ROME: Contship Italia Group, the Italian maritime container terminal and intermodal operator, saw an increase in handled volume of 1.7% and a 9.7% increase in transported volumes for 2016, the company’s just-published financial results for 2016 reveal. The Group’s maritime container terminal business saw an increase of 109,000teu in overall handling volumes in 2016, with 6,888 vessel calls, up 4% year-on-year.
Contship’s intermodal business reported an overall rise in transported volumes and directly operated number of trains. Innovative fast customs corridors, an improved load factor of domestic trains in the second half of the year, plus the increased routing of cargo via the southern gateway to south and central Europe, have all supported an increased market share of 25% in the Italian maritime intermodal business.
Cecilia Eckelmann-Battistello, Contship Italia Group’s President, said: “These figures show that the Contship Italia Group offers a viable and attractive solution to the customers at a time when they need it most. The container shipping business continues to face instability, competition, with shipping lines reorganising their networks. Contship remains totally committed with the approach to be a strong and reliable partner to the customers. Delivering fully integrated port-to-door solutions for the global supply chain is Contship’s main objective. The Group is committed to long-term investment in the business and knows that it is vital to show support to all valuable customers and end-users at every opportunity both at Contship terminals, on Contship trains and on the road with Contship pink trucks.”
Medcenter Container Terminal (MCT), the Contship terminal in Gioia Tauro, which recently welcomed the largest containership ever to call at an Italian port (20,000teu capacity), demonstrated the ability to adapt quickly to market demand and providing reliable stevedoring services.
The positive impact of cost-reduction measures contributed to the partial recovery of MCT volumes at a time when the container-shipping sector is down. Rationalisation and cost-saving initiatives are further required in 2017 to consolidate the trend towards recovery and ensure the medium to long-term financial strength of the company.
Salerno Container Terminal (SCT) grew steadily with a 10% increase in throughput, a significant jump compared to last year, which highlights the consistency and efficiency of the terminal serving the important southern Italian market. SCT is further strengthening its infrastructure capability allowing it to accommodate 10,000teu vessels by the end of 2017 when the planned dredging programme will be completed.
La Spezia, Contship’s gateway to southern and central Europe, maintained the leadership role in rail transport with a positive 31% of direct throughput transported by rail, three times more than the average in Italy.
