ICTSI unit to expand terminal in Croatia

MANILA, Philippines — International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) of billionaire Enrique Razon Jr. is set to embark on a major expansion program at Croatia’s main seaport.

In cooperation with the Rijeka Port Authority, ICTSI said subsidiary Adriatic Gate Container Terminal (AGCT) has drawn up plans for a two-phase dredging scheme, with the first phase entailing the dredging of 130 meters of quay over  berths 1 and 2 already fully-approved. 

ICTSI said the first phase component would facilitate the berthing of vessels with a length overall of up to 400 meters and is expected to be completed by mid-2020.

The company is undertaking all the associated necessary investment in quayside and landside handling systems, as well as the increased coverage of the terminal’s state-of-the-art IT systems,  while financing for the infrastructure works has been provided by the EU and Port of Rijeka Authority.  

Meanwhile, plans for the second phase include additional dredging alongside the 438-meter of quay to a depth of 16.5 meters.

The project, once completed, will make AGCT the first terminal in the northern Adriatic that is able to berth vessels of up to 20,000 twenty-foot equivalent units capacity, with a length overall of up to 400 meters and beam of 59 meters.

“We have decided to do this against a background of steady demand but, more importantly, to keep pace with the requirements of our clients in terms of both ship size and a rise in intermodal rail activity,” AGCT chief executive officer Wojciech Szymulewicz said.

“While the volume through AGCT has risen modestly year on year, the expansion program will future proof the terminal in terms of both providing new volume capacity for the longer term and meeting new system requirements, notably accommodating bigger vessels and boosting the intermodal rail capability.

The program has involved close client liaison and study of all relevant market factors, and we are confident AGCT will meet the needs of container lines calling Rijeka and of cargo owners for the foreseeable future,”  said Hans-Ole Madsen, ICTSI senior vice president and regional head of Europe-Middle East-Africa.

ICTSI forged a 30-year strategic partnership with Luka Rijeka D.D. in 2011 for the operation, management, and development of the AGCT at the Port of Rijeka, Croatia’s main seaport.

It has at least 16 ports in the Asia and the Pacific including ports in the Philippines, two in Africa, seven in the Americas, and four in Europe and the Middle East.