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Flexibly deployed
In 2020 the Port of Hamburg handled more than 40 million tons of breakbulk and bulk cargoes. Rhenus Midgard accounted for approximately 3.7 million tons of the total. Whereas in the Port of Hamburg generally, vehicles and forestry products form a large share of the breakbulk segment, Rhenus Midgard’s Dradenau Terminal primarily handles machinery, industrial/production equipment, and paper. The facility also handles steel products and palletized trade wares, yet these are mainly shipped in containers.
BREAKBULK ■
For Rhenus Midgard Hamburg, the advance of con- tainerization has led to a downturn in its traditional breakbulk business and in parallel, to a great volume of conventional general cargo in open-top contai- ners, and on flat-racks, or OOG flat-racks.
Rhenus Midgard handles general cargo in Hamburg mainly at its terminal on the Dradenau, whilst bulk cargoes are primarily cleared at its Harburg termi- nal. The two form the basis of Rhenus-Midgard ac- tivities in Hamburg. For handling general cargo, apart from mobile port cranes, the terminal operator uses reach stackers and various forklifts from hea- vy-load to small stackers, as well as special equip- ment for sensitive shipments.
CUSTOMER REQUIREMENTS TO THE FORE
Rhenus Midgard repeatedly handles large-scale breakbulk assignments in Hamburg. Just recently, for instance, the company organized transhipment of steel products. These were brought to the Drade- nau Terminal by coaster, then being transported on- wards by rail and truck. Rhenus Group’s worldwide network of 820 locations enables it to offer holistic logistics solutions for cargoes of all types, from bulk via breakbulk to project cargo. Timely planning, con- solidation of shipments and outstanding flexibility produce optimal utilization of transport units emplo- yed, and enable customers’ needs and require- ments to be met.
Rhenus Midgard in Hamburg is especially notable for these individual solutions for its customers. For the transport of a bio-diesel plant consisting of con- tainers, breakbulk and project cargo from Germany via Hamburg to Eastern Europe, for example, the company organized packing on the spot, and similar- ly, the pre-carriage run by truck and inland water- way craft to Hamburg, handling and consolidation there, then loading and shipment to Eastern Europe. Not least its ability to implement complex and indi- vidual solutions is the reason why Rhenus Midgard has successfully come through such crisis situa- tions as Brexit and the Corona pandemic. Helge Behrend, CEO of Rhenus Midgard Hamburg, stres- ses that “With our diversity of commodities and the
flexibility of our logistics services we have enjoyed success, both during the corona pandemic and even during Brexit, and demand for our services has further increased.”
POOLING OF SERVICES
One essential aspect of rising demand is the poo- ling of services plus optimal deployment of the car-
In the Port of Hamburg,
Rhenus Midgard is deliberately promoting the transfer of container and breakbulk shipments from trucking on to the Elbe.
riers involved. In the Port of Hamburg, Rhenus Mid- gard is deliberately promoting the transfer of container and breakbulk shipments from trucking on to the Elbe. The Greenliner, a combination of pusher boat and lighters, is regularly deployed on week- days, transporting the bulk of the freight handled on the Dradenau. Last year, approximately 16,000 units were shifted in this way, being readied for onward transport by road, rail or inland waterway craft. Ai- ming to bring the freight handled to customers as rapidly as possible, Rhenus Midgard collaborates closely on the hinterland leg with Rhenus Partner- Ship, Deutsche Binnenreederei, Rhenus Rail and Rhenus Freight. ■ Rhenus Midgard/red
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