OT Africa moves Netherlands port operations to Amsterdam

OT Africa Line(OTAL) is to move its port operations in the Netherlands
from Rotterdam to Amsterdam. The first OTAL vessel to call at Ceres A
msterdam Marine Terminal(CAMT), will be the ro-ro/container vessel Kag
oro, voyage 730, at the end of January 2000.
Vessels operating on OTAL’s ro-ro/container service will call at Amst
erdam every 13 days. The move provides a number of key benefits to OTA
L and its customers including a dirtct service to the Amsterdam cocoa
warehouses and to the important Amsterdam/West Africa second hand car
and ro-ro market.OTAL retains an important presence in Rotterdam since
containerised cargo will still be accepted in Rotterdam and barged to
Antwerp, this port being served by OTAL’s fortnightly full container
service.
OTAL’s agency representation for the Netherland including operations
in the port of Amsterdam remain in the capable hands of Slavenburg and
Huyser BV. Slavenburg will continue to provide the same high levels o
f service as rendered in the port of Rotterdam.
Ceres Amsterdam Marine Terminal at Westhaven handles a throughput in e
xcess of 50 million tonnes per annum of ro-ro, container, cold storage
, general liquid and dry bulk cargo. The terminal occupies an area of
370,000 m2 and incorporates a rail terminal and 22,000 m2 of shed spac
e. A total quay length of 1280m is served by three container gantry cr
anes and 12 multipurpose cranes. The maximum access draft is 12.5m. OT
AL’s berth, n”5036 provides facilities including craneage, a ro-ro/b
reakbulk terminal area, a dedicated general cargo receiving warehouse,
reefer points and a full portfolio of security measures.
As Paul Page, OTAL’s marketing manager, explains;
“OTAL’s move to Amsterdam helps importers and exporters to West Afri
ca by enabling the line to exercise better control over port and trans
it costs. Cocoa is one of OTAL’s main European import commodities fro
m West Africa. One of the most important advantages of this move is t
herefore OTAL’s direct service through to the port’s cocoa warehouse
s, cutting out significant transit requirements. OTAL will derive adde
d advantage from the fact that other parts of the group already have f
acilities and operations in Amsterdam. Cargo handling synergies and gr
eater economies of scale will help to alleviate some of the very signi
ficant operational cost pressures that OTAL in common with other liner
operators, is feeling. Another determining factor is the Amsterdam se
cond hand car and ro-ro market to West Africa. Relocation to Amsterdam
helps OTAL get closer to this important and sensitive component of th
e West Africa trade.”
The Port of Amsterdam is situated on the North Sea Canal and covers an
area of 1,500 hectares of land and 600 hectares of water. Schiphol Ai
rport is located only 10km from the port which also has fast and effic
ient rail freight connections. As Paul Page says: “We are sad to leav
e Rotterdam-which has served us well for many years. However, we must
respond to the commercial and operational imperatives and very much lo
ok forward to working with the port of Amsterdam. It would be remiss o
f us if we did not pass on out thanks and best wishes to the port of R
otterdam, and ourt previous terminal operator and stevedore. Hoogewerf
f de Ryke Seaport BV, for its sterling work at Brittanniehaven Seaport
Terminal.”