PIPE considers it necessary to address a change in the model of ports and adjustment in the rates applied to the licensees of them

The Port Authority of Valencia (PAV), considers very significant and is grateful to be the first port chosen by PIPE for its itinerant meeting and to be able to contrast the different points of view of the port business to find mechanisms that help to improve the management.

Madrid/ Valencia 21 November 2018.- PIPE (Platform of investor in Spanish Ports), an association that brings together the most important business groups in the port sector, has met with the representatives of the Port Authority of Valencia with the aim of sharing and approach positions on the current needs of Spanish Ports.

PIPE, which has held its partners board in Valencia this morning, has met with Mr. Francesc Sánchez, General director of the PAV and part of the management team, with the aim of opening a dialogue around the current model of port management and present its main reflections and proposals on the same, explaining the main concerns that currently affect the licensees of the facilities in the country’s reference ports.

The platform of investors pretends to start a round of meetings with the most important port authorities in the country, which will be carried out during the coming months and with which it is wanted to bring positions around the needs of the ports and their impact on the national economy.

At this way, PIPE stated that its necessary to address a change in the model that ports are managed, with the objective of modernizing and adapting to the needs of 21th century the ports, situating Spain at the level of other international competitors. The platform has been favorable to the establishment of a new strategic framework in which Ports of the State is already working.

In relation to the port taxes, PIPE considers it appropriate to carry out a review of them, in order to adapt them to the current context. After several years in which investments have been made to improve the infrastructures of the ports, the current situation, in which these investments are no longer necessary, allows redirecting the income obtained by the Port Authorities and Ports of the State. At this way, PIPE proposes that the surplus of cash obtained in the ports has an impact on the adjustment of the rates applied to the licensees, with the aim that these can lower their tariffs to the end costumers and, in this way, be more competitive and generate greater traffics.

José Luis Almazán, executive vice president of PIPE, said: “We believe it’s necessary to get these ideas to each of the actors in the sector, to explain them that these measures have an impact on the benefit of all”. “We are very grateful to the Port Authority of Valencia for having received and listened to us, and we hope continuing with these meetings, with the aim of opening a dialogue that we consider necessary”

The PAV for his part, thanked and valued the fact that the main platform of investor in Spanish ports, held its first “‘itinerant” meeting in Valencia, which highlights the weight of the port of Valencia in the Spanish port system.

Francesc Sánchez stressed:” the importance of knowing firsthand the concerns of our customers and users, to share and discuss with them about the different points of view of the port business to find mechanisms that help us to improve the management”

About fees, Francesc Sánchez commented that “first of all, a reflection should be made on what infrastructures should be passed on port taxes, especially since not all countries in our area have the same repercussion criterions”. In this sense, its favorable the reduction of rate, but “after analyzing carefully which investments should be charged against fees and which should or have other sources of funding”. As an example, he explained the case of the north access to the port of Valencia “absolutely necessary infrastructure that must be undertaken immediately. It is totally different a scenario in which all the investment had to be undertaken and financed by the Port Authority of Valencia, in which case the margin to lower rates is less than those scenarios in which there were other sources of funding”.

About PIPE 

PIPE is a platform of investors in Spanish ports. Created in 2013, it brings altogether the most important business groups that have invested in the Spanish port system. The PIPE members are present in all the Port Authorities and in more than 33 ports of general interest of our country, where they manage the exploitation of the port licensees.

PIPE was born with the mission of improving the competitiveness of Spanish ports and contributing to the socioeconomic development of Spain. As well as ensuring the interests of its associates in the sector.

In that way, PIPE has become the reference point in the industry, promoting the debate around the current port situation and promoting reforms that boost the sector.

Contact PIPE:

KREAB

Att: Gonzalo Torres/ Noa Beade

Telephone: +34 91 702 71 70/ +34 610 275 845

e-mail: gtorres@kreab.com

nbeade@kreab.com

 

About PAV/ Valenciaport 

The Port Authority of Valencia (PAV), under the commercial name of Valenciaport, is the public organization responsive for the management of the ports of Valencia, Sagunto and Gandia.

With a privileged location, the port of Valencia is the first port un Spain and the Mediterranean and the fifth in Europe. In October it managed to be the first port in the Mediterranean to reach the historic milestone of five million containers in year-on-year traffic.

The hinterland of Valenciaport covers 350 km of Spanish territory which allows it to channel 40% of the total import- export containers of the Spanish port system.

Valenciaport has a complete network of connections that covers more than 1.000 ports around the world and about 100 regular lines, among which are those of the main international shipping companies.

Contact PAV:

Vicent Palaci Descals (PAV) vpalaci@valenciaport.com

Marta Moreno- Senior Consultant

Dir. 96 392 41 36

Mov. 690 803 798

Marta.morenomolina@omnicomprgroup.com