amsterdam seaports - nr 3 2010
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haven amsterdam beverwijk zaanstadTRANSCRIPT
West Africa special
General cargo & break bulk
BigLift for all your heavy transport
AMSTERDAMAMSTERDAM - BEVERWIJK - IJMUIDEN - ZAANSTAD
2010/nr3
SEApoRTS
General cargo & break bulk
BigLift for all your heavy transport
General cargo & break bulk
BigLift for all your heavy transport
West Africa specialWest Africa special
2 Amsterdam Seaports No. 3 2010 www.amports.nl
C O L O P H O N
Contents
03 General cargo and West Africa: The best of both worlds
05 News in brief
06 New clients for Waterland Terminal
09 USA Terminal: multipurpose hub for West Africa
10 New impulses for break bulk in Amsterdam Seaports
11 Good service is half the battle in logistics
13 Polished service
14 BigLift for all your heavy transport
15 Lots of interest in third European Maritime Day
West Africa special
02 Ghanaian ports in pictures
03 Strong ties and mutual respect
04 Amsterdam Liner Service West Africa
05 Speed and service
07 Amsterdam: The European transport hub for West Africa
08 Better quality, less labour
10 Ghanaian ports in pictures
11 Amsterdam Seaports leader in sustainable cocoa
12 Amsterdam Seaports as logistics hub
14 Cocoa magic
16 Creative with chocolate
Advertisers
07 Amports
12 AYOP
08 KVSA
08 Megabarging
04 Oiltanking
04 Sea-Cargo A/S
08 STS
16 VCK
04 Waterland Terminal
Cover photo: Last January, the coaster mv Carina visited the all weather Waterland Terminal, transporting a cargo of zinc to Amsterdam. (Photo by Martin Hendriksen)
AmsterdAm seAPOrtsPublisher: Amsterdam Ports Association
Contributors: Bart Stam (chief editor), Noor Backers, Jan van den Berg, Helen Hill, Pieter van Hove, Rob Schoemaker.
Photos: Dick van den Berg, Evert Bruinekool, Martin Hendriksen, Ed Seeder, Reinder Weidijk and others.
Translation: Writewell: Andrew Rogers, Akke Pinkster
Advertising:Joris van der Hoek,De Ruijterkade 7, 1013 AA AmsterdamTelephone + 31 20-6273706Mobile phone +31 6-41842210Fax: + 31-20-6264969E-mail: [email protected]: www.amports.nl
Important addresses:
Amsterdam Ports AssociationManaging director: Wim RuijghDe Ruijterkade 7, 1033 AA AmsterdamTelephone: +31 20-627 37 06Fax: +31 20-626 49 69E-mail: [email protected]: www.amports.nl
Port of AmsterdamP.O. Box 194061000 GK AmsterdamTelephone: +31 20-5234500Fax: +31 20-6209821Ships movement information:Telephone: +31 20-6221515Website: www.portofamsterdam.nl
Port representatives abroad USA Jacob Willemsen (New York)+1 - 212 - 681 [email protected] Roy Wansik (Houston)+1 - 713 - 964 [email protected] Mannes Boelen +31 - 6 - 53 391 [email protected] Stella Shao (Shanghai)+86-216 - 288 [email protected]
Port of BeverwijkNoorderkade 1, 1948 NR BeverwijkTelephone: +31 251-224750Fax: +31 251-214050E-mail: [email protected]: www.beverwijk.nl
Zeehaven IJmuiden NVHalkade 4, P.O. Box 5411970 AM IJmuidenTelephone: +31 255-547000Fax: +31 255-547060E-mail: [email protected]: www.zeehaven.nl
Port of ZaanstadWestkade 2, 1506 BA ZaandamTelephone: +31 75-6816888Fax: +31 75-6816799E-mail: [email protected]: www.zaanstad.nl
Business Association ORAMDe Ruijterkade 71013 AA AmsterdamTelephone: +31 20-6222111Fax: +31 20-6203133E-mail: [email protected]: www.oram.nl
Chamber of Commerce AmsterdamDe Ruijterkade 5, 1013 AA AmsterdamTelephone: +31 20-5314000Fax: +31 20-5314699E-mail: [email protected]: www.amsterdam.kvk.nl
Layout: FIZZ reclame + communicatie, Meppel
Printed by:Ten Brink, Meppel
A M P O R T S
General cargo and West Africa: The best of both worldsIt is my pleasure to introduce this special edition of Amsterdam
Seaports magazine covering two main themes: General Cargo
and West Africa. The second topic was chosen as part of a major
port industry trade mission to Ivory Coast and Ghana, two of the
largest cocoa producing countries in the world, which will take
place from 3 to 8 October.
First let me introduce you to the subject of general cargo & break
bulk. With its various modern terminals, Amsterdam Seaports is
extremely well-positioned for the storage and transfer of large
amounts of general and project cargo. Nevertheless, research
performed by the Port of Amsterdam has shown that there is
considerable potential for further growth. In the short term
the current volume of 5.2 million tons could be increased by
approximately 1.6 million tons. This development is actually very
desirable in order to realise a more diverse cargo portfolio.
WeSt AfRICA
The second topic looks at West Africa, a region that has
traditionally been very important to Amsterdam Seaports. First
and foremost it acquired this position as the result of the supply
of around 500,000 tons of cocoa beans a year, making Amsterdam
the largest cocoa port in the world. But West Africa’s significance
is also due to the fact that the region represents the entire chain:
From cocoa storage and processing companies, trading houses,
transporters and inspection companies to banks, insurers and
specialised machinery suppliers.
Although cocoa is by far the largest product transported between
the regions, the share of forest products (wood and paper)
and return cargo from Amsterdam is increasing. Return cargo
mainly consists of cars, white and brown goods, and consumer
electronics (computers and audiovisual equipment).
In short: General cargo and West Africa offer the best of both
worlds.
Michiel A. Wijsmuller, Chairman Amports
www.amports.nl Amsterdam Seaports No. 3 2010 3
AMSTERDAM SEApoRTS Official publication on behalf of the ports of Amsterdam, Beverwijk, Ymuiden and Zaanstad Published 4 times a year in English: by Amsterdam Ports Association ([email protected] www.amports.nl)
MORE ABOUT AMSTERDAM PORTS ASSOCIATION AND ITS 300 MEMBERS: WWW.AMPORTS.NL
Dirk HuizingaManager Health, Safety, Security & Environment, Oiltanking Amsterdam
Your reliable storage partner for liquid bulk.
We Can, We CareAt Oiltanking, safety always comes first. This is reflected
in our global Health, Safety, Security and Environmental
(HSSE) policy, which has been translated into 15 languages
and is signed by each Profit Centre Manager. For continuous
improvement of our performance we need people like Dirk
Huizinga. Working for Oiltanking Amsterdam, Dirk’s job
is to ensure his terminal meets all internal and external
HSSE standards. Handling huge volumes of hazardous pro-
ducts utilizing more than 90 tanks and 18 jetties, as well
as pipelines to Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport and crude oil
platforms in the North Sea, Dirk has a lot of responsibility.
He can manage, because he cares.
Admiralitaetstrasse 55 | D-20459 Hamburg Germany Tel. +49-40-370990 0 | Fax +49-40-37099 499 | www.oiltanking.com
In the largest All Weather Terminal of Europe transferring vulnerable products likesteel, timber and paper no longer depends on dry weather conditions.
Stevedore and Terminal operator
Elbaweg 10 - 1044 AD AmsterdamThe NetherlandsT +31 20 44 80 620E [email protected] www.waterlandterminal.nl
N E W S I N B R I E F
www.amports.nl Amsterdam Seaports No. 3 2010 5
MORE ABOUT AMSTERDAM PORTS ASSOCIATION AND ITS 300 MEMBERS WWW.AMPORTS.NL
SliGhT GroWTh AmSTerdAm SeAporTS
In the first half of 2010, goods transhipment at Amsterdam Seaports increased
by 4.2 percent compared to the same period last year. The volume totalled 44.7
million tons, largely due to the rising demand at steel giant Corus.
In contrast, transhipment in Amsterdam dropped by 7.1 percent to 35.5 million
tons. This can be attributed to an eight percent reduction of oil products as
a result of the 2009 economic crisis, and a 15 percent decrease in coal. There
was, however, a 22 percent increase in the transhipment of sand, gravel and
industrial minerals, partly due to the growing demand for overseas building
materials. Agribulk increased by five percent, while the transhipment of mixed
cargo remained almost the same. Ro/Ro increased by a whopping 72 percent.
enerGy-effiCienT blAST furnACe AT CoruS
Steel giant Corus in IJmuiden has started construction of the advanced
HISarna blast furnace. Using a new blasting technology which does not require
the currently necessary preparation of cokes, pellets and sinter, the HISarna will
reduce CO2 emissions
by at least 20 percent
compared to normal
blast furnaces.
Transportation of the
smelter vessel (95 tons)
and melting cyclone
(40 tons), the two main
elements of the new
installation, took place
in late August. Due to
the size and weight of
the components, they
were partly transported over water. The HISarna blast furnace is expected to be
operational in early 2011.
