Photo: Dr. Jean-Paul Rodrigue, 2003
The temporary storage of containers for ship-to-land and land-to-ship intermodal operations is often extensive in space. In this case, using straddle carriers for yard operations demands even more extensive use of space since the density is limited to a height of two containers. The advantage of such a low-density operation is the quick access to any desired container as limited sorting is involved. However, the drawback is the availability of yard space. Many container terminals do not opt for this type of yard density since they lack storage space. Terminal de Normandie, depicted above, was closed in 2011 because the site was becoming less suitable for post-Panamax ships. Operations were relocated to a new section of the port (Port 2000) adapted to larger ships.