Port Logistics

On a port site, whether Hamburg, Rheinhafen Germersheim or Bremerhaven, numerous logistics companies have to work hand in hand. While shipping companies ensure the transport of goods between the ports, freight forwarders take care of the arrival and departure of goods and warehouse specialists are responsible for temporary storage, among other things. The challenges associated with port traffic are enormous. After all, this is where the modes of transport on rail, road and water meet.

Competent port logistics specialists are needed to ensure that all the tasks associated with the transport of goods are carried out properly and on time within a port. They ensure that customers can rely on punctual deliveries and, depending on the range of services, enjoy an all-round service. Professional port logisticians have specialised in the individual requirements at the transshipment points and can serve diverse companies, from food suppliers to suppliers for the textile industry to car manufacturers, with optimal port logistics. With the help of innovative crane and conveyor technology, fast and flawless cargo handling is ensured. Ideally, the handling of ships, the preparations for onward transport by truck or rail and the storage of goods take place without delays or incidents.

Services offered by port logistics providers

The services of port logisticians include the transhipment of general and bulk cargo from trucks to barges, as well as from ships to trucks. For this purpose, powerful crane systems with several tonnes of lifting capacity are used. Bulk goods such as sand or high-grade chippings are just as conceivable as fertilisers, grain or logs. The port service providers often have their own fleet of trucks, wheel loaders and much more. Truck scales are also available in many places to weigh the goods to be transported. If goods have to be stored temporarily, port logistics providers offer suitable outdoor warehouses and, depending on the provider, silos, bulk material warehouses, deep bunkers or storage boxes to provide the necessary capacity. When it comes to storage, they not only have to meet demands in terms of quality guarantee, but also comply with regulations regarding environmental protection. A container terminal can also be part of the range of services. The service providers then take care of loading and storing containers, for example.

Port logistics specialists work for port logistics providers. They check incoming and outgoing goods, are responsible for recording defects and monitor the loading and unloading of containers. Checking the weight of cargo or monitoring the shipment of dangerous goods are also part of their everyday work, to name just a few tasks.

Locations and criteria for port logistics

A port logistics provider should match the customer's requirements as closely as possible in order to be able to carry out the necessary work efficiently and economically. While customer A, for example, is dependent on high storage capacities because his goods have to be temporarily stored on a regular basis, customer B may require hardly any warehouse space but instead a maximum of special facilities for heavy loads or roll-on/roll-off facilities. At efficient cross-docking centres with international transports, the demands on service providers are particularly high. In addition to state-of-the-art port facilities and a high-performance fleet of vehicles, some port logistics providers have buildable land in the port fringe area to provide attractive space for their customers. Customer-oriented management and individual services are two key selection criteria.

Port logistics providers should thus be selected in terms of technical equipment, connectivity and competence in order to benefit from an optimal partner for port, rail and crane operations. Only service providers who can demonstrate modern superstructure and infrastructure on a permanent basis are in a position to positively shape the competitiveness of their customers.