Netherlands considers ports merger

- A Dutch government think tank has suggested closer co-operation or a merger of Rotterdam and Amsterdam ports in order to co-ordinate investment decisions and to reduce costs.

A Rotterdam Port Authority spokesman said, “We are studying the report, which was drawn up in co-operation with us, and we will discuss it with the ministry, Amsterdam, Groningen Seaports and another port in our regular meetings.”

Rotterdam said while it does not expect that there will be any development in the short term, it will continue to extend its co-operation with other ports on a project by project basis.

Questions have already been raised as to the potential benefits of a merger including what strategic advantages does it bring and o whom and what effect would it have on revenue? These questions were asked some years ago regarding the proposed merger with an inland terminal/port and are currently being asked in talks with Zeeland Seaports and the Ports of Dordrecht and Moerdijk.

Ferdinand Kranenburg of the Dutch Shippers Council said that co-operation between ports, allowing for individual investment decisions, was better than a merger. “Port authorities need to keep their core competences, which allows them to make more focused investment decisions, for instance the Maasvlakte 2 development at Rotterdam, and the second lock for Amsterdam. A fully fledged merger could mean that authorities fix their dues as an average of handling costs, which could lead to cross-subsidies,” he said.

Many believe that any proposals concerning Rotterdam and Amsterdam will be put on hold. Netherlands faces a general election in early June, while the European Commission in Brussels has put its legislation on port state aid subsidies on hold.

Despite political discussions on corporatisation starting some time ago, it will take time for such a proposal to materialise in Amsterdam.

Source: Container Management