GerSon ChAirmAn
AmSTerdAm CruiSe
porT
Hans Gerson (1947) has been
appointed Chairman of the
promotional organisation
Amsterdam Cruise Port (ACP),
an organisation aimed at
attracting more sea and river
cruise vessels to Amsterdam
Seaports. Gerson previously
worked as General Director
of the Port of Amsterdam
for nearly ten years (2000-
2009), and as an alderman in
Amsterdam for a year.
exPANSION CARGO COMPANy IJMONd (CCy)
Cargo Company IJmond (CCY), part of the
Haak Group, recently moved to new company
premises of 15,000 m² in the port of Amsterdam
after its previous facilities (8,000 m²) had become
too small. CCY is a service provider for overseas
container transport for private parties and
businesses.
The new location allows the company to load
and prepare 200 containers for transport per
month. It also enables CCY to offer improved
services for the integration, distribution and
storage of containers.
NeW qUAy VeLSeN OffShORe BASe (VOB)
VOB (Velsen Offshore Base) has made its facilities
in Velsen-Noord, part of Amsterdam Seaports,
suitable for deep-draught seagoing vessels. In
addition to upgrading some 220 metres of quay,
the company replaced a largely rotten sheet pile
wall with concrete cofferdams. VOB also placed
20 fender piles and ten bollard piles in the water.
Velsen Offshore Base is a joint venture between
the Ben Vermeer Group and Iskes Vastgoed BV.
hUNdRed thOUSANd NISSANS At
WAteRLANd teRMINAL
On 6 September, the modern all weather
Waterland Terminal welcomed its 100,000th
Nissan car in 2010. Director René Finson stated
that the milestone was reached earlier in the year
than in 2009, an indication that the economy
is recovering. Representatives of Nissan, Hoëgh
Autoliners and Koopman Car Terminal were
present during the ceremony. The 100,000th
Nissan was delivered by cargo ship Asian Spirit,
owned by Höegh Autoliners.
Marking a milestone at Waterland Terminal
Transporting components for the new HISARNA blast furnace
New ACP Chairman Hans Gerson
René Finson feels confident about the near
future: “We transferred around 30 percent
more general cargo over the first four
months of 2010 than in the previous year,
and welcomed 19 percent more vessels.
This is mainly due to the fact that we
attracted a large number of smaller clients
with various types of cargo.”
almost the same. Only our total cargo
volume was slightly lower: From 1.4 million
in the record year of 2008 to a little below
1.1 million last year. However, because we
operate as a multi-user stevedore, we were
less affected by, for instance, the drop in
demand for steel and wood products from
the construction industry.”
Like many in our sector, Waterland
Terminal had a difficult 2009. Finson:
“Although it was the first time since
1998 that we made no investments in
expansion, we still managed to do quite
well compared to other stevedores. At 442
short coasters and 900 inland vessels, the
number of ships accommodated remained
In January, MS Carina from Swedish shipping company Österströms became the largest vessel to dock at Waterland Terminal to date. The 122-metre vessel with a
capacity of 7,562 dwt transported a cargo of zinc.
G E N E R A L C A R G O & B R E A K B U L K
CARGO UP BY A THIRD COMPARED TO 2009
new clients for Waterland TerminalDespite the difficult economic times, the Waterland Terminal in Amsterdam Seaports is on the up again. “We attracted a significant number of smaller clients and have successfully broadened our basis,” says Managing Director René Finson.
6 Amsterdam Seaports No. 3 2010 www.amports.nl
www.amports.nl Amsterdam Seaports No. 3 2010 7
ON the RISe
The new clients mainly include wood
processing companies and paper
manufacturers in Germany, the Baltic
States and Russia. “We signed a contract
with two Russian sawmills and a
German manufacturer of newsprint and
packaging paper,” adds Finson, who also
says that Ro/Ro cargo is on the rise. “This
applies especially to high-end cars and
trucks from the Far and Middle East. We
decided to use the current situation to be
more creative and explore how to make
the most of our terminal. As a result we
found that our three covered halls are
ideal for offshore supply vessels.”
PORtAL CRANeS
Waterland Terminal started out with a
modest volume of 200,000 tons in 1998,
a figure which is now between six and
seven times higher. Finson: “Our largest
cargo flows are forestry products (wood,
wood pulp, paper and cellulose) and ferro
and non-ferro metals (steel, aluminium
Autoliners and HUAL which moor here
every year,” says Finson. “These vessels
transport cars for Nissan as well as trucks,
bulldozers, excavators and other rolling
material.”
Around 60 percent of the general cargo is
transferred to inland ships, 30 percent to
trucks and 10 percent to trains. “This ratio
has been constant for years,” adds Finson.
“We offer the benefit that we have a fully
covered loading area for both trucks and
cargo trains.”
eAGeR tO INVeSt
Finson stresses that Waterland Terminal
aims to start investing again as soon as
the opportunity arises. “I would really
like to have 6,000 m² of new warehouse
space for top-quality steel and forestry
products. We developed plans for this
expansion a while ago, but are waiting
for the economy to recover and demand
to rise before going ahead.”
www.waterlandterminal.nl
and zinc). Both segments amount to
around 450,000 tons a year. We also
transfer some 200,000 tons in Ro/Ro and
project cargo as well as 20,000 to 25,000
containers.”
In its three covered halls (AWT 1, 2 and 3),
Waterland Terminal can accommodate
vessels up to 9,000 dwt and a depth of 11
metres. With a quay length of 260 metres
it can offer space to three coasters at the
same time. “All halls have a 40 ton portal
crane,” Finson continues. “We also have
60,000 m² of storage warehouses that
are directly connected to the quay. Some
4,000 m² of this space has an advanced
dehumidification system for precious
metals.”
The entire terrain is around 160,000 m²
in size. The non-covered area of 110,000
m² contains the deep-sea quay of 350
metres that is shared by the general
cargo stevedore with Koopman Car
Terminal. “This is an important quay for
the around 100 car carriers of Höegh
When the weather gets rough...
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kwart pagina sts FC.pdf 1 25-11-09 18:03
West Africa special
AMSTERDAMAMSTERDAM - BEVERWIJK - IJMUIDEN - ZAANSTAD
2010/nr3
SEApoRTS
West Africa specialWest Africa special
Colophon
Special supplement to mark the Amsterdam Seaports trade mission to Ghana and Ivory Coast from 3 to 8 October 2010. Published by Amsterdam Ports Association (Amports), De Ruijterkade 7, 1013 AA Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Tel. +31-20-627 37 06, fax. +31- 20-626 49 49. E-mail [email protected]
Editor: Bart Stam
Photos:Dick van den Berg, Martin Hendriksen, Reinder Weidijk and others
Translation Dutch-English: Andrew Rogers and Akke Pinkster, Writewell Quality Text Amsterdam (NL)
Design and lithography: FIZZ reclame + communicatie, Meppel (NL)
Printing: Ten Brink, Meppel (Pays-Bas)
2 Amsterdam Seaports No. 3 2010 www.amports.nl
The Port of Takoradi handles various types of cargo vessel, including
RoRo and container ships (above and below)
W E S T A f R I c A S p E c I A l
Ghanaian ports in pictures
Container terminal in Tema
www.amports.nl Amsterdam Seaports No. 3 2010 3
“Cocoa has traditionally been the product
that connects West Africa to Amsterdam
Seaports,” says ORAM Chairman Paul
Wevers. Amsterdam Seaports stores almost
a third of the global supply of cocoa
beans (around 600,000 to 700,000 tons in
2009). “The volume that is transported to
Amsterdam in megabulk, sea containers
and sacks is expanding as the global
demand for luxury products such as
chocolate increases,” adds Dertje Meijer.
“In 2009 approximately two billion dollars
worth of cocoa beans was imported via
Amsterdam Seaports. In addition, almost 15
percent of the global cocoa processing into
semi-manufactured products (cocoa mass,
powder and butter) also takes place in this
region, which amounts to around 460,000
tons of the 3.5 million tons worldwide.
Amsterdam is also the main port for
the importation of cocoa beans for the
European cocoa industry, which processes
over 40 percent of the global cocoa
production (1.4 million tons per year).”
West Africa is the main cocoa producer
in the world, particularly the countries
greater role. Meijer also sees the import
of biomass from West Africa becoming
important to Amsterdam Seaports in the
future, especially within the framework of
its function as an energy port. As examples
she lists jatropha and shea nuts, which
do not compete with food production.
Meijer: “Amsterdam is perfectly positioned
to transfer and tranship, process and
distribute this biomass to end users of
sustainable energy.”
Sustainability is indeed an asset of
Amsterdam Seaports, says Wevers. “This
was the reason that the first batch of
sustainably produced and certified cocoa in
the world arrived here during the CHOCA
festival in November 2009. As a business
association we have signed covenants
with many parties in the cocoa chain to
make it as sustainable as possible; from
production and transport to Europe to
storage, processing and the distribution on
location.”
www.portofamsterdam.nl
www.oram.nl
Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon.
Wevers: “It is therefore important that the
Amsterdam port community maintains or,
if possible, strengthens its strong ties with
the region, for instance by paying regular
visits to the main players.” Wevers and
Meijer point out that the entire cocoa chain
is represented in Amsterdam Seaports,
including storage companies, cocoa-
processing firms and various top-quality
service providers. To list a few examples, the
delegation leaders mention transporters,
trade houses, insurers, inspection and
monitoring companies and specialised
suppliers of machinery, for instance.
