German inland container terminal open

German inland container terminal open Container lines NYK and CMA CGM, together with port operator Duisburger Hafen AG, on Thursday officially opened their new inland container terminal in Germany’s Port of Duisburg, the world's largest inland port, located on the confluence of the Ruhr and the Rhine.
   The D3T Duisburg Trimodal Terminal has an area totaling 37,500 square meters for handling up to 75,000 containers a year. It includes four 350-meter rails, an inland ship handling facility — also 350 meters long — and a crane for water and rail transshipment. D3T has ocean port status as a container yard for customs purposes.
   Erich Staake, president and chief executive officer of Duisburger Hafen, which owns and operates the inland port, said the new terminal is the answer to increasing port congestion in the region and will strengthen Duisburg's competitiveness as a European hinterland hub. 'Against the background of rapidly growing cargo volumes, the North Sea ports need efficient hinterland systems,' he said.
   France’s CMA CGM and Japanese carrier NYK will both use the new terminal to consolidate their cargo.
   'We are positive about the unique benefits and the future success of the D3T, and have had very encouraging feedback from our customers even during the run-up phase,' said Masamichi Morooka, president and CEO of NYK Group Europe Ltd. 'The start-up of the D3T is a key element in our strategy of growing our inland distribution network and creating a pan-European hub for central and east European traffic.'
   CMA CGM Chief Executive Vice-President Farid T. Salem, said: 'The D3T enables us to offer our customers a wide range of intermodal services through our subsidiaries CMA RAIL and River Shuttle Containers. It is so far a unique link between the sea ports and the European hinterland, and a key component of the group's door-to-door strategy.”