Faster Forward

FASTer FORWARDs p e c i a l e d i t i o n

100,000 containers in A Weeknew record

475 barge calls

120 train calls

22,000 trucks

Transhipment Hinterland transport

170 feeder calls

36 deep-sea calls

p.o. Box 7385, 3000 HJ Rotterdam, the netherlands t +31 (0) 181 278 278 e [email protected] | W www.ect.nle [email protected] www.europeangatewayservices.com

Handling 100,000 containers in a single week takes quite some doing, both on the seaside and the landside. In addition to ample space, equipment and a well-trained staff for efficiently handling deep-sea vessels, an integrated transport system which comprises feeder, barge, rail and truck is required. ECT has that: 24/7, with dedicated attention for each mode of transport.

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www.europeangatewayservices.com

EuropEan GatEway SErvicES

thE impact of 100,000 containErS in a wEEk

To ensure reliable, efficient and especially also sustainable transport throughout the whole of Western Europe, ECT introduced European Gateway Services at the end of 2010: highly frequent rail and barge connections between Rotterdam and a constantly expanding net-work of inland terminals in the European

hinterland. For instance more than 20 trains a week to Venlo (NL), daily barge connections to Willebroek (B) and daily trains to Duisburg (D) are offered. Various supplementary (customs) services make European Gateway Services even more attractive. Visit www.european-gatewayservices.com for more information.

magic threshold crossed

in early 2011, Ect for the first time ever handled more than 100,000 containers in a single week. “we have crossed a magic threshold,” says a genuinely pleased Jan westerhoud. at the same time, the Ect president keeps warning of a continuously erratic market with high peaks and low dips. “in logistics, it all boils down to properly managing this. one single scenario will simply not suffice.”

“The streamlined manner in which all those containers are moved to and from the hinterland via our terminals is cause for satisfaction,” says Westerhoud. “In an increasingly more complex environment, our operation has proven to be perfectly suited for this. The more than 100,000 containers a week are tangible proof of our logistic professionalism and the importance of ECT to Rotterdam.”

volatile market The new record does not mean that volumes will continue to grow straight away. Following the recession, the container sector is recovering from a deep depression. In that respect, ECT has performed demonstrably better than its competitors. Westerhoud: “The market is volatile, the future difficult to predict. Every time I open a newspaper I see both positive and negative reports. The recovery is fragile. Several governments have financial problems; consumers will indubitably suffer the consequences of austerities. Right now, the sky is definitely not the limit. At the moment, volumes have already dropped again to well below those 100,000 containers a week. As ECT, we are therefore operating with caution and on the basis of various scenarios. In our vision, there is more than one path to recovery.”

using multiple Scenarios Using multiple scenarios offers a clear indication of the upper and lower limits as regards container handling in the future. Westerhoud: “It is the basis for proper management, something which is strongly needed as competition is fierce. Like other ports in Western Europe, Rotterdam also clearly has overcapacity. It is definitely possible to realise additional growth within the existing port area. Our terminals still offer plenty of space.” The ECT President therefore advocates a cautious approach when it comes to the commissioning of new capacity. “You cannot just use a maximum scenario with even higher growth rates than in the past as your starting point. Doing that equates to taking out a mortgage on the future.”

token of appreciation For the time being, Westerhoud is first and foremost delighted with the new handling record. “The figures send a clear message and in fact constitute the best possible token of appreciation from our customers. At the same time, we are keeping both feet on the ground. The new record is no reason for us to adjust our opinion about the future.”“The years 2009 and 2010 have shown that we are perfectly capable of smartly anticipating highs and lows. In logistics, properly dealing with these fluctuations in the global economy, which are occurring in ever-shorter cycles, will only become more important. ECT will definitely continue to make a difference for its customers in that respect in the future.”

‘Competition is fierce’

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at your DiSpoSal 24/7

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Euromax Terminal

at your DiSpoSal 24/7

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ECT City Terminal ECT Delta Terminal

result of Service and performance

“The more than 100,000 containers which we handled at our three deep-sea terminals in the first week of 2011 posed no problem whatsoever. Our service and performance remained at the same high level, both on the landside and the seaside,” note Jasper Hooykaas (Director Operations & HR) and Wando Boevé (Director Marketing & Sales). “In fact, we are convinced that much more is possible at our existing terminals.”

clear controlBoth executives emphasise that the record is no coincidence. “During the economic crisis, we exercised a strong degree of control throughout our entire organisation. Using various scenarios, we readied ourselves for the future.” One of the outcomes was ECT’s decision to continue to invest during the crisis. The new Euromax Terminal was developed according to plan and the Delta Dedicated North Terminal, for example, was thoroughly refurbished. “Despite the drop in

volume, we in addition managed to retain all our employees in 2009. The moment container volumes started to rapidly pick up again in 2010, we were therefore fully ready for this in terms of infrastructure, suprastructure and personnel. Our labour force is organised in such a manner that we can always adequately anticipate peaks in demand.”

