Landing of investments in the port of Barcelona
The Port of Barcelona has projects underway or about to begin valued at 700 million euros | The public-private partnership, key to maintaining attracting capital, especially abroad | Many investments are leisure facilities, leveraging the success of the city
From one extreme to another, the Port of Barcelona maintains the pace of investment to improve or expand their facilities. Since its more urban and open area of the city, the Port Vell, which receives thousands of visitors every day, locals and foreigners, until the area is along the Llobregat where has expanded in recent years and home activities great burden that many citizens are unaware, wharves and docks have projects underway or planned and ready to begin a set worth 700 million euros. No other infrastructure in Catalunya with Similar accumulation of projects.
Just over 60%, around 430 million corresponds to the private sector. And near the 40%, about 270 million are directly promoted by the Port Authority or the Ministry of Public Works, who is the owner of this infrastructure. This deal, which varies depending on the year, shows how the port of Catalan capital is a model of public-private partnerships. In this context, the interest of international investors is very much alive, because of the attractions Barcelona its geographical position and have a powerful industrial fabric producer and extensive consumer market.
The investments are critical to maintaining the port of Barcelona in the lead group of Spain, the Mediterranean and Europe. The activity held up well in the worst times of crisis and, driven by exports, he announced the recovery phase. Today, with domestic demand and imports waking up, traffic grows apace. From January to October 2014, the movement of goods was a 9% higher than in the same period 2013. All loads grow: a 8% containers, a 22% liquid bulk, a 11% solid, a 3% and vehicle 12% truck, rigs and trailers that travel by boat. Only the movement of passengers falls exactly one 3,8% in the first ten months of 2014. Yet, Barcelona remains the fourth port in the world and first in Europe Cruises, Flip direct reflection tourism. Another figure illustrates the momentum of this infrastructure. The report ranks the JOC Port Productivity port of Barcelona as the most productive third in Europe, behind Bremerhaven (Germany) and Rotterdam (Holland).
Besides acting on public space, urbanizándolo, the Port Authority gives the operating surfaces of conditions and the services necessary for concessionaires to develop their projects. The formula in the case of Barcelona has adapted to all uses. Not for nothing, strong diversification is one of the keys to success in this port. In recent years, have been built from offices (Unequal) and ports (Grimaldi) to energy platforms (Meroil-Lukoil) or container terminals (TCB y BEST).
The unfinished remain the definitive access roads and rail, stuck for many years. The -autovía road for trucks entroncará with the Ronda Litoral- it will begin to build, at last, end of year. Fomento invest 117,8 million in this work, which is expected to be ready in 2018. Slower is the rail link, Competition also valued at ministerial and 100 million, of the Port Authority will half. Result of a pact between the central government and Catalan -part of the layout will build a line of Railways of the Generalitat, signed almost year and a half, still awaiting that jobs are tendered.
The projects are being developed expectant off next year are in line with those already made. The best known, being in a busy area is almost finished remodeling the Marina Port Vell, where the Salamanca group, based in London, has invested 79 million to convert it into a luxury sailing area, not without controversy (see page 3).
Along with this facility, Pescadors pier is, where for years a performance that should clean up facilities and open to the public so they can see up close the auction of fish or seafood taste is planned. The project, which will slow development because it must be reconciled with the usual activity, the Port Authority will invest 10 million. Is expected to be ready in 2017.
In the Port Vell there are two other major projects in development. One is the expansion of Marina Barcelona 92, a maintenance facilities, major repair and renovation of megayachts in the world, with an investment of 42 million. The other is the construction of the Marina Sailing, also for pleasure craft, in the dock next to the hotel W, awarded to Formentera Mar, the Balearic group Mayol, which will invest 37 million and plans to open in the 2017.
In the area of cruises, US-based Carnival will build a new terminal, E, in the spring Adossat, has been devoted to this type of vessel and is expected to be operational in the 2016. The investment will 20 million.
So far, investments in the urban area of the port and related to leisure and tourism activities. Further south, are performed industrial projects. In the spring Álvarez de la Campa, Israeli multinational ICL build a terminal for transportation of potash and salt mines Iberpotash Bages worth about 100 million. And, the youngest harbor area, on grounds of El Prat, Chinese multinational Hutchison Port Holdings continues its macroterminal BEST, having the first operational phase and now runs the second, to which he devoted 150 million to spend, next year, of 1.000 meters to mooring 1.500.
News Source: http://www.lavanguardia.com