PORT OF NY-NJ LINKS WITH ROTTERDAM TO SPEED CARGO FLOW

CUSTOMSÆ ERP III CALLS FOR SIGNIFICANT OVERHAUL OF DRAWBACK PROCESS    The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has entered into a cooperative agreement with the Port of Rotterdam in an effort to improve distribution systems at the bistate agency's maritime ports.
   The cooperative agreement is part of the port authority's redevelopment plan, called the Port Inland Distribution Network.
   “The concept is to link the port by barge or rail systems to key distribution centers inland from the port,” said Robert E. Boyle, executive director. “This concept is in place in Rotterdam and the agreement will help the port authority learn from their experience and offer our customers and important new service initiative.”
   Under the agreement, the Port of Rotterdam and the Dutch firm Ridderhaven BV will provide information and data on its distribution system and provide guidance on how a similar system could be developed and implemented in the New York-New Jersey region, the port authority said.
'    The Port of Rotterdam has developed over 15 years an extensive inland distribution network to its regional market using private barge and rail operators. About 660,000 of the port's 3 million annual container moves are distributed through this system.
   Ridderhaven has operated barge services, inland barge terminals and distribution centers in Europe for more than a decade.