In response to the report that the Rotterdam Kramer group intended to build the first automated container depot for empty containers in the world, the Dutch trade magazine ‘Nieuwsblad Transport’ spoke with commercial director Ted Holleman.
Kramer has an agreement in principle with the Port of Rotterdam Authority to lease fifteen hectares on Maasvlakte 2, which can be occupied in two phases (of eight and seven hectares). Commercial director Ted Holleman estimates that it will be possible to handle around 125,000 containers (‘handlings’) a year in the first phase.
The company has asked Kalmar and Terex, suppliers of equipment, to come up with designs for the new terminal. According to Holleman, both companies are very interested because a blueprint for an automated depot should be applicable throughout the world. He estimates that execution of phase one would cost between 15 and 20 million euros. This is roughly three times as much as a traditional depot, where containers are handled using reach stackers. The automated depot could be equipped with unmanned stacking cranes.
According to Holleman, the main advantage is that the average time containers spend at depots of ninety days can be reduced considerably at an automated facility, thereby lowering the costs too.