What was the career path you followed to reach your current position?
International logistics has fascinated me from the get-go, first at Fokker and now at Port of Amsterdam. I feel a strong connection with ‘Dutch Glory’ in that the centuries-old tradition of trade and industry in Amsterdam has developed, and continues to do so, in a modern and innovative manner.
What has been your greatest motivating force?
Working together with international commercial and logistic partners in an innovative and renewed manner.
How was 2010 as a business year?
With an increase of 4% trans-shipped tonnages, we have achieved excellent results.
How sustainable is Port of Amsterdam?
Port of Amsterdam is an international and smart port, becoming a more and more sustainable port as well. We manage our area and economic growth in an innovative manner. Port of Amsterdam excels, meriting our spot in the top five European ports. Our port’s large European hinterland is of great importance. Amsterdam is a world port where together we work on a sustainable growth in a smart way. The economic stature of the port is of great importance to the whole of Europe. Together with the region, Port of Rotterdam and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol we work on strengthening the logistic economic role of The Netherlands in Europe.” We work on sustainability innovatively by managing our available space in a conscious and smart manner. We provide a substantial contribution to sustainability with the expansion of our rail and inland shipping connections increasing transport by water.”
How innovative is Port of Amsterdam?
Sustainable innovative developments do not arise on their own. Exchange of knowledge and ideas is necessary, creating new ideas together. Elaborating on one another’s strength – I call this co creation. It fits in with our method of working and our relations in the port area and the city.
What logistic role does Port of Amsterdam play in Europe?
As a logistic economic junction for transport by road, water, rail and air the Port of Amsterdam is a conscious choice for various companies. We are one of the top five European ports and of course very proud of it. And if we include the improving accessibility, with the construction of a second Coentunnel and the extension of the main motorway A5, the connection between Amsterdam and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol will improve even more.” We work closely together with the Port of Rotterdam on the port community system Portbase. With Portbase we can further work on a future oriented Port Community System for optimal information exchange in both ports.
What are your expectations for the coming years?
We know that in the long run the worldwide transport of goods via containers will increase. Therefore an increasing container flow to the Dutch ports is expected. Some predict that the container flow will triple in the next 30 years. Even if we assume a redouble, we can expect an enormous growth. To prevent congestion more goods must be transported by rail and water. How can we arrange this? That is the logistic and commercial challenge for this decade. Our hinterland strategy fits in with this ambition and is greatly supported. Our pillars are the required infrastructure, collaboration with companies and regional municipals and an intermodal transport approach.”
The Amsterdam port area is one of the world’s key international logistics hubs. It ranks as Europe’s number 4 port and handles a little over 90 million metric tons of cargo annually. The Amsterdam port has
facilities for handling, storing and transhipping all types of goods. From cocoa beans to coal, from paper to oil, millions of tons of dry and liquid bulk, general cargo and containers are handled in the port area each year. Not only are various goods handled, stored and trans-shipped in the Port of Amsterdam a quantity of the commodities is also processed in the port area. Port of Amsterdam intends to be one of the most sustainable ports in Europe by 2020. This means cleaner operations and intelligent use of the port, cargo and location. An example of a green initiative is the Port of Amsterdam Sustainability and Innovation Fund. Companies within the port region can apply twice a year for subsidies for projects that contribute to a sustainable and innovative development of the North Sea Canal area. Port of Amsterdam makes Euro 2,000,000 available a year for this purpose. During the first round of tendering (end of 2009) the advisory committee received 12 subsidy applications. Six of them were awarded subsidies early in 2010. Port of Amsterdam also stimulates the allocation of sustainable companies, such as biodiesel factory Vesta Biofuels Amsterdam which will be converting vegetable crops into 200,000 tonnes of biodiesel (about 230 million litres) a year and biodiesel factory Greenmills which will produce sustainable biofuels and green energy from organic residues, such as used frying oil and organic waste. Port of Amsterdam will continue to invest in sustainable energy.