MSC acquires stake in ECT’s DDN Rotterdam
The giant container carrier is reported to be buying a 49% stake, or perhaps a 50% stake, in ECT's Delta Dedicated North operation on the Maasvlakte, Worldcargo News reported.
Delta Dedicated North (DDN) is the first automated facility in Rotterdam and was originally known as Delta Seland. DDN has recently been upgraded by ECT and the surface has been repaved. WCN has been informed that ECT will go out to tender in January 2012 for new AGVs to replace the existing fleet.
Now, according to Nieuwsblad Transport, ECT is selling a major slice of DDN to MSC, the world's second largest and fastest-growing container carrier. Neither ECT nor MSC would comment and NT was unable to confirm whether a 49% or 50% stake is concerned. However, the "fact " of the deal was confirmed by the Port of Rotterdam's CEO, Hans Smits.
A 50% stake would give MSC more control over future investment policy at DDN.
The carrier's base in North West Europe is MSC Home Terminal in Antwerp, but this is operating at capacity and the line has been exchanging more cargo at other ports.
Currently, MSC moves around 700,000 TEU/year over Rotterdam, mostly over DDN - up from 100,000 TEU less than two years ago. Smits welcomed MSC's new commitment, and said that eventually MSC could pass Maersk Line as the port's biggest liner customer.
Delta Dedicated North (DDN) is the first automated facility in Rotterdam and was originally known as Delta Seland. DDN has recently been upgraded by ECT and the surface has been repaved. WCN has been informed that ECT will go out to tender in January 2012 for new AGVs to replace the existing fleet.
Now, according to Nieuwsblad Transport, ECT is selling a major slice of DDN to MSC, the world's second largest and fastest-growing container carrier. Neither ECT nor MSC would comment and NT was unable to confirm whether a 49% or 50% stake is concerned. However, the "fact " of the deal was confirmed by the Port of Rotterdam's CEO, Hans Smits.
A 50% stake would give MSC more control over future investment policy at DDN.
The carrier's base in North West Europe is MSC Home Terminal in Antwerp, but this is operating at capacity and the line has been exchanging more cargo at other ports.
Currently, MSC moves around 700,000 TEU/year over Rotterdam, mostly over DDN - up from 100,000 TEU less than two years ago. Smits welcomed MSC's new commitment, and said that eventually MSC could pass Maersk Line as the port's biggest liner customer.
