The document discusses problems at the Port of Rotterdam, the largest port in Europe. Some of the key problems identified include: (1) the complex barge rotation planning and quay scheduling problem due to the large number of terminals and daily barge visits; (2) lack of reliable communication between barge operators and terminals; and (3) increasing environmental pressures on ports from governments and organizations. Other problems mentioned are canal blockages limiting transport, lack of space to accommodate growing world trade volumes, and pressures to adopt greener practices across supply chains. The conclusion states that while Rotterdam is one of the world's largest and busiest ports, the main challenge lies in urgently addressing problems through creative solutions rather than just infrastructure.

1. JLB 40802
SEAPORT MANAGEMENT
PROBLEMS AT ROTTERDAM PORT
UNIVERSITI KUALA LUMPUR
MALAYSIAN INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY

2. OUTLINE
Background
Problems at port.
Conclusion

3. BACKGROUND
• Rotterdam is one of the main ports and the
largest logistic and industrial hubs of
Europe.
• Annual throughput of 430 million tons of
cargo in 2010.
• Gateway to a European market of more
than 350 million consumers.
• The port stretches out over 40 kilometres
and is about 10.500 ha (excluding
Maasvlakte 2 as a new port sides).

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• Provides information about terminals,
services, hinterland connections, doing
business and establishing in the port of
Rotterdam.
• Company goal :
 is to strengthen the port of Rotterdam’s
competitive position as a logistics hub
and industrial complex of world
standing.

5. PROBLEMS
1. The barge rotation planning and quay
scheduling problem.
The barge rotation planning and quay
scheduling problem is rather complex.
In the port, there are about 30
terminals, whereas 75 to 100 barges
visit the port daily.
Some of the are closed during the
night, which limits the possibilities to
handle barges.

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2. Lack of communication
 takes too much time and due to changes and
disturbances the communication with the
terminals is done by phone, E-mail, and fax.
 turns out that information is not reliable since
barge operators try to obtain convenient time
windows.
 e.g., lying about the real number of containers
that need to be loaded and unloaded, to get a
preferred or to guarantee enough planned
handling time at the terminal.

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3. Increasing pressure
 Governments and international
organizations began addressing
environmental issues last
century, frequently as a result of some
catastrophe such as poisonings by
toxicants, oil spills, and so forth.
 Ports are being pressured to respond to
problems related to environmental harm
resulted by shipping activities, whether
moved by ships or trucks.

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4. Canal problems
 The canal blockage causes significant
economic loss for businesses, including
Vredestein, Akzo Nobel and Grolsch.
 The blockage takes time 6 to 7 weeks
 Container train eases canal problems
 The train replaces some of the truck trips
that became necessary after the Twente
Canal was blocked.
 It is estimated that the rail transport can
compensate 30% of the lost inland shipping
capacity.

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5. Growth in world trade and lack of space
 A total of 90% of Europe’s trade with other
continents is carried out by ship; thus, the
ever increasing world trade has huge
implications for the demand for shipping.
 Moreover, increasing globalization and
economic growth also has an impact on intra-
European shipping or short sea shipping.
 The most important challenge for the Port of
Rotterdam is how to accommodate the
massive growth in trade flowing in and out of
the port in the future.

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6. Spillover effects & timeless
 Environmental awareness is cumulative, as green
practices create spillover effects.
 Once the company begins to address environmental in
one area, the independents nature of ecological and
physical elements inevitability leads toward ever
broader responses.
 They then seek green suppliers and transporter, so that
supply chains become greener.
 Second, due to their spatial expansion and functional
‘regionalization’ port are more proximate than ever:
they share overlapping hinterlands and port related
communities, with each of them seeking ways to avoid
lagging behind societal pressure.

11. Conclusion
• Port of Rotterdam is one of the largest ports in
the world. The largest port in Europe and one
of the busiest ports in the world, the port of
Rotterdam was the world's busiest port.
• The problems do not lie in the port’s
hardware, its physical infrastructure. This is
largely a technical matter and can therefore
be solved. The big challenge is the software,
the sense of urgency and the willingness to
solve problems creatively.

12. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR ATTENTION 
Q&A