Italian and Spanish ports expand capacity, operations and infrastructure By Karen E. Thuermer, AJOTWith increasing volumes of cargo transiting the Mediterranean from Asia via the Suez Canal, Mediterranean ports are taking on increasing importance. With cargo volumes on the rise, however, these ports are experiencing capacity issues. Consequently, many are revamping their facilities to handle increased cargo more efficiently. Short sea connections are also important to these ports’ operations. In its 2001 White Paper, “European Transport Policy for 2010: Time to Decide,” the European Commission outlines that the capacity of European ports to handle increased traffic efficiently is contingent on a large-scale shift of traffic to other modes by 2010, notably short sea shipping. Here is AJOT’s review of several key ports in Spain and Italy and what they are doing to handle increased traffic. Spain’s portsOverall, container throughput at Spain’s 50 port facilities increased by 11.1% to 10.01 million teus in 2004, according to the state port authority Puertos del Estado. A total of over 410.4 million tons was handled, up nearly eight percent over 2003. Spain’s top ports of Algeciras, Valencia and Barcelona are especially noted for their container business. At the Port of Barcelona, the Port Nou terminal is being extended by 4,100 square meters this year. Juan Manuel Murcia, head of the terminal, reports that the area can be used as berths and for warehousing. Despite the port’s scarce storage capabilities, Barcelona has created a niche in customer service for empty containers storage, particularly given the fact that loads are generally only 45% full on ships sailing East for Asia. To accommodate the large volumes of containers arriving at the Port, the Port of Barcelona is doubling its container capacity with its new harbor to the South of the city. The new terminal is expected to be operational by January 2008. In 2004, the port handled 1.9 million teus, up from 1.7 million teus in 2003. According to Joaquim Coello, president of the Port of Authority of Barcelona, the present infrastructure can handle up to 2.3 million teus. The new terminal would double this amount to five million teus. Overall, 80% of all cargo at the port services the Port of Barcelona’s hinterland area of Catalonia. Given the large volume of land needed for transshipment traffic, Coello reveals that the port is not keen on attracting this use. Efforts are more concentrated on expanding rail operations, which currently account for only four to six percent of the traffic in and out of the port. Barcelona’s Autoterminal is also important to the port given its position as the major vehicle logistics platform for the Mediterranean and Southern Europe. Autoterminal has storage capacity for 42,000 vehicles on a 310,000 square meter covered surface. The Port of Algeciras has become an important European container hub in recent years, and is one of the busiest ports in the Mediterranean today. In 2004, the port moved 2.9 million teus, up 16.7% over 2003 figures. The Port of Valencia is increasing its container capacity. In 2004 Valencia accounted for 2.1 million teus, an increase of 7.5% over 2003. An additional 500-meter berth is being built close to the port’s Public Container Terminal. The berth is scheduled to be completed in 2006 and will be operated by Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC). The new terminal calls for a 720-meter quay wall, with 16 meter depths alongside. The entire facility will occupy around 350,000 square meters. Spain’s Port of Cadiz is strategically located as an excellent transshipment point. Land connections via the Cadiz-Seville motorway give the port accessibility to the Iberian Peninsula and beyond. Road improvements on the A-381 Jerez-Los Barrios dual carriageway act as a link to the Mediterranean dual carriageway. Transport links also access North Africa. Distributed among its four docks, Cadiz offers a Free Port Area, a ro/ro traffic area, a restricted ar