Van der Vlist makes steps towards moving more project cargo on rail
Dutch family-owned company that specialises in heavy and special transport logistics, Van der Vlist is moving ahead with its plan to move a portion of project cargo on rail. The company has recently invested in 45ft swapbodies with GPS trackers to transport in-gauge machinery.
By incorporating rail transport, Van der Vlist is looking to reduce emissions, with rail offering both operational flexibility and significant environmental benefits. The precision of rail transit times, combined with lower emissions, aligns perfectly with its long-term sustainability goals.
Looking ahead, in the fourth quarter of 2024 the company will start the next phase of this initiative, as it will start transporting out-of-gauge cargo by rail.
The company is also continuing its development of its Moerdijk multipurpose terminal. The company has partially completed the halls and fully completed the quay walls on both the Roode Vaart and Hollands Diep sides. According to Van der Vlist, the infrastructure is 75 per cent complete currently, with finishing work starting.
In the following period the halls will be equipped with the overhead cranes on the inside and solar panels on the roof. All aspects needed on the quay like lights, security and fenders will be installed. Furthermore, the big gantry crane, with a span of 50 metres and a lifting capacity of 80 tons, is scheduled to be placed.
Once the terminal is operational, it will be the interchange point in the company’s blue road philosophy, referring to transport over the water of the Rhine or Danube. Van der Vlist believes in a multimodal approach, with the vision of using inland waterways and railways as the main gates to the hinterland and using road transport more and more for ‘the last mile’. Concerning activities, the emphasis is on storage and transhipment.
