The contract for civil works and electrification for the expansion of APM Terminals Maasvlakte II (MVII) container terminal in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, has been awarded to CareGo, a consortium comprising ABB, Dura Vermeer, and GMB.
51-hectare container yard
The expansion will cover a 51-hectare container yard. This will double the capacity of the terminal, making it one of the most advanced fully automated terminals in the world.
The 51 hectares will consist of 31 additional yard blocks, quay area, truck and rail areas, and associated infrastructure. The Rotterdam Port Authority has already constructed 1,000 meters of new deep-sea quay for the expansion of the facility. The financial details of the order were not disclosed.
Construction and electrification
Dura Vermeer and GMB will supply the civil works of the entire site, including pavements, concrete foundations
The consortium partners, technology pioneer ABB and Dutch construction companies Dura Vermeer and GMB were chosen due to their expertise in the construction and electrification of container terminals and previous experience providing solutions for APM Terminals. ABB will provide terminal electrification with prefabricated substations and data centers, terminal lighting, fiber optic network, and power supply to cranes and reefers.
Dura Vermeer and GMB will supply the civil works of the entire site, including pavements, concrete foundations, crane tracks, reefer racks, fencing, and the expansion of the rail terminal.
Container Terminal
"Building a fully automated Container Terminal of this magnitude in such a short time frame is a challenging but also wonderful assignment. We have proven with APM Terminals MVII that we can do this,” said Sander Lindemans, Project Director, CareGo.
“The new terminal is both highly sustainable and innovative. The participating companies in the construction consortium recognise themselves in this forward-thinking approach, making them perfectly suited for this challenging project.”
Automation solutions
"As container terminals are becoming fully electrified, the need for resilient power infrastructure becomes even more important. With our solid track record in delivering automation solutions to container terminals and extensive expertise in designing and building reliable microgrids, we are well positioned to support this development,” said Clara Holmgren, Business Line Manager, Ports at ABB Marine & Ports.
“We are proud of the trust APMT MVII has placed in us as a provider of port electrical infrastructure for their fully electrified terminal, and look forward to delivering this project together with our consortium partners.”
Doubling terminal capacity
“It gives us peace of mind that the CareGo consortium with such proven and trusted partners is going to deliver high-quality work on our extensive civil work,” said Harold Kunst, Managing Director APM Terminals MVII.
“With the pioneering companies ABB, Dura Vermeer, and GMB, APM Terminals has good experiences gained in the past and we fully expect that the expansion and actual doubling of our terminal capacity will be completed as agreed and on time. We look forward to a constructive cooperation.”
Design and seamless transition
APM Terminals MVII will become one of the world's most advanced fully automated terminals
APM Terminals MVII will become one of the world's most advanced fully automated terminals, equipped to load and unload the largest container ships in the world.
With fully secure automated areas separating man and machine, it will also be one of the safest. Due to its design and seamless transition from sea to land, the terminal is able to guarantee highly reliable handling.
Lift Automated Guided Vehicles
A dedicated area with six barge cranes and a fully integrated rail terminal ensures smooth loading and discharging of containers to and from the hinterland. The rail terminal is directly connecting the port of Rotterdam with the German rail network at the Dutch/German border. APM Terminals MVII is a fully electrified container terminal running on renewable electricity with energy-efficient buildings and grounds.
The Lift Automated Guided Vehicles (L-AGV) also run on electricity instead of diesel. In addition, the expansion will introduce Automated Terminal Trucks (ATTs) that will operate in mixed traffic.
Advanced container terminals
APM Terminals develops and operates advanced container terminals around the world and has been lifting standards in the industry for more than a half-century. The company is an independent division in A.P. Moller-Maersk and has facilities in 60 key locations in 33 countries around the globe with several in development.
APM Terminals employs approximately 22,000 people, and in 2023, there were 27,000 vessel calls in its terminals. CareGo is the construction consortium consisting of Dura Vermeer, GMB, and ABB, formed to deliver the civil works and electrification of the APM Terminals MVII expansion.
Core activities
The company is active in residential construction, non-residential construction, infrastructure
Dura Vermeer is a family business that has been in existence since 1855. It is an independent construction company operating in the Netherlands. With a turnover of approximately €1.9 billion and over 3,500 employees, Dura Vermeer ranks among the top construction companies in the Netherlands.
The company is active in residential construction, non-residential construction, infrastructure and engineering. Its core activities include the design, development, and realisation of construction and infrastructure projects, including management and maintenance, renovation, and transformation.
Water safety, water quality, bioenergy
GMB is a construction company specialising in water safety, water quality, bioenergy, and industrial construction & infra. The company has the competencies of design & construction, management & maintenance, and operation. GMB employs 550 people.
ABB is a global technology pioneer in electrification and automation, enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient future.
High performance
By connecting its engineering and digitalisation expertise, ABB helps industries run at high performance while becoming more efficient, productive, and sustainable so they outperform.
ABB calls this ‘Engineered to Outrun’. The company has over 140 years of history and more than 105,000 employees worldwide. ABB’s shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ABBN) and Nasdaq Stockholm (ABB).
