A year after the Container Exchange Route (CER) was launched, the project is entering a new phase.
In 2025, the Port of Rotterdam Authority (PoR) will expand the CER by adding connections to the Distripark Maasvlakte and the ECT Delta terminal/Hutchison Port Delta II terminal through a main gate concept.
This will be accompanied by investments in fibre optic and electrical infrastructure. The work will begin in early 2025 and will be completed in stages by the end of the year.
Additionally, the Port Authority has planned two central connections (main gates) to be developed in 2025, allowing easier access to the CER for various logistics service providers and the ECT terminal.
By connecting ECT via a main gate on Coloradoweg, both the ECT Delta terminal and Hutchison Ports Delta II terminal will gain access to the CER through public roads. A main gate at Distripark Maasvlakte will connect at least twelve logistics companies, including Nippon Express, NeeleVat, AWL, LT Foods, Odin, Broekman Logistics, and Thermotraffic.
These new connections, along with terminals and distribution companies, represent a major step in the continued development of the CER.
Another critical element of the CER’s completion is the investment in fibre optic and electrical infrastructure. Initial groundwork for this was incorporated into the main infrastructure development, and in this next phase, fibre optic cables and electrical systems will be installed. This infrastructure is essential for connecting future equipment such as speed gates and cameras, and investing in it early will prevent inefficiencies while ensuring the long-term effectiveness of the CER.
Since its opening at the end of 2023, the CER has been used by the RWG and ECT Delta container terminals, QTerminals Kramer depots, and the Customs State Inspection Terminal (RIT).
Over 20,000 trips have been made in the first year, with each trip potentially involving multiple containers. The CER significantly improves safety, reliability, efficiency, and sustainability for container transport on the Maasvlakte.
The Port Authority aims to connect as many container companies as possible to ensure smoother handling of containers transported via the CER.
