and heavy cargo volumes. “Forwarders who need to


collect containers from the port can use this real-time digital overview to take the necessary preparations well in advance of


the vessel’s


arrival at the port,” says Willems. “This can accelerate the smooth handling of containers and certainly of cargo that is now arriving later


in


consequence of the Suez Canal obstruction.” The Port of Rotterdam Authority, along with its


subsidiary PortBase, and five deep sea terminals have recently developed a real-time digital overview of arrival times to provide transporters, shippers and other market parties with real-time information. “Transporters, shippers and


end recipients of containers prefer to use a terminal schedule, as this offers the most reliable and up-to-date information,” Willems says. The website is accessible to


everyone, requires no login and looks further ahead than other tracking websites that generally offer up to 48 hours advance insight and are less reliable since they do not have access to the terminal schedules, Willems explains. “Transporters, shippers and end recipients of freight can see well in advance when and which vessels are scheduled to be processed in Rotterdam,” Willems says. Website visitors can also


find information on available tracking options after the cargo has been unloaded in the port. Infr as tru ctur e


improvements are also constantly


being made


to ensure more efficient operations at the port. Two of the most significant projects underway are the Container Exchange Route (CER), and the relaying of a bottleneck section of the port rail track. The CER, an internal


dedicated 17-kilometer road, enables container terminal operators at Maasvlakte to exchange


containers Rotterdam as a


efficiently between different locations. This will make it possible for participating container terminals, empty depots, the National Inspectorate Terminal, distribution centers and other users to use the vehicles that run along this route to exchange containers with other parties. Officials also expect CER, combined with more competitive transport rates, will raise efficiency in


container handling, which


in turn will result in higher throughput volumes for the port. The CER is expected to be in operation on a commercial


basis next year. The relaying of the port rail


track is critical to offering good accessibility and connections with the hinterland. In the Rotterdam port area, the Port


Issue 4 2021 - FBJNA


25


the ‘Theemsweg Route.’ Port of Hamburg


of Rotterdam Authority and the Dutch railtrack authority ProRail are rerouting the port railway line over a length of approximately 4 kilometers to form what will be known as


Depending on schedules, some vessels stop in other North


Range ports before


reaching the Port of Hamburg. Consequently, bottleneck s


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