A new semi-automated deepwater container terminal, Barcelona Europe South Terminal (BEST), has been opened by Terminal Catalunya (TERCAT), a subsidiary of Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH). The opening ceremony was attended by the King of Spain, Juan Carlos I.
John Meredith, group managing director of HPH said: "BEST is the most technologically advanced port development project and has the biggest on-dock eight-track rail facility in southern Europe. It is capable of serving multiple mega-vessels simultaneously.”
BEST is the first semi-automated terminal in HPH’s 52-port network. The terminal will start operation with 1,000m of quay, dredged to 16.5m, and eight ship-to-shore gantry cranes. Planned future development will expand BEST to 1,500m of quay, 100 hectares of yard and 18 ship-to-shore gantry cranes.
Alejandro Kouruklis, TERCAT’s general manager, said that BEST would significantly change the role of the port of Barcelona, increasing its transshipment handling capabilities. He added: “This terminal has a combination of state-of-the-art equipment, systems (nGen), operational methods and people that will ensure we are a terminal of reference regarding productivity and efficiency in Europe.”CST
© 2023 Riviera Maritime Media Ltd.