Photo report: Maersk cold store now operational at Maasvlakte II

Six weeks ago, Maersk's new cold store on Rotterdam's Maasvlakte II was officially opened. Meanwhile, the first Egyptian oranges are already being chilled in the facility, and according to Leon van Vliet, site manager of the new cross-dock and cold store warehouse, a lot more produce will be coming in soon.

The cold store covers a total surface area of 35,000 m², divided into a freezer section, a pharmaceutical section, and a dedicated cold storage area for fruit and vegetables, which includes 12,275 pallet spaces. In eight cold rooms, fruit is stored at different temperature zones. But it doesn't stop at storage, Van Vliet emphasised during a tour with the international press. So-called value-added services, such as quality control, sorting, packing, and repacking, are also offered. For example, the first netting machine for packing citrus and avocados will be arriving soon.

"Our major advantage is our speed of operation. With our location next to the terminal, we are the 'first entry port for cargo' in Rotterdam." This positions the shipping company as a competitor to Dutch cold storage providers. "At Nekovri meetings, I'm not exactly greeted with open arms," Van Vliet admitted. "But we've listened carefully to our customers. With this facility, shipping, hub functionality, and cold storage all come together in one location. This allows us to process cargo extremely efficiently, handle transshipments, or offer additional logistics services before further distribution."

Gemini network
To improve agility, Maersk is placing increasing emphasis on network integration and service bundling. The Gemini network—a partnership between Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd covering most East-West trade routes—is now operational. Since most disruptions occur at ports or transshipment points, the Gemini initiative focuses on reducing these bottlenecks. Maersk is addressing this by cutting down the number of hubs, as explained in a recent presentation. The number of main terminals is being reduced to seven to lessen the impact of disruptions. With shorter transit times and improved flexibility, shuttle services contribute to increased overall reliability.

This week, the dual-fuel methanol vessel Adrian Maersk arrived at the Port of Rotterdam for marking a milestone in the Gemini network. The vessel measures 351 meters in length, 54 meters in width, and has a capacity of 16,452 TEU. Stephanie Pullings Hart, Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer (COO) at Nestlé, is christening the container ship. Nestlé ships 100% of its Maersk ocean freight under the ECO Delivery Ocean product, which uses alternative fuels to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Dual-fuel ships are central to Maersk's decarbonization strategy. Bio- and e-methanol can reduce GHG emissions by 65% to 90% compared to traditional fossil fuels, depending on the feedstock and production method.

The international press was given a tour of the APM terminal and witnessed this milestone at the world's most advanced fully automated terminal. Approximately 80% of crane operations are automated, with the remaining tasks handled remotely. Dual lifting technology enhances stability, allowing work to continue even in extreme weather conditions. Each crane is fitted with double spreaders, enabling the unloading and loading of two 40-foot containers in quick succession.

Control Room
Once unloaded, containers are stored in a stack before continuing their journey via barge, rail, or truck. Each mode of transport has a designated capacity, contributing to swift terminal throughput and immediate container availability. Journalists were also shown the control room—the 'heart of the terminal'—where deep-sea cranes are remotely operated using joysticks by Remote Control Operators.

With 5,500 software specialists, the shipping company could almost be considered an IT firm. "Our survey showed that 80% of customers view geopolitical instability as the biggest risk. Today, the remaining 20% would likely cite import tariffs," Maersk's Ole Trumpfheller shared. "The disruptions we've seen over the past two or three years are unprecedented. Just think of the Suez Canal, the Panama Canal, wars, and the daily, tangible effects of climate change."

For Maersk, digitalisation and integration are key strategies for navigating this perfect storm. Thanks to recent acquisitions, the company is now active in the e-commerce market in addition to packing oranges, highlighting its belief that logistics extends far beyond simply moving goods from A to B. Internally, Maersk refers to this approach as asset control and digital platforms across the end-to-end supply chain.

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