In a bid to cater to the various segments of the inland container shipping market, Hutchison Ports ECT Rotterdam (ECT) announced plans to launch a pilot with so-called ‘fixed windows’ for inland barges, from January 2018.
The fixed windows are intended for barge operators that, either independently or jointly, are capable of directly calling at one of the ECT terminals with substantial volumes of containers for discharging and loading. Barge operators for whom this is not possible can continue to make use of the regular procedure or opt for the Barge Transferium Maasvlakte.
Three inland shipping combinations will participate in the pilot, which in principle will run for three months. If the pilot proves successful after testing, ECT will make this service available to the market.
The parties in question are respectively HTS Intermodal, the combination CCT Moerdijk, Barge Terminal Tilburg and the combination Contargo, Haeger & Schmidt, European Gateway Services.
Besides call size, the applicable criteria relate to the sailing schedule in Rotterdam, the ability to guarantee fixed weekly calls, punctuality and data exchange. The pilot also addresses the question whether a more commercial relationship contributes to improving inland container shipping.
“In addition to the regular handling of barges, fixed windows and the Barge Transferium Maasvlakte are services with which we acknowledge the diversity within the inland container shipping segment. Based on its own capabilities, the barge operator is offered choices,” said Leo Ruijs, CEO of ECT.
