Estibarna Apie, the company that supplies stevedoring services in the Port of Barcelona, has introduced a further reduction in working hours for its members to reflect the fall in traffic during 2009 and 2010. The agreement will affect 1,200 workers.
In 2009, volumes handled fell by 17%, while the number of containers went down by 30%.
However, Laura Domingo, of the port’s communications departments, is keen to point out that things are now looking up, helped by initiatives such as the harbour’s dues freeze in 2009 and its reduction by 1% in 2010 (which covered cargo, passengers and vessels).
She goes on to say that from the second term of 2009 the decline stabilised, with some goods results showing a clear recovery – and points out that the port’s investment plan will carry on as it was expected.
The port has finished the two seawalls to protect the new terminals, the first going to Tercat-Hutchison (the initial phase is already completed). Expansion of Sud wharf, a €56m investment, and Adossat wharf, a €42m which will be home of the multipurpose terminal Port Nou.
