SPAIN. The Port of Algeciras aims to maintain its leading position in goods handling in the Mediterranean by reaching 100 million tonnes this year.

SPAIN. The Port of Barcelona aims to improve road and rail access in a bid to increase goods traffic by 50% thanks to scheduled investments in cooperation with the local government (Generalitat of Catalonia) and the state (Ministry of Equipment).

FRANCE. Marseille is banking on container shipping to regain its position as the leading port in the Mediterranean. These investments will also benefit ro-ro services.
 

GREECE. Athens aims to open up the country via modernisation of its ports and road and railway networks. Priority will be given to infrastructures connecting ro-ro services to railway lines and the Port of Patras should be the first to benefit by 2020.

PORTUGAL. The port of Leixões near Porto hopes to become less peripheral in Europe by developing ro-ro services thanks to a 26m-long ramp and a 310m-long quay.

CROATIA. Since 2003, almost €190 million has been invested in Rijika, Croatia’s largest port, to boost its competitiveness and link it the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). A further €31 million has been allocated for 2015.

MEDITERRANEAN. Ports in southern Europe are working hard to lure container traffic from Anvers and Rotterdam. An increase in ro-ro traffic could follow in its wake.
 

Balear Container Lines aims to establish itself by proposing a new “made to measure” logistics model

Grimaldi Lines is focusing heavily on the development of its ro-ro services from Spain since this mode of transport enables regular services that are better adapted to its freight customers' Just in Time strategy. The shipping company is preparing for a rise in demand from its two home ports of Barcelona and Valencia, particularly if Spanish exports remain strong. Interview with Mario Masserotti, Adviser Representative of Grimaldi Group in Spain.

Like other operators working in Algeria, Amal Louis, Line Manager of Marfret's North Africa services, hopes for recognition of the shipping company's regular Ro-Ro services. The shipping company believes that the use of trailers has not been fully exploited in Algeria due to the difficulties of port passage and the country's weak exports.

The building of the Tanger Med port might seem to have had little impact on ferry traffic to Morocco. However, even if the number of vessels passing through the new facility remains limited, the port's potential for Ro-Ro traffic competes with the port of Casablanca.

Italian ports are attempting to thwart the crisis hitting the sector with full force by opening new maritime routes, notably to North Africa. Now is the time for partnerships, especially with Algeria.