Fourth covered terminal commissioned
VCK Group commissioned its fourth covered cargo terminal in the Suezhaven in Amsterdam today.
The All-Weather Terminal 4 has attracted an investment of around € 11 million. The commissioning of the new terminal means that covered transhipment capacity in Amsterdam has risen to between one and a half and two million tonnes. This now makes Amsterdam the largest provider of covered transhipment in Europe.
Developments in the market for all-weather transhipment have spurred growth in volume. Sea-going vessels are becoming larger and often require immediate transhipment between sea-going and inland vessels. The all-weather terminal is therefore three metres wider and four metres higher than the three terminals constructed previously. Moreover, Port of Amsterdam has applied for LME certification. With approval from the London Metal Exchange, the terminal will soon be able to attract cargo from the global market for industrial metals. LME certification is expected to be issued in early 2018.
The new terminal measures 100 metres long, 22 metres high and has a water depth of 30 metres; it is also equipped with a transhipment crane with a capacity of 50 tonnes. The commissioning was marked by a transhipment of steel coils from an inland vessel onto the sea-going vessel Wilson Nantes. The ship’s owner Wilson is the largest user of all-weather terminals in Amsterdam.
An all-weather terminal is a terminal that allows sea-going vessels carrying weather-sensitive cargo, such as paper and steel, to keep their cargo dry while transferring it to other forms of transport, whatever the weather. These terminals comprise a large canopy over the quay and water, with an opening on both sides to allow vessels to pass in and out. At the top of the canopy is a crane which can move along the full length and breadth of the terminal to assist with loading and unloading cargo.