Exporting port knowledge
The Netherlands knows so much about ports that we are increasingly exporting port knowledge. For example, the Port of Rotterdam Authority is developing the new port of Porto Central in Brazil. In addition to Brazil, the Port of Rotterdam wants to invest and participate in more promising ports in order to keep a grip on world trade.
Ship full of port knowledge?
In early April, the Port of Rotterdam Authority, the Brazilian state of Espirito Santo, the municipality of ‘Presidente Kennedy’ and the project developer Terminal Presidente Kennedy (TPK) signed an agreement for the development of Porto Central, a new port in Brazil.
The ‘greenfield port’ is located north of Rio de Janeiro. It will be an industrial port on deep seawater for the transshipment of oil, gas, offshore services, dry bulk and general cargo. The Port of Rotterdam Authority is contributing its expertise and knowledge of modern port management. The Port Authority advised the Brazilian government a year and a half ago on the modernisation of 34 public ports along the 8,000-kilometre-long Brazilian coast and now has its own office in São Paulo. The Port Authority is seeking more of these strategic partnerships and international participations. One example is the port of Sohar in Oman.
Port knowledge
The Port of Rotterdam Authority and Delft University of Technology have been working on port innovation and mainport development for years. They sponsor the chairs of ‘Freight Transport and Traffic Networks’ and ‘Ports and Shipping Routes’. Delft even has a professor of ‘Ports & Shipping Routes’. The chairs study the interface of logistics, freight transport, traffic and technology, and specifically focus on mainports, hinterland transport, urban goods distribution and the interaction between traffic systems and logistics.
Growth markets
The Port of Rotterdam Authority’s ambitions extend further. In three years’ time, Rotterdam wants to be connected with the new growth markets in the world. The port wants to be at the forefront of exciting new ports with growth potential.
In 2015, the company aims to have realised five international investments. New partnerships with the world’s largest players in containers, energy, petrochemicals and steel should lead to new investments in the Port of Rotterdam. There is already involvement with the port of Romania (Port of Constanza), China (Nangang Industrial Port Complex in Beijing) and a port in Vietnam. The Port of Rotterdam Authority already carries out many consultancy assignments in countries that may be of strategic importance to the Rotterdam port area and with which a participation or global strategic partnership can potentially be achieved.
This article is a publication of NEMO Kennislink
