Meet Frank van Veen at APM Terminals Maasvlakte II
Creativity meets precision at Maasvlakte II – or MVII for short. While berth planner Frank van Veen ensures terminal assets are used optimally and vessel schedules run smoothly, he also brings the terminal to life through his photography and videography. When he’s not planning berths, you’ll find him behind the lens, capturing the scale and beauty of the port. Here, Frank shares more about his dual passions.
I’ve been here since 1 January 2020.
As berth planners, we’re responsible for long-term terminal planning, including deep-sea, barge and rail schedules — as well as yard density forecasting. Every day starts with execution: checking if everything is on track or if there are deviations. Even though we are a highly automated terminal, there are still sometimes misalignments between systems, so we have to manually synchronize systems or cross-check information between different sources.
We communicate actively with stakeholders and customers to optimise line-ups. The most fascinating part is planning under unexpected circumstances — weather, crane maintenance, tides and more. A successful plan is one with zero deviations, but that’s rare!
Lack of timely information. We often know early in the day that a vessel can’t arrive on time, but official updates from operators come hours later. The company is improving system connectivity but delays still happen.
During my time as a trainee on a seagoing vessel, I bought an action camera on the advice of my father-in-law and started experimenting with timelapse videos at sea. This hobby quickly grew, and I later invested in cameras and drones for private use.
Shipping has always fascinated me, so I began capturing drone content of inland shipping. After a few months of impressive results, the MVII communications team asked if I would create content for the terminal as well.
Yes! I always bring my gear on holidays to capture family moments and the beauty of nature.
In my free time, I also receive requests to create content for inland shipping, short-sea operators and even weddings.
Absolutely. The name-giving ceremony for the Adrian Maersk in March 2025. I am extremely proud to have been the drone photography pilot during the event.
I always shoot with manual settings. Light and movement are the first things I adjust.
I also think about the story I want to tell — it makes shooting much easier.
Modern drones allow zooming without losing quality, which creates fascinating foreground and background movements that weren’t possible before.
Anything in a moving environment. Those aren't easy.
For example, close-ups of a sailing vessel or containers being loaded or discharged when cranes are positioned close together. Those are challenging shots to get right.
Yes. I try to plan for the “unexpected.”
Earlier this year, I captured a stunning photo of the Mumbai Maersk arriving at sunset. People called it luck, but I knew from the schedule that she’d arrive at 19:00, right at sunset.
Of course, the sky’s beauty is unpredictable, but I was watching the clouds hours before and knew it could be a perfect shot.
Without the company's support, I couldn’t create so much content.
Balancing core business with creative work is challenging, but I’m grateful for the encouragement so far. I believe there’s still more potential to explore.
Absolutely. The terminal is expanding, and one of the major milestones ahead is the arrival of the new deep-sea cranes. I’m excited to capture their arrival.
I also see significant untapped potential in the smart use of drone technology, from verifying container loading to conducting visual inspections of terminal equipment to creating hyperlapse footage for evaluating yard strategies — or even using thermal imaging to identify inefficiencies.
These days, regulations around operating drones in controlled airspace are receiving much more attention — and rightly so. Anyone flying a drone equipped with a camera must register to be an operator, and if the drone weighs more than 250 grams, a licence is required.
In many parts of Europe, shipping ports are classified as no-fly zones for the open category. This means additional permits and notifications are necessary to ensure the right stakeholders are informed and to confirm you’re the only operator flying in the area. The last thing you want when capturing a great shot is another drone drifting into your frame — or worse, a mid-air collision.
Of course, we are always very careful at MVII to follow the rules and regulations. Safety is very important to me and to the terminal.