RETuRn caRgo
“The cargo flow between Amsterdam
Seaports and West Africa is by no means
one way traffic,” underlines Dertje Meijer.
“As a result of the growing economy in
West Africa, the consumer market is of
growing interest to our port industry.
The export of used cars and household
appliances from Amsterdam Seaports
is increasing, for instance. These goods
are transported via container and Ro/Ro
services by major shipping companies.”
The Amsterdam port Director also
mentions Cargo Company IJmond (CCY),
a subsidiary of the Ter Haak Group. CCY is
specialised in return cargo to West Africa
from Amsterdam. Another significant cargo
flow to the African region is liquid fuels
(petrol and gas oil). “Amsterdam Seaports
is working hard to strengthen its European
hub function for West Africa,” adds Meijer.
SuSTainabiliTy
In addition to cocoa, forest products
(especially FSC hardwood) are playing a
BIENNIAl VISIT of AMSTERDAM SEApoRTS To WEST AfRIcA
Strong ties and mutual respectWest Africa has always been an important region to Amsterdam Seaports based on long-lasting historical ties and considerable mutual respect. from 3 to 8 october 2010, a delegation of the port industry, led by Dertje Meijer, General Director of the port of Amsterdam, and paul Wevers, chairman of the Amsterdam business association oRAM, will pay a visit to Ivory coast and Ghana.
Paul Wevers, Chairman of the Amsterdam business
association ORAM
Dertje Meijer, General Director of the Port of
Amsterdam
W E S T A f R I c A S p E c I A l
MoroccoCasablanca Delmas /CMA CGM 1x p/wkCasablanca Grimaldi 1x p/wkAgadir Delmas /CMA CGM 1x p/wkAgadir Hapag-Lloyd1) 1x p/12days
MauritaniaNouakchott Delmas 1x p/wkNouakchott OT Africa Line 1x p/wk
SenegalDakar Delmas 1x p/wkDakar Grimaldi 1x p/wkDakar Hapag-Lloyd1) 1x p/12daysDakar OT Africa Line 1x p/wkDakar ZIM / Hapag 3x p/mth
GambiaBanjul Delmas 1x p/wkBanjul OT Africa Line 1x p/wkBanjul Grimaldi 1x p/wk
GuineaConakry Delmas 1x p/wkConakry Grimaldi 1x p/wkConakry OT Africa Line 1x p/wk
Sierra LeoneFreetown Delmas 1x p/wkFreetown Grimaldi 1x p/wkFreetown OT Africa Line 1x p/wk
LiberiaMonrovia Delmas 1x p/wkMonrovia Grimaldi 1x p/wkMonrovia OT Africa Line 1x p/wk
Ivory CoastSan Pedro Delmas2) 1x p/wkSan Pedro Grimaldi2) 1x p/wkSan Pedro Hapag-Lloyd1) 1x p/12daysSan Pedro OT Africa Line2) 1x p/wkSan Pedro ZIM / Hapag2) 3x p/mthAbidjan Delmas 1x p/wkAbidjan Grimaldi 1x p/wkAbidjan Hapag-Lloyd1) 1x p/12daysAbidjan OT Africa Line 1x p/wkAbidjan ZIM / Hapag 3x p/mth
GhanaTakoradi Delmas 1x p/wkTakoradi Grimaldi 1x p/wkTakoradi OT Africa Line 1x p/wkTema Delmas 1x p/wkTema Grimaldi 1x p/wkTema Hapag-Lloyd1) 1x p/12daysTema NileDutch 3x p/mthTema OT Africa Line 1x p/wkTema ZIM / Hapag 3x p/mth
TogoLomé Delmas 1x p/wkLomé OT Africa Line 1x p/wkLomé Grimaldi 1x p/wk
BeninCotonou Delmas 1x p/wkCotonou Grimaldi 1x p/wkCotonou OT Africa Line 1x p/wk
NigeriaLagos/Apapa Delmas 1x p/wkLagos/Apapa Hapag-Lloyd1) 1x p/12daysLagos/Apapa NileDutch 1x p/wkLagos/Apapa OT Africa Line 1x p/wkLagos/Apapa ZIM / Hapag 2x p/mthWarri OT Africa Line 1x p/wkOnne Port Delmas 1x p/wkOnne Port OT Africa Line 1x p/wkOnne Port Delmas 1x p/mthTincan Island Delmas 1x p/mthTincan Island Grimaldi 1x p/wkTincan Island OT Africa Line 1x p/mthTincan Island ZIM / Hapag 3x p/mth
CameroonDouala Delmas 1x p/wkDouala Grimaldi 1x p/wkDouala NileDutch 3x p/mthDouala OT Africa Line 1x p/wk
Equatorial GuineaBata & Malabo Delmas 1x p/mthBata & Malabo OT Africa Line 1x p/mth
GabonLibreville Delmas 1x p/wkLibreville NileDutch 3x p/mthLibreville OT Africa Line 1x p/wkPort Gentil Delmas 1x p/wkPort Gentil OT Africa Line 1x p/wk
CongoPointe Noire Delmas 1x p/wkPointe Noire Grimaldi 1x p/wkPointe Noire NileDutch 3x p/mthPointe Noire OT Africa Line 1x p/wk
Democratic Republic of CongoMatadi Delmas 3x p/mthMatadi NileDutch 3x p/mthMatadi OT Africa Line 3x p/mthBoma Delmas 3x p/mthBoma Grimaldi 1x p/wkBoma NileDutch 3x p/mthBoma OT Africa Line 3x p/mthBanana OT Africa Line 3x p/mth
AngolaCabinda Delmas 3x p/mthCabinda NileDutch 3x p/mthCabinda OT Africa Line 3x p/mthLuanda Delmas 1x p/wkLuanda Grimaldi 1x p/wkLuanda NileDutch 3x p/mthLuanda OT Africa Line 1x p/wkLobito Delmas 3x p/mthLobito Grimaldi 1x p/wkLobito NileDutch 3x p/mthLobito OT Africa Line 1x p/wkNamibe NileDutch 3x p/mthNamibe OT Africa Line 1x p/wkSoyo Delmas 3x p/mthSoyo NileDutch 3x p/mthSoyo OT Africa Line 3x p/mth
South AfricaPort Elisabeth Höegh Autoliners 1x p/mthEast London Höegh Autoliners 1x p/mthDurban Höegh Autoliners 3x p/mth
MozambiqueMaputo Höegh Autoliners 1x p/mth
Réunion (FR)
Port Réunion Höegh Autoliners 1x p/mth
MauritiusPort Louis Höegh Autoliners 1x p/mth
MadagascarTamatave Höegh Autoliners 1x p/mth
KenyaMombassa Höegh Autoliners 1x p/mth
PORTS/ LINER SERVICES FREQUENCYCOUNTRIES
PORTS/ LINER SERVICES FREQUENCYCOUNTRIES
PORTS/ LINER SERVICES FREQUENCYCOUNTRIES
1) only during the Cocoa season (January – March)2) incoming only
Amsterdam Liner Services Africa
Delmas (CMA CGM) www.delmas.comGrimaldi www.grimaldi.napoli.itHöegh Autoliners www.hoeghautoliners.comNileDutch www.niledutch.comOT Africa Line www.otal.comHapag-Lloyd www.hapag-lloyd.comZIM Integrated Shipping Services www.zim.co.il
Bijlage Africa B correctie:Opmaak 1 15-09-10 17:19 Pagina 1
www.amports.nl Amsterdam Seaports No. 3 2010 5
Each year around between 600,000
and 700,000 tons of cocoa beans are
transported to the European cocoa-
processing industry via Amsterdam
Seaports, including companies such as
ADM, Cargill and Dutch Cocoa, a daughter
of the ECOM concern. Storage warehouses
who also operate in West African countries
such as Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria and
Cameroon, receive, store and distribute
these beans. Cocoa is either transported in
ship holds as ‘mega bulk’ or in containers in
sacks or as bulk.
The transport is handled by specialised
shipping companies with line services from
West Africa, including Delmas/CMA CGM,
Grimaldi Lines, OT Africa Line (OTAL) and
the Dutch company NileDutch. In 2009
the so-called NAF-service (North Europe
Africa) from Israeli shipping company
ZIM Integrated Shipping Service and the
German Hapag-Lloyd was extended with a
route between West Africa and Amsterdam.
SafMarine, a subsidiary of Danish shipping
company Maersk, is another player in cocoa
shipping to Amsterdam, employing inland
vessels that transport cocoa to Amsterdam
from Rotterdam and Antwerp. NileDutch,
Delmas/CMA CGM, Grimaldi and ZIM/
Hapag-Lloyd have something in common:
All line services between West Africa and
Europe have Amsterdam as their first port
of call.
“Cocoa beans are a delicate cargo and
the shipping therefore is a specialised
field of work,” says Michael van Toledo,
former Commercial Director for NileDutch.
“Additionally cocoa is a seasonal product,
with a huge peak in availability over
Another option is keeping the container
doors open on the trip to Amsterdam.”
