Port of Esbjerg is investing two million euros in a new multipurpose terminal to facilitate further growth of ro/ro and offshore wind cargo. It is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

The new terminal will be located adjacent to the two existing multipurpose terminals at the port, which are operated by Blue Water Shipping and Scandinavian Auto Logistics. It will measure 40,000 square metres and have direct access to the three ramps already established at the quay.

“We see increased demand for sites for the storage and shipping-out of cargo, cars and, containers, as well as components for the wind turbine industry. The new terminal is intended to meet that demand, giving our customers the best possible conditions for running and developing their business,” says port director Dennis Jul Pedersen, adding that an invitation to tender for the construction of the new facility will be announced during the next few weeks.

More stock in port

The investment decision is partially driven by the trend that car manufacturers hold their cars in stock in the ports from which they are shipped, the port authority explains. Port of Esbjerg is Denmark’s largest hub for car imports. In 2018, the port handled 4.4 million tonnes of cargo. With six fixed liner services, a substantial part of that volume consists of ro/ro cargo. According to the port, that same trend applies to trailer traffic, with cargo increasingly being transported by sea.

“Sea routes are becoming increasingly competitive compared to road transport, due to the falling costs, among other things because bigger ships are being built. There is also a general focus on moving more of Europe’s traffic from road to sea, to alleviate motorway congestion problems. So we have faith that the positive development will continue, offering new opportunities for our customers, which we must help them to fulfil,” says Pedersen.

Project cargo

Besides car imports, the port also expects the terminal to improve opportunities to ship out heavier project cargo, such as components for the wind turbine industry and heavy machinery such as agricultural equipment.

Port of Esbjerg just recently also invested in a new crane that can lift up to 308 tonnes. “We are experiencing a growth in high and heavy cargo and that makes new demands on our crane capacity,” Pedersen explained at the time.

The need for the new crane is mostly prompted by developments in the offshore wind industry as components for the wind turbines in the North Sea are getting bigger and bigger.

The scale increases in the offshore wind industry will be one of the key topics of the Project Cargo Summit, a two-day international conference about the transport of large and heavy cargoes, which is organised by Promedia Group on the 11th & 12th of September, 2019 in Rotterdam. Port director Dennis Jul Pedersen of Port of Esbjerg will be present as a speaker. For more information about this dedicated project cargo and heavy-lift event, please visit www.projectcargosummit.com.