Europe’s largest port is gearing up for a potential conflict with Russia by reserving space for ships carrying military supplies and planning where to divert cargo if war breaks out.
Boudewijn Siemons, chief executive of the Port of Rotterdam Authority, said it was coordinating with neighbour Antwerp on how to manage if British, US and Canadian vehicles and supplies arrived.
“Not every terminal is fit for handling military cargo,” he told the Financial Times in an interview. “If large volumes of military goods would have to be shipped, we’d look to Antwerp or other ports to take over some capacity and the other way around. We see each other less and less as competitors. And, of course, we compete where we have to, but we work together where we can.”