“We provide ‘bolsters’ on our Ro/Ro vessels,”
says Jos Meeuwis, Manager at Delmas
Holland in Amsterdam. “These are a type of
open container flat racks on which we can
place 192 sacks of cocoa beans. In addition
to our specialism in limiting damage
during the ocean journey, we are unique
in the quality and experience of our agent
network in Africa.”
OT Africa Line (OTAL) annually transports
around 75,000 tons of cocoa containers
from West Africa to the Port of Amsterdam
for which Slavenburg & Huyser in
Rotterdam is the Dutch agent.
Quay To Quay
The cocoa processing companies in
Amsterdam and the nearby city of
a relatively short period of time. Each
season offers the challenge of delivering
the product as quickly as possible and in
optimal quality.”
HumiDiTy
The vulnerability of cocoa is mainly a
matter of humidity. The humidity level
of the beans and the large temperature
differences in the cocoa season (October
to January) between Africa (35 to 40 ºC)
and Europe result in condensation that
can cause mould. It is therefore always
important to minimise transit times and/or
ventilate the cargo.
Dennis Marcus is Sales Manager at ship
brokers Broekman Motorships, the Dutch
agent for Grimaldi Lines. “We can do
more than ensure a short transit time. For
instance, we provide shippers with kraft
paper and dry bags, types of dehumidifiers.
poRT of AMSTERDAM ESSENTIAl IN ThE IMpoRT of WEST AfRIcAN cocoA
Speed and serviceIn the chain from cocoa bean to chocolate, seagoing vessels between West Africa and the world’s main cocoa port Amsterdam play a leading role. The vulnerability of cocoa beans makes fast transit times essential for major shipping companies such as Delmas/cMA cGM, Grimaldi lines, NileDutch, ZIM lines/hapag lloyd and oT Africa line (oTAl).
One of the Liebherr cranes from United Stevedores Amsterdam (USA), with a lifting capacity of 104 tons.
These cranes handle container vessels of up to 8,000 TEU, including the West Africa line services
W E S T A f R I c A S p E c I A l
6 Amsterdam Seaports No. 3 2010 www.amports.nl
Zaanstad, as well as the commercial
businesses, have an organisation in Africa
that covers the entire chain from cocoa
farmer to the factory. They only outsource
the sea trajectory in which the cocoa is
transported in three different ways: Firstly
via mega bulk, in which the beans are
transported loose in the holds of a charter
vessel, as occurs on the vessels from
Amsterdam shipping company Spliethoff;
secondly via sacks in containers (mainly
for the futures market); and thirdly via bulk
in containers. The beans are harvested,
fermented and dried to an acceptable
humidity level (up to 7.5%), loaded in
containers or deposited as bulk in the West
African ports, before being transported as
quickly as possible by seagoing vessels.
The shipping companies have their own
central points in the African countries and
the competition between them is fierce.
“The rate negotiations at the start of every
cocoa season are always a high point,”
says Van Toledo. “This is when clients and
shipping companies really put each other
to the test.”
TREnDS
Shipping companies say that cocoa
shipping has changed considerably over
the past decades; more recently due to
the rise of the mega bulk, before that as a
result of the arrival of the container. “The
responsibilities have changed,” explains
Jos Meeuwis. “Although we used to be
responsible for the cargo, this now lies
keep the container supply constant. The
challenge comes from the unknowns in the
cocoa trade, particularly regarding amounts
and mode of transport. Another influence
is the ratio of containers to sacks, mainly for
the futures market, and containers to bulk.
Marcus: “We have to wait and see whether
we made the right estimate at the start of
every cocoa season.”
At the Amsterdam side everything runs
smoothly. The six above mentioned
shipping companies all employ United
Stevedores Amsterdam (USA), part of the
Ter Haak Group, in the ‘Amerikahaven’
(America Harbour). This major stevedore
has an excellent connection to cocoa
storage companies and other destinations.
Another benefit is that this terminal offers
the shipping companies the chance to
leave behind their ‘empties’. A single trip
is sufficient for dropping off an empty
container and picking up a full one. “The
mutual exchange of equipment between
shipping companies is not an option as we
are mainly direct competitors,” concludes
Jos Meeuwis. “It is handy, however, if one
player occasionally transports some excess
cargo from Africa for another. And that we
are always willing to do.”
www.terhaakgroup.com
www.niledutch.com
www.otal.com
www.zim.co.il
www.broekman-group.nl
www.cma-cgm.com
largely with the owner. We do, however,
provide a number of services to transport
the cocoa quickly and without any
damage.”
Another trend is the establishment of a
cocoa-processing industry in West Africa by
Cargill and ADM. The benefit is that these
new facilities can offer self-produced semi-
manufactured cocoa products throughout
the year, resulting in a welcome spread of
cargo.
conTainERS REQuiRED
One issue all shipping companies have
been faced with since the arrival of the
container is the imbalance between import
and export; especially during the cocoa
season. It is necessary to have sufficient
empty containers in the African ports at the
start of the cocoa season in October and
Grimaldi is one of the largest shipping companies operating between West Africa and Amsterdam Seaports
ZIM and Hapag-Lloyd extended their North Europe Africa Service (NAF) to Amsterdam Seaports in
February 2009
www.amports.nl Amsterdam Seaports No. 3 2010 7
French, British, Italian, Israeli, German and
Dutch shipping lines use Amsterdam
as their main port of call for Northwest
Europe. It is remarkable that all five lines
(NileDutch, Grimaldi, CMA-CGM Delmas,
ZIM Lines/Hapag-Lloyd and OT Africa
Line) are handled at the same terminal:
United Stevedores of Amsterdam (USA), a
member of the Ter Haak Group. In fact the
well-known USA abbreviation could just as
well stand for ‘United Stevedores for Africa’.
The concentration of all cargo handling
activities is very convenient for all parties
concerned: Shippers, warehouse operators,
forwarding agents, consignees as well as
other logistic service providers.
Cocoa beans are by far the most important
commodity (some 600,000 to 700,000 tons
per year) exported from West Africa to
the Amsterdam Seaports and the volume
shipped in containers on liner vessels
has grown rapidly. Meanwhile, sawn
tropical timber (150,000 to 200,000 tons
anually) is transported packaged using
the Ro-Ro shipping method. Other export
commodities from West Africa include
plants, fruits and vegetables.
HEaDing SouTH
On the southbound voyages, the emptied
cocoa containers are used for the
transportation of return cargo. The chief
EU exports to West Africa are second hand
vehicles, shipped on the Ro-Ro (Roll on Roll
off ) vessels of the liner companies. Milk
powder, wheat flour, potatoes, onions and
fish are also important southbound cargo
flows. Most of the Dutch dairy exporters
are located in the northern Netherlands,
only a short distance from Amsterdam.
products being exported from Amsterdam
in containers to West Africa. CCY handles
some 200 containers per month to Africa.
CCY, also part of the Ter Haak Group,
has a large new depot for the stripping
and filling of containers in the port of
Amsterdam. “You see all kinds of goods
being loaded here, from tyres and car
parts to kitchen utensils,” continues Thuijs.
“It is important to be clear that these are
good quality used goods being shipped,
not waste. Authorities regularly check the
depot. If they find a fridge without a plug,
we have to put it aside. The law does not
allow incomplete goods to be exported
as they are considered as waste. African
countries can be strict as well. In Nigeria,
for example, you have to pay much higher
import duties when a car is older than ten
years. Dutch people of African descent fill
the containers themselves and use these
shipments to help their relatives in Africa.”
www.terhaakgroup.com
IJmuiden is one of the Amsterdam
Seaports and a major European fish
auction centre, while the wheat mills,
like the cocoa factories, are located in
Zaandam, also part of the Amsterdam
Seaports.
SEconD HanD gooDS
“Apart from used cars, a large quantity
of second hand household goods are
shipped southbound in containers,”
explains Jan Thuijs, General Manager of
Container Company Ymond (CCY). “West
African countries buy good quality used
furniture, TVs, radios, stereo equipment,
refrigerators, computers and printers.
Here in Western Europe we ‘need’ the
latest products and trade the old goods
in: Flatscreen TVs for instance have quickly
made tube TVs obsolete. These goods
are often still in good condition and can
give years of service. It’s a kind of global
recycling with a very positive effect for all
parties in the consumer and logistic chain.”
Clothing and shoes are other examples of
Amsterdam: The European transport hub for West AfricaAs cocoa beans from West Africa make shipping line calls in Amsterdam, a variety of cargo is shipped southbound in the empty cocoa containers. West Africa has become a very important destination for the Dutch port, as is Amsterdam for the African West coast shippers and consignees.
The Ter Haak Group and its daughter companies are specialists in the transport of cars, lorries and other
rolling material to West Africa
W E S T A f R I c A S p E c I A l
Seagoing and inland vessels annually
deliver around 600,000 to 700,000 tons
of cocoa beans to the port of Amsterdam,
an estimated 300,000 to 400,000 tons
of which is shipped to regional cocoa
processing companies. The remainder
finds its way to other locations in Europe,
particularly Switzerland and Germany.
