Barcelona and HPH in $6.5bn Automation Plan

Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) and the Port of Barcelona have announced an extension of HPH’s current concession agreement with Barcelona’s Europe South Terminal by another 15 years, where it plans to invest US$6.5 billion to fully automate the terminal, according to the Journal of Commerce.

This announcement follows news that the port operating giant will be joining forces with a number of other top names in the port and terminal industry to raise awareness on the importance of environmental sustainability.

HPH is understood to be ordering eight new remote-controlled quay cranes, as well as automated stack and yard equipment.

The terminal operator plans to fully automate the existing terminal to improve its competitiveness.

Cumulative traffic from January to August at the Port of Barcelona was up 4% as a result of jumps of nearly 13.5 and 15% in both March and April, respectively.

As well as the increase in traffic at Barcelona’s port, HPH has pledged to quadruple its capacity at the Oman International Container Terminal at Sohar Port to six million TEU.

The operator has so far invested around $21 billion in Sohar Port.