The Rotterdam port authority announced it has suspended its plan for autonomous transport on the Container Exchange Route (CER). Manned traction will move containers between all Maasvlakte I and Maasvlakte II deepsea terminals and distriparks.

On June 5, 2020 the port authority tried to outsource inter-terminal transport over the 17-kilometre CER by launching a tender for autonomous transport. Yet, the search is now halted.

“As yet there are too many risks and uncertainties,” a spokesman of the Rotterdam port authority told WorldCargo News. “As we have stated from the outset, the tendering phase was meant to assess whether the innovation that we envisage is feasible from the operational start of the CER. When things don’t go as wished, it’s wiser to put things on standby and to avoid irresponsible risks. This wouldn’t serve anybody, not us, nor the client or the manufacturer of the autonomous vehicles. We faced the dilemma either to wait for the right future-proof automation to come on the market, and consequently leave the CER unused for at least a few years, or to start with manned tractors.” FNV and CNV, Dutch transport unions, had strongly opposed the automation plan and had elderly dockers earmarked for the less strenuous driver’s work.

The CER might still come on stream by the end of this year. Around 70 vehicles are anticipated to operate the CER when at full swing. Fees for the transportation will be limited to €20/TEU, irrespective of the haul’s length between any two Maasvlakte facilities.