On May 14, 2024, Maersk inaugurated a cross-dock warehouse at its terminal in the Port of Rotterdam Maasvlakte II. The facility spans 23,000 square meters, equipped with 120 docks and a temporary storage area. Its primary function is to unload containers arriving at the port and rapidly distribute goods inland. The main coverage area includes the Benelux region, Germany, and France, all easily accessible by road transport.
In a statement, Maersk explained, “The launch of this specialized cross-dock warehouse right next to where containers are unloaded from our ships demonstrates Maersk’s ability to control and manage our customers' supply chains at every stage, from factory to consumer. This adds resilience, flexibility, and visibility to supply chains during times of increased disruptions and geopolitical risks. With our Priority Flow offering, it will be a matter of hours to transport cargo from a vessel in transit to its final destination.”
The container terminal and cross-dock facility have an internal road connection, while another road links the warehouse to the recently expanded Star depot, which functions to return empty containers to the warehouse. The cross-dock also features a customs environment and an area dedicated to value-added services.
Additionally, in the Maasvlakte II port area, Maersk is constructing a large refrigerated logistics platform, which will cover 40,000 square meters and be divided into different temperature zones. Operations are expected to commence by the end of 2024. The Danish company stated, “We are creating an interconnected ecosystem on Maasvlakte with excellent connectivity to roads, railways, and barges. Here, all individual elements and value-added services of logistics and supply chain integrate seamlessly into a complete offering that simplifies logistics for our customers.”
On the environmental front, the refrigerated platform will provide residual heat from the cooling process to the cross-dock warehouse, allowing for a reduction in electricity consumption by over 200,000 kilowatt-hours annually. Furthermore, the cross-dock facility adheres to the Breeam Excellent sustainability standard.
