Page 38 - Port of Kokkola Handbook & Directory

ALL WEATHER TERMINALSEurope’s great eight All Weather TerminalsIn 1998 the Port of Amsterdam completed the Waterland Terminal, the port world’s first All Weather Terminal (AWT), a purpose-built, state-of-the-art, multimodal, covered terminal for LoLoaShortly after that, other portsand be inspired by, how the Dutch ‘one roof, all weather’ AWT had succeeded in an area where many thought it would be a failure. Amsterdam’s AWT will be 20 years old in 2018 and has been responsible for other ports to follow its example.nd RoRo shipments, where sea-going vessels, carrying weather-sensitive cargo, can transfer freight on or into other modes of transportation, in all weathers.visited Amsterdam to examine,market their terminals to the rest of the logistics world and showcase the commercial edge offered by handling sensitive cargo entirely under cover – whatever the weather outside.‘lost’ delay brings about extra costs. All AWT terminals are equippedToday, European ports from Kokkola in the north to Marín in Spain in the south, have followed Amsterdam’s lead. Many are members of allweatherterminals.com, an information and business exchange organisation which meets annually to share expertise with each other,The network promotes the concept of covered terminals as a safe, weatherproof and efficient environment for the handling of goods. For stevedores and ship owner/operators, it is always annoying when a ship’s hatches have to be closed because of bad weather such as wind, rain, snow or extreme heat. Some types of steel produced for the automotive industry are highly sensitive to moisture and everywith powerful cranes capable of handling up to 50 tons of freight. Each crane positions cargo perfectly on the ship or the quay. Ships up to 9,500 DWT can be accommodated. Each terminal provides space to place a lighter alongside the ship for direct transhipment. Goods handled in the AWTs include iron and steel, paper and pulp, chemicals, sawn timber, project materials, machines and other conventional goods.Here is an exclusive guide to Europe’s great eight AWT terminals.TLOCATION: Kokkola, FinlandTERMINAL OPERATOR: Oy M. Rauanheimo AbFURTHER INFORMATION: www.portofkokkola.fi/www.rauanheimo.comflows in the dock area prevents ice from forming, allowing the building to function year-round.hirteen years ago, the Balticin customer distribution chains, guaranteeing professional, continuous, efficient and economical ‘undercover cargo handling.’The quay area and large adjoining warehouse offer efficient covered loading and unloading services for the most sensitive general cargo, regardless of weather conditions. Finnish winters can be long and harsh and before the AWT was open, it was often difficult for stevedores toregion’s first AWT was opened in Kokkola and in next to no time became a major player on behalf of Finnish industry and commerce.Inside the terminal the water basin offers 122 m in length, 25 m in width and a free height of 23.5 m above water level. Constant underwaterBuilt at the port’s Silverstone terminal at a cost of €20 million, the AWT quickly became an important link36PORT OF KOKKOLA HANDBOOK & DIRECTORY