Barge Handling

APM Terminals Maasvlakte II has 500 meters of dedicated barge berthing with a maximum depth of 9.65 meters. Discharging and loading of containers at the stack, and the majority of operations involving 3 dedicatged barge cranes are fully automated, offering speed, reliably and efficiency.

Transport by water is both sustainable and efficient. Our strategic location at the riverside of the Rhine and Maas rivers means that a large part of Europe is accessible by barge. In the Benelux countries, inland terminals with inland waterway connections are generally located at short distance from major shippers or recipients.

Fixed Windows

The Fixed Windows concept has proven to be beneficial for both parties: the barge operator is certain about barge handling and the deep-sea terminal is able to improve quay utilisation. Barges which have stable volumes and arrive on time get fixed windows in the week. A real win-win in terms of productivity and reliability.

At a glance

• 500-metre barge quay with a depth of 9.65 metres
• 3 barge cranes with an outreach of 36 metres
• Dedicated barge container storage stacks
• Automatic handling of containers to barge cranes and stacks
• Fixed Windows for barges
• Real-time container status information

Real-time data

The terminal operates using an electronic system of pre-notifications, to minimize handling times. Using the Dutch Port Community’s online system, Portbase  we provide a reliable indication of the expected discharge time of the container at the terminal, to ensure that a container is transported to the hinterland as quickly and reliably as possible. Besides daily planning and coordination, mutual performance is measured and regularly evaluated. The integration of processes and working methods prevents errors and improves service levels for the (end) customer.

Cool Port Barge Service

The Cool Port barge service is a dedicated daily fixed-time operation from APM Terminals operations in Rotterdam and Maasvlakte II to a cold storage warehouse and distribution centre established in the Waalhaven section of the Port of Rotterdam. Direct links between the terminals and the Cool Port also enable real-time vessel arrival and container status for planning purposes.

The facility, operated by Holland-based Kloosterboer, enables the more efficient distribution of products. Some 35km from the traffic-congested port area, it is more accessible to trucks carrying the temperature-controlled products to inland wholesalers and their ultimate destinations, the retailers.

Containers using this service are now available at the Kloosterboer facility at 6am every day, enabling speedy pick-up and delivery by the port's customers. Less waiting time and better supply chain predictability increases the shelf-life of products.