The Port of Barcelona has announced a deal with Hutchison (HPH), the operator of its Tercat container terminal, to extend the current 30-year concession by a further 15 years.
The port authority said it had agreed the deal conditional on HPH investing up to EUR5.8 billion (USD6.5 billion) during the extended concession period, according to local newspapers.
At the heart of the new investment is an ambition to fully automate the existing terminal to improve its competitiveness. HPH is understood to be ordering eight new remote-controlled quay cranes as well as automated stack and yard equipment.
Tercat – Terminal Catalunya – claims to be the most modern terminal in the Mediterranean.
Apart from improving productivity, the full automation is aimed at improving the terminal’s energy efficiency and environmental footprint, according to sources at the Port of Barcelona.
This post was sourced from IHS Maritime 360: View the original article here.
