APMT invests in Italian reefer terminal

APMT acquired the terminal as part of its Vado port master plan to create new supply chains to markets in Northern Italy, Southern France, Switzerland and Bavaria. AMPT’s Vado port project is set to open in January 2018 with 800,000 teu annual capacity and a 17m depth to serve the vessels of the future.

“The integration of the Vado Reefer Terminal with our new, future semi-automated container terminal enhances the logistics options for businesses and the shipping lines calling the Ligurian coast, serving all of Northern Italy and beyond,” said Carlo Merli, CEO, APMT Vado.

This acquisition will see the Reefer Terminal upgraded and operated as a single unit with the new deep-water semi-automated container terminal. However, the terminal will continue to operate as a terminal highly specialised in the discharge and warehousing of fresh fruit and vegetable produce.

The Ligurian coast is a major entry point for refrigerated palletized fresh fruit into Northern Italy. The Vado Reefer Terminal has four rail tracks which will be linked to the off-dock rail facility being constructed as part of the APM Terminals Vado container terminal with direct access to interior destinations through an environmentally friendly intermodal rail service.

“We are building Italy’s port of the future with ideal access to Turin and Northern Italy manufacturing zones as well as consumer markets. Equally important, we will have the best port system and product in the market capable of serving container vessels, reefer vessels, RoRo and breakbulk vessels,” Mr Merli added.

Reefer Terminal, which has a depth of 14.5m and 465m of quay, handles 600,000 pallets per year and 275,000 containers per year.

APMT says its Vado facility will be the only port in Italy able to handle Ultra-Large Container Ships (ULCS) of over 18,000 teu capacity when it opens in January 2018.