Hapag-Lloyd to Acquire 25% Stake in Rotterdam's Maasvlakte II Terminal

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Hapag-Lloyd will acquire a 25% stake in the Maasvlakte II terminal in Rotterdam from APM Terminals. The German shipping company aims to secure long-term access to automated terminal capacity and strengthen its position at one of Europe's key container hubs by taking a stake in a critical terminal at Europe's largest gateway port. The Port of Rotterdam is a key pillar of the Gemini Cooperation's hub-and-spoke network.

Upon completion of the transaction, Hapag-Lloyd will work with APM Terminals to support the terminal's development, capacity expansion, and operational performance, while APM Terminals will retain operational control. This move further consolidates the Maasvlakte II terminal's role as a key European hub in the vessel-sharing cooperation between Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk.

Dheeraj Bhatia, Chief Transformation and Information Officer (CTIO) of Hapag-Lloyd and CEO of Hanseatic Global Terminals, the company's terminal and infrastructure division, stated that this planned investment in Rotterdam will enhance network efficiency and reliability. He said the terminal is a key element of the Gemini Cooperation and aligns with the company's strategy to build a stronger terminal portfolio in core markets.

Keith Svendsen, CEO of APM Terminals, said Hapag-Lloyd's investment is a strong vote of confidence in a terminal that is critical to both the Gemini network and Rotterdam. He noted that APM Terminals remains the operator, with the goal of making Maasvlakte II the best terminal for every calling customer in Northern Europe, which means successively improving safety, quality, delivery, and cost, while expanding deep-water berth and TEU throughput capacity to support customers' growth for decades to come.

The Maasvlakte II terminal has been in operation since 2015 and is currently undergoing a major expansion. The expansion will add 1,000 meters of deep-water berth, bringing its total length to 2,000 meters; it will also add more yard capacity, four additional rail tracks, and automated terminal tractors and other equipment, increasing annual handling capacity to 5.4 million TEUs. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed, and completion remains subject to approval from relevant authorities and regulators.