COMBINED EXCELLENCE IN CONTAINER SERVICES Contargo Waterway Logistics is the market leader in the integrated barge container services sector. Philip Yorke spoke to Marcel Hulsker, the company’s managing director, about the recent merger between Contargo BV and Rhinecontainer BV and how this new force brings together significant benefits for customers in terms of scale, logistics and service diversity.
R
hinecontainer BV was founded in Rotterdam in 1978. Combined Container Services was founded in 1976 and merged with Interfeeder to Contargo BV in 2006. On 31 December 2012 Contargo BV and Rhinecontainer BV merged to Contargo Waterway Logistics BV, the barge operator of the Contargo Trimodal Network and subsidiary of Contargo GmbH & Co.KG (Contargo in short). Through its commitment to optimising customer services and a wide range of container services, Contargo has grown to become the leading Europe’s foremost hinterland logistics network. With an annual throughput of more than 1.6 million TEU and 25 trimodal terminals, Contargo leads the field in integrated container transport solutions between the western
seaports, Germany’s North Sea ports and the European hinterland. Contargo’s diverse trimodal network concept is comprised of three main components: the company’s own terminals as nodal points, its fleet of barge and rail transport vehicles as interconnectors and its highly efficient order processing by central and decentralised customer service organisations. This well-proven concept makes Contargo the partner of choice for sea carriers, forwarders, shippers and consignees as well as all other players throughout the intermodal logistics chain in Europe. Contargo also operates container depots and interim storage facilities at its various trimodal terminals and offers a wide range of container services to its customers. These include the
local collection and delivery of containers by truck, as well as full maintenance and repair services, stuffing and stripping. The company combines the advantages of its three main transport modes of inland navigation, rail transportation and trucking, and offers fixed routes and frequent scheduled departures, resulting in fast, reliable and efficient containerised transportation. In addition, Contargo provides integrated processes and advanced IT systems to ensure optimal throughput of containers as well as smooth handling between its barges, railways and trucks. Contargo is present in Germany, the Netherlands, France and Switzerland and all document processing is handled in-house by the company as a standard, dedicated service.
