First shipment via the waterway: stow chooses a durable alternative for road transport
Last Tuesday, stow was supplied via the inland waterway for the first time. The shipment of metal coils from the ArcelorMittal production site (port of Ghent) was delivered to Laebens Logistics (Zwevegem), using trucks only for the last mile delivery. In order to increase mobility and capacity and to improve sustainability, stow considered whether a modal shift to water-bound transport would be possible together with De Vlaamse Waterweg nv and other stakeholders.
Until recently, these coils with an individual weight of 25 tons were delivered entirely by truck, because the stow site in Spiere-Helkijn is not directly water-bound. "De Vlaamse Waterweg nv analysed various options, concluding that ship deliveries to Zwevegem in combination with an temporary storage and last-mile delivery by truck to Spiere-Helkijn is a worthy and sustainable alternative to road transport. This new way of transportation can also be implemented relatively quickly", says Chris Danckaerts, managing director of De Vlaamse Waterweg nv.
"The transported cargo is the equivalent of 53 trucks. The goods are temporarily stored in a warehouse awaiting delivery to the customer. Only the last mile delivery to stow HQ is done by truck, emitting four times less CO2 in the process," emphasizes Lydia Peeters, Minister of Mobility and Public Works. "With this modal shift, stow keeps a lot of trucks off our roads every year. An example that hopefully many more companies will follow."
Lydia Peeters continues: "By using the waterway instead of trucks, goods can be moved more efficiently and at a lower cost. With the switch to inland shipping, stow can keep an average of 53 trucks per ship off our roads for every delivery via the waterway. The company is thus shifting up a gear when it comes to sustainable transport via the waterways. I am convinced that their example can be inspiring for other companies."
stow is delighted to be able to count on the full cooperation of ArcelorMittal, Laebens Logistics, HTS Group and De Vlaamse Waterweg for this important shift towards sustainable mobility in Flanders.
ArcelorMittal, an important supplier of coils, makes as much use as possible of inland shipping to supply its customers, contributing to better mobility and further reduction of CO2 emissions in the logistics chain, with the goal of climate neutrality by 2050.
Together with inland shipping operator HTS Intermodal, Laebens Logistics has established LCZ (Logistiek Centrum Zwevegem). LCZ has completed the necessary investments to implement the new logistics chain. For example, it acquired some of the former Bekaert warehouses in Zwevegem and conditioned one of them for the handling and storage of coils. For handling, a brand-new 33-ton fork elevator was purchased and a new handling crane was ordered, suitable for both general cargo, containers and bulk. LCZ will offer for stow the total logistics service from the supplier to the site in Spiere-Helkijn. This set-up will also be offered for other coil processors in East and West Flanders, as well as Northern France.
Finally, in addition to conducting the transport analysis, De Vlaamse Waterweg provided LCZ with a permit for the use of the quay in Zwevegem on the Bossuit-Kortrijk canal, giving it direct access to the waterway.