APMT's Tangiers terminal opens for business: King Mohammed VI of Morocco officially opened APM Terminals (APMT)'s new TC1 container terminal at Tanger-Med Port, Tangiers in July. The King proclaimed the terminal open for business, as the first container was discharged from Maersk Line's 11,000 teu Evelyn Maersk.

THE NEW TERMINAL is owned by APM Terminals Tangier SA in a 90:10 partnership with the Akwa Group, a Casablanca-based company with a diversified portfolio of interests. Strategically located on one of the world's most important shipping arteries, it will serve global trade in Morocco and the Western Mediterranean market, with an estimated total of 90m consumers. It is the first of three planned container terminals at Tanger-Med, which could give the port an annual container capacity of 8.5m teu by 2015.

Over 200 vessels a day pass through the Straits of Gibraltar, transiting on north-south and east-west liner trade routes. According to APMT, shipping lines will benefit from Tangier's direct access to the main shipping lane, a deepwater port capable of handling the largest container ships in the world and the newest, most advanced container handling equipment.

Kim Fejfer, CEO of APM Terminals International, based in the Netherlands, stated: "Our vision is to offer our customers more options and solutions in the Straits of Gibraltar, giving them a competitive edge in world markets. The new terminal expands our global terminal portfolio in one of the world's most important shipping lanes."

Etienne Rocher, managing director of APM Terminals Tangier, added: "We have worked closely with the Government of Morocco through the Tangier Mediterranean Special Agency (TMSA) and with our partner, the Akwa Group, to build and deliver on time this new container terminal. We are creating new jobs and opportunities, bringing in foreign investment and starting a new chapter in the West Mediterranean market."

The port project is tied to the largest ever infrastructure project in Morocco, which also includes new highways, railway lines and other infrastructure. Said Elhadi, chairman of the executive board of TMSA, commented: "The launch of activities at the first container terminal [in Tanger-Med port] is setting the ground for [it] to become an important container hub, leading to the development of a successful large-scale logistical and industrial platform in the North of Morocco."

Port machinery

Prior to the official opening of TC1, APM Terminals ordered a second batch of 11 ECO-RTGs from crane manufacturer Zhenhua Port Machinery Company in Shanghai. Siemens will deliver its proprietary ECO-RTG hybrid drive systems to ZPMC at the end of 2007 for incorporation into the new units.

Operational data from terminals using rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes equipped with the ECO-RTG system show a fuel saving of over 50 per cent compared with conventional RTG drive systems, while maintaining the same productivity, according to Siemens.

Ed Hoogenboom, director Siemens Cranes, said: "The ECO-RTG drive system is a perfect fit for fast-growing container terminals confronted with rising fuel prices. The main goal is to reduce operational costs; however, [there are clear] environment benefits as well, with a considerable reduction of emissions and noise."

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The drives used in the ECO-RTG system have been specially developed for heavy mobile equipment powered by a diesel-electric system. Siemens has delivered over 1,000 hybrid systems for large transportation equipment such as buses and trucks, and the technology has also been used in diesel-electric RTG cranes for the past two years.

Medgate terminal

Tangier Medgate SA, a joint venture formed by Eurogate, Contship Italia, MSC, CMA CGM and Comanav to operate the Tangier Medgate Terminal at Tanger-Med Port, has ordered 11 E-One rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes from equipment manufacturer Kalmar. The container terminal will be the second to go into operation at the brand-new port, following the opening of APMT's TC1 facility in July.

The new terminal, which has an annual capacity of three million containers, is located at the crossroads of major east-west and north-south container shipping routes. The greenfield port and intermodal site will offer world-class services and state-of-the-art facilities when it opens in July 2008, say its backers.

Tanger-Med Port, a project which began in 2002 and will cost more than US$2bn to build, also features an oil storage facility, a cereals terminal and a passenger port. The Moroccan government plans to spend up to US$18bn to improve the area's infrastructure, aiming to take advantage of Morocco's status as the only North African country with free trade agreements with both the US and the European Union.

The 7+1 wide and 1-over-5 high Kalmar RTG units, fitted with Bromma twin-lift spreaders and Kalmar's autosteering and container position verification system Smartrail, will be delivered by May 2008.

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Domenico Bagala, managing director of Tangier Medgate SA, said: "As a modern facility and terminal, our decision was influenced by Kalmar's ability to provide proven, intelligent software that will help aid efficiency and minimise driver error. The Kalmar E-One was the perfect solution to fulfill our need for high productivity combined with minimal environmental impact."

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Earlier in the year, a consortium led by French shipping line CMA CGM was the winning bidder in the privatisation of Comanav, Morocco's leading maritime shipper company, following an international call for bids by the country's Privatisation and Finance Ministry.

Created in 1948, Comanav is the Moroccan leader in transporting passengers and freight and in managing port operations, and has developed strong market positions in each of these three areas of activity.

For the maritime transport of goods, it has a fleet of vessels operating on regular scheduled services to locations throughout the Mediterranean. It has a presence in Morocco's largest ports, with subsidiaries such as Somaport in Casablanca and a 20% stake in Tanger Med, the country's second largest container terminal. With five lines operating between Morocco and Europe, it is also the country's leading passenger transport company.

The victorious CMA CGM Group said in a statement: "We are very pleased and honoured to have been selected by the Kingdom of Morocco to succeed the government in managing the Comanav company. This company is of great interest to CMA CGM as it will strengthen our position in Morocco both in terms of cargo transport and port operations."