By Karen E. Thuermer, AJOTPortMiami and the Port of Rotterdam have a lot in common. Both are focusing on Year 2015, cementing closer relations, and expounding on their advantages to become yet even more significant perishables ports. In fact, delegates from the PortMiami and the logistics sector were in Rotterdam in early February to tour the Port of Rotterdam and meet with its representatives. They were on their way to attend Fruit Logistica, the largest perishables show in the world held annually in Berlin.
PortMiami Director Bill Johnson and Port of Rotterdam Director Hans Smit meet in Rotterdam to exchange ideas and learn about plans to expand perishables connections between the two ports
The exchange between the two ports was exceptionally mutual. The Port of Rotterdam is interested in learning what PortMiami has done with its cold chain facilities and its perishables trade. PortMiami is interested in capitalizing on expanded connections it can make with the Dutch port. “We are clearly interested in learning from Rotterdam as well,” says Bill Johnson, PortMiami director. “This was an opportunity to visit one of largest containers ports in the world and see what they are doing, share ideas, and have a two-way exchange. A significant portion of what feeds Europe comes through the Port of Rotterdam.” Rotterdam is investing millions in a “Cool Port” perishables facility, which Bill Johnson, PortMiami director, believes is the perfect complement to his port’s role as the “Perishables Gateway of the Americas.” Johnson stresses that Miami can serve as the primary entry port for fruit and vegetables coming up from Central and South America bound for the United States, as well as a transshipment hub to Europe via Rotterdam’s Cool Port. As a result, PortMiami and the Port of Rotterdam are partnering in the perishables trade since both have the same goal of doubling their cargo volumes. “We have a reciprocal agreement where we both learn and benefit from each other,” he says. The Port of Rotterdam is one of PortMiami’s 58 sister ports around the world – ports that Miami works with closely in sharing information whether it relates to security or perishables, or the integration of technology into everyday operations. The Dutch View Currently, fruit and vegetable handling at the Port of Rotterdam is concentrated at Rotterdam Fruitport (Merwehaven) on the north bank. In this area, all perishables are handled and stored. Services include transport, distribution, stevedoring of specialized vessels and container vessels, unloading and loading of reefers and repacking. The logistical concept here is based on the handling of pallet loads from specialized reefer ships. To strengthen its leading position in the European refrigerated and frozen sector, the Port of Rotterdam Authority is currently examining what exactly is required for a new state-of-the-art cluster for refrigerated cargo in the Waal/Eemhaven area of the south bank of the port. As a result, they are creating designated areas within the port structure, which they are calling the Rotterdam Cool Port, for the inward and outward movement of perishables. By doing this, port officials believe they can take perishable cargo handling to the next level. Advantages compared to similar activities at hinterland locations are speed, reliability and the huge possibilities for creating cargo combinations for the end customer at the lowest cost. Plans call for proceeding with this project and for it to be completed in 2015. When completed, officials there believe that in time, Rotterdam Cool Port will be able to handle over 12 million tonnes of perishable cargo per year. That’s because the Cool Port will be able to capitalize on what they believe will be an increase in refrigerated (reefer) containers that will increasingly arrive on large container ships at the new container terminals on Maasvlakte 1 and 2. Some reefer c