Press Release 01 Oct 2015

Contargo North France Receives Award for Cooperation with Customs

Paris, 29 September 2015 - On 24 September 2015 in Paris, Contargo North France received the “Demain l'Economie” prize awarded under the aegis of the French Ministry of Economics. This award honoured the cooperation between the government and the logistics enterprise which made it possible for the Escaut Valenciennes Terminal operated by Contargo to become, in February of this year, the first French terminal to be certified as an “Extended Gateway”.

The prize, "Demain l'Economie" for forward-looking economic development, is awarded to enterprises which have carried out exemplary projects. Between November 2013 and February 2015 Contargo North France, in cooperation with the French government and the Belgian and French customs authorities, realised the certification of the Escaut Valenciennes Terminal, now approved as the first “Extended Gateway” in France.

The terminal in north France has held this status since February 2015. This enables Contargo to transport containers which have been unloaded at MSC terminals in the Port of Antwerp directly by barge to the Escaut Valenciennes Terminal, without prior customs processing in the seaport. They then undergo customs processing in Escaut Valenciennes.

This certification makes combined transport by inland barge even more economically interesting, and may contribute to more transports being transferred onto Europe’s inland waterways. The service also enhances the attractiveness of Valenciennes as a location for industry and logistics.

Photo caption: Gilbert Bredel, CEO Contargo North France (centre), receives the "Demain l'Economie" Prize.

With an annual transport volume of 2 million TEU, Contargo is one of the largest container logistics networks in Europe. Contargo integrates container transport between the western seaports, the German North Sea ports and the European hinterland. The enterprise has 25 container terminals at its disposal in Germany, France, Switzerland and the Czech Republic and maintains offices at seven additional locations in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Japan. Contargo also operates its own barge and rail lines. In 2014 the workforce of 800 employees achieved a turnover of 410 million Euro.