APMT Maasvlakte II temporarily suspended some of its operations on Wednesday due to extreme heat. The high temperatures posed a risk to the stacker cranes at the terminal, resulting in the temporary suspension of land-side processes.
The terminal closed its gates to freight traffic during the afternoon. According to APMT, the safety of staff, drivers and operational processes remained the top priority. Land-side operations resumed later that evening.
According to WorldCargo News, the disruption had no impact on quay operations. The problems were mainly confined to the site and the land-side area. APMT took preventive measures because cooling systems in the engine rooms of the stacker cranes could fail due to the heat.
In Rotterdam, the temperature rose to around 35 degrees on Wednesday. According to Niels Dekker, chief commercial officer at APMT Maasvlakte II, there is no point in keeping the terminal running if equipment and electrical systems are damaged as a result.
The temporary closure is causing a backlog. According to Dekker, how long it will take to clear this backlog depends on the temperature over the coming days. APMT has already warned customers that similar operational challenges may arise again.
The terminal is now testing measures to improve the resilience of its equipment. Among other things, it is looking into additional cooling for cargo-handling equipment. According to APMT, the initial results are positive.
Further information on container flows and terminal processes can be found on the pages about container handling, sea freight and the TOP Platform.
According to Mara Vroon, head of commerce at APMT Maasvlakte II, the current equipment was not designed for the climatic conditions that terminals are now facing. When the cranes were purchased around fifteen years ago, these temperatures were not anticipated.
The 62 new cranes ordered for the terminal’s expansion are being designed to be more resistant to higher temperatures. APMT is also working with suppliers and maintenance partners on short-term solutions to ensure more reliable operations in hot weather.
…extreme heat affects not only people, but also cranes, cooling systems and electrical installations at terminals? Climate-resistant equipment is therefore becoming increasingly important.