The Port of Santander strengthens its leadership in road traffic with the opening of the Raos 9 dock

 

El Puerto de Santander has officially opened the new heel and ramp facilities at the dock of Raos 9The project, led by the Autoridad Portuaria de Santander (APS), optimizes road traffic (ro-ro) and strengthens logistical connectivity with Europa through an investment of 15 million euros.

 

Strategic investment and European financing

 

The implementation of this infrastructure has involved a total investment of €15 million, broken down into €10,1 million for the pedestrian overpass and €4,9 million for the access ramp. The project has received €3,5 million in funding from the European CEF “Connecting Europe Facility” funds , underscoring the importance of this node within the Trans-European Transport Network.

 

The president of the APS, César Díaz, accompanied by the president of Gobierno de Cantabria, María José Sáenz de Buruagaand the Government Delegate, Pedro CasaresHe emphasized that this work is "fundamental" for traffic "strategic and highly specialized" which will allow for increased operability and versatility of the dock.

 

Concept	Detail / Investment
Raos Heel Investment 9	10,1 € million
Raos Ramp Investment 9	4,9 € million
CEF Funding	3,5 € million
Investment Plan 2025-2029	€270,3 million (public-private)
Rail-port intermodality fee	15% (Leader in Spain)

 

Technical specifications of the infrastructure

 

The construction, carried out by Ferrovial Construcción, S.A.It features advanced engineering characteristics to support ships of over 60.000 GT:

 

• The Heel: An L-shaped concrete deck (64m x 75m) supported by piles 1,20 meters in diameter, using 4.900 m3 of concrete.
• The Ramp: Manufactured by Astilleros San Enrique S.L.U (Cluster Marina Meridional), consists of a 34-meter-long, 535-ton steel bridge attached to a float.
• Capacity It allows a second berth for regular shipping lines deep sea y con-ro.

 

Towards the Santander-Madrid Rail Highway

 

El Puerto de Santander It consolidates its position as the traffic leader. ro-ro on the Cantabrian coast. According to César DíazThe infrastructure is ready for the creation of a green corridor that connects the center of España ’s relationship with the Reino Unido and the north of Europa.

 

In this sense, the APS It already collaborates with operators such as Tramesa, Transfesa y Low Cost Rail to promote before the Ministerio de Transportes y Movilidad Sostenible (MITMA) y ADIF the future Santander-Madrid Rail HighwayThis move aligns with the strategy Goods 30, which aims to raise the modal share of the train to 10% by 2030.

 

The event was attended by various authorities, including the mayor of Santander, Gema Igual; the Planning Director of Puertos del Estado, Manuel Aranaand the advisors Eduardo Arasti y Roberto Media, together with the mayor of Camargo, Diego Movellán.

 

Key points and frequently asked questions about Raos 9

 

What benefits does the new Raos 9 dock bring to international traffic?

It allows a second berth for deep-draft ocean-going vessels, speeding up the loading and unloading of vehicles and roll-on/roll-off cargo, improving the port's competitiveness in foreign trade.

 

How does this project fit into logistics sustainability?

The project promotes rail-port intermodality and lays the foundations for the Santander-Madrid rail motorway, reducing the carbon footprint by shifting trucks from road to rail and ship.

 

What is the total volume of investment planned for the port?

The opening of Raos 9 is part of an ambitious 2025-2029 Investment Plan that plans to mobilize 270,3 million euros in public-private collaboration for digitalization, energy and new terminals.