NORDFROST Celebrates 10 Years of Port Terminal in Wilhelmshaven

NORDFROST, the market leader in frozen logistics, presents its trade fair appearance at fish INTERNATIONAL in Bremen, the only trade fair for fish and seafood in Germany: The expansions of selected NORDFROST port branches are just as much in focus as the NORDFROST port terminal in the container port of Wilhelmshaven, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year with its comprehensive and growing range of food products across all temperature classes.

(Schortens) The NORDFROST port terminal is now the largest of the 40 NORDFROST logistics locations across Germany and is located directly in Germany’s only deep-water container port, the container port of Wilhelmshaven. In November 2021, a new fully automated deep-freeze high-bay warehouse with an additional 40,000 pallet spaces and automatic loading and unloading of trucks was added to the original storage capacity of 105,000 pallet spaces, divided equally into the temperature ranges of deep-freeze, fresh, and dry. In parallel, a second hygiene area was established in 2021.

Fast and Efficient Processes

This means that the location, which has developed into a highly efficient food hub for import and export, now offers a total of around 5,000 m² of white area for outsourcing process steps. Products are packaged here according to customer specifications, such as freshly delivered meat products that are boxed, shock-frozen, and temporarily stored. For the contract filling of chilled and non-chilled food products with brand-specific decorations, NORDFROST uses automated systems. Various types and formats of packaging are possible. All necessary services, including port logistics, are available in one place, enabling fast and efficient processes and reducing transportation.

The Entire Port on a Remarkable Growth Path

The port itself is currently on a remarkable growth path and has valuable potential for smooth handling – as well as excellent nautical conditions and a unique hinterland connection. Through its own rail connection, the NORDFROST port terminal is also linked to the European rail network and from there to other seaports and all major destinations.

This year, the port of the future celebrates its 10th anniversary. On an area of 33 hectares, the current offering has developed with complete services for all goods. Significant prerequisites for port handling via Wilhelmshaven have been created, especially for food products. All transport services, including container trucking and a full-service container depot, round off the diverse offerings of NORDFROST in Wilhelmshaven. Recently, the company also received the wholesale license for pharmaceuticals according to § 52a AMG and the GDP certificate for the location in the container port of Wilhelmshaven.

Container Port Proves Its Performance

The German deep-water container port has once again demonstrated its performance in recent months. In line with this, the shipping company Hapag-Lloyd is engaging as a new partner of the EUROGATE Container Terminal Wilhelmshaven. In response to the positive business development in the port, NORDFROST is now expanding its container depot to about 4 hectares for the storage of empty boxes as well as loaded standard and refrigerated containers. Construction work for another dry hall of approximately 10,000 m² will also begin in the coming weeks.

Port Logistics in Wesel Expanded

With its port terminal in Wesel on the Lower Rhine, NORDFROST has now expanded its offerings in port logistics. Since April 2021, the company has been independently conducting container ship handling there, providing the importing and exporting economy with a new access point for shipping via the western ports of Rotterdam, Antwerp, and Amsterdam. Traffic is being shifted to the environmentally friendly waterway of the Rhine. A full-service container terminal is being developed at the family-owned company’s port site in Wesel, which has already started operations with the storage of containers and will be expanded by 17,000 m² by the end of 2022. In the long term, the construction of a cold storage facility directly on the water is planned. Here, too, the combination of all services, including demand-oriented value-added services directly at the shipping location, offers the opportunity to save additional routes and thus transportation, achieving maximum efficiency and sustainability in the supply chain for import and export.

Photo: © Nordfrost