CONGESTION DOWN BUT PROBLEMS PERSIST

The new Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) terminal being developed adjacent to the port’s largest container terminal facility, operated by Maritima Valenciana, is expected to commence operations in June/July 2006 and the unofficial word on the street is that Maritima Valenciana will operate this facility on behalf of MSC. Given the large volume of traffic that MSC now moves through the Maritima Valenciana facility and the inevitable movement of containers between the two facilities that will take place, especially in the start-up phase of the MSC terminal, this arrangement makes a lot of practical sense.

Increased capacity at principal deepsea container ports has combined with a fall in trade to facilitate passage – however, the FTA warn that past problems, such as delays caused by a surfeit of goods trying to squeeze through in the south-east, are by no means unlikely to return. ‘Inefficiencies in the chain’ incur ‘unneccessary costs’ according to the Association, and need attention.