In the port of Rotterdam, a new marine shuttle loader will ensure more efficient coal and iron ore supplies for ThyssenKrupp’s Duisburg steel site from the end of 2025. The investment is in the mid double-digit million range. The company is thus securing 24 million t of raw material handling capacity – also for future green steel production in Duisburg.
The new marine shuttle loader replaces one of the four grab cranes and thus modernizes terminal operations at Ertsoverslagbedrijf Europoort C.V. (EECV) in the port of Rotterdam. It is scheduled to be operational by the end of 2025 and will significantly improve efficiency, environmental friendliness and safety. The new addition can unload 2,600 t of iron ore per hour from bulk carriers.
In this way ThyssenKrupp aims to secure a reliable and sustainable supply of raw materials for its Duisburg plant. Hüttenwerke Krupp Mannesmann (HKM) is also a shareholder in EECV’s bulk handling facilities.
The project is also a strong signal for the future of EECV and thyssenkrupp Veerhaven, the two Dutch logistics subsidiaries of thyssenkrupp Steel. Together the two companies handle the unloading of seagoing vessels and the interim storage and transportation of around 24 million tons of iron ore and coal for steel production in Duisburg.
Iron ore for the new direct reduction plant
From 2027, the handling of coal should gradually decline. Iron ore will then mainly be needed for ThyssenKrupp’s direct reduction plants. In Duisburg, in cooperation with the SMS Group, the first DRI plant is scheduled to come on stream in 2026 with a capacity of 2.5 million tons of direct reduced iron.
Dr. Heike Denecke-Arnold, Chief Operations Officer of thyssenkrupp Steel says: “Iron ore will continue to be needed for the production of climate-friendly steel. EECV and thyssenkrupp Veerhaven will thus transport the raw material for the new direct reduction plant in the future.
With the new ocean-going shuttle loader and the proven push boat fleet, the two companies will continue to ensure a safe connection between the port of Rotterdam and the then green smelter in Duisburg in the coming decades.”
The steel producer is receiving funding from the German government and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia as part of the “tkH2Steel” decarbonization project. The €2 billion was only pledged in August following approval from Brussels.
Facts about the seagoing shuttle loader
Like its predecessor, the new seagoing ship unloader weighs around 2,000 t, is a good 60 m high, 30 m wide and has a crane jib length of around 100 m. The crane is designed to be used by EECVel for the production of steel. With these crane dimensions, EECV should be able to unload the world’s largest bulk carriers with a productivity of up to 2,600 t of iron ore per hour.
To reduce possible dust emissions, the unloader will be equipped with a spraying and fogging system in the bunker area. Noise emissions will remain below the officially approved limits. The unloader is also expected to improve occupational safety and comfort for employees.
EECV plans to select the supplier of the new unloader in the coming months. It is expected to start operation at the end of 2025.
Frank Tazelaar, CEO of EECV and thyssenkrupp Veerhaven, summarizes: “With the new crane we are investing in the future of EECV and in the security of raw material supplies to thyssenkrupp Steel and HKM. It gives us the flexibility to develop our business as we move forward with coal mining.”
Forward-looking port infrastructure
EECV has been operating one of Europe’s largest and most modern handling facilities and the second largest bulk terminal in the Port of Rotterdam since 1970, employing around 300 people. On the terminal site, which covers almost 100 hectares, the four seagoing ship loaders on the 1.1-kilometer-long seaport quay lift 30 to 40 tons of iron ore and coal from the ships with each lift.
The raw materials are then transported to the storage areas via conveyor belts. The fleet of the push boat shipping company thyssenkrupp Veerhaven (around 200 employees) transports the raw materials for steel production from Rotterdam to Duisburg via the Rhine using push barges and barges.
Last year thyssenkrupp already began exploring the establishment of supply chains for hydrogen together with the port of Rotterdam as part of its green transformation. This is needed in large quantities for climate-friendly steel production and could be transported via pipeline corridors from Rotterdam to Duisburg.
