5 Nov 2008

Newly appointed commercial manager for Zeeland Seaports also responsible for Biopark Terneuzen future development

Expansive plans for Zeeland’s ports and bio-industry complex set a faster pace that will aid the region’s growth

Terneuzen, The Netherlands, 5 November 2008 – In June, as part of the continuing drive to grow its port activities together with its Biopark Terneuzen initiative, Zeeland Seaports appointed Peter Geertse (42) to the post of Commercial Manager. Geertse, whose training is in commercial economics and port and transport management, brings 23 years of shipping and container operations’ knowledge and expertise to the job. His recent experience includes 11 years in a senior management post with the EWL/Europe West Indies Lines and before that with Hamburg Sud.

Commenting on the appointment, Hans van der Hart, General Director of ZSP, Zeeland Seaports, says: “In addition to his industry credentials, Peter Geertse brings a high level of energy, imagination and organisation to the job. I’m sure that we will see this reflected in the realisation of plans we have for the future expansion of the ports and development of the industrial terrains in and around the port areas.”

“This is a particularly important time in the ongoing development of Zeeland Seaports and I am very excited to be part of the team contributing to its next stage of growth,” says Peter Geertse. “The Port of Vlissingen is currently developing three mega container terminals, while Biopark Terneuzen, which is also my responsibility, is targeting further expansion that presents very real challenges.”

“Biopark Terneuzen is unique”, Geertse says. “Developing an area where Bio & Agri-industrial plants are linked to exchange and reuse their waste and by products may sound futuristic or utopian. It is not. Biopark Terneuzen is operational in many ways already and we are in discussion with new participants who should soon extend our Smart Links. I strongly believe Biopark Terneuzen is a realistic route that society must increasingly take to conserve natural resources and, at the same time, maintain quality of life”, he explains.

“These developments are based on sustainable-industry concepts and have wide implications for the local economy. They are designed to attract new trade and new business to the region, as well as encourage investment in existing businesses. In turn this will create new work opportunities”, he adds.

Reader enquiries

Biopark Terneuzen
Noorwegenweg 1
4530 AC
Terneuzen
Netherlands

+31 115 647 400

port@zeeland-seaports.com

www.zeeland-seaports.com

Notes for editors

About Biopark Terneuzen

Established in February 2007, Biopark Terneuzen is a ‘Smart Link’ initiative that represents new thinking in the creation of Bio & Agro-industrial sustainability. Building on the economic and knowledge transfer advantages obtained through the co-location of associated businesses, Biopark Terneuzen raises the platform to a higher level. Based on smart linking, it promotes and facilitates the exploitation of key synergies between its partner companies. Specifically the potential to exchange and utilise each other’s by-products and waste streams as feedstock or utility supplements for their own processes. This contributes to their productivity, to the conservation of non-renewable resources and the reduction of environmental burden. The growing list of Biopark Terneuzen’s industrial members includes: Yara Sluiskil, Nedalco, Cargill, EcoService Europe, Heros, ESV Group and Rosendaal Energy. For further information please visit: www.bioparkterneuzen.com.

About Zeeland Seaports

As port authority, Zeeland Seaports is responsible for the management and development of the ports of the Zeeland region, The Netherlands. Zeeland Seaports is an independent non-profit organisation. It resulted from a merger in 1998 of the ports of Vlissingen and Terneuzen strategically located on the Westerscheldt estuary between Rotterdam and Antwerp. With an open connection to the North sea and the Rhine-Scheldt Canal, Zeeland Seaports serves both the global liner routes and Europe’s inland waterways: with around 7,000 ships and 23,500 inland vessels per year representing a total of more than 60 million tonnes of cargo handling. For further information please visit: www.zeeland-seaports.com.