Partnership

In December 2007 NCC and EUROGATE signed an agreement provided for strategic partnership and cross-participation in container terminals in Ust-Luga (ULCT) and Wilhelmshaven (JadeWeserPort). 

JadeWeserPort is a new hub for transshipment of containers bound for or originated from the ports of the North and Baltic seas, a well-situated gateway between South-East Asia and Europe. 

Key figures: 

• Quay length  – 1,725 m
• Terminal depth  – 650 m 
• Depth alongside berth – 18 m 
• Maximum capacity by 2016  – 2.7M TEU 

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EUROGATE 

EUROGATE is Europe's leading container terminal logistics group. Together with Contship Italia, the network operates sea terminals from the North Sea coast to the Mediterranean area with excellent connections to the European hinterland. In addition to container handling, EUROGATE offers all services related to the “box”, from cargomodal services, through container depot services, to container maintenance and repair. The range of services is supplemented by intermodal services and logistics management, IT logistics solutions and specialised engineering services.

Market leader in Europe

The company’s success story began in September 1999 with the founding of the EUROGATE joint venture by the tradition-rich Hamburg-based EUROKAI group and the Bremer BLG Logistics Group, consolidating the container activities of both companies. The company’s head office was based in Bremen. In the meantime, with ten terminals and a handling volume of 14.2 million TEUs (standard containers) in 2008, EUROGATE has become Europe’s largest terminal operator. Two new container terminals in Ust Luga (Russia) and Wilhelmshaven are currently under construction.

Bremerhaven, EUROGATEs largest container terminal handled 5.5 million TEUs in 2008 (+12.4%).

In autumn 2008 the extension of berth CT 4 was completed. Bremerhaven now has the longest quay in the world with a length of nearly five kilometres.

The EUROGATE Container Terminal Hamburg handled 2.7 million TEU in 2008

The westward extension with additional 1,000 m berth will increase the handling volumes in Hamburg up to 6 million TEU per anno. The completion of this work is scheduled for 2016.

The first non-European project, EUROGATE Tanger in Morocco, started operation in autumn 2008.

In March 2006, EUROGATE was awarded the contract for the concession to operate the JadeWeserPort container terminal in Wilhelmshaven. At this location, a total of four deep-water berths big enough to accommodate the largest container vessels in the world are currently under construction. The start of operation is scheduled for 2011.

In December 2007 the second non-European project followed, with the acquisition by EUROGATE of a 20 per cent holding in Ust-Luga Container Terminal, Russia. The investment is part of a strategic partnership with the Russian container terminal operator NCC – National Container Company and represents a logical step in light of the fact that transhipment operations to and from eastern Europe and Russia are likely to continue to experience strong growth in the years to come.

Group-wide quality standard

Each of the companies in the EUROGATE group must comply with the group-wide quality standard. High productivity rates and optimally coordinated work processes characterise the container handling operations. The processes are supported by modern terminal technology, which thanks to ongoing investments is updated on a continuous basis. However, EUROGATE does not rely on technology alone. The workforce plays a key role. Many of the employees based in Germany are already working in the company in the second generation. In early 2006, EUROGATE was awarded a prize by the “TeamArbeit für Deutschland” (“Teamwork for Germany”) initiative for its employment policy.

Outlook

The main challenges lie in the future. As a result of the globalisation of goods flows, brisk world trade and increasing containerisation, global container traffic will continue to grow. The challenge is to uphold both the company’s competitiveness and that of the port locations as economic driving forces in the individual regions. For this reason, EUROGATE is making huge investments in the expansion of its terminal facility capacities. But also environmental issues become more and more important. EUROGATE does research in energy and automotive engineering and other environmental-friendly technology.