EUROGATE Container Terminal Wilhelmshaven (CTW) has unveiled its plans to invest €150 million (US$170 million) in converting its container handling operations in the coming years from a manual process to an automated system.
The automation project will get underway in January 2022 and will continue for the next three years. The terminal is expecting to carry out its first automated berthing operations as early as 2024.
“We are anticipating significant growth in throughput in Wilhelmshaven over the medium term and therefore believe the time and general economic parameters are now right to invest in the expansion and modernisation of the terminal,” commented Michael Blach, EUROGATE Group chairman.
Blach said that they are aiming to develop an extended, upgraded and efficient automated terminal, whose streamlined organisation is geared to new operating requirements, called ‘CTW 2.0’.
The first phase of the automation project from January 2022 will involve driving forward the expansion of the existing infrastructure, including raising the existing eight container gantries and asphalting unsurfaced areas in the north section of the terminal, according to EUROGATE, which noted that delivery, assembly and commissioning of two additional gantries are planned for 2023.
“We are embracing this development and view it as an opportunity to significantly strengthen our customer focus and our competitiveness. This will, in turn, lead to increased handling volumes, enabling us to secure long-term employment and create new, challenging and sustainable jobs,” added Michael Blach.
