The Port of Cartagena stands out at the Breakbulk Europe Fair as a logistics hub in the movement of project cargo

One of the most competitive ports in the Spanish southeast

Project loads are goods with dimensions outside the usual sizes and weights that are part of large structures that must be handled in large spaces, with special cranes and highly qualified personnel.

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The role of Port of Cartagena as a logistics hub in the Mediterranean in the movement of project cargo has been reinforced in the Breakbulk Europe Fair, which is being held in Rotterdam from June 6 to 8, where Cartagena is positioned as one of the most competitive ports in the Spanish southeast due to the flexibility and agility in operations on land and sea, but it is also a strategic port in the Summer for offshore industry.

 

El director of the APC, Fernando Muñoz and the head of the department of Port Authority Business Development, Hortensia Sánchez, accompanied by the operators Blázquez Maritime Agency and Cartagena Maritime Terminal, have held meetings with the main logistics operators and have highlighted the opportunities offered by the Port of Cartagena for “its storage capacity for project cargo, its port infrastructure, the cheapest prices of the Spanish port system and its key geostrategic location in the Mediterranean axis as the center of the main long and short distance maritime trade routes between Africa, Asia, America and Europe”.

 

This type of traffic began in 2018 in the Port of Cartagena, where door-to-door attention has stood out together with the consignee companies, to guarantee that the operation of the transport of large goods, from their departure from the factory to the Port, is carried out. with the greatest agility and security, ensuring the competitiveness of its customers.

 

Ships loaded with wind blades leave from Cartagena to countries on the five continents. South Africa, Yemen, Australia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ivory Coast, United States, Philippines, Belgium or Germany are some of the destinations to which this traffic is exported, which mostly comes from Albacete or Ciudad Real. “In this year 2023, a total of 231 ships have left the port with project cargo, 31 percent of the total number of ships that have arrived in Cartagena until the month of April,” explained Muñoz.

 

For this positioning, the head of APC has announced investments that contribute to having safer infrastructures to guarantee that project cargo traffic is carried out in the best possible conditions. One of the actions that will be launched is the unfolding of the CT34 national highway, with an investment of 2,45 million euros to expand and improve access to Escombreras in its connection with this road. The execution of this work will mean a notable productive improvement for all port activity in waste dumps and for all users of the CT-34 highway.

 

South Africa, Yemen, Australia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ivory Coast, the United States, the Philippines, Belgium and Germany are some of the destinations to which this traffic, which mostly comes from Albacete or Ciudad Real, is exported.

 

He also recalled that the Barlomar Multipurpose Terminal, which will be one of the most modern and sustainable terminals in the world with the latest technology, will allow the port to grow in traffic such as containers and solid bulk, but will also generate more space for the docking of platforms and offshore vessels, destined for the repair and maintenance of maritime platforms, etc., with two hectares of surface in a dock that will have 780 meters of docking line and more than 20 meters of depth.

 

Since its commitment in 2018, nine ships and offshore platforms have remained docked for an extended stay in the Port of Cartagena, with a duration that has varied from three to eight months.

 

Business figures confirm that Cartagena is on the right path. Fourth Spanish port, leading the ranking in foreign trade and import traffic, and it has been the third European port that grew the most in merchandise movement in 2022. In 2023, the Port exceeds historical figures of more than 9,82 million tons in liquid bulk and more than 2,7 million tons in solid bulk.