With the signature of the concession agreement on 5 November 2021 and the facility at Rijeka is to be developed and jointly operated by APM Terminals and ENNA as joint venture partners. APM Terminals holds 51% in the joint venture, and ENNA 49%.
The signing ceremony, attended by Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and Minister of Sea, Transport, and Infrastructure Oleg Butković, marks the beginning of the construction phase for the new facility, expected to become operational in three and half years when the first phase is schedule to be completed.
After the completion of Phase 2, both phases together will have projected throughput of 1.06m teu.
The future terminal will be part of APM Terminal’s global network, while benefitting from ENNA’s deep understanding of the local market in Croatia.
“For APM Terminals, development of this new facility is in line with our newly launched strategy of ‘Safer, Better, Bigger’. We want to grow our business where it makes sense and where our customers need us, and this is clearly the case with Rijeka”, commented Morten Engelstoft, APM Terminals CEO.
“APM Terminals and Maersk have been strong business partners for ENNA, and partners who share our values and our business vision. We firmly believe that our joint venture of investment into the Zagreb Deep Sea container terminal in Rijeka (Rijeka Gateway) will lay the foundations for further growth and sustainability of the port operations and logistics business in Rijeka and in the Republic of Croatia,” said Pavao Vujnovac, President of the board, ENNA Group.
Once completed, the new terminal will have a berth length of 400 metres and will be equipped with three ship-to-shore (STS) cranes Rijeka Gateway capable of serving vessels of up to 24,000 teu.
Phase two will add a further 280 metres of berth and a further quay crane.
The terminal will also feature a rail connection with the hinterland, linking Rijeka not only with the rest of Croatia but also with neighbouring markets.
“Rijeka Gateway and the modernisation of the railway infrastructure is Croatia’s largest national project that will connect the Port of Rijeka with continental Croatia and Central European countries, facilitating business opportunities and fast economic growth not only in logistics, but in all services and all industries,” said Vujnovac.
Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved. Seatrade, a trading name of Informa Markets (UK) Limited.
Add Seatrade Maritime News to your Google News feed.  |
