APM Terminals today celebrated the signing of a contract with FCC for the first phase of an ambitious plan to modernise its facilities at the Port of Barcelona. The work began in mid-August and among other things involves new equipment and boosts the decarbonisation of the industry. It also includes the implementation of an innovative technique for reinforcing the existing berths in the South Quay concession, recognised in international engineering forums, which will serve to improve the terminal’s operational capabilities, at full capacity and without affecting the service the company provides to its customers.
“The signing of this contract represents a strategic milestone for APM Terminals and reaffirms our firm commitment to the port development of Barcelona and to the sustainable growth of Spain as a key logistics hub in Europe. This project not only strengthens our operational capacity but also reflects our vision for the future: a terminal equipped to receive and operate two deep-draught vessels simultaneously, raising the standards of efficiency and service in the Mediterranean. We are looking forward to the progress of the works and their completion, which will mark a new chapter in our contribution to global trade,” said Julián Fernández, Managing Director of APM Terminals Spanish Gateways, during the signing ceremony, which was attended by Roberto Sisternes, Director of the East Zone – Area 1 of the Infrastructure Department at FCC Construcción.
The first phase of the work involves increasing the draught of the quay (up to 15 meters), reinforcing its foundations, piping and adapting the berth and mooring systems to the characteristics of the new state-of-the-art container ships. It also includes the replacement of the rails for the new Ship-to-shore (STS) cranes, which are the largest and have the greatest operational capacity in the port of Barcelona. Three of the five STS cranes purchased from ZPMC are already at the terminal, and the remaining are expected to arrive mid-2026.
By the third quarter of 2028, APM Terminals Barcelona will have completed the planned investments of more than €156 million covering both phases of its development plan for infrastructure and equipment. As part of this, the terminal will finish the civil works needed to install the Offshore Power Supply (OPS) system.This system will help eliminate emissions from ships while they are docked. It will also allow the terminal to operate two mega-container ships at the same time — the largest vessels currently used in maritime transport.
Source: APM Terminals