The Port of Koper has begun dredging operations to deepen Basin I, as part of a mass expansion plan to stand out against the competition.
The works will be carried out by Italian company Costruzioni Generali Xodo s.r.l. via their dredging vessel, the San Luca Primo.
The first stage will involve deepening the harbour waters, increase depth of the container terminal to 13 metres. Construction and filling of the silt deposits are already underway.
Luka Koper’s management board president, Mr Gaspar Gaspar Misic has stated on several occasions that 2014 is to be a year of investments essential to enhancing the port’s competitiveness through the creation of much needed extra capacity.
The start of the dredging compliments a longstanding operation to extend Pier I.
The extension project, which was endorsed by the supervisory board in spring 2013, will see an increase in the annual capacity of the container terminal by an additional 230,000 TEU – a total of 980,000 TEU annually.
This will include the construction of an additional 100 metres of operational quayside, with all pertaining infrastructure, equipment and machinery.
All projects should be completed by 2018, at a total cost of €78 million.
