Leo Lagendijk, Zeeland Seaports:
Netherlands: Many opportunities for Zeeland as fruit hub
‘We are often cheaper than the larger ports, while we have all facilities necessary’, Leo Lagendijk, commercial manager with Zeeland Seaports stated. He is not exaggerating. The cooling chain from plantation to fruit tray is unbroken when it runs through Vlissingen. In the temperature-controlled warehouses in Vlissingen, fruit and fruit concentrates are kept at exactly the right temperatures. Packaging stations, a blending station and temperature-controlled transport to the European hinterland are available as well.
Lagendijk: ‘Despite all possibilities, our ports are not yet linked to food as a matter of course. Yet we have – and have had for quite a few years– several companies who are specialised in the storage and transhipment of foodstuffs. Kloosterboer, for example, stores fish, seasonal fruits and butter from New Zealand. ZZ Coldstores at first focussed on onions; today, the company also imports seasonal fruits and bananas for the German market.’
Fast transshipment to hinterland
‘Both companies are located at the Bijleveldhaven. We intend to further develop this harbour as a food port. It is one of our spearheads. We have a good strategic position in relation to Rotterdam and Antwerp. We are located at less than an hour’s sailing from the North Sea and there are no locks.
Compared to Antwerp, the transshipment via Vlissingen will save shipping companies a lot of time and money in terms of fuel. Our hinterland connections are good. Congestion-free, whether by road, rail or inland waterways. By road, for example, Germany and Italy are within reach. Inland waterways include the Canal through Zuid-Beveland and the Scheldt-Rhine Canal. These ensure direct routes to Barendrecht, for example, which is a major hub for vegetables and fruit. Or to Venlo, or wherever. I have noticed that many parties are unaware of these facts. We need to pay more attention to this. I consider our port to be a hub in itself. From Vlissingen, the other European ports are within easy reach. Take, for example, the UK, Scandinavia or Russia.’
Expansion of container facilities
Bananas arrive in the port on pallets; however, eighty percent of the fruit is transported in containers. ‘Containers can be unloaded in Vlissingen, of course, but we do not have a separate terminal for this. This means that our companies have to organise their own facilities, resulting in customers needing to maintain various contacts with many different parties.
If we are to receive larger volumes, we need to be able to avail in our own terminal, exploited by an independent party, allowing shipping companies to conduct their business efficiently. Only then will we be able to receive large ships by major organisations. Together with parties from the port area, we are currently considering the possibilities of developing a small terminal. It is a precondition for growth. However’, Lagendijk adds, ‘it’s not enough to transship – we need to offer something extra. We have excellent customs facilities, we meet all safety requirements, and we have companies offering a wide range of services, such as quality control and packaging.’
‘Our qualities stand out’, Leo Lagendijk noted. ‘We are negotiating with major players: both shipping companies and producers. With the authorities of the Southern Spanish port of Huelva, for example, we are discussing a regular service for oranges and olive oil. Other shipping companies, ports and import and export companies are interested as well.’
Zeeland Seaports is looking beyond the hauling in of new cargo. The port offers opportunities for other food-related activities as well. Lagendijk does not think small: ‘It would be great if a supermarket would establish a distribution centre here. Or a banana-ripening plant. Bananas arrive green and leave green as well. What if we could ripen them here and send them on to the end customers nice and yellow? These are wonderful opportunities that can take place in our port area. Let’s not think small. Let’s put ourselves on the map. This will eventually bear fruit!’
Fruit Logistica Berlin
The ports of Zeeland are focussing on the storage, processing and transport of fruit and fruit concentrates. That is why they were present on the largest fruit exhibition in the world: Fruit Logistica, which was recently organised in Berlin. Leo
Lagendijk is enthusiastic about the response: ‘People thronged to our booth, which was situated along a central route. Every day was a busy one. We conducted many talks with different potential customers, including growers, trading companies, other ports and ships' owners.
We have shown them what Zeeland has to offer and we have gathered interesting contacts. And we are not alone. Companies from Zeeland visited the exhibition as well. They were able to use our booth as a home base and meet their customers over a cup of coffee. Together, we have been able to draw attention to the possibilities of Zeeland as a fruit hub.’
For more information:
Leo Lagendijk
Zeeland Seaports
Tel: + 31 6 13 07 93 68
Email: leo.lagendijk@zeelandseaports.com
www.zeelandseaports.com