Maasvlakte 2 will yield 1,000 ha of industrial site located directly on deep seawater. Its deep port basins, with a depth of up to 20 m, ensure that Maasvlakte 2 is a coveted location for container terminals. Companies have a strong interest in setting up at Maasvlakte 2. In the selection process, Rotterdam not only looks at the economic contribution these companies can make, but also takes sustainability into account. Aspects of sustainability include the modal split (the respective shares of rail, inland shipping and road haulage in the transport to the hinterland), reducing emission levels and the company's views on sustainable enterprise. For instance, the contracts with the companies that will be setting up at Maasvlakte 2 require them to make more use of rail transport and inland shipping. The first three companies have since signed a contract.
More containers in the existing port area
The Port Authority expects container transfer to remain a growth sector. To keep up with this growth, Rotterdam is therefore also creating extra container capacity in the existing port area. In 2008, ECT opened its new Euromax Terminal on the north side of the Maasvlakte. The stevedore APM Terminals has also planned substantial expansion on the current Maasvlakte. And the Waalhaven and Eemhaven port basins will gain more facilities for container transport within Europe. This will create extra capacity for both deepsea transport and inland shipping.
Maasvlakte 2 doubles port capacity
By making intelligent use of the existing port area, in 2014, Rotterdam will have a container capacity of some 17 million TEU. This will meet the expected market demand in that year, but after that, the port will truly be full to capacity. Only once the first phase of Maasvlakte 2 has been completed in 2013, will there once again be room for further growth in the container transfer sector. Between 2013 and 2033, the land reclamation will gradually create room for an extra transfer capacity of 17 million TEU. This means that Maasvlakte 2 will double the maximum transfer capacity of the existing port.