The Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands has confirmed plans to switch the handling of some fresh produce containerloads from road to inland waterways, as part of its Fresh Corridor initiative, which aims to optimise the fresh produce supply chain in collaboration with trade partners and industry association Frugi Venta.
According to a statement issued by the port authorities, a major new contract involving local fruit importers and logistics service providers was signed in Rotterdam at the end of last week and will see fruit transported in reefer containers on inland waterway vessels within the Port of Rotterdam area.
Initially, this will involve around 6,000 40-foot containers that, until now, have been transported by lorry.
'In sector-wide research it became apparent that the speed and reliability of inland vessels would satisfy requirements, at lower or equal costs,' the port authorities said.
In addition, logistic chain advantages could also be achieved through better planning of the arrival of containers at the warehouse, it added.
'Initially fruit receivers gave a sceptical estimate of a maximum inland shipping potential of 15 per cent of the volume, but this increased to more than 50 per cent.'
Following a recent tender process, a consortium comprised of Barge Center Waalhaven, Barge Line Today and Post Kogeko emerged as the preferred group to take on the new project.
The consortium has been granted a one-year contract by a group of fruit receivers based in Rotterdam itself – at the Fruit Wharf in the Merwehaven area of the port – and in nearby Barendrecht.
