Rotterdam has bigger ships, but fewer calls as EU recession deepens

THE Port of Rotterdam is continuing to receive fewer ocean-going vessels on the back of the deployment of larger containerships, economic crisis and fewer ferry services, port authorities say.

The number of ships arriving at the port in 2012 decreased by 2,347 to 32,057 ship visits. This compares unfavourably with the 36,415 calls by ocean liners in 2008.

A statement said that despite the decline in ship arrivals, throughput last year rose by 1.7 per cent to 442 million tonnes.

According to Harbour Master Rene de Vries of the Port of Rotterdam Authority, there were also fewer nautical accidents.

Port officials supervised 80,000 sea-going vessel movements and a multiple of that figure in inland shipping movements, and counted a total of 111 nautical accidents. In 2011 there were 132 accidents. The most striking incidents involved inland vessels colliding with the Willemsbrug Bridge and the inner door of the Rozenburg Lock.

On the other hand, Mr de Vries anticipates considerably more ship arrivals in the near future as a result of the opening of Maasvlakte 2 and is preparing the port with the 'Schip centraal' (Ship is key) project to handle the traffic schedule.

An important step was also taken last year to renew the Rotterdam Port Management by-laws with regards to the use of LNG to power the ships of the future.