Strategic development plan for the multimodal infrastructure at Port of Moerdijk
Port of Moerdijk, the Netherlands
Assignment
The Port of Moerdijk has developed in recent years into an important logistics and industrial hub in the Netherlands with a strong bond with 'big brother' Rotterdam. The location on deep sea water offers a range of multimodal connections via maritime shipping, flanked by inland shipping, pipelines, rail and road transport. The port of Moerdijk has recently been designated as a junction of strategic importance by the Dutch Freight Transport Corridors program, in which national and regional authorities combine their multimodal infrastructure investments. The assignment was to draw up a strategic multi-year multimodal infrastructure development plan for the Port of Moerdijk Agency.
Project summary
The development plan drawn up by BCI was based on five assumptions:
- The existing multimodal infrastructure must be improved to increase flow and capacity.
- There is an urgent need for digitalization of logistics processes in the port to promote efficiency and transparency.
- Sustainability is becoming increasingly crucial: Moerdijk must invest in green technologies to reduce negative environmental impacts and comply with increasingly strict regulations.
- Collaboration with nearby ports and regions is essential to create synergies and benefit from joint initiatives.
- The Port of Moerdijk must clearly position itself in the market, possibly through specialization, to offer a specific value proposition that differentiates it in the densely populated logistics landscape of Northwestern Europe.
Our approach
Bases on these five assumptions, Buck Consultants International elaborated the following elements in the development plan:
Multimodal Infrastructure and Accessibility: Invest in infrastructure, both by water, by rail, by tube and by road. This allows the port to process and transport goods more easily and efficiently.
Digitalization: Use modern technologies such as AI, blockchain and IoT to optimize logistics processes. This can help to speed up the transit of goods and reduce administrative burdens.
Sustainability: Intensify investments in green and sustainable technologies. Making port activities more sustainable can provide both operational benefits and contribute to a positive image.
Collaboration: Work more closely with nearby ports such as Rotterdam and Antwerp to create synergies. By working together, the ports can operate more efficiently and offer customers a wider range of services. Collaboration with Rotterdam has recently been intensified through a pilot hub structure for road transport and explorations are also being carried out with Antwerp to coordinate scheduled services.
Market positioning: Specialize in certain types of goods or services to create a niche in the market. This specifically concerns chemicals and logistics and, within logistics, utilizing the central position within the Benelux.
Safety: Ensure strict safety protocols and modern security technologies. A good reputation for safety can be attractive to customers.
Flexibility: Be flexible in offering services and adapt to the changing needs of the market. This can help Moerdijk to respond quickly to market trends and changes.
Result
BCI has delivered a strategic multi-year multimodal infrastructure development plan for the Port of Moerdijk, with concrete actions based on a strategic vision. This development plan forms the basis for an investment plan to be drawn up together with the government and stakeholders from the area.