Crete

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.

The area is currently listed as only having fishing harbours. The interest comes at a time of unrest among the users of Greece’s main container terminal Piraeus with major carriers expressing frustration at its lack of handling capacity. A delegation from the Chinese company visited a number of Mediterranean and European sites in November, but were most keen on the Crete option.