First choice multipurpose terminal

Ample activities can be noticed upon entering the Axelse Vlakte in the Terneuzen port area. Construction works are taking place for companies that are settling or expanding their existing facilities.

One of the first steps taken is the leasing of an additional piece of land (shown on lower side of image), bordering the existing terminal.
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One of these companies is Mammoet. This company, well-known as one of the world's leading heavy lift specialists, is also located at the Axelse Vlakte. It was one of the first to settle down on this location in 2010. The terminal of 8ha and a 350m long quay (including a 50m long jetty) has grown into an important logistic hub for the company. But there is much more going on alongside the Ghent-Terneuzen canal. PortNews talks with Marlon Roels, Branch & Terminal Manager at Mammoet Terneuzen.

Third party cargo

"Many think of our terminal as a storage centre for Mammoet. But this is actually just a small part of our activities. Mr Roels explains, “Our terminal was built for the handling and storage of third party project cargo, as both the quay and the terrain are suitable for heavy loads. The terminal soon grew from a storage facility into a (pre) assembly location. “Customers that we store cargo for soon found out that we are perfectly equipped for the assembly of, among other things, cranes,” Mr Roels explains. Proof of this is the mega project that Mammoet executed in 2011. Back then, they used the Terneuzen terminal for assembling and testing three new PTC cranes. The three cranes, the biggest of their kind, were true landmarks in Zeeland. “Since our cranes left the terminal, they have been around the world for many projects, but one of them is now returning for a refit. At a client’s request, it will be made suitable and tested for even heavier loads,” adds Mr Roels.

Offshore wind

One of Mammoet’s other clients is at present assembling a port crane on the terminal. Once completed, the crane will be shipped over sea to its working spot. Infrastructural pieces of cargo, such as bridges, are also stored, assembled, and transshipped on the Mammoet terminal. Although the port of Vlissingen has excellent offshore wind facilities, Mr Roels thinks that Mammoet can also play a role in this segment. “We often say about our working strategy that ‘The biggest thing we move, is time’. In case of heavy offshore components, it can be interesting to select for us, instead of Vlissingen. During SPMT operations, for instance, we are unaffected by tide, saving a lot of time and money.”

Cost and time-efficient

A lot is going on over here," Mr Roels continues. "Mammoet has decided to concentrate its regional maintenance activities on our terminal. We have facilities in Terneuzen, in Ghent, and over here alongside the Autrichehaven. We have for efficiency reasons chosen to bring all maintenance activities for our lift and transport equipment to this terminal." One of the first steps is to lease an additional piece of land bordering the existing terminal. "On an additional 2ha of land we are going to build new offices and a maintenance shop. The remains of the terrain will be added to our open air storage facilities, expanding this to around 10ha,” Mr Roels explains. When everything goes according to plan, construction of the new office and workshop will be ready by the end of this year. Mammoet is meanwhile searching for some extra mechanics to join their current team. Although the offices and workshop for the three locations will be concentrated on the Axelse Vlakte, this means that activities will change. Mr Roelse explains, “Over here, we will stick to our handling, storage, assembly and testing activities and the Terneuzen branch will continue to provide heavy lift and transport services to their customers in the area.

Artist impression of the new offices and maintenance shop.
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Container handling

When looking at the market demand for storing project cargo, I expect the extra hectares will soon be fully occupied, so for us it is important to use our premises as efficiently as possible.” Apart from project cargo, Mammoet also handles containers. “Until recently, we used our terminal for the handling, storage and transhipment of containers, but this activity has now moved over a few hundred meters to our neighbour Vlaeynatie, providing us with additional space for project cargo.” At Vlaeynatie and the new Zeeland Sugar Terminal, Mammoet takes care of loading and unloading. This collaboration (which also includes logistic service provider Swagemakers Transport) really proves that working together in a port leads to positive results for everyone involved. “When we need extra quay for operations on our terminal, we can make use of the Plantacote quay, Vlaeynatie’s fertilisers terminal, and this obviously works the other way around as well.” This is another fine example of good neighbourship.

Not much we cannot do

“Many know Mammoet as a heavy lift and transport company. It is therefore important to promote our storage and handling capabilities, in order to become a first choice partner for this business as well,” Mr Roels says. “Apart from the quay and terminal, we have the right tools, equipment, and knowledge available, making the Axelse Vlakte a true multipurpose terminal. With a 225t lifting capacity, heavy lift quay (20t/m2) and RoRo facilities for loading and unloading with SPMTs, there is not really much that we cannot do.”

www.mammoet.com

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