Port Of Barcelona News

Italian cruise line Costa Cruises on Thursday held a christening ceremony for its new flagship, the Costa Toscana, in the port of Barcelona, Spain.The LNG-powered, Italian-flagged ship sailed away from Civitavecchia, Italy on Monday, making a stop in Naples on Thursday, before arriving in Barcelona on Thursday for the christening ceremony. The 337-meter ship is one of the largest ocean liners and can accommodate 6,554 passengers. Chanel, a Cuban-Spanish singer, dancer, and actress…

A Maltese-flagged ship carrying Russian coal and petroleum coke has docked in the northern Spanish port of Gijon, port authorities said on Monday.Another Maltese-flagged ship, loaded with Russian crude, docked in Cartagena, southern Spain, on Friday, authorities confirmed.The European Union approved sanctions against imports of coal, wood, chemicals and other products such as vodka from Russia on April 8 in a bid to cut trade after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, although the sanctions are not yet fully enforced.On April 27, another Maltese-flagged vessel tried to enter the Port of Barcelona but

For the first time, the ports of Antwerp, Barcelona, Hamburg, Los Angeles, Montreal and Rotterdam come together to showcase their most advanced digital transformation and sustainability projects at their dedicated ‘Smart Ports’ exhibitThe 'Smart Ports. Piers of the Future' event brought together six of the world's largest ports and has turned Barcelona into the world capital of port innovation.At the Smart City Expo World Congress, held from 19 to 21 November at the Fira de Barcelona events center on Gran Via, the ports of Antwerp, Barcelona, Hamburg, Los Angeles, Montreal and Rotterdam joined forces for the first time to set up their…

European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) congratulates Port of Barcelona (Spain), Port of Vigo (Spain) and Port of Baku (Azerbaijan) for getting EcoPorts’ environmental management standard (PERS).Isabelle Ryckbost, ESPO’s Secretary General, handed over the PERS certificates to the ports’ representatives during the Green Port Congress in Oslo.“I would like to congratulate Port of Barcelona and Port of Vigo for renewing EcoPorts’ environmental standard and Port of Baku for obtaining it for the first time. Ports in Europe are more than ever investing to improve their environmental performance and to get their “licence to operate” from the local community…

The international container terminal operating company APM Terminals announced that its Barcelona unit has achieved a very high 150 BMPH (berth moves per hour) servicing a latest-generation vessel.The performance with new equipment confirms the increase in productivity and performance potential with 100% of its latest EUR 47 million investment now being operational, said a press note.With the latest investments implemented, APM Terminals Barcelona reinforces its position as a leader in the maritime business, offering one of the best productivity levels in the Mediterranean, with the newest equipment, the most cutting-edge technology and a customer-focused service always striving for maximum excellence…

The international container terminal operating company headquartered in The Hague, APM Terminals has invested EUR 47 million (USD 53 million) in the Port of Barcelona over recent months.The most recent investment was the acquisition of 29 new straddle carriers, which will help APM Terminals Barcelona improve efficiency once operational this month.“These recent investments are part of APM Terminals' strategy to modernize its current fleet and increase equipment capacity and productivity, as well as improving safety at the Barcelona terminal. We have renewed our commitment to the Port of Barcelona, equipping ourselves with the latest technology necessary to service the most modern container ships that currently stopover in the Catalan capital…

DEME, an international group of specialized companies involved in complex marine engineering works, has won a major contract to carry out the deepening of the Elbe fairway in Germany.The Belgian dredging, environmental and marine engineering group said that its German subsidiary Nordsee Nassbagger- und Tiefbau GmbH, based in Bremen, has acquired the maintenance dredging contract on the River Elbe in Germany.The contract has been awarded to a joint venture, including DEME’s German subsidiary, for a period of two years. DEME will maintain the whole 116 km long fairway of the Elbe between the North Sea and Hamburg.The TSHD ‘Marieke’ will…

The electrical capacity of the APM Terminals Barcelona has also been improved, leading to a reduction in CO2 emissions of 600 tonnes per annum, said the international container terminal operating company headquartered in The Hague.As part of a broader Port of Barcelona’s programme for alternative fuel use, APM Terminals is also working with LNG services provider HAM, technology provider IDIADA and Naturgy Iberia, on a pilot to convert an existing straddle carrier to natural gas.Natural gas burns a lot more cleanly and efficiently than diesel. The straddle carrier’s two 150 kW diesel-based motor engines are currently being converted to natural gas while maintaining the same level of performance.

