Eurogate sees 4% volumes rise in 2006

Eurogate sees 4% volumes rise in 2006 The container terminal operator Eurogate increased its container volumes throughout Europe by 4 percent last year to 12.5 million TEUs.
   In German, Eurogate facilities in Bremerhaven and Hamburg handled slightly more than 9 million TEU, a 9.4 percent increase. Bremerhaven facilities had an 18.7 percent increase to 4.4 million TEUs. In contrast Hamburg's volumes were flat with the terminal overcoming the departure of the New World Alliance carriers at the beginning the year. The company said it expected a double-digit increase in volumes in Hamburg in 2007.
   In Italy, container volumes rose 7 percent in Cagliari-Sardinia and 14 percent La Spezia-Liguria. At the Medcenter Container Terminal in Gioia Tauro-Calabria volumes were down 6.9 percent.
   'At the beginning of 2006 the concentration process on the carriers’ side also led to fluctuations in container volumes at the terminals,' says Emanuel Schiffer, chairman of the Eurogate group's executive board.
   'The handling figures show how urgently investment is needed in the expansion of the harbor infrastructures. This applies to Italy just as it does to Germany. In accordance with the projections of our customers we again anticipate a two-figure growth for 2007,' Schiffer said.