HONG KONG's Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) plans to sue the Rotterdam port authority for US$1.2 billion compensation because of the damage suffered by its European Container Terminal (ECT) by the opening of the Maasvlakte 2 cargo handling facility.

    HPH management has already expressed anger over the expansion scheme which will lead to annual capacity of 8.5 million TEU generated from the development of two new container terminals.

    ECT is to withdraw funding for widening of the access channel, Amazonhaven, and has asked for delay in the launch of Maasvlakte 2 due to open in 2014.

    In response to the lawsuit the port authority is confident that its working partnership with ECT has been correct and that it cannot be held responsible for market forces.

    ECT has been offered land at the new site despite the fact it currently owns over half of container capacity at the Maasvlakte terminal.

(source:http://www.shippingonline.cn/news/newsList.asp?classname=News)