Port of Rotterdam to relocate fruit handling area

Port of Rotterdam to relocate fruit handling area The Port of Rotterdam Authority has signed a letter of intent with stevedoring companies Seabrex and Kloosterboer to find a new location on the south bank of the port area for fruit handling.
   Rotterdam is one of the largest “fruit ports” in Northern Europe alongside Antwerp in Belgium. Currently, fruit handling in the Dutch port is concentrated in the Merwehaven area on the north bank, where 1 million tons of fruit are handled each year. However, the area is not equipped to cope with the expected increase in fruit volume over the coming years as it is due to undergo urban redevelopment.
   The Dutch port authority said it hopes to reach agreement with the two stevedores regarding a new location within the coming year with the actual relocation expected to take place in a few years time.
   “A new location on the south bank would allow for more container handling, the space could be used more intensively and there would be more opportunity for transit transport using coasters (short sea), inland shipping and rail. This would improve the cluster's competitive edge, as well as the efficiency of the transport,” the port authority said.
   In connection with the relocation, Kloosterboer has recently taken a 50 percent interest in Seabrex.