Freeport gears up for new alliance MALTA\\\


Malta Freeport Terminals is preparing for the calls of the P3 Alliance, which subject


to


regulatory approvals, will start operations later this year. A number of mainline services for the P3 Alliance – between CMA CGM, Maersk and MSC, the first two already major customers - are already lined-up for calls at Malta Freeport. During 2013, Malta Freeport


handled nearly 2.75 million teu, a remarkable increase of over 8% compared with 2012’s 2.54m teu, says director of sales, marketing, IT and operations, Alex Montebello. Recent service developments Freeport include an


at Malta


agreement with Maersk Line to handle calls of its ME2 service which connects Europe to the Middle East; the first call in Malta was on 9 May. Aſter Malta, the service calls at Tangier, Algeciras, Valencia, Barcelona, Genoa, Port Said, Jeddah, Salalah, Jebel Ali, Dammam, Jubail, Abu Dhab, Jebel Ali and back toMalta. In addition to the mainline call, more feeder services will be introduced by Maersk Line and its shortsea subsidiary Seago Line through Malta Freeport. Other new customers include


Ecumed – a service operated by Maersk Line linking Ecuador to the Med in both directions – and a new North Sea service operated by


Seago Line and Hamburg Sud. Hapag-Lloyd


and UASC are among other major Malta Freeport clients. In


addition, a


number of lines provide feeder services at the port including Seago Line, X-Press Feeders, Medex Container Services Ltd., MTL Container Line, United Feeder Services, Tarros SpA, Brointermed, Arkas Line and CMA CGM’s FAS and NAF arms. Montebello says: “Through these services, Malta Freeport is offering its clients connections with 118 ports worldwide, 66 of which are in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.” He attribuites Malta Freeport’s


success to: “state-of-the-art container terminal facilities capable of handling any containership afloat, together with an unmatched quality service, proven track


maximum keel berthing draught of 16.0 m LAT to be realised. Jan De Nul


deployed one of its modern cutter suction dredgers and


close


coordination with Malta Freeport, Malta Transport Authority and


Freeport is 3.5m teu and the company is investing to boost this to 4.2m teu. It has extended Terminal Two North Quay by 33 metres to 513m to allow it to handle 18,000teu Triple-E ships. And early last year, Malta


record


with 25 years experience in port operations, guaranteed productivity levels, fully trained personnel, harmonious relations with workers, unrivaled strategic location, as well as all year favourable weather conditions.” Current capacity of Malta


Freeport started to develop West Quay of Terminal One, extending it from 168m to 290m, as well as increasing ground area by 48,000sq m and the number of ground slots by 552. This quay will be equipped with two quayside cranes which will be shiſted from Terminal One North Quay. The development also includes a ro ro ramp at the south-east corner. Shortly to be completed dredging work will increase quay depth from 9 to 13 metres lowest astronomical tide (LAT), giving a berthing draught of 12 metres. Other dredging works included


the outer and inner fairway, inner turning circle, basin manoeuvring


area and the approaches of Terminal Two North and South Quays as well Terminal One North Quay and alongside these quays to 17 m LAT. These dredging works now allow an access and


port service providers minimised disruptions to traffic. To handle 18,000teu vessels


at Terminal One North Quay, the Freeport will also be ordering another four quayside cranes


Issue 4 2014 - Freight Business Journal


31


capable of reaching 25 containers. Other purchases include


nine


quayside cranes ranging from 18 to 24 containers across, 50 rubber-tyred gantry cranes, reach stackers, trucks and cornerless trailers. Since privatisation, Malta


Freeport has been recruiting operators to allow it to deploy 16 quayside cranes simultaneously during peak periods and has put new flexible labour agreements in place. Meal breaks are being staggered to allow non-stop operations and there are ongoing regular and intensive training programmes to maintain skills and meet increased growth.


Sharp-eyed readers who have seen Captain Philips may have recognised Malta Freeport standing in as the port of Salalah in the opening sequences of the film about piracy off the Somali coast. Tom Hanks and the director took time out from filming to pose for this photo with all the people involved.


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