Dry ports and logistics facilities

The challenges of dry port planning and design

Dry ports bring many benefits for supply chain stakeholders. They lower congestion at sea ports and allow customers to handle the import and export of cargo from on-site offices. This speeds up transit time, improves customer satisfaction, and lowers door-to-door freight rates.

But to be successful, dry ports must have enabling facilities to support their customers. These include roads, utilities, and intermodal transfer facilities as well as additional services like a customs and inspection office, bank, post office, petrol station and repair shops. 

Dry ports also need to offer cost-competitive incentives to attract transport companies. And it’s essential for them to have good infrastructure connections to link them to the sea ports and hinterland destinations.

The success of dry port projects can be threatened by an inadequate base volume of business, poor connections, and a lack of clarity on legislation, rules and regulations, and procedures. It’s a lot to manage. But support from the right partner can make it easier.

Dry port consultants

Royal HaskoningDHV is one of the world’s most experienced firms in the planning, design, and supervision of dry port developments. We have an extensive, proven, and long-standing track record of projects all over the world and have served both private-sector terminal operators and shipping lines and government authorities alike. 

Our experienced dry port consultants carry out all aspects of dry port planning and design, as well as the supervision of their construction – including the design and specification of cargo storage facilities and warehouses. 

Our services also include the inspection of inland container terminals, feasibility studies and the preliminary and detailed designs of these terminals and related infrastructure. As well as this, we advise on suitable land plots and basic infrastructure such as roads, underground services, and lighting for free zones.

Our dry ports and logistics facilities expertise

We can help you at every stage during the development of dry ports and free zones, with services including:

• Trade forecasts 
• Market studies
• Strategic studies
• Public-private partnership investment studies
• Master planning
• (Pre) feasibility studies
• Transport access studies
• Logistical and (internal) terminal traffic studies
• Topographic and geotechnical surveys
• Cargo handling and terminal equipment advice
• Design and specifications of cargo storage facilities and warehouses
• Customs and tariff studies
• Feasibility, preliminary and detailed designs of terminals and infrastructure
• Cost estimates
• Environmental studies
• Financial and economic assessment
• Technical Specifications
• Tender documentation and tender assistance
• Project management and construction site supervision