CWT Sitos is one of the larger Amsterdam
players with regard to cocoa. The fifteen
Martin Versteeg is Managing Director of
the Sitos Group, which was established
around eight years ago. Together with
Dick de Bruin he is co-owner of this
storage and transhipment company for
cocoa, coffee, hazelnuts and peanuts.
“With regard to cocoa, we store both the
beans and derived products such as cocoa
powder, butter and mass for the cocoa
processing industry,” says Versteeg. After
warehouses of Sitos Commodities
Amsterdam, a subsidiary of CWT Sitos,
handle approximately 150,000 tons
of cocao each year. Upon arrival the
company checks each batch of cocoa for
humidity, size, flavour and scent, acidity,
fermentation and crystallisation in
so-called sample chambers. The cocoa is
air-cleaned to remove any glass, grit and
wood.
8 Amsterdam Seaports No. 3 2010 www.amports.nl
Better quality, less labourWarehousing and transhipment companies in Amsterdam Seaports store nearly one-third of the total global supply of cocoa, making Amsterdam the world’s undisputed king of cocoa ports.
W E S T A f R I c A S p E c I A l
in the storage, blending, checking and
distribution of cocoa and coffee, while
Unieveem is more specialised in the
distribution and handling of derived
cocoa products such as butter and
powder.”
Unieveem has a storage warehouse
in Amsterdam with a total size of over
70,000 m², and according to Van de
Vondel the company can always rent
more space if necessary. On its busiest
days Unieveem handles between 4,000
and 10,000 tons of cocoa.
laRgEST PoRT
Like other major players in the
Amsterdam cocoa sector, Van den Vondel
also believes that Amsterdam will have no
competition for its position as the largest
cocoa port in the world for the time
being. “After all, the industry is already
there,” he says. Eric Asselman of Vollers
makes a similar point: “As our largest
clients are located in the Zaan region,
Amsterdam Seaports is the ideal port for
the delivery of cocoa. This means that
Vollers has little competition from ports
such as Antwerp and Hamburg.”
www.cwtsitos.com
www.sitoscommodities.com
www. steinweg.com
www. katoennatie.com
www.vollers.com
www.amports.nl Amsterdam Seaports No. 3 2010 9
CWT in Singapore took a majority share
in the Sitos Group in 2008, the company’s
name was changed to CWT Sitos.
bulk anD SackS
As is the case with CWT Sitos in
Amsterdam, most storage and
transhipment companies in the port are
equipped to receive cocoa either as bulk
or in sacks. This includes Vollers, which has
115,000 m² of warehouse space spread
around three locations in the port of
Amsterdam. “We mainly store cocoa in
bulk that originates from West Africa,”
says Eric Asselman of Vollers. “This cocoa
is delivered in various ways, including
in so-called box shaped vessels that are
unloaded using a floating crane and
transported for storage in our warehouses
via conveyor belts.”
Bulk cocoa can also be shipped
unpackaged in containers adds Asselman:
“We pick the containers up from the
terminals and empty them in our
warehouses. We then use conveyor belts
to make large cocoa mountains. The
cocoa we store is either intended for the
commodity futures exchanges or the
regional cocoa industry and companies
in Germany. Conveyor belts deliver the
cocoa to inland barges of between 300
and 1,200 tons.”
United Stevedores Amsterdam (USA)
is a stevedores company that is part of
the Ter Haak Group. The transhipment
company mainly handles container and
RoRo (Roll-on Roll-off ) vessels carrying
products such as cocoa. USA also unloads
barges with containers arriving on vessels
in other seaports.
Sister company Container Company
Amsterdam (CCA), also part of the Ter
Haak Group, cleans the containers at the
terminal and repairs them if necessary
so that they can be reused by the
shipping companies. United Stevedores
Amsterdam’s other sister company Barge
Company Amsterdam (BCA) provides
daily inland shipping services to cocoa
storage companies and inland shipping
terminals in the Amsterdam region.
According to Vice President Paul Brink,
USA receives around 50,000 containers a
year and he expects cocoa transportation
by container to increase further in the
future.
Martin Versteeg of CWT Sitos also sees a
returning demand for cocoa in traditional
sacks. “For smaller industries sacks are
easier when it comes to testing cocoa
quality,” he explains. Over the past
few years the company has invested
hundreds of thousands of euros in
improving the product and increasing
productivity, including machinery that
makes filling sacks by hand redundant as
well as special palletising machines. CWT
Sitos also has the only CO2 warehouse
in the Netherlands to be fitted with an
environmentally-friendly fire protection
system using carbon dioxide.
mERgERS
Bob van de Vondel from transhipment
company Unieveem has noticed
another trend in the cocoa industry.
“Clients are becoming larger as more
buyers merge together. This is resulting
in scale increases in the storage and
transhipment companies as well.” As
an example Van de Vondel gives ‘his
own’ Unieveem. “This was taken over
in early 2009 by the Belgian Katoen
Natie, which had previously purchased
Unicontrol, another company in the port
of Amsterdam. Unicontrol is involved
A modern palletising machine
10 Amsterdam Seaports No. 3 2010 www.amports.nl
Loading a ship in Takoradi
A Delmas cargo vessel in the port of Takoradi
W E S T A f R I c A S p E c I A l
Ghanaian ports in pictures
www.amports.nl Amsterdam Seaports No. 3 2010 11
Arrival of the first sustainably produced cocoa at CWT Sitos in the port of Amsterdam, November 2009
Former Dutch Minister for Development
Aid, Bert Koenders, received the first cocoa
batch with UTZ certification during the
Amsterdam Chocolate Festival CHOCA in
November 2009 at CWT Sitos, one of the
largest cocoa storage companies in the
port of Amsterdam.
UTZ Certified started ten years ago in
Guatemala as a hallmark for sustainable
coffee. UTZ means ‘good’ in the language
of the Mayas, the native Indians that are
among the earliest users of cocoa. The UTZ
Certified organisation, currently located in
Amsterdam, aims for the implementation
of a global standard for sustainable
agriculture including environmental and
working conditions. Since a few years it
widened its work field to products such as
palm oil, tea and cocoa.
Cocoa beans with a UTZ certificate are
produced in a professional manner with a
responsible approach toward both people
and environment. This means, for instance,
that the working conditions are good,
there are no harmful chemicals being used
and there is no child labour. As part of the
UTZ programme, farmers are trained to
produce better quality cocoa which should
lead to better prices for their crop.
cHain cooPERaTion
The initiative to cooperate with UTZ
Certified originates from several large
companies, including food company
Cargill, ECOM Cocoa (the mother
company of Dutch Cocoa in the port of
Amsterdam), Ahold, Heinz Benelux, Mars
and Nestlé. These companies established
for a period of eight months,” says Harold
Poelma of Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate.
CWT Sitos became involved in the
certification in June 2008. According to
Managing Director Martin Versteeg the
company currently stores and distributes
cocoa in accordance with the UTZ
certification guidelines.
incREaSing DEmanD
Training and certification help small cocoa
farmers in developing countries to improve
their agricultural production. Daan de
Vries, Programme Manager Cocoa at UTZ
Certified in Amsterdam: “Professionalisation
precludes child labour. Although no system
can provide a 100 percent guarantee, that
is what we are aiming for. Via awareness,
monitoring and the implementation
of systems, our project partners, host
governments and our own organisation
want to help more farmers benefit from the
programme in order to meet the increasing
demand for sustainable cocoa.”
www.utzcertified.org
the collaboration with UTZ Certified
and the development organisation
Solidaridad to set up a sustainable cocoa
chain. The initiative is supported by social
organisations Oxfam Novib and the
World Wildlife Fund International and
includes the whole chain from local and
international manufacturers to retailers
and cargo companies.
PionEERS
ECOM Cocoa in Switzerland and Cargill
Cocoa & Chocolate in Zaanstad, one of
the Amsterdam Seaports, are already
busy certifying and training their ‘own’
cocoa farmers in Ivory Coast to produce
sustainable cocoa beans. The extensive
training programmes bore fruit when the
farmers that supply cocoa beans to ECOM
Cocoa received their UTZ cocoa certificate.
The two cocoa cooperatives that partner
with Cargill in Ivory Coast, Fiédifoué and
Coopaga, also received the much wanted
UTZ certificate in August 2009. “Together
with Solidaridad, Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate
trained nearly 1,600 Ivory Coast farmers
Amsterdam Seaports leader in sustainable cocoaIn November 2009 the first batch of sustainably produced (UTZ certified) cocoa in the world arrived in Amsterdam Seaports. The cocoa came from two cooperatives in Ivory coast that were the first to receive the UTZ certificate, which means among other things that the cocoa beans were produced in good working and environmental conditions.
W E S T A f R I c A S p E c I A l
The new inland shipping terminal SCS Multiport, situated in the most western port of Amsterdam
12 Amsterdam Seaports No. 3 2010 www.amports.nl
Amsterdam Seaports as logistics hubAmsterdam Seaports houses various high-quality logistics suppliers in the cocoa sector. The majority of the cocoa is passed on to the regional cocoa-processing industry in Amsterdam and the nearby city of Zaanstad, as well as other European countries, either by inland vessel or truck.
Some 600,000 to 700,000 tons of cocoa
is transhipped through Amsterdam
Seaports each year, the largest part of
which comes from Ivory Coast and Ghana.
