Rotterdam Municipal Port Management News

Challenges for the next decade in port and maritime research and development (R&D) and technology will be the focus of the 2nd International Conference on Port and Maritime R&D and Technology (ICPMRDT), to be held from 10-12 September 2003 at the Pan Pacific Hotel, Singapore. Five main sessions, which would be based on the theme "Port and Maritime R&D and Technology", will be featured at the 3-day conference. They are Port Development, Management and Operations; Coastal/Hydraulics Engineering; Marine Environment; Innovative Ship Designs and Operations; and Navigation and Maritime Training. These are key areas that offer great commercial potential for the maritime R&D and technology sector.

According to provisional figures, cargo throughput in the Port of Rotterdam in 2001 totalled 315.5 million tons. comparison with the record year of 2000. and the general cargo sector (-4.9%). The number of containers handled fell by 2.4% from 6.3 mln TEU in 2000 to 6.1 mln TEU in 2001. Imports of crude oil and the throughput of other liquid bulk cargo (chemicals, oils and fats) remained virtually stable. Throughput of oil products and petcoke (+10.5%), coal (+6.9%) and agribulk (+1.4%) increased. 5 mln tons. Imports showed a slight decline, by 2 million tons or 0.7%. This drop mainly occurred in the second half-year. Mr Willem Scholten…

On June 25, Dutch minister Gerrit Zalm and Robert Bonner, commissioner Customs Service USA, signed the so-called Declaration of Principles for the port of Rotterdam. The goal of this cooperation is to mutually exchange information aimed at identifying containers that carry a high risk. The Rotterdam Municipal Port Management (RMPM) is pleased with the proposed cooperation between the customs services of the Netherlands and the United States. The declaration will not only contribute to improving the level of in U.S. ports, but also in other ports. The RMPM considers the agreement a token of appreciation for its safety policy against organized crime.

Commonwealth Business Media, Inc. announced that Rotterdam Municipal Port Management (RMPM) has agreed to purchase from PIERS, a provider of global commercial intelligence, a complete record of U.S. ocean trade shipped through Northern European and Mediterranean ports during the years 2001-2002. The PIERS information to be supplied to RMPM includes detailed data on shippers, points of origin and destination, cargo descriptions and estimated values of all U.S. exports to Europe during the last two years. Charged with managing and developing the nearly 26,000-acre (10,500-hectare) port and industrial zone in Rotterdam, the Netherlands…

The Rotterdam city council recently accepted proposals that will make it possible for the Rotterdam Municipal Port Management to operate on a more independent basis. "NV Mainport Holding Rotterdam" (NV MHR) will be formed, incorporating both existing and new participations as well as joint ventures. The Port Management's responsibility and authority in the field of land issue, tariffs and investment policy will be increased. The net contribution to the municipal authority will be fixed at 66 million guilders per annum for the period 2000-2003. The Port Management will in future be assessed more on the basis of "Port Performance Indicators." The Rotterdam city council will principally concentrate on main policy lines on the basis of a strategic agenda for the main port.

In the first six months of 2001, throughput in the port of Rotterdam increased to 161.8 million tons, 2.3% more than in the first half of 2000. The transshipment of coal (+26%), petrochemical products and petcokes(+%), crude oil (+7.5%) and agribulk (+16%) in particular contributed to the good result. Other liquid bulk (chemicals, oil and fats, -2%), other dry bulk (including sand, phosphates, minerals, -%), ores and scrap (-10.2%) and the three general cargo groups (roll on/roll off, containers and other general cargo) showed a decrease. Total incoming trade increased by 5%, while outgoing trade was down 6%. During the first six months, growth gradually slackened off again.

At 303.9 million tons, cargo throughput in the port of Rotterdam in 1999 fell by 3.5 percent. This decrease is less than the 3.7 percent in the first half-year, but is a downturn compared with the top year of 1998 when 314.8 million tons were handled. The volumes of container cargo, grain and animal feed, scrap metal, and other liquid bulk cargo increased considerably this year. However, this did not compensate for the decrease in imports of ore, or the throughput of crude oil and coal. The tonnage of other general cargo (pallets, bags, boxes, big bags) also underwent a further decline, with the exception of fruit and vegetables. The Mayor of Rotterdam…