Taranto Container Terminal is open for business

Taranto Container Terminal in the south of Italy has handled its first deepsea vessels. At the end of June, two 5652TEU Lloyd Triestino (LT) vessels called, one eastbound and one westbound on LT's China - Europe - Mediterranean (CEM) service. First to arrive on 29 June was the westbound LT Ulysses while on 30 June, it was the turn of the eastbound LT Ursula.

On 2 July, Evergreen's 2728TEU Ever Gifted, operating on the company's Far East - Mediterranean service, arrived from the Far East.

TCT reported that all three vessels were handled smoothly, a testimony to the months of training which has taken place and the experience gained handling a number of feeder vessels, the first of which, United Feeders' 317TEU Regulus, arrived on 28 May.

Phase I of TCT's development has seen the commissioning of 1,000m of quay served by five post-Panamax ship-to-shore cranes and 12 rail-mounted container stacking cranes. The berths offer a depth alongside of 14m, sufficient for the largest vessels currently operating.

Phase II is due for completion in early 2002 and will see the introduction of another 500m of quay, five more ship-to-shore cranes and ten stacking cranes.

The final stage, which will be developed when demand warrants it, will see another 550m berth added to complete the 2050m facility. It will then be served by 18 ship-to-shore gantry cranes and some harbour mobile cranes.

TCT is linked directly to the Italian rail network and block trains will be operated to/from industrial areas in northern Italy. It is also served by a comprehensive feeder network linking it to other Italian ports, the West and East Mediterranean, the Adriatic Sea and the Black Sea. With its superior location and logistics network, TCT is ready to serve as one of the most important hubs in the region as a common user facility.