José Llorca, president of Spain's National Ports Authority, has said
that the organisation is looking into ways of modifying legislation to
reduce berthing and cargo handling costs.
Port charges for the use of infrastructure and fixed costs paid by the concessionaire for the private use of public land need to be reduced, he acknowledged. Mr Llorca has suggested that the link between land values and annual interest rates to be cut, financial incentives should be offered for transit traffic, and simplified rates be made available for finished vehicles traffic.
He also wants it to be easier for the private sector to invest - so that ports can reach 75% occupancy levels - and concession periods need to be extended to a maximum of 50 years to reflect modern operating conditions.
In May, overall tonnage handled by Spanish ports grew by 0.9%, following six months of continuous decline.
The National Ports Authority celebrated by announcing that unions have provisionally agreed to extend the existing collective bargaining agreement for a further four years. However, organised labour at Algeciras is still pushing for a 20% pay hike, according to box terminal, TTIA, which is now being hit by a series of partial strikes, having offered its workers just 10%.
Port charges for the use of infrastructure and fixed costs paid by the concessionaire for the private use of public land need to be reduced, he acknowledged. Mr Llorca has suggested that the link between land values and annual interest rates to be cut, financial incentives should be offered for transit traffic, and simplified rates be made available for finished vehicles traffic.
He also wants it to be easier for the private sector to invest - so that ports can reach 75% occupancy levels - and concession periods need to be extended to a maximum of 50 years to reflect modern operating conditions.
In May, overall tonnage handled by Spanish ports grew by 0.9%, following six months of continuous decline.
The National Ports Authority celebrated by announcing that unions have provisionally agreed to extend the existing collective bargaining agreement for a further four years. However, organised labour at Algeciras is still pushing for a 20% pay hike, according to box terminal, TTIA, which is now being hit by a series of partial strikes, having offered its workers just 10%.