Source: adapted from website EMO Rotterdam.
EMO is one of the largest dry bulk terminals in Europe, with a storage capacity of 7 million tons. The terminal receives some of the largest bulk carriers in the world. Almost 80% of dry bulk commodities are transported either via rail or inland barges to the German hinterland. The commodities are used by the steel industry (iron ore and coal), silicon industry (coal used in, for example, the production of solar panels), and the energy sector.
The terminal is equipped with five unloaders positioned along a deep-sea quay of 1350m and a draft of 23m. The average unloading capacity is 200,000 tons a day. A floating crane makes direct board-to-board loading possible. The terminal is equipped with fully automated stacker reclaimers, seagoing vessel loaders, and coal wagon loaders. The terminal operator is also working on automating the unloaders.
The terminal offers additional services such as:
- Washing and screening: EMO can wash and screen 2,500 tonnes of coal daily to remove impurities in the product.
- Special screening installations are used to separate the clean coal into different grades.
- Blending products: the terminal is equipped with six blending silos and loaders with a total capacity of 7,000 tons of coal.
- Compacting: Stored coal is compacted to prevent spontaneous combustion. Compacting means layer-by-layer storage, where each layer will be rolled to prevent as much space for oxygen as possible.
From an environmental point of view, dry bulk terminals such as EMO invest in reducing noise emissions, energy saving, dust emission reduction (for example, through sprinkler systems), and the more sustainable use of materials.