Regional companies in Amsterdam and
the Zaan region, part of Amsterdam
Seaports, process over half the imported
cocoa, while the rest is mostly shipped
to Germany and Switzerland. Everything
that stays behind is stored in warehouses,
for instance for the futures market. The
storage companies in the Amsterdam port
have sufficient space to store one-third of
the global cocoa supply.
incREaSE in inlanD SHiPPing
Most cocoa is supplied directly to the port
of Amsterdam by seagoing vessels, while
W E S T A f R I c A S p E c I A l
www.amports.nl Amsterdam Seaports No. 3 2010 13
a smaller share arrives in the capital by
inland vessel via the ports of Antwerp and
Rotterdam. There has been a remarkable
increase in the inland shipping percentage
over the past decade. While the proportion
of inland shipping was around the ten
percent mark in 2000, by the cocoa season
of 2008-2009 this had increased to 40
percent and is continuing to rise. An
important reason for this growth is that
more cocoa transporters are switching to
inland shipping to leverage on the
tightly-knit network of high-quality
modern terminals and the excellent
hinterland connections.
Last year, for instance, the new inland
shipping terminal SCS Multiport, situated
in the most western port of Amsterdam,
opened for business. The terminal has a
state-of-the-art crane with an ingenious
operating system that can largely detect
containers automatically. SCS Multiport
also has a wireless communication
network between the crane, reach stacker,
access gates and the office. Below the
crane is a separate operating system for
calibrating and weighing containers. Users
of the terminal include CWT Sitos and
Starbucks.
own inSTallaTionS
In principle, cocoa can be transhipped
anywhere on the quay. “It does, however,
require the right installations,” says Sander
Wiegersma of Wiegersma Bulkhandling
& Transport in the Amsterdam port. His
company annually handles the storage
and transhipment of over one million
tons of cocoa, using, among other things,
special conveyer belts partly designed by
the logistic services company itself.
To improve its control over cocoa
processing, Wiegersma founded a
subsidiary in the port town of Takoradi
(Ghana) that is mainly involved in the
storage and transhipment of cocoa beans
in bulk. These cocoa beans are delivered
in sacks from the inland areas of Ghana.
Once in the port, the sacks are cut open
and their contents transported onto a
conveyor belt to a storage location.
says Director Richard van den Dolder.
“I estimate that the current percentage
of cocoa is one-sixth of our total volume
(150,000 tons a year) and this proportion is
rising rapidly. It is a positive development
because we now transport cocoa at
times when we are experiencing reduced
volumes with our other agricultural
products.”
Inverness can rent over 200 lightweight
truck combos (so-called semi-trailers
and bottom unloaders) from transport
companies that can load approximately
28 tons of cocoa per combination. The
company also has extra smooth trailers
that are easier to clean, a practical bonus
when having to change quickly between
the transportation of various agricultural
products.
www.invernesstransport.nl
www.dsv.com
www.wiegersma.com
laRgE DiSTRibuTion cEnTRE
Another logistics services company
involved in the transport and distribution
of cocoa is DSV. This company aims to
build a large distribution centre of 72,000
m² in the port of Amsterdam to unite
its five facilities in one location. The new
facility will be certified with the high safety
status TAPA-A+, particularly in view of the
company’s activities for the automotive
and cocoa industries.
In addition to handling agricultural
products such as potatoes, carrots,
grains and onions, Inverness Transport
is another company that is involved in
the bulk transport of cocoa to locations
all over Europe. Bulk trailers pick up the
cocoa beans at the Amsterdam cocoa
storage companies for delivery to cocoa
factories in the Netherlands, Belgium,
Germany, the UK, France, Austria, Poland
and Switzerland. “Cocoa is becoming
increasingly important to our company,”
Director Richard van den Dolder (Inverness Transport) during the loading of a batch of cocoa in Amsterdam
The heart of the cocoa industry has
been situated in Amsterdam and the
nearby Zaan region, currently part of
Amsterdam Seaports, since the 19th
century. This was due to several reasons:
Cocoa storage has to take place in a not
too warm, wet a climate, near a seaport
with reliable cocoa processing industrie
and warehousing facilities, and a sizeable
consumer market.
A more decisive factor for Amsterdam’s
leading position is the inventions of
Coenraad van Houten made in the 19th
century. He was able to considerably
and ADM Cocoa, each with an annual
production of over 200,000 tons. Other
names are Dutch Cocoa and several
niche players such as Jan Schoemaker.
This Zaandam company processes raw
materials that are unsuitable for the
regular cocoa processing industry and is
a global leader in the processing of cocoa
residues. The company refines cocoa
beans with a too high fat percentage,
that are insufficiently fermented or too
small, clusters (beans stuck together) and
cocoa waste. The refined end product - a
high-quality, clear, sterile cocoa butter
increase the possibilities of the cocoa
bean by means of pressing out the fat
and using alkalisation to neutralise
the acidic characteristics of the bean
(also called the ‘Dutch process’). These
innovations formed the foundation
for the dominance of the Zaan and
Amsterdam regions in the global cocoa
processing industry.
ExTEnSivE inDuSTRy
Heirs of the extensive cocoa processing
industry in the Amsterdam region
include Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate
Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate has two facilities in the Amsterdam region with a total of 450 employees
14 Amsterdam Seaports No. 3 2010 www.amports.nl
AMSTERDAM AND ZAANDAM coMpANIES lEAD ThE WAy
Cocoa magiccompanies in and around the Amsterdam Seaports annually processes some 15 percent of the global cocoa bean harvest, around 450,000 tons, into semi-finished products.
W E S T A f R I c A S p E c I A l
www.amports.nl Amsterdam Seaports No. 3 2010 15
without scent or flavour and low on fatty
acids - is shipped to the pharmaceutical
and cosmetic industries in Europe and
the US. Schoemaker has purchasing
organisations in Ivory Coast and Ghana.
cloSE conTacT wiTH faRmERS
Cargill covers the entire cocoa chain
from the purchase of beans to the
semi-manufactured product, and mostly
works with cocoa farmer cooperatives.
The company has buying stations in the
main cocoa producing countries with
employees that have close contact with
the farmers. Information exchange as
well as training courses are important in
order to maintain the quality and yield,
and to ensure the sustainability of the
cocoa. Both ADM and Cargill have cocoa
processing factories in West Africa, but
the majority of the beans are shipped to
Europe in the cocoa season (October to
April).
Currently, Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate
has two cocoa and chocolate facilities
close to the port of Amsterdam with
approximately 450 employees. The total
number of employees, including those
in Belgium, France. Germany, the UK, the
US, Brazil, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Vietnam
and Indonesia is around 1,500. Cargill
processes a wide range of cocoa mass,
butter and powder, chocolate fillings and
industrial chocolate for food, chocolate
and confectionary products while
helping cocoa farmers in developing
countries improve their agricultural
techniques.
ADM Cocoa was called Cacao De Zaan
until 1997 when the company became
part of the American company ADM
(Archer Daniels Midland). ADM Cocoa
provides the confectionary, bakery and
dairy industry with a wide range of
products including cocoa mass, powder
and butter, chocolate and confectionary
such as bonbons.
uniQuE REciPES
Dutch Cocoa, a daughter of the ECOM
concern, purchases via carefully selected
traders. “We usually become owner of
the cocoa beans during sea transport,”
of 1,500 km is mainly done by heated
tankers. This mode of transport is most
efficient because cocoa products become
liquid at temperatures above 30o Celsius,
which allows buyers to use the product
immediately. When cooled, cocoa can be
packed in 25 kg carton boxes that can
easily be shipped in containers.
TREnDS
The main trend in the cocoa processing
industry is sustainability, says Director
Stoots of Dutch Cocoa. This includes
both environmental aspects during
production and transport as well as
providing farmers and cooperatives
with support and security. Dutch Cocoa
is, among others, active in Fair Trade,
bio-cocoa, Rainforest Alliance (protection
of the tropical rainforest) and UTZ
certification.
The trend towards more exclusive
chocolate is past its peak, according to
Stoots. “That market is very sensitive to
the economic situation. However shops
everywhere do sell chocolate with cocoa
percentages of 60, 70 or 80 percent.”
www.adm.com
www.dutchcocoa.com
www.cargill.nl
www.janschoemaker.com
says Director Joop Stoots. “We then
store them in warehouses in the port of
Amsterdam and they are shipped to our
factories on demand. As a smaller player
on the market, we focus mainly on cocoa
specialities; one of our main markets is
the slightly more expensive segment in
West Africa as well as countries such as
Venezuela, Ecuador, Madagascar and Sao
Tome & Príncipe. Whether it concerns
cocoa mass, butter or powder, every
client can order their own recipe with
their unique flavour profile and in any
quantity.”
Dutch Cocoa was established in 1986
via a management buy-out. Since 2006
the company has been part of ECOM
Agroindustrial Inc., a Swiss-American
company for the production of and trade
in agricultural products. The facility in the
port of Amsterdam has 80 employees
and produces a wide range of cocoa
mass, butter and powder. Dutch Cocoa
manufactures the so called ‘Dutch
flavour’. This specific flavour and high-
quality are the result of roasting and
alkalisation.
