Hutchison Ports acquires 50% of TMA Logistics

The port operator will utilize TMA Logistics’ network in short-sea container operations, roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) vehicle handling, and general and project cargo, Hutchison Ports said in a statement Friday.    Hutchison Ports has acquired a 50 percent shareholding in terminal operator TMA Logistics B.V., the company announced on Friday.
   TMA operates general cargo terminals along with warehousing, shipping, logistics and project cargo activities at three sites in Amsterdam and one in Antwerp. Its subsidiary businesses Thor Antwerp and Thor Amsterdam also provide terminal operations, logistics services, agency, forwarding and chartering as well as truck, barge and rail distribution. TMA’s warehousing companies MEO and ACS Logistics Amsterdam operate 120,000 square meters of warehousing combined. Additionally, TMA also has operations at the Hutchison Ports’ Amsterdam Container Terminal (ACT).
   “The acquisition of a 50 percent stake in TMA Logistics complements both our existing operations in Amsterdam and the activities of Hutchison Logistics. We have developed a good working relationship with TMA over the last three years which has brought a range of operations to ACT,” said Clemence Cheng, executive director at Hutchison Ports.“Together with TMA, we will maximize the benefits of operating through Hutchison Ports’ network to develop new business opportunities in areas including short-sea container traffic, ro-ro, vehicle handling, and general and project cargo.”
   ACT offers three berths with total length of 1,015 meters and depth of 15 meters and has plans to open a new sea lock at the end of 2019 at the entrance to the North Sea Canal. ACT’s multimodal connections by short sea, inland waterways, road and air is aided by an on-dock rail facility with three 700-meter-long tracks.
   “With this step we have the opportunity to grow sustainably in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp range. With the worldwide network of Hutchison Ports, we are now able to expand our activities substantially,” said Gerben Matroos, managing director of TMA. “The North Sea Canal terminals in Velsen and Amsterdam are ideally located for offshore activities related to oil, gas and wind energy. Also, local hubs for markets in building and construction materials have great potential.  Short sea connections from the Amsterdam terminal include Sweden, Finland, UK and Norway, together with rail connections to Germany and China.”