AMSTERDAM SEAPORTS SEE FIRST HALF GROWTH

AMSTERDAM SEAPORTS SEE FIRST HALF GROWTH    Amsterdam Seaports showed a first half growth in goods transshipped of 10.5 percent over the same period of 2000. Transshipment traffic in Amsterdam particularly, grew 15.6 percent. More than 35 million tons of goods were transshipped in Amsterdam Seaports in the first half of 2001, 25.2 million tons in Amsterdam alone.
   “Whether this will continue in the second half depends on the general economic situation. However a final figure of between 64 and 67 million tons can certainly be expected,” said Hans Gerson, executive director of the Amsterdam Port Authority.
   In the first half of 2001, the amount of liquid bulk handled rose by 31 percent to 8.5 million tons. Dry bulk handled increased 6 percent to 23 million tons. Transshipments of argibulk increased by 3.5 percent, to 5.3 million tons. General cargo movements increased .9 percent to 3.5 million tons. roll-on/roll-off transport grew 12.5 percent to 451,000 tons in the first half. Conventional cargo quantity, bags and sacks, grew 1.4 percent to 2.6 million tons.
   The number of vessels that called Amsterdam Ports in the first half of 2001 increased to 4,901, an 11.4 percent rise.
   Amsterdam Seaports is comprised of the ports of Ijmuiden/Velsen, Beverwijk, Zaanstad and Amsterdam.