CEVA signs contract with Port of Dunkirk, opens warehouse in Western Sydney

On Friday, the Port of Dunkirk and CEVA Logistics announced that they have signed a contract for a plot of land on which CEVA will develop a new finished vehicle logistics operation for import and export by sea.

Dunkerque-Port has selected CEVA Logistics, a part of CMA CGM, as a candidate in a Call for Expressions of Interest (AMI) for the issue of title to occupy a 9.5-hectare plot of land.

On this site, located in the eastern part of the Port of Dunkirk, CEVA will be deploying a complete new vehicle logistics park, linked to the maritime flows of exports and imports to and from the Port of Dunkirk.

The site will contain vehicle reception and storage areas, as well as loading and unloading areas for trains and vehicle transport trucks. Development will start in October 2024.

Following completion, CEVA expects to handle around 47,000 vehicles a year and to reach an annual volume of 95,000 vehicles by March 2025.

These projections are based on CEVA’s close relationships with the major automakers, who are keen to transit their flows through the Port of Dunkirk, the gateway to France’s battery valley and the only European port to offer an ecosystem around electric mobility.

The construction of a 600 m² workshop will enable on-site preparation operations, including washing, engraving, plate fitting and other detailing and mechanical services to be carried out on 50,000 vehicles per year. A paint shop, using local skilled labour, is also planned, as well as the installation of electric charging stations and a service station.

In the medium term, CEVA will double its capacity with an additional 10.5 hectares of land, bringing the total surface area of its platform to 20 hectares and its park capacity to 8,700 parking spaces.

CEVA possesses a fleet of 3,000 trucks and 3,000 car-carrier wagons. In addition to the sea chartering capabilities of its deep-sea car-carrier vessels, CEVA has a number of assets at its disposal to develop intermodal links at the Port of Dunkirk and attract additional volumes.

The implementation of a rail spur will enable CEVA to speed up turnaround times, by reserving one or two rail links per week and by allocating part of its fleet of vehicle transport trucks on a recurring basis.

Most ports in Northern Europe have been particularly congested since the resumption of automobile production. By setting up the Dunkirk port operations, CEVA will contribute to strengthening automotive hubs and the emergence of the electric vehicle ecosystem in the Hauts-de-France region.

This new activity will be accompanied by the creation of direct jobs, based on the recruitment of 37 people on permanent contracts.  To carry out tasks complementary to its core business, CEVA will call on subcontractors, relying as much as possible on local companies.

“The launch of the new automotive logistics centre at the Port of Dunkirk is a strategic development that will enable us to increase the efficiency and resilience of the supply chains of our customers, exporters and importers. The new location will enhance the region’s logistics potential while supporting our customers’ expansion into new markets. We are proud of this development, which illustrates CEVA Logistics’ commitment to the entire automotive industry, and testifies to our dedication and expertise,” says Mathieu Friedberg, CEO of CEVA Logistics.

“Dunkerque-Port is delighted and proud to welcome CEVA Logistics to the site of the former SRD refinery. With this move, the port will enter a new era, that of electric mobility. Its arrival will enable us to offer a complete range of services to automakers. This is Dunkirk’s new industrial model, based on the principles of a circular, low-carbon economy. Together, we’re going to accelerate the energy transition and achieve carbon neutrality, while generating additional maritime traffic,” says Maurice Georges, Chairman of the Board of Dunkerque-Port.

Sustainable Warehouse in Sydney’s Kemps Creek

CEVA Logistics announced last week the opening of its new 34,000-square-meter facility in the Aspect Industrial Estate an industrial development in the Mamre Road precinct, Western Sydney, Australia.

The new CEVA site is strategically located close to the Western Sydney Airport and has access to key transportation routes, including the M4 and M7 motorways. The warehouse will support Australia’s extensive business growth in the technology and healthcare sectors, particularly in New South Wales.

“With the unveiling of our warehouse in Kemps Creek, CEVA is demonstrating our dedication to investing locally and expanding our footprint of sustainable logistics in Australia,” said Michael Harich, head of contract logistics for CEVA Logistics in Australia and New Zealand. “Together with our existing sites in Orchard Hills, Eastern Creek and two other upcoming facilities in Erskine Park, we are forming a logistics cluster in Western Sydney to better serve the region.

“We remain committed to acting for the planet and finding better ways to deliver long-term business benefits for our customers,” said Harich. “Through using resources sustainably and improving stakeholder relationships, we can reduce the environmental impact of logistics and supply chain operations.”

As part of the CMA CGM Group, CEVA aims to achieve net zero by 2050. After two years of meticulous preparation, the Kemps Creek distribution warehouse is built to specifications that prioritize sustainability and technology in its operations.

Notable features include market-leading temperature control technologies, state-of-the-art racking and traffic management for seamless flows. In addition, 1,510 solar panels are installed for an 830kW photovoltaic system with battery, as well as translucent roof sheeting, LED lighting, electric vehicle charging points and rainwater harvesting to help water conservation.

Growing logistics sector in Western Sydney

The 56-hectare Aspect Industrial Estate park was the first site to be approved under the new planning regime for the Mamre Road precinct that was rezoned for employment uses under the NSW Government’s Planning System Acceleration Program in 2020.

The size of 47 football fields, the industrial area will provide 247,000 square meters of warehouse and office space, with a focus on flexibility, functionality, technology and sustainability, according to site developer, Mirvac.

Mirvac’s CEO of Investments, Richard Seddon said Aspect is forecast to provide over 500 jobs during construction, and 1,200 operational jobs throughout its development.

“The delivery of the first warehouse at Aspect has contributed critical construction and operational jobs as well as investment and enabling infrastructure to boost the economic development of Western Sydney – supporting living and working in this community where around one in nine Australians currently reside,” said Seddon.