News / Rotterdam, Hamburg and Antwerp set for new records as the big ships keep coming

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North Europe’s major container hubs are set to hit throughput records in 2014 as they prepare for more ultra-large container vessels (ULCVs).

Despite port congestion, after Asia–North Europe container imports grew 8% year-on-year, the main North European container hubs of Rotterdam, Hamburg and Antwerp all reported healthy expansion in the first nine months of 2014.

The growth came as they prepared for the schedule shake-out from the creation of four east–west alliances and to cope with increasing numbers of ULCVs.

Rotterdam saw its ...