DP World is building up its European finished vehicle services with the opening of facility at the port of Zeebrugge.
DP World has begun finished vehicle operations at a 25-hectare facility in the Belgian port of Zeebrugge, which it said will enhance efficiency, connectivity and flexibility for Europe’s automotive industry.
The facility has a storage capacity for 7,000 car equivalent units (CEUs) and will manage vessel loading and unloading (including cars in containers), storage and transshipment, customs clearance and speed-gate access, among other end-to-end vehicle logistics services.
DP World also highlighted flexible buffer options for vehicle and high and heavy storage, vehicle pre-delivery inspection (PDI) services and charging stations for electric vehicles. The hub also has a container freight station and a container management digital platform. Security at the 24/7 operation is supported by an international ship and port facility security (ISPS) system.
Multimodal links
The hub has intermodal connections, including daily rail connections to Italy, Spain, Romania and Hungary, that DP World said facilitated flexible car shipments on vehicle wagons as well as in containers. The Zeebrugge facility also has connections by barge along inland waterways via the Rhine, as well as short-sea connections to the UK, Ireland, Scandinavia, the Iberian Peninsula and Mediterranean ports.
“By tackling challenges like congestion and hinterland connectivity, our new Zeebrugge finished vehicle hub showcases DP World’s commitment to innovative and provide efficient solutions,” said Tony Hotine, executive vice-president for western Europe at DP World. “With a skilled team and extensive experience in finished vehicle logistics, we’re ready for continuous growth and poised to expand offerings, including stevedoring, as market demands evolve.”
The new facility is located a site run by DP World’s subsidiary P&O Ferries, which was superfluous to requirements.
European vehicle services
Over the last couple of years DP World has been repositioning itself as a supplier of end-to-end logistics services for the automotive sector, rather than exclusively a leader in port operations. As well as targeting inbound and service parts logistics, it is building on its established services in finished vehicle logistics and services 10 of the top 15 global OEMs, according to the company. In Europe, DP World has a 14,000 sq.m facility in Limassol, Cyprus, which handles 1,300 cars and 1,900 trucks every month, equal to 80% market share of ro-ro business in the country. It also has a 70,000 sq.m multimodal ro-ro terminal in Constanta, Romania.
DP World’s finished vehicle services include provision for containerised vehicle shipments, which the new Zeebrugge hub supports. Those services have increased following DP World’s buyout of CFR Rinkens back in October 2023. The Cars in Containers initiative is one part of DP World’s broader strategy to overhaul finished vehicle logistics, according to the company.
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