MAN Energy Solutions won the contract to supply the engines for a new harbor tug in Spain, unique in that it is reportedly the first IMO Tier III compliant tug operating in the Mediterranean.P&O Reyser will operate the 27-m, 75T bollard-pull-rated Asymmetric Tractor Tug (ATT) in the Port of Barcelona, which is expected to enter service from mid-2020.The tug will feature 2 × MAN 12V175D MM, IMO Tier III engines, each rated at 2,220 kWm. The engines will be connected to FPP azimuth thrusters for propulsion…

Spain's Port of Barcelona closed financial year 2018 with a 15% increase in container traffic and record results in the main traffic indicators.According to a press release, the results also confirm the increase in intermodality, with significant growth in rail transport and Motorways of the Sea, helping to boost the sustainability of the logistics chains that pass through the Port of Barcelona.During financial year 2018, the Catalan infrastructure channelled 67.7 million tonnes of traffic - involving all cargo modes - representing a year-on-year increase of 10% and setting a new record for the Port."This result was driven largely by the excellent progression in container traffic, the most representative of the surrounding economy, which was over 3.4 million TEU, marking a 15% increase.

Spanish shipping company Baleària said its Hypatia de Alejandría, first liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fueled ferry on the Mediterranean, completed its first commercial trip between Barcelona and Palma.The ferry reached the Port of Barcelona last Sunday from Venice where the shipyard Cantiere Navale Visentini, where it was built, is located.The president of Baleària, Adolfo Utor, and the Chairwoman of Port of Barcelona, Mercè Conesa, exchanged metopes to commemorate the first port of call for the Hypatia de Alejandría at this port which, just like the shipping company, is committed to reducing emissions and promoting the use of LNG.“The Hypatia of Alexandria marks an important milestone both in the history of Baleària and navigation in the Mediterranean…

Delegates from the world’s leading ports have come together to examine their role in the rapidly evolving maritime logistics landscape and in particular to coordinate their contribution to the establishment of an interconnected maritime supply chain at the Port of Barcelona.The multilateral partnership of the world leading ports, ChainPORT, has just concluded its 4th Annual Meeting which was hosted last week by the Port of Barcelona.ChainPORT was initiated in 2016 by the Port Authorities of Hamburg and Los Angeles in collaboration with the Global Institute of Logistics with the goal of raising awareness of the key role that Port Authorities…

The EU Commissioner for transport, Violeta Bulc, visited the Port of Los Angeles as part of a longer mission to the US and Costa Rica on Thursday 27 September.The European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) was invited to support the visit and contribute to the roundtable discussion  with Violeta Bulc, Gene Seroka (CEO of the Port of Los Angeles), Santiago Garcia Mila, (Deputy Director General, Port of Barcelona), Jens Meier (President of the Port of Hamburg), Victor Schoenmakers (Director Corporate Strategy, Port of Rotterdam). ESPO was represented by its Chairman, Eamonn O ‘Reilly, and its Secretary General, Isabelle Ryckbost.The roundtable…

Carnival Corporation officially opened its second cruise terminal at the Port of Barcelona with an inauguration ceremony attended by government, business and community representatives.During the ceremony, the company revealed that Helix cruise center will be the name of its new 12,500 square meter state-of-the-art terminal. At over 46 million euros, the Helix terminal and the company's existing terminal at the port represent Carnival Corporation's largest combined terminal investment in Europe.The Helix terminal will accommodate Carnival Corporation's new class of next-generation "green" cruise ships that will be fully operated by liquefied natural gas (LNG).Designed by Catalan architecture firm Batlle i Roig Arquitectura, the new cruise terminal is located on the port's Adossat wharf.

In 2017, the Terminal Marítima de Zaragoza (tmZ) increased its handled volume by 20 percent, to around 350,000 TEUs by rail and truck. Over the past five years, the terminal has seen volumes increase by more than 250%. Miguel Duro, Managing Director of the company, points to   the depot’s, “flexible service offering”. Following the addition of a railway siding in 2007 a private company was established  ̶  tmZ Depot Services  ̶  to operate the  terminal under a 35-year concession. APM Terminals Spain is a co-founder and holds a 45% stake in the company. The depot is a multimodal inland terminal exclusively focused on the maritime container trade.

