At the Transport Logistic trade fair in Munich, intermodal operator Hupac and Duisburger Hafen AG (duisport) agreed to further develop the Duisburg terminal area. The parties want to expand the transshipment capacities for new intermodal connections to the most important European freight hub. “By setting up a concept of virtual operation, the various terminal locations of duisport are to be efficiently networked” Hupac noted.

Among the ambitions of the parties is to further develop the transport possibilities between Europe and China. Hupac and duisport will cooperate more closely to optimise their activities on the New Silk Road, they said at the fair. Both partners will jointly develop terminals along the Silk Road and work on solutions to reduce the journey times of Chinese trains.

Antwerp, Rotterdam and Zeebrugge

Another priority is the improved connection of the western ports of Antwerp, Rotterdam and Zeebrugge. This will strengthen the Port of Duisburg as a gateway for the onward transport of maritime freight within Europe. “We see great potential in strengthening our decades of cooperation. The aim is to implement Switzerland’s modal shift targets on the north-south axis, and to connect the Hupac network in central Europe to the transcontinental traffic flows on the east-west axis”, said Michail Stahlhut, CEO of Hupac Intermodal.

Erich Staake, CEO of duisport added: “Through this cooperation, we are developing additional services for our customers and we are expanding our international network as a premium port and our position as the most important European hub in intra-European and international trade.”