ADM and Cargill supply to the entire
world, while Dutch Cocoa’s clients are
mainly in Europe and the US and to a
lesser extent in Japan and South Korea.
Within Europe delivery up to distances
ADM Cocoa mainly serves the confectionary industry, bakeries and the dairy industry
The festival features various master classes for learning how to prepare the best chocolate recipes
A ‘heavenly’ chocolate pie created by a well-known
Amsterdam chocolate shop and patisserie
creative with chocolate
A five-layer chocolate pie in the restaurant of
the NH Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky, in the centre
of Amsterdam
During the opening of CHOCA 2009, enthusiastic visitors sampled a wide variety of chocolate creations
‘Fingers dipped in chocolate’ was the trademark used by
one of the participants in 2009
www.amports.nl Amsterdam Seaports No. 3 2010 9
Multipurpose is the word that best
describes the terminals of United
Stevedores Amsterdam (USA), part
of the Ter Haak Group. Bulk, neobulk,
containers, Ro/Ro, mixed cargo and heavy
(project) cargo, such as oil pipelines for
the offshore industry, arrive and depart
via its 2,000 metres of quay. The USA
facilities have a total surface area of
500,000 m² divided over three terminals
in Amsterdam Seaports: A multipurpose
terminal, a bulk terminal and a cocoa-
plywood terminal. The terminal
operator has a total of 180 employees in
Amsterdam.
“Our speciality is West Africa,” says Paul
Brink, Executive Vice-President of United
Stevedores Amsterdam. “This includes
incoming cargo such as cocoa beans,
cocoa products and plywood, and
outgoing cargo including rolling material
(cars and trucks), general cargo, white
goods, flour and dairy products that are
transported to the region via containers
and Ro/Ro. We welcome many shipping
companies including Grimaldi, Delmas/
CMA-CGM, NileDutch, ZIM and Hapag
Lloyd. Countries such as Ivory Coast,
Ghana, Cameroon and Nigeria are the
largest cocoa producers in the world,
while Amsterdam is the global centre
of expertise for the cocoa processing
industry, logistics and storage.”
Added VALUe
The West Africa trade does not involve
vessels that arrive at Amsterdam Seaports
at precisely predetermined times; there
are just too many uncertainties in
the loops. Brink: “That does not mean,
transport and administration.
“Additionally, we have various
transportation modalities at our disposal
for the supply and transportation of
goods. In short, the coordination and
combination of our various activities
and the optimal application of various
transport options results in flexibility and
cost savings for our clients.” According
to Brink, it is a matter of course that the
USA terminal is multimodal: “There is a
seamless connection between sea and
inland vessels, goods trains and trucks,
while Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is just
around the corner.”
hUGe POteNtIAL
West Africa has a huge potential, says
Brink. “With the increasing prosperity
in the region we have witnessed an
export growth of 15 to 20 percent, while
the cocoa import has remained stable.
In addition, trade with West Africa is
becoming less seasonal. With our strong
focus on return cargo, USA aims to be
and remain the hub for West Africa.”
According to the Executive Vice-
President of USA Terminal, the entire
Ter Haak Group network is involved,
including IJmuiden (part of Amsterdam
Seaports), the north of the Netherlands,
inland connections to Strasburg (France)
and Basel (Switzerland), and sister
company Container Company IJmond
(CCY). This subsidiary of the Ter Haak
Group is focused on container transport
to West Africa.
www.terhaakgroup.com
however, that our clients do not benefit
from fast turn around times. After all, lost
time has to be ‘compensated’ for in the
European ports as cocoa is a vulnerable
natural product.”
“Our strength is flexibility and optimal
service,” Brink continues. “We create
added value for the total chain;
for instance with our 35,000 m² in
storage space in the America Harbour
(Amerikahaven). We also have a so-called
integrated empty depot at the terminal
for stripping, stuffing and cleaning
containers, plus defumigation and gas
measurement. This means that our clients
can benefit from a one-stop shop where
they can deliver and pick-up full and
empty containers without unnecessary
uSA-Terminal: multi purpose hub for West AfricaAmsterdam Seaports is the European multipurpose hub for cargo flows with West Africa. The three terminals of United Stevedores Amsterdam (USA) play a crucial part in strengthening trade with this region by offering maximum flexibility and the best possible service.
Paul Brink at his workplace, United Stevedores
Amsterdam (USA) in Amsterdam Seaports
G E N E R A L C A R G O & B R E A K B U L K
Amsterdam Seaports is a medium-sized
player in break bulk goods such as project
cargo, wood and wood products, ferro/
non-ferro and paper. With approximately
5.2 million tons a year, Amsterdam has
a 13 percent share in the so-called ARA
range (the seaports of Antwerp, Rotterdam
and Amsterdam). However, Antwerp (16.9
million tons), Rotterdam (7.8 million tons)
and even Zeeland Seaports (7.6 million
tons) are considerably larger.
The Port of Amsterdam has employed
management consultant Jan Weijburg
to attract more break bulk. Weijburg
previously worked for large international
mixed cargo and container shipping
companies, shipping agents and steel giant
Corus.
PLAN Of APPROACh
“In the past five or six years, Amsterdam has
experienced a drop in its break bulk market
share, while the total market has actually
grown,” says Dorothy Winters, Commercial
Manager Containers & Logistics for the
Port of Amsterdam. “That is why in 2009
we started developing a marketing plan.
The main question is how we as a port
authority and the large terminals, such
as VCK Logistics, Waterland Terminal BV
and United Stevedores Amsterdam (USA),
might attract new clients.”
“We started my research assignment in
February 2010 by analysing the market
share and cargo volume of the Amsterdam
Seaports,” adds Weijburg. “We then
performed a SWOT analysis in which we
looked at infrastructure, logistic facilities
also opportunities in the field of soft
commodities. Amsterdam has the potential
to develop into a kind of Centre of
Excellence for coffee.”
Winters and Weijburg also say that
Amsterdam should zero in more on
such assets as its excellent hinterland
connections and the direct connection to
the recently completed Betuwe line, the
new cargo rail link between the large Dutch
seaports and the German hinterland. “The
fact that Amsterdam has a relatively large
amount of space in the port area, is another
strong point. And the message should
be that Amsterdam offers companies
the space to grow. We should also stress
the added value of the cluster of Asian
businesses, which includes ZPMC Europe,
Hitachi, Nissan, Mitsubishi and Kintetsu
World Express.”
www.portofamsterdam.nl
and terminal operators in Amsterdam
Seaports and in competitor ports such as
Hamburg, Bremen, Rotterdam, Zeeland
Seaports and Antwerp.”
tWeNty POteNtIAL CLIeNtS
Exploring the market led to a list of
potential clients. The Port of Amsterdam
is convinced that the logistic services
via Amsterdam Seaports could generate
substantial benefits for these companies,
their clients and the end users. The main
goal is to increase the Port of Amsterdam’s
volume by at least 900,000 tons, mainly
in the field of paper, wood and
wood-products, and ferro metals.
According to Dorothy Winters and Jan
Weijburg the Amsterdam port should
more actively promote its strong points.
Weijburg: “This port has always been
a strong player in the storage and
transhipment of cocoa, but there are
Dorothy Winters, Commercial Manager Containers & Logistics of the Port of Amsterdam, at the VCK
Scandia Terminal in the port of Amsterdam
G E N E R A L C A R G O & B R E A K B U L K
10 Amsterdam Seaports No. 3 2010 www.amports.nl
new impulses for break bulk in Amsterdam SeaportsAlthough Amsterdam Seaports annually stores and tranships some 5.2 million tons of break bulk goods, the Port of Amsterdam still has considerable extra capacity available. The port authorities have therefore started approaching potential clients who could help increase the tonnage by a further 1.6 million tons.
www.amports.nl Amsterdam Seaports No. 3 2010 11
It is a Friday when we visit Jeroen Brauns
at the Scandia Terminal in Amsterdam
Seaports; a well-chosen day as there are
three vessels on the quay: The Birka Trader
from Finnlines (for which VCK is agent),
the Trans Carrier from Sea-Cargo and the
Birka Shipper, from a Swedish company.
“Our busiest days are at the start and the
end of the week,” says Jeroen Brauns.
“This way we aim to make the most of our
planning, especially in terms of terminal
services. It means that the other days
are a little quieter, especially in these
economically trying times.”
Finnlines has been operating a weekly
service between Amsterdam and Helsinki
for some time. With a minimum of two
departures a week, the Norwegian
shipping company Sea-Cargo has a
direct connection to Western Norway.
Meanwhile, UPM Seaways operates a
weekly service between Kotka (Finland)
and Amsterdam.
LOGIStIC dIReCtOR
VCK Logistics has always been focused
on Scandinavia and the Baltic States.
The logistics company services short-sea
vessels that transport forestry products
(wood and paper), and ferro and
non-ferro metals (steel, aluminium and
zinc).These products are then distributed
to end users in Europe and further afield
by trucks, inland vessels and cargo trains.
On their return leg the vessels carry
containers, project cargo and general
cargo. Examples of these cargo flows are
high and heavy (bulldozers, crane parts
and forklifts), cars and campers.
In addition to cargo at the Scandia
invests considerable time and energy in
safety and quality.”