Spanish liquefied natural gas (LNG) operator Gas Natural Fenosa signed an exclusive 10-year LNG supply deal with Spanish ferry operator Baleària. According to the company release, the supply contract will initially apply to the ports of Barcelona, Valencia and Algeciras, then extended to all the peninsular ports operated by the shipping company together with the entire new fleet powered by this fuel committed to using LNG as an ecological fuel. The president of Baleària, Adolfo Utor, and the Wholesale Iberian Marketing Manager of GAS NATURAL FENOSA, Joaquín Mendiluce, this morning signed this agreement at the International Tourism Fair (Fitur) in Madrid.

Cepsa has started marketing RMK500 fuel in the Port of Barcelona to meet customer demand for this product. The Company is extending the supply of this fuel in the Mediterranean Sea after its marketing launch in other ports around the country, such as Algeciras or Gibraltar, where Cepsa is also the only supplier of this marine fuel. The Company is also incorporating a new barge in the Port of Barcelona with the aim of improving fuel supply. RMK500 marine fuel, produced by Cepsa at its refinery in Gibraltar-San Roque, is similar to FO380, with 3.5% sulfur. However, it has specific properties, such as its greater density and viscosity and lower cost, making it a highly sought-after product with little market supply.

AIDAperla - the youngest member of the AIDA Cruises fleet - reached the port of Barcelona via the western Mediterranean on June 7, 2017, as part of its "Welcome Cruises". During AIDAperla’s maiden season, Barcelona is, alongside Palma de Mallorca, one of the start and end ports for her seven-day cruises in the western Mediterranean. The Rostock cruise company’s latest ship will be christened on June 30, 2017 in Palma de Mallorca by model and presenter, Lena Gercke. The christening ceremony will be streamed live on the Internet, the AIDA social media channels and on board all AIDA ships.

The Spanish cabinet passed a decree on Friday aimed at liberalizing the country's ports, a second effort at a contentious law which has already been rejected by parliament and prompted threats of widespread strikes. The Mediterranean's largest ports, Valencia and Algeciras, alongside the smaller port of Barcelona, help shift about two thirds of Spain's imports and exports. Prolonged industrial action could badly hurt Spain's exports, which are worth about a third of economic output and were key in dragging the country from recession following the 2008 property market crash. The law has been amended since its last iteration, which was blocked by the opposition in parliament, and must now return to the lower house for approval.

Key export chains in Spain could face major disruption if a long-running dispute between the government and the country's dock workers extends beyond a planned three-day strike next week, industry sources warned on Thursday. The standstill will take place every other hour on Feb. 20, 22 and 24 at dozens of Spanish ports which employ more than 6,000 stevedores and handle an estimated 500 million tonnes of merchandise a year. "The strike action could cause a lot of problems, not only for the ports but also for the companies," said an administrative source at the busy Mediterranean port of Valencia, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Spain's export sector is worth more than 330 billion euros ($352 billion) a year, or about a third of economic output.

Innovation and technology use have become a competitive factor for the transport and logistics sector. The Port has launched Port Challenge Barcelona, a programme to support the creation of new technology-based businesses to improve the efficiency and competitiveness of the Port Logistics Community. This initiative aims to attract entrepreneurs and to create the conditions for developing innovative projects to help modernise the sector. Port Challenge Barcelona will provide the necessary logistics and port knowledge to help entrepreneurs to transform their business idea or fledgling company into a viable concern. The Port is looking for innovative ideas that use new technologies to produce an impact on their business ecosystem.

The Port of Barcelona is pursuing an active policy to increase the competitive edge of its customers, fostering the development of efficient and operational services that respond to their needs for international shipping and logistics services. To do this, it provides port companies, customers and users with various tools such as multi-sectoral business missions, specialised courses and seminars on foreign trade matters. Now it has incorporated the methodology of a company called GettingContacts, which provides networking with a customised agenda, which has proven to be a high-performance format especially designed to provide a rapid response to the needs of transport and logistics companies.

Panama and Cuba, both in the midst of growth and international expansion, are examples of two different economic models that are helping to attract foreign companies through government initiatives providing investor security. Seeking to generate business opportunities and strengthen corporate and institutional ties between the Cuban and Panamanian logistics communities, the Port of Barcelona said it has planned a multi-sector trade mission to Panama City and Havana from November 19 to 25.