EuroFruitPorts, the joint venture multi-purpose refrigerated fruit terminal at the Port of Antwerp, has announced its cold store facilities have been completed as scheduled and are fully operational.
Construction of the site, which is a joint venture between between Euroports and Compagnie Fruitière, began in September 2012, with the first vessel arriving on site in January.
The 38,700m2 terminal, located at the premises of Euroports Terminals Leftbank (Quay 1207), now has a cold store warehouse of 13,600m2.
“After starting up operations at the beginning of the year, we are now able to offer full cold chain logistics to our clients, combining our brand new handling and cold storage facilities with value added services like sorting and reconditioning, quality control and full traceability,' said Peter Tops, EuroFruitPorts’ general manager.
For the Port of Antwerp, the addition of this new cold storage capacity strengthens its position as the leading fresh produce and perishables port in Europe.
“Investments like these new cold store facilities underline undeniably the excellent position Antwerp has as the main fruit port in Europe,' noted Wim Dillen, business development manager at the Antwerp Port Authority. 'Goods are not only stored here, a whole range of value added activities will make a choice for Antwerp worthwhile.
'Our Fruit & Perishables campaign, that was started up last year, aims to attract more reefer traffics to the port of Antwerp,' he added. 'Investments like this new terminal will help us succeed in this ambition.'
