Agree on the northern access project and complete the procedures for the concession of the northern extension, among the main infrastructure challenges for the year 2018.
Aurelio Martínez explains to the port community that Valenciaport wants to be stronger to serve better to its clients, shipping companies and terminalists in interoceanic transport.
Valencia, December the 26th 2017. – The president of the Port Authority of Valencia (PAV), Aurelio Martínez, has made an annual balance of the year 2017 and marked the challenges for 2018 among the entire Valencian port community. In the traditional Christmas Cup offered by the PAV to all members of the port, Aurelio Martínez has described 2017 as “a complex exercise for the port, although from traffic point of view, forecast of the end of the year are positive.”
“We want -Aurelio Martinez said – to renew our commitment to increase and strengthen our position in interoceanic maritime transport and to properly attend the demands and needs of our customers, exporting and importing companies, shipping companies, terminal managers, etc.”
Aurelio Martínez reminded that forecasts for the end of 2017 are to exceed 73 million tonnes, with a growth of 3.6%; and 4.8 million TEUs (+ 2.15%). “These results,” he indicated, “will be possible thanks to the growth of full containers that we expect to exceed 3.7 million TEUs, with a growth of 5.65%. We estimate that exports will rise at a rate of 6.82% while imports will increase by 6.28%. These figures show the dynamism of our hinterland and, without a doubt, the work and professionalism of all those who form the port community “. Likewise, Martinez stressed that “we have been, among the four ‘big’ ports of the system, we are the site that has grown the most in full traffic.”
Among the great achievements of 2017, Aurelio Martinez has highlighted the implementation of the 24-hour rail service in the port of Valencia, the new passenger line linking the port of Gandia with Ibiza, the signing of agreements with Adif for the improvement of the Valencia-Zaragoza railway line and the railway access to the port of Sagunto, the resumption of the procedure of the ZAL of Valencia, the beginning of the study for the development of the northern extension and the works of increase of draft of the port of Valencia that will allow the three container terminals to reach a depth of 17 meters. In the area of port-city integration, Martínez was satisfied with the inauguration of the elevated walkway on the northern dock of the port of Gandia, and the compromise reached with the municipality of Sagunto to draft the dock recovery project.
During the meeting with the port community, the president of the PAV also listed the main challenges faced by Valenciaport in 2018. In the field of infrastructures, Aurelio Martínez stressed that “it is essential to agree, among all, the project of the northern extension, complete the procedures for the concession of the north extension, finalize the dredging of the docks of the port of Valencia, commercialize the ZAL and formalize the agreement for the creation of the Fuente San Luis terminal “. Likewise, the Port Authority of Valencia has also set itself the goal of continuing to improve the competitiveness of port services and reach 5 million TEUs in 2018. Regarding Sagunto, Aurelio Martínez indicated that work will be done to award the works from rail access to the port, to advance in the construction of the PIF and define and specify the project of the dock.