BEST Readies for Mega Ships

Hutchison Port Holdings Limited (HPH) subsidiary Barcelona Europe South Terminal (BEST), located at the Port of Barcelona, today held a ceremony for the arrival of three new Quay Cranes (QCs), part of the next phase of expansion to enhance the terminal’s ability to handle mega-vessels. BEST currently has 11 QCs in operation, all of them capable of handling mega-vessels.

In attendance was HPH Managing Director – Central Europe, Clemence Cheng as well as local and national authorities including the Minister of Industry and Development, Ana Pastor; the Delegate of the Government in Catalunya, Maria de los Llanos Luna; the Counselor of Territory and Sustainability, Santi Vila; the President of Puertos del Estado, of José Llorca; and the President of the Port Authority of Barcelona, Sixte Cambra.

Speaking at the event, Clemence Cheng said “The arrival of these new quay cranes further enhances the capability of BEST, which through using state-of-the-art systems and equipment has already been delivering an average quay side productivity of 40 moves per hour per crane to its customers. The arrival is timely as the cranes will be able to handle the anticipated increase in volume at BEST.”

Managing Director of BEST, Guillermo Belcastro said “BEST is providing a unique value to the market with one of the highest berth productivity ratios in the world and intermodal connections to Spain and the south of France that will leverage the new services calling at Barcelona with a ten-days faster transit time with the Far East”

President of the Port of Barcelona, Mr Sixte Cambra, highlighted that “this new Hutchison Port Holdings investment consolidates the high productivity and efficiency of BEST, which is a key factor of the Port expansion. The strong commitment of HPH in the Port of Barcelona reinforces our position as a hub in Southern Europe. “

Upon completion of the expansion work in the first quarter of 2015, BEST will increase its handling capacity by 50 per cent. Additionally, the terminal will have 27 automated container storage blocks, a contiguous 1,500 metre berth, and a draft of 16 to 16.5 metres. BEST will also offer direct hinterland connections from its dynamic rail terminal and will accommodate new multimodal maritime services.