To this end, the Port of Rotterdam Authority signed a letter of intent at the beginning of the week with stevedoring companies Seabrex and Kloosterboer. The agreement forms the basis for the continuity of the fruit cluster in terms of investment, logistical innovation and more long-term commercial contracts. The Port Authority hopes to reach agreement with the companies regarding a new location within the coming year. The actual relocation is expected to take place in a number of years.
In connection with the relocation, the stevedores have already joined forces. This week, Kloosterboer took over a 50% interest in Seabrex. The companies will become the pivot of a new Fruitport, supplemented with all kinds of related commercial activity.
At the moment, fruit handling is concentrated in 'Fruitport' in the Merwehaven area on the north bank. A million tonnes of fruit are handled there annually. Rotterdam, together with Antwerp, is the most important fruit port in Northern Europe. The port wants to maintain this position and where possible to expand it.
More and more fruits are arriving in the port in containers, but the area’s capacity to cope with this is limited. Modifications call for heavy investment and, consequently, continuity. The Merwehaven area is unable to offer this as it is to undergo urban redevelopment. It would therefore be a good idea for the cluster to relocate
A new location on the south bank would allow for more container handling, the space could be used more intensively and there would be more opportunity for transit transport using coasters (shortsea), inland shipping and rail. This would improve the cluster’s competitive edge, as well as the efficiency of the transport. The number of truck miles is falling sharply anyway, due to the shorter distance to the main destination - the fruit and vegetable distribution centre Fresh World Barendrecht.