Terminal Contentores Leixões (TCL), which provides box handling services in the northern Portuguese port of Leixões, nevertheless claims an average of 32.7 moves per crane hour for last year. When challenged how that figure is calculated, general manager Lopo Feijó explains it is a question of dividing the number of units handled into the time taken to complete loading and discharge of each vessel.

“Actually,we know in real time the exact productivity level being achieved on any one vessel.We are a totally paperless terminal, so everything is computerised. If there is a productivity problem with one of the vessels, we can therefore minutely analyse it and find solutions,”he says.

While an average of 32.7 moves across 1,500 vessel  calls (including on mixed traffic ro-ro services to Africa) remains an extremely impressive figure, Mr Feijó could hardly be accused of resting on his laurels.For 2007,TCL  hopes to reach an average of 34/35 moves on a throughput of 400,000 teu. In part, this is going to be achieved through the use of twin spreaders for the discharge and loading of containers, although the  recent dredging of the port to a depth of 12m will enable it to receive panamax vessels for the very first time. Since these will inevitably have large box exchanges,productivity is likely to rise.

Ships being seen at TCL are now in the region of 1,600 teu, although it should be borne in mind that until recently the largest was just 700 teu. An average box exchange on such calls would have been just 180 teu. So how on earth does Mr Feijó’s team manage to work so efficiently?

“Investment is a key factor.Since TCL was transferred to private sector management in 2000, we have invested €33.3m ($43.7m). Last year, for example, we put a further €2.5m ($3.3m) into the business and this year we have earmarked a further €7.5m ($9.8m), which will include the purchase of our first panamax crane and the upgrade of an existing unit to panamax dimensions,”says Mr Feijó.

However,while he concedes that a significant capital spend has helped modernise the terminal, he points out that maintenance provision is of equal importance. Last year, for example, TCL had 99% crane availability and experienced no major break downs. Furthermore, maintenance is scheduled to take place when there are no vessels on dock, so ship owners know that there will always be sufficient quayside lift available whenever one of their vessels docks.

“Although it is not necessarily a productivity factor in itself,I would also like to point out that we start work on a vessel as soon as it arrives. If it comes alongside at 2100 hours, we start work on it at 2100 hours,” he stresses.Vessel turnaround time is therefore swift.

Interestingly, TCL is not a heavily unionised operation, with just 50 stevedores belonging to organised labour organisations. “We have paid considerable attention to both training our workforce and motivating it,”says Mr Feijó.“People who work here are well aware that, in the Iberian Peninsula, we face competition all the way from Bilbao right round to Barcelona. If we cannot provide an excellent service at competitive rates, there are many alternative outlets open to shipping lines.”

Truck turnaround times are also impressive, averaging 18 minutes from gate in to gate out, although Mr Feijó concedes that, during peak periods, this might creep up to 30 minutes. TCL will see an average of 1,000 such gate movements daily.

“TCL is now entering a new era, that of being a panamax terminal. It won’t be easy to persuade these larger ships to call here, but we can offer them everything they need, including some of the fastest turnaround times in Europe,”he concludes.