The inland ports in the Middle-Rhine region are expanding their possibilities in relation to Rotterdam and the other western North Sea ports. Investments are being made in both bulk and container capacity, but in the hinterland too, the main emphasis is on containers. In this sector, transportation by rail is growing considerably more strongly than by inland shipping.
The harbour of Andernach is being expanded with a second container bridge crane and the necessary storage space for containers. Everything should be ready by autumn 2009. For mass goods too, various improvements are being made. The total investment is worth around 17 million euros.
Andernach will possibly get an extra boost due to the construction of the Maasvlakte 2 development, for which the local basalt industry has signed up. In 2007, 2.7 million tonnes were handled by the harbour, including nearly 56,000 TEU of containers.
Mannheim, situated at the confluence of the Rhine and the Neckar Rivers, saw the inland shipping of containers decrease by 5% in 2007, while transportation by rail increased by 25%. The rail module that was taken into use last summer is therefore operating virtually at full capacity. Further expansion is on the cards, amongst other things for rail shuttles to the ARA ports. The surface area for the storage of empty containers is also being enlarged. In total, the harbour handled 8.3 million tonnes in 2007, including 152,000 TEU of containers: 108,000 by ship and 44,000 by rail. Mannheim has enough space to grow.
In Mainz, construction will start on a new terminal and a “Güterverkehrszentrum” (a distribution centre for goods that includes warehouses) in mid-June. In the first phase, the terminal will grow to cover 2.3 ha, and it will get a 600 metre-long quay and two railway tracks. It will have a handling capacity of 160,000 TEU per year. In the second phase, this could increase to 8 ha and 300,000 TEU. The goods centre should be operational in 2009/2010. Like the current facility situated 500 m further along, the terminal is operated by Frankenbach. In 2007, a total of 113,000 TEU was handled using all modes of transport).
Gernsheim is planning improvements to the rail connections so that two trains can be dealt with at the same time. There are also plans to install a second bridge crane. In 2007, the terminal handled 46,000 TEU via inland shipping.
The harbour of Andernach is being expanded with a second container bridge crane and the necessary storage space for containers. Everything should be ready by autumn 2009. For mass goods too, various improvements are being made. The total investment is worth around 17 million euros.
Andernach will possibly get an extra boost due to the construction of the Maasvlakte 2 development, for which the local basalt industry has signed up. In 2007, 2.7 million tonnes were handled by the harbour, including nearly 56,000 TEU of containers.
Mannheim, situated at the confluence of the Rhine and the Neckar Rivers, saw the inland shipping of containers decrease by 5% in 2007, while transportation by rail increased by 25%. The rail module that was taken into use last summer is therefore operating virtually at full capacity. Further expansion is on the cards, amongst other things for rail shuttles to the ARA ports. The surface area for the storage of empty containers is also being enlarged. In total, the harbour handled 8.3 million tonnes in 2007, including 152,000 TEU of containers: 108,000 by ship and 44,000 by rail. Mannheim has enough space to grow.
In Mainz, construction will start on a new terminal and a “Güterverkehrszentrum” (a distribution centre for goods that includes warehouses) in mid-June. In the first phase, the terminal will grow to cover 2.3 ha, and it will get a 600 metre-long quay and two railway tracks. It will have a handling capacity of 160,000 TEU per year. In the second phase, this could increase to 8 ha and 300,000 TEU. The goods centre should be operational in 2009/2010. Like the current facility situated 500 m further along, the terminal is operated by Frankenbach. In 2007, a total of 113,000 TEU was handled using all modes of transport).
Gernsheim is planning improvements to the rail connections so that two trains can be dealt with at the same time. There are also plans to install a second bridge crane. In 2007, the terminal handled 46,000 TEU via inland shipping.