Rotterdam’s Maasvlakte 2 ready by end 2013Rotterdam’s Maasvlakte 2 ready by end 2013

Mayor of Rotterdam Ahmed Aboutaled told Seatrade Global that the Euro3bn terminal built on reclaimed would increase the total area of the port by 20%.

Aboutaled, who was participating in the conference Panama Maritime XI, held in Panama, said Rotterdam World Gateway and APM Terminals MV2 would begin operations by mid-2014. The two terminals represent an investment of Euro1.5bn euros in their first phase, and a further Euro500m second phase resulting in 4.5m teu total capacity.

Over the past seven years, the private sector had invested around Euro2.5bn euros every year in the port.

“Maasvlakte 2 will be able to receive super post-panamax 19,000-teu vessels, as well as the Vale’s huge ships bringing iron ore to Rotterdam,” he said. 

The expansion covers 2,000 hectares with another 1,000 hectares to be leased to the private sector making Rotterdam the first European port for the next generation of ships. “When you start a project like that, you need a good long-term analysis and a clear vision to 2030, with figures expectations of the future world trade, production and consumption growth in the near future,” he said.

The port of Rotterdam area features 40 km of quay, and connects to a  hinterland of 500m consumers.