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.

Rhinecontainer 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.

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New merger extends customer services and terminal network

August 2011 Contargo’s parent company Rhenus Logistics bought 3 divisions of Wincanton Plc. which operated on the European continent. Rhinecontainer (75 per cent) and 7 trimodal terminals were comprised in the intermodal division. By the end of April 2012 Rhenus bought the remaining 25 per cent Rhinecontainer shares and subsequently added the 7 trimodal terminals to the Contargo Trimodal Network as well as merged the mentioned 2 barge operators to Contargo Waterway Logistics. Contargo GmbH and Co.KG (Contargo in short) is the intermodal container services company of Rhenus Logistics. The merger has extended the European coverage of Contargo to 25 inland terminals thus offering a unique combination of modern European facilities to customers.

Mr Hulsker commented, “Contargo Waterway Logistics” is now a brand new company, but it remains very much a customer orientated, solutions-focused business which resonates with the familiar personal approach. This is a particularly timely move for us as the new APM Terminal-2 and Rotterdam World Gateway Terminal being constructed at Maasvlakte-2 in Rotterdam, as well as the ever-expanding ECT/Euromax facilities at Maasvlakte-1, present many new challenges. The Maasvlakte area will cater for much larger sea vessels of 18,000 TEU+ capacity. Furthermore, Rotterdam offers significant geographical benefits to all shippers and forwarders. As far as the foreseeable future is concerned we will continue to see organic growth of around 5 per cent. However, we will continue to invest in upgrading our depots and expanding our range of customer services to provide a full, one-stop-shop continental package.”

Safety and solutions focus

Contargo has an enviable record when it comes to safety, and takes its responsibilities very seriously in this respect. The modern challenges that new regulations represent require a culture of care and dedication. In fact, most of Contargo’s barges are constructed with double hulls to ensure a high degree of safety for both goods in transit and the environment. In addition, all personnel are required to identify consistently with their individual tasks to meet the goal of zero errors completely and all controllers, drivers and other staff members undergo training to familiarise themselves with the latest standards and safety techniques.

In addition, a strong IT system supports all aspects of the company’s activities and Contargo’s Intermodal Tariff System IMTIS identifies the most environmentally friendly transport routes with the lowest CO2 emissions, which are tailored to its customers’ needs.

When it comes to exceptional transport challenges, Contargo’s team of experts are proficient in dealing with unusual consignments and all related aspects. This includes delivering optimal solutions whether the consignment requires special treatment, or involves several different Contargo terminals, or the blanket handling of larger-scale orders.

Mr Hulsker said, “What we offer is a personal approach based on many years of expertise in the integrated container services business. We work closely with our partners, shipping lines, forwarders, shippers and consignees and barge owners to achieve optimal outcomes for our customers. Our unique spread of facilities means that we have an infinite range of options available to them, which enables us to respond quickly and efficiently. There are several players who currently provide regular line services, but we are different in that we offer dedicated, tailor-made services. So when there is a lot of congestion in the ports we do it the other way round to them. If you give us a fixed window we will ensure that we consolidate the containers at the European terminals on one instead of two barge combinations and therefore fulfil the requirements in a very reliable and efficient way to provide the best solution.

“Thinking like a train, we can offer punctual, point-to-point services. So, for example, when there is a call to get containers from Rotterdam to Antwerp we can deliver them by barge via our Benelux service with brand name Transbox, when the customer requires long distance direct container haulage, then we can offer the most efficient solution for that order too. We are very much a solutions-focused business that offers a broad, dedicated, cost-effective service and our success is based upon that of our clients, for it is they that continue to recommend us to other forwarders and shippers.” n