History

The history of OVET begins in 1957. In that year the French stevedoring company Manufrance decided to set up a local bulk stevedore company for and with a major customer: the Association Cooperative Zélandaise de Carbonisation, better known as the Cokesfabriek (Coke Factory).

This factory was concentrated on the production of coke for French steelworks. Terneuzen was a favourable location because it is well-situated with regard to England and the Ruhr area where the coal came from. The fact that the water was deep there, also proved to be a major advantage. The substantial price difference between supplying coal  via Rotterdam or directly to Terneuzen was the main reason for choosing a location in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen. The company was established on the 2nd of May 1957. The managing director at the time, Y.H.M. Simenel, started out with seven other employees and ran the company from the Grand Hotel Rotterdam in Terneuzen.

OVET chose to use floating cranes in order to be able to lighten vessels in midstream as well as from the quai. The first floating cranes had a lifting capacity of 6 tons. The company was successful and steadily gained new clients besides the Coke Factory. The lifting capacity of the cranes went from 6 tons to 16 tons and later to 25 tons. The newest crane with a lifting capacity of 36 tons came into service in 2007. From an annual 500,000 tons at the beginning, transhipment at Ovet has grown to as much as 7.5 million tons. The company now has terminals in Vlissingen and Terneuzen and over 100 employees ensure that clients can count on a high quality service .