An example of optimal service is the
cooperation between VCK Logistics and
the best-selling Dutch newspaper De
Telegraaf. VCK manages the entire paper
supply for the newspaper’s printers in
Amsterdam. Brauns: “This cooperation is
the logical consequence of the fact that
our facilities are adjoining.”
The General Manager says that VCK is
constantly keeping its facilities up to date,
for instance by making investments. “We
are also researching how we can make
the Scandia Terminal more sustainable,
something we believe is essential to the
future of this company.”
www.vckgroup.nl
www.vcklogistics.nl
Terminal, VCK Logistics has various
industrial clients in cooperation with
Waterland Terminal BV, also located in
Amsterdam Seaports. VCK’s Expedition
Department, for instance, offers door-
to-door transport between Northwest
Europe, Scandinavia and the Baltic States
for which it has a fleet of approximately
80 trailers.
OPtIMAL SeRVICe
“You have to offer added value in order
to provide the best logistic service,” says
Brauns. “This is why we continue to invest
in both our personnel and information
technology. A good example is our
modern IT system, with an open structure
that allows us to communicate efficiently
with such stakeholders as the regulatory
authorities, clients and suppliers. VCK also
G E N E R A L C A R G O & B R E A K B U L K
VCK GROUP IS LOOKING FOR NEW CHALLENGES
Good service is half the battle in logisticsVCK Logistics approaches the market with creative and innovative solutions. “It is important that our customers can rely on the best possible service,” says General Manager Jeroen Brauns.
Aerial photograph of the Scandia Terminal of the VCK Group, with the cargo ferry Miranda van Finnlines in
the foreground
www.amports.nl Amsterdam Seaports No. 3 2010 13
“Our services make it economically
attractive to send products from
Amsterdam Seaports to DIY stores in Spain
and Portugal,” says Dick Wilkens, Director of
the Dutch wood processing company Stora
Enso Timber DIY Products in Amsterdam
Seaports, part of a Finnish/Swedish
mother company. “Although we cannot yet
guarantee delivery within 48 hours like we
do within the Benelux region, our service
is very efficient.” According to Wilkens, this
is related to the company’s move to the
new location in the port of Amsterdam,
next to the modern all-weather Waterland
Terminal that is responsible for the
transhipment of timber from seagoing
vessels or coasters on behalf of Stora Enso.
MOVe
The history of Stora Enso in Amsterdam
dates back around 150 years. The
Schoemakers timber yard, a family
business, mainly supplied to the wood
and contracting industries and was taken
over by Stora Enso in 1982. Over the
years, the former location in the Minerva
port, close to Amsterdam’s city centre,
became increasingly impractical due to
the council’s plans to redevelop the area
for offices and small-scale industry. After
extensive negotiations and deliberations,
Stora Enso decided to move to one of
the western ports, where the Port of
Amsterdam has a long-term plan to create
a cluster of wood processing companies.
Wilkens: “We invested twenty million euros
in our new location, five of which in a new
sawmill.”
Via neighbouring company Waterland
Terminal BV, coasters annually import
sustainable forest management and wood
certification as well as in minimising its
carbon footprint; the total impact on
the environment from the forests to the
consumers which includes the Amsterdam
branch of Stora Enso. “Our employees
mainly travel to and from work by means
of public transport. Internally we have
replaced our diesel trucks with electric
ones and we try to organise the logistics
to our buyers as efficiently as possible, for
instance by combining delivery regions.”
www.storaenso.com
around 60,000 m3 of sustainably produced
timber (with FSC or PEFC hallmark) in
practical packages. These packages are
first taken to storage and then sawn,
planed, profiled and supplied with labels
and barcodes by Stora Enso in accordance
with specific demands. The ready-made
products are then taken to the storage
warehouse to await transport.
MORe SUStAINABLe
The innovations at the new location
mainly involve environmental aspects,
says Wilkens. Stora Enso is a leader in
STORA ENSO DIY PRODUCTS AT NEW LOCATION IN AMSTERDAM SEAPORTS
polished serviceThe pine boards and slats purchased at DIY stores by consumers are imported by Stora Enso Timber DIY Products in Amsterdam Seaports as timber, and then sawn, planed, supplied with labels and barcodes and delivered ready for sale. The company provides an added value to ‘simple’ wood products that are transported all the way to Southern Europe.
Director Dick Wilkens: “Our new location results in considerable efficiency benefits.”
G E N E R A L C A R G O & B R E A K B U L K
Established in 1973 as Mammoet Shipping,
BigLift sees a positive future ahead. “Even
though our rates are under pressure due to
the economic slowdown we are still doing
well,” confirms Director Arie Peterse. “We
have had some good years behind us and
our vessels remain almost continuously in
use.”
fLeet exPANSION
As a result of this solid foundation, BigLift
can go ahead with its considerable
new-build project as planned. Peterse:
“We are expanding our current fleet of
nine vessels with seven new ones; five
multi-purpose heavy lift vessels and two
heavy cargo vessels.” The first phase of
the expansion includes five vessels in the
Happy D series (Happy Delta, Diamond,
Dover, Dynamic and Dragon), currently
under construction at the Chinese shipyard
Ouhua. Each has a length of 157 metres and
the combined lifting capacity is 800 mtons.
Delivery has started in August 2010.
The second new-build project includes
two heavy cargo vessels constructed by
Indian shipyard Larsen & Toubro. The Happy
Sky and Happy Star have a length of 155
metres and a lifting capacity of 900 mtons
each, combinable to 1800 mtons. “These
new vessels prepare us for the future,”
Peterse continues. “We are also performing
major maintenance on the cranes of our
Happy River, Happy Rover and Happy Ranger
vessels.”
According to Peterse, BigLift has the added
the company regularly introduces
innovative new solutions. Peterse: “Our
engineers have developed a smart method
for replacing the thrusters of large, semi-
submersible drilling platforms without
having to sail and drive the platform to a
large dry dock.”
First the propulsion system is lowered
to a water depth of thirty metres where
divers or a remotely operated vehicle
attach the old system to the main cable
of the maintenance vessel. After the mast
crane has carefully lifted the thrusters on
deck, the crane lowers the new propulsion
system into the water and the process is
followed in reverse.
BigLift‘s Tramper was the first vessel to
employ this new technology on the Leiv
Eiriksson drilling platform. “There has been
a great deal of interest,” adds Peterse. “We
aim to develop the technology further.”
www.bigliftshipping.com
advantage of being able to use vessels
from mother company Spliethoff during
exceptionally busy periods or unexpected
situations. The companies also work
closely together in recruiting maritime
personnel.
BigLift carries out heavy cargo transports
on all global oceans and seas. In addition
to its head office in Amsterdam Seaports, it
has eleven branches in strategic locations
including Houston, Sydney, Tokyo, Beijing
and Mumbai. Peterse: “We are active the
world over, ranging from transporting
mobile port cranes to the transportation
of parts for drilling platforms, generators,
diesel engines and turbines for power
plants, and pressure and reactor chambers
or heat exchangers for the petrochemical
industry.” The company also works in the
project cargo sector and operates other
special transports.
ChANGING thRUSteRS
As BigLift has its own design department,
Happy Ranger, one of BigLift Shipping’s current fleet of nine vessels
H E A V Y T R A N S P O R T
14 Amsterdam Seaports No. 3 2010 www.amports.nl
SEVEN NEW VESSELS UNDER CONSTRUCTION
biglift for all your heavy transportFrom mobile port cranes to large reactor chambers, BigLift provides all possible types of heavy trans-port, mainly for the (offshore) oil and gas recovery industry, the petrochemical industry and the power industry. Having been relatively unaffected by the recession, this subsidiary of Amsterdam shipping company Spliethoff will take seven new vessels into use over the coming months.
www.amports.nl Amsterdam Seaports No. 3 2010 15
A M S T E R D A M S E A P O R T S I N P I C T U R E S
lots of interest in third european maritime dayThe third edition of the annual European Maritime Day on 20 May proved just how much Amsterdam Seaports has embraced the event. As the images show, many enthusiastic companies, authorities and organisations participated in this year’s edition. The European Maritime Day was established in 2008 to draw attention to the importance of the maritime sector, including seaports and coastal and sea shipping.
An impressive silhouette of the characteristic blue/
yellow flag at the coal transhipment company OBA
Bulk Terminal in the port of Amsterdam.
The view from the new offices of Van den Broeke Consultancy in
IJmuiden’s Felison Terminal.
Flying the Flag at the ABN AMRO bank headquarters in Amsterdam
Central Mudplant and Fluid Services (CMF Services) hoisted
the European Maritime Day flag in its tanker park. The company
processes waste products from the offshore industry
Two loyal participants: Front, the flag of the Overmeer Transport Group
inland shipping company, with behind it the flag of the ‘Havengebouw’,
home to the Port of Amsterdam and the Amsterdam Ports Association
(Amports), among others
Port of Amsterdam +31 20 58 77 877 - [email protected] of Rotterdam +31 10 494 37 77 - [email protected] Airport Schiphol +31 20 65 49 100 - [email protected]
www.vcklogistics.nl
Zeehavens A'dam mei 2009:Opmaak 1 05-11-2009 16:27 Pagina 1