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De Koperen Ploeg also incidentally supplies deck crew<br />
(runners) for seagoing vessels or heavy cargo pontoons.<br />
Schotte: “In case of an oil spill we can place oil screens to<br />
prevent further spreading. In addition, we have a large<br />
number of fenders, reducers and hoses in stock on our<br />
premises for various clients.” These parts are used for<br />
board-to-board transhipment, the transfer of oil products<br />
or chemicals from tankers to inland vessels or other<br />
seagoing vessels. De Koperen Ploeg opened a modern 250<br />
m 2 cold storage unit in 2013 on Capriweg, where the office<br />
has been housed since 1998.<br />
Customs facilities<br />
Relatively new services involve the customs facilities<br />
provided by De Koperen Ploeg, including the storage of T1<br />
goods – goods from outside of the EU for which import duties<br />
have yet to be paid. “With the closure of the Customs office<br />
on Corsicaweg in Westpoort in 2011, shipping companies<br />
and suppliers were looking for a proper alternative,” says<br />
Schotte. “We immediately set to work, and have been<br />
fully AEO (Authorised Economic Operator) certified since<br />
2011. This makes us a reliable partner for Customs in the<br />
European trade. We can also electronically cancel and create<br />
T1 documents.”<br />
According to Mike Schotte these developments illustrate<br />
that the company has become much more versatile over the<br />
years. Since the 1980s, there is even a three-year boatman<br />
training course at the intermediate vocational level. Schotte:<br />
“The so-called BBL apprenticeship training at the Shipping<br />
and Transport College (STC) in Rotterdam involves students<br />
coming to us to gain practical experience and taking<br />
theoretical courses at the STC at least once a week.”<br />
In addition to the required nautical knowledge and skills<br />
for the boatman certificate, it also involves issues such as<br />
commercial vessels certificates, radar, VCA (safety checklist<br />
contractors), first aid and ADN (the transport of hazardous<br />
materials). “We usually have three to five students on the<br />
course who can be employed by our organisation if they<br />
finish the study successfully. This ensures us of sufficient<br />
new and young personnel.” Schotte is actually celebrating his<br />
own silver jubilee in 2016. “I still love this profession and De<br />
Koperen Ploeg is a great organisation.” •<br />
WWW.DEKOPERENPLOEG.NL<br />
<strong>AMSTERDAM</strong> SEAPORTS 2016 29
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