The container terminals on the Right bank of the Scheldt in the Port of Antwerp will be open as of Monday 3 June. This means that the PSA Europa and Noordzee terminals will be open 24 hours per day on weekdays. The MedRepair empty container depot on the Right bank will open one hour earlier.
Both initiatives are result of structural collaboration between various partners in the port: Antwerp Port Authority, Alfaport Voka, the terminals, representatives from the transport sector, forwarders, shippers and professional associations. The ambition in the next phase is to involve the entire supply chain in this initiative along with Multimodal Flanders.
[smlsubform prepend=”GET THE SAFETY4SEA IN YOUR INBOX!” showname=false emailtxt=”” emailholder=”Enter your email address” showsubmit=true submittxt=”Submit” jsthanks=false thankyou=”Thank you for subscribing to our mailing list”]
With two more night terminals for container trucks on the Right bank, PSA aims to develop night logistics in the port. On the Left bank, in the Deurganck dock, the MPET and Antwerp Gateway terminals for their part have been developing this service since March 2017.
Enbling night logistics on both banks of the Scheldt makes connections between different terminals simpler for logistics operators. The involvement of empty container depots is also vital as it allows empty containers to be exchanged on both sides of the river.
The port partners taking part in the initiative will analyse the operation of this night-time opening. If everything goes as planned, then the initial phase of six months will be followed by a conversion phase which will last two years with the whole of the market being involved in this logistics project.
In addition, together with the other partners on the port platform. Antwerp is establishing various initiatives to improve the alternatives to road transport, such as barge and rail.
