German port operator HHLA, Hamburg's leading port operator has reportedly beaten its rivals, TCB Group, DP World, APM Terminals and ICTSI in a bidding for contract held by the Croatian Port of Rijeka to develop and operatate the Bradjica container terminal.
HHLA was shortlisted for the project along with four other operators, each of which has far more international operating experience (albeit HHLA's HPC affiliate operates the Odessa container terminal in the Ukraine) – DP World, Spain's Grup TCB, APM Terminals and ICTSI (for last report, see WorldCargo News, June 2010, p11).
Other earlier interested parties are understood to have included Germany-based Eurogate Group, T O Delta (Italy's Maneschi, with operations in Trieste) and Malta Freeport (Terminal Link/CMA CGM).
The final binding agreement between the port authority (Luka Rijeka) and HHLA should be signed before the end of this year.
The concessionaire, which will acquire 50% plus one share, is required to invest E54.5M in the short term, including (at least) two new post-Panamax ship-to-shore gantry cranes, and increase capacity to a minimum of 400,000 TEU/year.
The concession lasts until 2041, based on the extension of Luka Rijeka's own operating rights agreed with Jadranska Vrata (the Croatian government's "sea gates" initiative) at the end of last year.
HHLA was shortlisted for the project along with four other operators, each of which has far more international operating experience (albeit HHLA's HPC affiliate operates the Odessa container terminal in the Ukraine) – DP World, Spain's Grup TCB, APM Terminals and ICTSI (for last report, see WorldCargo News, June 2010, p11).
Other earlier interested parties are understood to have included Germany-based Eurogate Group, T O Delta (Italy's Maneschi, with operations in Trieste) and Malta Freeport (Terminal Link/CMA CGM).
The final binding agreement between the port authority (Luka Rijeka) and HHLA should be signed before the end of this year.
The concessionaire, which will acquire 50% plus one share, is required to invest E54.5M in the short term, including (at least) two new post-Panamax ship-to-shore gantry cranes, and increase capacity to a minimum of 400,000 TEU/year.
The concession lasts until 2041, based on the extension of Luka Rijeka's own operating rights agreed with Jadranska Vrata (the Croatian government's "sea gates" initiative) at the end of last year.