APM Terminals looks to the future at TOC Europe
Better safety performance; dealing with greater operational complexity as a result of much bigger ships; managing congestion risk; staying profitable though shipping line economic cycles; and doing more with less space, every year. These are the big five challenges for the container port industry as identified recently by global operator APM Terminals and the company is using the TOC Europe Conference and Exhibition in Rotterdam, 9-11 June, to share its vision for how the industry must raise its game to meet these new demands, TOC Events Europe said in a press release..
Rotterdam is home to APM Terminals brand-new Maasvlakte II (MVII) container terminal, hailed as the world’s most technologically advanced, deploying a plethora of world-first implementations in automated operations and environmental sustainability.
Opened this year with an initial annual throughput capacity of 2.7 million TEU, the 500-hectare terminal has been built to handle the world’s largest containerships, with 1000 meters of quay and 20m depth alongside. As a gateway facility, landside operations are a critical piece of the MVII performance puzzle and intermodal flows are supported with a dedicated 500m berth barge terminal, on-dock rail facility with four 750m tracks and automated truck gates.
Alongside the high degree of robotic handling systems, including world-first remote operated ship-to-shore cranes, lift-AGVS for horizontal quay-yard transport and automated yard stacking cranes, MV-II will be free of all CO2, NOx and particulate emissions thanks to the electrification of all equipment and use of green energy generated power.
Delegates attending TOC Europe will have an exclusive chance to study the new terminal first-hand in a port tour hosted by APM Terminals on Monday 8 June. On the morning of Tuesday 9 June, Frank Tazelaar, Managing Director of APM Terminals MVII, will explore the terminal’s operating and design concept in a keynote speech at the TOC Europe Container Supply Chain conference, joining major cargo owners, carriers and other supply chain members to discuss today’s most pressing industry issues under the headline conference theme “Shipping’s seismic shift: Dealing with the supply chain fallout”.
Alex Duca, Head of Design and Automation for APM Terminals, will also speak in the TECH TOC conference, where he will discuss the company’s vision of the new ‘eco-system’ of handling equipment and technology needed by the terminal industry to simultaneously improve safety, operational productivity and return on asset investment.
“APM Terminals is at the forefront of innovation and investment in international container terminal operations and we are delighted that the company has chosen TOC Europe 2015, our 40th edition, as the platform to share its latest developments and future vision,” said Paul Holloway, Director, TOC Events.