The world’s safest, first fully automatic and zero emission terminal welcomes 500 dignitaries and guests; New standard set for safety, productivity and durability.
Rotterdam – APM Terminals organized an event which was attended by King Willem-Alexander and 500 representatives of the port industry and governments from around the world in honor of the official opening of the new APM Terminals Maasvlakte II terminal. This is the most technologically advanced and most durable container terminal in the world.
APM Terminals CEO Kim Fejfer: “We are honored APM Terminals Maasvlakte II today officially together to inaugurate with you. APM Terminals Maasvlakte II is clearly a game-changer in the shipping industry and is designed to exceed the expectations of our customers. It is significantly safer for our employees and customers. The terminal is emission-free by using renewable energy, where the inhabitants of Rotterdam and Europe will benefit. And, just as important, our customers will experience 40% more productivity – thanks to automation. ”
APM Terminals Maasvlakte II in Rotterdam marks a new era in terms of innovation harbor. The facility is launching the world’s first container terminal where the cranes, SQC (Super Quay Cranes) are controlled remotely. A fleet of 62 battery-powered Lift AGVs transports containers between the quay and the stacks. This also applies to the barge and rail facilities.
The Lift-AGVs also represent the world’s first series of AGVs actually a container can lift and drop independently. The 54 Automated Rail-Mounted Gantry Cranes (ARMGs) positioning the container in the stacks without the intervention of employees. The energy of the terminal is powered by wind energy, making the terminal emits no CO2 emissions or pollutants. In addition, APM Terminals Maasvlakte II terminal considerably quieter than a conventional diesel-powered vehicles.
APM Terminals Maasvlakte II, built on land which is completely extracted from the North Sea, was designed as a multimodal hub for reducing truck traffic in favor of the barge and rail connections with the hinterland. Construction began in May 2012 and in December 2014 was the first commercial ship to the quay. Successful system tests have been completed to bring the first phase of APM Terminals Maasvlakte II in full operational status.
The terminal occupies 86 acres, has 1,000 meters of quay, rail facilities, and remotely operated eight Super Quay Cranes (SQCs) cranes, with an annual throughput of 2.7 million TEUs. All this equates to an investment of 500 million euros by APM Terminals. At full development, which is planned for the future, the terminal will cover 180 hectares and with a deep-sea quay of 2,800 meters long (19.65 meters / 64.5 feet depth). Annual throughput is 4.5 million TEUs. “The future of container handling at the terminal is safer, faster and bigger,” said Mr. Fejfer: “We are delighted that in future issues here today.”
The existing container terminal of APM Terminals on the first Maasvlakte, which will remain in service, handled 2.46 million TEUs in 2014 and was conducted by an independent study by the Journal of Commerce declared as the most productive container terminal in Europe for the first half of 2014 102 crane movements per hour.
photo: Bas Czerwinski.
