Neele-Vat to build a 12,000 m2 distribution centre on the Maasvlakte
Logistics service provider Neele-Vat is to build a 12,000 m2 distribution centre on the Maasvlakte, next to the existing building that covers 28,000 m2. The newbuild is designed for the storage of a wide variety of dangerous goods (ADR-classified goods) for several different clients. If all goes according to expectations, the premises will be completed in January 2016, at a cost of between six and nine million Euros, the company said in its press release.
Neele-Vat currently occupies around 135,000 m2 of space in the port of Rotterdam, 8,000 m2 of which is for ADR goods. These not only include chemicals and aerosols, but also perfumes, which contain alcohol, and concentrates used to make, for example, cola. These concentrates are corrosive and therefore dangerous.
ADR goods not only constitute a growth market because they include increasing numbers of products. Due to the extremely stringent standards, it has become too expensive for many small chemicals manufacturers to invest in their own storage. This is sometimes even becoming impossible in regions beyond the port. Finally, there are some reputation-conscious clients who even force up the government requirements. This results in increasing demand for storage by specialists, in an environment with good disaster management.
The company previously gave another reason for the increasing demand for storage space for dangerous cargo in the Rotterdam port complex: the gradual shift in petrochemical production to the Middle East. As a result, more chemical cargo has to be imported and this, in turn, requires extra storage space.
The newbuild will set the safety standard for Europe when it comes to the storage of chemical products. In the event of fire, for example, CO2 extinguishers will be used. This means there is no contamination, as is the case when water or foam are used. A special alarm system makes sure that employees have left the warehouse before the CO2 displaces the oxygen.