L4 Logistics | Transport Shipping and Logistics News

Since the terminal's takeover by an international port operator, International Container Terminal Services Inc (ICTSI), the facility has recorded significant traffic growth resulting from both growth in Polish economy as well as efficiencies introduced in the terminal. In 2005, BCT handled 395,757 TEU, which is over 6 percent higher than 2004 volume. Of the total 205,901 TEUs were imports and 189,856 TEUs were exports. Import commodities were in the first place textiles and electronics while for export these were food stuffs and furniture. In October 2005, BCT recorded its highest handling volume ever of 36,707 TEU. At the same time, the number of passenger cars handled dropped down. Downturn in demand for new, unused cars has greatly affected our handlings- says Andrzej Kujoth, BCT Chief Commercial Officer. Decrease in sales in car showrooms translates directly into decrease in car imports. Still we need to mention here a new contract with General Motors and their carrier UECC for exports of Polish-built Opel cars to the UK market. This contract will improve our 2006 results, says Kujoth.In 2005, BCT continued with USD 100 million multi-phase investment program for equipment purchase and modernization. With a delivery of the new ship-to-shore crane in April the Company completed the first stage of the program aiming to increase BCT annual capacity up to 1 million TEU. The new unit, supplied by Kone Cranes of Finland, is a Panamax dimension gantry with an outreach of 38.5 meters and with a lift capacity of up to 60 tons. Two further new units, to be delivered subsequently in 2006, will be post-Panamax dimension cranes. Moreover, in 2005 BCT signed a contract for a delivery of 4 RTG KALMAR gantries in 2006. First elements of the constructions are to be shipped to BCT already in March. The contracted equipment is intended to meet terminal user requirements over the long term.The new Kone Panamax dimension container gantry is the second crane of this type to be installed in BCT and enables the terminal to work container vessels with capacities of up to 4000TEU. The arrival of the Kone unit to BCT's raised the terminal's annual capacity from 400,000TEU to 600,000TEU. Also, in the beginning of 2005, the Board of BCT approved the merger with Depot- BCT's daughter company- to improve the terminal's scope of services as well as introduce a new, more attractive tariff for services previously performed by Depot. Within BCT, Depot performs services of handling, storage, servicing as well as repair of universal and reefer containers.In order to promote terminal's services, between 31 May and 3 June 2005 BCT together with Port Gdynia Authority, Morska Agencja Gdynia- shipping agent, Terramar-international forwarder and Spedcont-container block operator jointly participated in 10th International Trade Fair Transport Logistic 2005 as exhibitors. The Fair took place in Munich with 1300 exhibitors from 52 countries.