Shipping companies, such as Star and Seatrade already were regular customers in Vlissingen and now with the arrival of NYKCool this unique position as dedicated reefer port is secured for the coming years. Now both NYKCool and Seatrade almost exclusively use Vlissingen for all their import flows. Together with the export of mostly locally grown potatoes and onions to Western Africa and Russia the total number of conventional shipped pallets will amount to approx. 450,000 in 2012 (equal to approx. half a million tons) Logistics service provider Kloosterboer not only takes care of discharge and storage of goods, they also handle all (Customs) documentation and transport to supermarkets and importers.
The strategy of Zeeland Seaports and Kloosterboer is focussed on the achievement of centralizing the handling of specialized reefer vessels in Vlissingen. For this reason investments have been made in terminals, quays, cranes, manpower and infrastructure.
For the receipt of fruit in reefer containers, Kloosterboer’s target is to attract short-sea services.
Due to an optimal barge connection between Antwerp and Rotterdam, many containers are shipped to Vlissingen. Currently, a depot function for reefer containers is being discussed with several shipping companies. At Kloosterboer’s container depot the empty reefer containers can be repositioned in an effective way.