..while import-export traffic declines

1,350m of quay will be dredged to 16m alongside, and an approach channel dredged to 14.5m. An additional 13 ship-to-shore gantry cranes will bring the total number in operation at the port to 38. An all-new North Rail Terminal, capable of removing annually up to 500,000 lorries off the roads, is included. The first phase of the terminal is due to commence operation in 2008.

Local freight forwarders in Algeciras are worried by the recent 15% decrease in import containers registered by the port in 2005. They blame deficiencies in the port’s Border Inspection Post and also on the fact that terminal operator Maersk has shifted some services to other ports in recent months. Only 8% of total traffic at the port is currently import-export based.