New storage warehouse an asset for EBS and Rotterdam

(Posted on 04/10/21)

The enormous grey and white building at the Europoort terminal in the Rotterdam Beneluxhaven is the new European Bulk Services (EBS) covered warehouse for agricultural products.

‘The size of the warehouse, in combination with its design and location, is unique for Rotterdam’, said André Brussé of EBS about the new warehouse, plans for the future and the history of the company.

EBS specialises in the storage and transhipment of all types of bulk goods and has two terminals: in Botlek for non-agricultural products and one in Europoort for agricultural products, where the new warehouse is also located. The warehouse has a storage capacity of 50,000 m3 for, among other things, grains and derivatives and consists of seven different compartments. ‘This allows us to store more different products and also smaller batches for multiple customers. The design of the warehouse is aimed at flexibility, which is ensured by the conveyor belt, built according to the latest techniques. The warehouse is also ATEX-proof, which means it meets the highest European safety guidelines for explosion hazards.’

Brussé (58) is a sales manager at EBS and has been working in the port since 1983. ‘After my military service, I came here as a twenty-year-old. I first worked outside, then the commercial department had a planning vacancy in 1998 and I’ve been there ever since. The great thing about EBS is that it is a relatively young company with a long history. EBS was created in 1991 from a merger of three large stevedoring companies: Interstevedoring, Graan Elevator Maatschappij and Koninklijke Frans Swarttouw, which was established around 1887. EBS is a 100% subsidiary of HES International, established in 1908.’

Anyone who has worked in the port for that length of time has also seen a lot of changes. Brussé: ‘Absolutely, many companies have merged or disappeared. When we merged, we had six terminals, now we have two. This is partly due to technical developments that make work easier and digitisation. In the past, many tons of grain were transhipped, now we store and transship more semi-finished products and minerals. Rotterdam is no longer just a transit port, but also an important storage and transhipment port. We noticed that demand for storage was increasing and that is why we now focus on expanding closed and flexible storage.’

With the new warehouse, EBS has a total storage capacity of 700,000 m3, an important step in a larger plan for the future. ‘In the coming years, we will be investing heavily in closed storage to strengthen our position as a market leader. For example, a new warehouse with a capacity of 66,000 m3 will be built in Botlek. And in Europoort, we still have an area where we can build a 50,000 m3 warehouse. To this end, we work closely with the Port of Rotterdam Authority to achieve this as effectively as possible.’

Like the port, EBS is always on the move. We ensure responsible storage and transhipment of bulk goods that contribute to tomorrow's world. ‘Our parent company HES has a far-reaching policy to make the terminals more sustainable. Reducing emissions is a top priority, we want to minimise the use of diesel and electricity as much as possible. We use LED lamps for lighting, also in the warehouses.’

Latest News

Historic results, outstanding performance and innovations for Logistec

LOGISTEC Corporation, a leading marine and environmental services provider, has announced its financial... Read more

65th Navigation Season opens on the St. Lawrence Seaway

Terence Bowles, President and CEO of the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC), and Adam... Read more

AD Ports to develop Safaga Port and cement terminals in Egypt

Abu Dhabi based AD Ports Group, the leading facilitator of global trade, logistics, and industry, has... Read more

Grain handling expansion at Immingham

Grain handling at the Port of Immingham is increasing thanks to the new opportunities presented by investment... Read more

Marcor Stevedoring closes contract on new LHM 800

Marcor Stevedoring has signed a contract adding Liebherr’s largest and most powerful mobile harbour... Read more

AD Ports enters Uzbekistan logistics market via JV

AD Ports Group, an Abu Dhabi based leading facilitator of global trade, logistics, and industry, and... Read more

Logistec to expand North American network with FMT acquisition

LOGISTEC Stevedoring Inc., a subsidiary of LOGISTEC Corporation, a leading North American marine and... Read more

Bulk recovering as Bilbao launches improvement projects

End-of-year figures for total traffic in the Spanish Port of Bilbao stand at 32.7 million tonnes, up... Read more

Sept-Îles and Logistec reach important iron ore handling milestone

The Port of Sept-Îles and LOGISTEC Arrimage Inc. have announced that they have reached the impressive... Read more

Rotterdam throughput stable despite war as bulk increases

The war in Ukraine led to unprecedented changes in goods flows last year. At 467.4 million tonnes, total... Read more