Break Bulk in Rotterdam on the Way Up

 

The opening of a new break bulk terminal is one of the many developments and investments in the break bulk sector in the port of Rotterdam; a sector that has been very much on the up in recent years.

The new Liebherr crane helped Pacorini establish itself, on 1 August, on a 12.5 hectare site with a 600-metre long quay in the Merwehaven. Here, the company will focus on the handling and storage of non-ferrous metals and possibly also soft commodities.

Increasing capacity

Other recent developments are the construction of a 42-hectare terminal for a joint venture between SIF Group and Verbrugge International on Maasvlakte 2, which is expected to become operational in mid-2016. This terminal will focus on the production, handling and storage of foundations for offshore wind farms and the oil and gas industry.

In addition, Rhenus Deep Sea Terminal and the Port of Rotterdam Authority signed an agreement in May for the construction of a second quay at the terminal on the Maasvlakte. To supplement the existing 500-metre long quay the Port Authority will build an additional quay, stretching 280 metres, to help accommodate the demand for terminal capacity for break bulk and from onshore and offshore related businesses.

And Broekman Logistics isn’t twiddling its thumbs either. At the beginning of 2015, a start was made on expanding the Broekman Distriport terminal on Theemsweg in the port of Rotterdam. The terminal expansion involves a roll-on roll-off ramp and around 50,000m2 for the storage, handling and distribution of goods to and from Western Scandinavia.

Growth in break bulk throughput

Break bulk throughput was 12.1% up on 2013. This is a reversal in the trend of recent decades, when break bulk declined in scale compared to the container sector.