Formal launch for Maasvlakte 2 terminal

The agreement, which covers building the superstructure, and equipping and operating the new terminal at the Maasvlakte 2 development, was signed by Hans Smits, CEO at the Port of Rotterdam Authority and by representatives of each of the RWG consortium partners – DP World, APL, Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL), Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) and CMA CGM.

Commenting on the project, Smits said: “The new Maasvlakte 2 provides a high-quality site. Such new terminal locations are very scarce in Europe and this will be even more the case in the next decades. This called for partners able to fill the new terminal and deliver both financially and operationally, while optimising hinterland connectivity as part of the effort to reduce the environmental impact of container traffic. Rotterdam World Gateway proved to be this partner.”

The agreement for the operation of the terminal was originally announced on July 12, 2007. The first terminal to be set up on the new site, it will have a 1,900 m deep-sea quay with a depth of 20 m, a 550 m quay for inland shipping and feeder vessels and its own rail terminal with a connection to the Betuweroute. It will have a capacity of some 4m teu, and will be phased into operation from 2013 onwards.