The Performance of Seaport Clusters - RePub - Erasmus Universiteit ...

Chapter 11 – Governance and Performance in Seaport Clusters; Results of the Cases 155
Automated road transport systems
If forms of automated road transport systems could be implemented successfully, Rotterdam
would be one of the first places where implementation would be viable, given the huge road
transport volumes in Rotterdam. The technical capabilities for an innovative system exist,
even though they have never been tested in practice on a large scale. For instance,
dedicating one lane of major highway corridors from Rotterdam to the hinterland for trucks
with automated vehicle control (perhaps only in off peak hours) would improve the
accessibility of the port and reduce congestion. Various coalitions investigate the viability of
such forms of automation, but none of the initiatives is likely to be implemented in the short
run.
Intermodal transport systems
The importance of inland waterway, rail and short sea shipping make Rotterdam an
important intermodal transport node. A key characteristic of intermodal transport is that it is
to some extent ‘systemic’; various components make up an intermodal chain, and
coordination between these components is required. Especially the development of new
intermodal services requires coordination. For instance, terminal investments will only be
made if transport providers develop services and vice versa. In many cases, the
development of new large-scale intermodal connections requires the formation of alliances
of multiple actors. In the absence of leader firm behavior, the port authority aims to initiate
such coalitions. In Rotterdam, two examples can be mentioned. First, development of a
‘barge train service’ where goods are shipped to Germany by barge and put on trains there.
A barge-train coalition is in development, the RMPM plays a pro-active role in the formation
of this coalition. Second, Rotterdam is an important RoRo port. All trucks that use RoRo
services arrive in Rotterdam by road. An intermodal service to put trucks on a RoRo vessel
in an inland port so that trucks do not have to pass the (congested) port area could be
viable. Again, a coalition needs to be formed to develop such an intermodal service. Even
though the idea has been ‘around’ for some time, no steps towards realization have been
taken.
The hinterland access regime; conclusions from the cases
The hinterland access regime is very important for the competitiveness of seaports. A huge
majority of cluster experts agrees that hinterland access is to some extent a ‘collective