Hans Smits News

According to provisional figures, goods throughput in the port of Rotterdam will end this year at the same level as in 2012: 442 million tonnes. The port explains that the top performance came from dry bulk such as coal, iron ore and agribulk. Throughput figures for crude oil were noticeably lower than in 2012, due mainly to the weak fuel market in Europe and maintenance shutdowns at the refineries. There was a slight increase in the throughput of oil products. Container throughput was down due to the economic crisis and because Hamburg won back some cargo.

A new OECD report, The Competitiveness of Global Port-Cities; Synthesis Report, outlines the role of ports in urban and national economies. The report, to be released in Rotterdam on 9, September 2013, provides policy recommendations to increase the positive economic impacts and mitigate negative impacts related to environment, land use and traffic congestion. OECD Deputy Secretary General Yves LETERME and Mr. -          Mrs. -          Mr. -          Mr. -          Mrs. -          Mrs. -          Mrs. -          Mr. -          Mr. -          Mr. -          Mr. -          Mr. Patrick DAHER (President Supervisory Board, Port of Marseille). The conference takes place in Rotterdam, the Netherlands (LantarenVenster, Otto Reuchlinweg 996, Rotterdam), on Monday 9 September, from 9:15 to 17:30.

The bunker sector has entered into close collaboration to better guarantee the quality and quantity of bunkering supplied in the port of Rotterdam. To that aim, Hendrik Muilerman on behalf of the Netherlands Petroleum Industry Association (VNPI), Johan van der Steen from the Dutch Organisation for the Energy Industry (NOVE), Boudewijn Siemons on behalf of the Association of Independent Tank Storage Companies (Votob) and Hans Smits, CEO of the Port of Rotterdam Authority, have…

The plan for making liquefied gas (LNG) available as fuel for shipping in the Netherlands has come another step closer. According to Hans Smits, CEO of the Port of Rotterdam Authority, an agreement with ECT will make land available for a ‘filling station’ between the Gate (LNG) and Euromax (containers) terminals. ECT and the Port Authority are still to work out the last details and sign the agreement. Smits revealed this at a meeting at which ten companies, including Vopak, Shell and the Port of Rotterdam Authority, signed a ‘Green Deal’ with Minister Maxime Verhagen (Economic Affairs).

In 2005, 369 million tonnes of cargo passed through the port of Rotterdam, almost 5% more than in 2004 and a new record. The volume of cargo leaving the port grew faster than that of cargo coming in, with 9% and 3% respectively, with general cargo enjoying 7% growth – almost twice the growth of bulk cargo. Ores and scrap metals (-5%), crude oil (-1%) roll on /roll off (-9%) and other general cargo (-3%) arrived and left in smaller volumes. However, handling of agri-bulk (+1%), coal (+7%), other dry bulk (+4%), other wet bulk (+4%), mineral oil products (+27%) and containers (+10%) showed very positive figures. In numbers, container movements increased by more than 12% to 9.3 million TEU (container units of 20 feet).

Three consortia of dredging and construction companies have qualified for the construction of Maasvlakte 2. There is one purely Dutch combination, formed by Boskalis and Van Oord, a Belgian group, consisting of Dredging International and Jan de Nul, and an international combination, comprising the Dutch company Ballast Nedam and the Danish firm Per Aarsleff. Hans Smits, Port of Rotterdam Authority CEO: “The fact that there are three consortia in the race means there is healthy competition. I therefore expect a lot of creativity in the design process, followed by competitive prices.” This summer, the Port Authority went in search of parties able to implement the first contract for the construction of the 2000 ha port expansion in the North Sea.