Good cooperation More than anything else, however, it is the confidence of the customers in the services of ECT that is at the heart of the record throughput. Boevé: “We are of course grateful to them. The same applies to our cooperation with all the logistics partners which are involved in the transport of containers to and from the European hinterland. Over the last couple of years, we have tried to anticipate the changing requirements of the market even more emphatically; both from the perspective of shipping lines and transport companies as in the

hinterland, from the perspective of forwarders and shippers. We aim to further strengthen our relations with all parties.”

ongoing investmentsECT will in the meantime continue to invest in optimising the terminal operations even further. “In view of service and performance, the efficient use of space is an important issue for us. We are convinced that there is always room for improvement in terms of space productivity. Through our approach we still have plenty of direct growth capacity at our existing terminals; 100,000 containers a week is definitely not our maximum.” One of those investments is the widening of the Amazonehaven at the south of the ECT Delta Terminal from 255 metres at present to 310 metres. As a result, ECT will be able to continue handling the vessels of the future without limitations also in the Amazonehaven. In line with the development of ULCCs (Ultra Large

tight control and a clear eye for customer

needs. for Ect directors Jasper hooykaas and

wando Boevé these are the main foundations

of the record-breaking 100,000 containers

which were handled in a single week in early

2011. and as far as Ect is concerned there is

more to come. “our existing deep-sea terminals

definitely have ample capacity for further

growth.”Jasper Hooykaas: “With our strong organisation, we still have plenty of

direct growth capacity available at our three terminals in Rotterdam.”

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Container Carriers), ECT will in addition continue with upgrading and replacing existing quay cranes.

Sustainability trend “Three different deep-sea terminals - ECT Delta Terminal, ECT City Terminal, Euromax Terminal - for three different market segments has proven a good strategy,” continues Hooykaas. “Combined with European Gateway Services for efficient hinterland transport, this is a formula that works.” Through European Gateway Services, ECT offers shipping lines, transport companies, forwarders and shippers highly frequent barge and rail connections between Rotterdam and a growing network of inland terminals throughout the whole of Western

Europe. Supplementary (for example customs) services make transport to the hinterland even easier. Boevé: “It is the bundling of volumes at our deep-sea terminals that makes European Gateway Services possible. As a result, hinterland transport does not only become reliable and efficient for our customers, but, through the deployment of inland shipping and rail, especially sustainable as well. We are clearly noticing that the demand for sustainable transport is further increasing. By bundling volumes, we really function as a hub and can, if asked for, exercise control over the usage of the required modes of transport.”

over 40 years of Experience “ECT is ready for the future and the constantly increasing competition,” conclude the two directors. “It is not without reason that we are currently achieving above-average growth. ECT is performing demonstrably better than the market. Our strength lies in

our organisation. Our people are our most important asset. Nobody can match the more than 40 years of experience we can boast. During that period, we have realised an almost continuous growth and have always been in the vanguard of new developments. This will not change: we will continue to anticipate changing market requirements, always with a great degree of emphasis on service and performance.”

Wando Boevé: “We strongly endeavour to anticipate the changing

requirements of the market, both for shipping lines and transport

companies and, in the hinterland, for forwarders and shippers.”

‘The demand for sustainable transport

is clearly increasing’

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containers

Thank you!

100,000

A new record: ECT handled more than 100,000 containers in a single week. With that,

ECT has reached yet another milestone. A milestone which we could not have achieved

without our customers – the container shipping lines – and the close cooperation with

our logistics partners: the feeder shipping lines, the road transport companies, the barge

and rail operators and the other service providers.

ECT would like to thank everyone for their trust and cooperation. We will continue our

efforts to even further improve the performance at our three terminals in Rotterdam and

our services to and from the hinterland. The latter takes place under the name European

Gateway Services (www.europeangatewayservices.com).

ECT is fully confident that together with our customers and logistics partners the record

of 100,000 containers will often be surpassed.

www.ect.nl