Duisburg Gateway Terminal launched

News 18 Sep 2024 by WCN Editorial

The Duisburg Gateway Terminal (DGT) has officially opened following the completion of its first construction phase.

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Duisburg Gateway Terminal launched — © Hupac

The Duisburg Gateway Terminal (DGT) officially opened on Monday, September 16, at the Port of Duisburg’s former coal island. DGT is jointly owned by duisport, HTS, Hupac, and PSA, with Christoph Kahlert and Sven Zölle serving as managing directors. The terminal has become operational following the completion of the first phase of construction, with 150,000 square metres in use. The construction time was two years. The plan is for the terminal to cover 235,000 square metres once fully completed, with a capacity of up to 850,000 TEU per annum.

The terminal features six block train tracks under the cranes, which are set to be expanded to 12. The terminal also has three portal crane systems (planned to expand to at least six) and six berths for barges. The cranes at DGT are very large widespan cranes and were manufactured by Kuenz. They have a span of 57m. Two are identical with 29.7m and 27m cantilevers, while the third crane has cantilevers measuring 25.5m and 6m. The RMGs are operated manually by a driver in the cabin and feature piggyback spreaders from Stinis. The first phase of construction cost around €120 million, including €50 million in subsidies.

The DGT is the tenth container terminal in the Port of Duisburg, and it is expected to become the largest inland terminal in Europe when completed.

“The Duisburg Gateway Terminal sets standards in terms of productivity and market proximity: with 730-metre-long transhipment tracks, fully digitalised processes and a central location in the heart of Europe, the facility offers essential prerequisites for the success of combined transport,” says Michail Stahlhut, CEO of the Hupac Group. “Whether ARA ports, the Rhine-Alpine corridor or Eastern Europe – logistics throughout Europe will benefit from the new terminal.”

Climate-neutral operation

Hupac said that Duisburg Gateway Terminal is a model project for the future of logistics in many respects, including the fact that all goods movements are digitally controlled on the site. In addition, climate-neutral operation is being trialled at the terminal with the launching of the ‘enerPort II’ research project. The goal of enerPort II is to demonstrate that a terminal of this scale can operate in a fully climate-neutral manner, relying on local heat and electricity generation, setting the stage for a complete energy transformation of the terminal. As explained, the plan is to install a sustainable energy system at DGT, combining renewable sources, energy storage, and hydrogen technologies, including a photovoltaic system, fuel cells, hydrogen engines, and battery storage. These are linked through an intelligent energy network to power the terminal’s operations, such as shore power, charging points and crane systems, with potential plans to supply energy to surrounding districts.

“The outstanding thing about enerPort II is both the cooperation between science and industry and the bold step towards realisation. We are already gaining valuable experience in the planning and operation of future energy systems,” says Prof Dr Anna Grevé, Head of the Electrochemical Energy Storage Department at Fraunhofer UMSICHT. The Oberhausen-based institute is leading the research project together with duisport. Other partners are Westenergie Netzservice GmbH, Rolls-Royce Power Systems AG, Netze Duisburg GmbH, Stadtwerke Duisburg AG and Stadtwerke Duisburg Energiehandel GmbH. The Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK) as part of the ‘Hydrogen Technology Campaign’ fund the enerPort II project.

“Where coal was handled for more than 100 years, there is now a climate-neutral container terminal. The Duisport Gateway Terminal is an outstanding example of successful structural change in the Ruhr region: the implementation from the initial idea to completion in just a few years shows that we in North Rhine-Westphalia are setting the pace. It takes will and courage to implement the necessary changes quickly – and this has been achieved in Duisburg. By switching to climate-neutral freight transportation, the terminal is also a milestone on our way to becoming a climate-neutral industrial state,” Hendrik Wüst, Minister President of North Rhine-Westphalia, said during the inauguration ceremony.