Port of Sines, Portugal
Sines, which has seen steady and significant growth of container volumes over the past ten years, has also set the pace in the development of its own Port Community System, Janela Única Portuária (Port Single Window – JUP).
“The port only started handling containers in 2004 and this year’s throughput will be about 1.2 million teu,” said José Simao, IT Director at Sines Port Authority. “We have been increasing at a rate of 12% a year; this year we are investing in a new expansion to provide another 300 metres of container quay, as we expect volumes to continue increasing in 10-12% in the next years.”
Sines’ container volumes comprise 65% transhipment and 35% domestic. The port’s strategic location close to the Strait of Gibraltar and north-south Atlantic routes is a real advantage. “A lot of shipping routes are interacting here and transhipment is increasing.”
What makes Sines really remarkable is its rail performance – 90% of containers moving between the port and the centre of Portugal or Spain go by rail. After developing JUP for ship and cargo unloading, etc., we worked with the rail operators to provide connectivity to the PCS. Sines is now working on a seamless PCS connection to other dryports in the country.”
CONTACT INFORMATION
José Manuel Dias
www.apsinesalgarve.pt/porto-de-sines
