THE Port of Valencia has overtaken the Port of Algeciras to become Spain's top container port, however, the Port of Barcelona achieved the highest volume growth after throughput rose by one-third in 2017 to 2.97 million TEU. Both Hutchison and APM Terminals operate container terminals in Barcelona.
By comparison Valencia's container throughput rose by 2.3 per cent in 2017 to 4.78 million TEU, while box volume at Algeciras port declined 7.9 per cent to 4.39 million TEU.
The stronger growth rate at the port of Barcelona can be attributed to attracting five new liner services operated by MSC, as well as Barcelona being less impacted by last year's industrial unrest associated with the reform of Spain's port labour practices. An upside to this was that a lot of cargo was diverted to Barcelona from other ports where serious industrial action took place, reported UK's Port Strategy.
This in turn leads to the long-held view that port businesses in Barcelona are not prepared to push so hard for labour reforms as their contemporaries elsewhere and as a result they suffer less disruption - but this approach represents a major barrier to port employers presenting a united front and achieving meaningful reforms of port labour practices.
Valencia has a multi-berth container terminal project in the pipeline that aims to consolidate and expand its lead in the container sector. This proposed fourth container terminal would feature an eventual quay line of two kilometres and have the capacity to handle five million TEU per annum.
The outer harbour will have to undergo partial reconfiguration to accommodate the planned container terminal. To a large extent this is driven by both the increased length of today's mega vessels and by the desire for one continuous quay length, which will facilitate more efficient operations. A tunnel will provide simplified access to this so-called new North Terminal.
By comparison Valencia's container throughput rose by 2.3 per cent in 2017 to 4.78 million TEU, while box volume at Algeciras port declined 7.9 per cent to 4.39 million TEU.
The stronger growth rate at the port of Barcelona can be attributed to attracting five new liner services operated by MSC, as well as Barcelona being less impacted by last year's industrial unrest associated with the reform of Spain's port labour practices. An upside to this was that a lot of cargo was diverted to Barcelona from other ports where serious industrial action took place, reported UK's Port Strategy.
This in turn leads to the long-held view that port businesses in Barcelona are not prepared to push so hard for labour reforms as their contemporaries elsewhere and as a result they suffer less disruption - but this approach represents a major barrier to port employers presenting a united front and achieving meaningful reforms of port labour practices.
Valencia has a multi-berth container terminal project in the pipeline that aims to consolidate and expand its lead in the container sector. This proposed fourth container terminal would feature an eventual quay line of two kilometres and have the capacity to handle five million TEU per annum.
The outer harbour will have to undergo partial reconfiguration to accommodate the planned container terminal. To a large extent this is driven by both the increased length of today's mega vessels and by the desire for one continuous quay length, which will facilitate more efficient operations. A tunnel will provide simplified access to this so-called new North Terminal.