APM Terminals Tangier MedPort in Morocco has recorded an expansion of more than 1mn TEUs as part of its ongoing expansion efforts
Located at a crossroads between Europe and Africa, the latest growth covering 18 hectares was part of Phase 2 and includes the addition of container stacks as well as a further 400 m berth. 14 electric automated rail mounted gantry cranes and 11 semi-automated hybrid shuttle carries from Kalmar have been introduced to support high productivity, further reduce CO2 emissions of the site and maintain the sites reputation as one of the most technologically advanced, efficient and safest container terminals in the world.
The four new remote-controlled, ship-to-shore (STS) cranes boast an outreach of 82 m and can handle cargo vessels of 26 containers width. This will, according to Keld Pedersen, head of APM Terminals West Med Terminals, greatly increase the capacity and turnaround efficiency of terminal operations to improve customer experience.
Those visiting the terminal will also benefit from a newly-installed auto-mooring system with automated vacuum pads along the extended part of the quay to improve safety and operational efficiency. APM stated this will reduce the time taken by vessels to moor and release, reducing idle times to around 15 minutes at both arrival and departure.
“This year, APM Terminals Tangier was acknowledged as one of the company’s best-performing terminals for the second time in three years,” said Pedersen. “This was based on parameters such as safety, efficiency, customer satisfaction and cost. This investment was needed to ensure we can maintain this as volumes through Morocco increase.”
The performance of the organisation was also taken into account by the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence who ranked Tanger Med Port (where APM Terminals operates two container terminals) as fourth in the world’s most efficient ports index in June.
With the second phase of expansion complete, the organisation is wasting little time in turning its attention to the third. These plans include an additional 17.5 hectares being utilised as well as adding another 400 m of berth. This phase is expected to be fully operational by 2025 and will reportedly have zero impact to customers during its delivery.
This story closely follows Africa Global Logistics revealing the significant funding it has made available to modernise the Port of Lobito. Click here to read the full story.
