In the port of Rotterdam, more precisely the terminal operations at Ertsoverslagbedrijf Europoort C.V. (EECV), thyssenkrupp Steel is investing in sustainable modernization. An old sea-going ship unloader will be replaced by a state-of-the-art model with an investment of a mid-double-digit million amount, thereby strengthening the future of EECV and thyssenkrupp Veerhaven. The new unloader significantly improves efficiency, environmental friendliness and safety and is expected to be operational by the end of 2025. This underlines thyssenkrupp Steel's commitment to a modern infrastructure in the port of Rotterdam and the sustainable supply of thyssenkrupp Steel and Hüttenwerke Krupp Mannesmann (HKM).
Investment in new sea ship unloader
At the EECV terminal in the port of Rotterdam, four powerful grab cranes transport iron ore and coal from the bellies of large bulk carriers for steel production in the Ruhr area every day. One of them is now being replaced by a modern, highly efficient sea ship unloader. The amount of the investment decided by the shareholders is in the mid double-digit million range. The project is a strong signal for the future of EECV and thyssenkrupp Veerhaven, the two Dutch logistics subsidiaries of thyssenkrupp Steel. HKM is also a shareholder in EECV's bulk handling facilities. The two companies work together 365 days a year to unload seagoing vessels and temporarily store and transport around 24 million tons of iron ore and coal for steel production in Duisburg.
Raw material supply for the future direct reduction plant
Thanks to the approval from Brussels to support the decarbonization project “tkH2Steel” by the federal government and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, the successful work of the two companies will continue in the future.
“Coal throughput will gradually decline from 2027 onwards, but iron ore will still be needed to produce climate-friendly steel. In the future, EECV and thyssenkrupp Veerhaven will transport the raw material for the new direct reduction plant. With the new sea-going ship unloader and the proven pushboat fleet, both companies will ensure a safe connection between the port of Rotterdam and the then green hut in Duisburg in the coming decades,” said Dr. Heike Denecke-Arnold, Chief Operations Officer of thyssenkrupp Steel.
Sea ship unloader efficient and environmentally friendly
Like its predecessor, the new sea-going ship unloader weighs around 2,000 tons, is a good 60 meters high, 30 meters wide and has a crane boom length of around 100 meters. With these crane dimensions, EECV can unload the world's largest bulk carriers with a productivity of up to 2,600 tons of iron ore per hour. The crane sets new standards in terms of environmental friendliness and energy efficiency. In order to effectively reduce possible dust emissions, the unloader is equipped with a spray and misting system in the bunker area. Noise emissions remain below the officially approved limits. Occupational safety and comfort for employees are also significantly improved.
“With the new crane, we are investing in the future of EECV and in the security of raw material supplies for thyssenkrupp Steel and HKM. It gives us the flexibility to further develop our business while we advance coal mining,” explains Frank Tazelaar, CEO of EECV and thyssenkrupp Veerhaven.
In the next few months, EECV will select the supplier of the new unloader. The new unloader is expected to start operations at the end of 2025.
Investments in flexibility and sustainability
Last year, thyssenkrupp Steel began exploring the development of supply chains for hydrogen together with the Port of Rotterdam as part of its green transformation. This is needed in large quantities for climate-friendly steel production and could be transported via pipeline corridors from Rotterdam to Duisburg. With the new sea-going ship unloader, thyssenkrupp Steel is now setting another example for the modernization and sustainability of its infrastructure in the port of Rotterdam.
EECV and thyssenkrupp Veerhaven
Since 1970, EECV has been operating one of the largest and most modern bulk cargo handling facilities in Europe and the second largest bulk cargo terminal in the Port of Rotterdam in the Europoort area of the Port of Rotterdam with around 300 employees. On the almost 100 hectare terminal site, the four sea ship unloaders on the 1.1 kilometer long sea wharf lift 30 to 40 tons of iron ore and coal from the ships with each lift. The raw materials are then transported to the storage areas via conveyor belts. The fleet of the push shipping company thyssenkrupp Veerhaven (approx. 200 employees) brings the raw materials for steel production from Rotterdam across the Rhine to Duisburg around the clock using push barges and inland waterway vessels.
