A USD 73 million investment to upgrade four existing cranes, along with other infrastructure improvements to APM Terminals Algeciras, has helped to make Spain’s largest container port the busiest on the Mediterranean Sea, with an overall throughput of 4.33 million TEUs, representing an increase of 6.6 % over the 2012 annual volume, APM Terminals said in its press release.
APM Terminals Algeciras, the busiest terminal (by equity share) in the APM Terminals Global Terminal Network, handled 3.29 million TEUs last year, accounting for 76% of the port’s containe r throughput, enabling Algeciras to overtake rival Spanish port Valencia as the top container port in the Mediterranean. The majority of APM Terminals Algeciras ’ volume was transshipment cargo for Africa and Latin America. Four new cranes were delivered last month to APM Terminals Algeciras by Chinese manufacturer , ZMPC .
“Our ongoing program of improvements aims to s et the standard for operations, safety, sustainability and community outreach , ” said APM Terminals Algeciras Managing Director , Javier Lanch a . The terminal, which opened in 198 6 , now generates approximately 3,000 jobs directly, including 300 office staff and 1900 stevedores handling + 40 vessel calls per week. 300 new stevedore jobs were recently added to handle the growth in business. Shipping line customers include Maersk Line, CMA - CGM, DAL , Mediterranean Shipping, Mitsui - OSK and United Arab Shipping Line - which also has six 18,000 TEU capacity vessels on order. The terminal has also introduced 102 new, advanced fuel - efficient truck s that reduce diesel consumption by 12% while reducing CO 2 emissions by 12%.
The trucks are from Dutch - based Terberg, with safety features including software which permits only designated , approved personnel to operate the vehicles. APM Terminals Algeciras’ safety performance Lost - Time Injury Frequency (LTIF) rate improved to 4.59 per million man - hours worked in 2013, down from 5.85 in 2012, and representing a 62.8% decline from the 2010 LTIF rate of 12.35.
“We are very proud of the teamwork that produced these safety achievements and our plans call for continuous improvement year - on - year. ” “ Equally important, we are proud to have led the discussions with government leaders in And alucia and the Spanish Ministry of Development to make our Algecira s stevedore labor partners officially recognized through a professional certification process in Spain , effective 14 May 2014 . Rigorous training and testing on container handling equipment, 1 safety, productivity and the shipping/port industry are required t o complete the certification process. Previously there was no national certification process. This is a first in Spain which APM Terminals Algeciras delivered to improve the lives and professional stature of our stevedores . We are gratefu l for the support of the Government of Andalucía to make these successes and our continuing successes possible , ” added Mr. Lancha. A recent study by the University of Cadiz identified 15% of the total jobs in Algeciras Bay are related to the port business.