 Multimodal network operators Samskip and BCTN Roermond have set up a sustainable transport solution with packaging producer Smurfit Kappa, with the aim of getting cargo off the road.
Samskip handles most of the paper-based cargoes that are shipped in containers within Europe to Smurfit Kappa’s cardboard factory in Roermond in the Netherlands.
Following a substantial increase in demand, the three parties are looking towards the inland waterways to cope with the increased volumes for the last mile delivery from Rotterdam to Roermond.
“Samskip is looking forward to a fruitful partnership, taking cargo off the road as part of our sustainability strategy”, says Paul Wielaard, Samskip Trade Manager - West Coast Norway.
Esther Sliepen, manager sales & marketing for BCTN, added: “This cooperation is exactly what BCTN strives for. We are happy that well-established companies like Smurfit Kappa and Samskip share this vision and that we could realize this modal shift together.”
Taking the cargo flows off the road and onto ‘blue road’ inland waterway services will guarantee available capacity and should save Smurfit Kappa carbon emissions of 45 kg CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) per load.
In addition, Samskip will be able to offer higher payloads (up to 26.7 tonnes) to other customers with cargo into the Cologne, Bonn and Koblenz areas as the BCTN terminal is situated between Samskip’s Duisburg and Mannheim depots.
The first loads were unloaded in Roermond at the beginning of December and going forward 60 containers a week are expected to be shipped by inland waterway between Rotterdam and Roermond.
source: GreenPort |
