SPAIN is developing a new container handling facility, called Muelle Prat, in the port of Barcelona, that will be operated and developed by Terminal Catalunya (TERCAT) to serve as a Mediterranean gateway for Asian products to reach South Europe.

    The semi-automated box terminal operator is a unit of Hong Kong's Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) group. The facility will have an annual handling capacity of 2.65 million TEU when the first phase comes on line next year.

    It will cover a total area of 100 hectares with a quay length of 1,500 metres that will double the existing container handling capacity within the Port of Barcelona, reports the UK's Handy Shipping Guide.

    HPH managing director of the Central European division, Clemence Cheng, was quoted as saying: "Muelle Prat will be the first semi-automated in the HPH group. It will be powered by the next generation operating system called nGen, a proprietary system developed by HPH. nGen will not only enhance operational efficiency in the terminal but will also increase safety of its workers, a priority for the group."

    Mr Cheng said that a EUR280 million (US$381 million) financing agreement for the project has been signed with financiers, without providing further details.

    In 2009 the port of Barcelona handled 1.8 million TEU and 42 million tonnes of cargo turning round over 8,000 vessels.

(resource:http://www.shippingonline.cn/news/newsList.asp?classname=News)