Barcelona trawls in transhipment business in defiance of nearby competing terminals

Barcelona-based Tercat moved 1m teu last year, of which around 42% was in the form of transhipped boxes. However, the terminal was never built with transhipment in mind. In fact, according to terminal manager Josep Ollés, the percentage of boxes rotated in and out by sea is a comparatively recent phenomenon, having accounted for just 6% of the total business just three years ago. The main transhipment client is Mediterranean Shipping Company whose throughput at Tercat has not fallen away despite the fact the company now manages its own dedicated terminal in the port of Valencia.