EKOL Logistics is set to significantly increase its rail freight capacity at the Port of Trieste in Italy after acquiring a 65 per cent share of its owner, Europa Multipurpose Terminals. It will enable EKOL to increase its intermodal train loading capacity to 10 round trips a day.

It’s the latest in a series of key intermodal investments by the Istanbul-based Ekol, which aims to achieve sustainable growth through environmentally-friendly business processes and projects. As a result of the Trieste investment, Ekol, which currently provides services to Turkish and Greek destinations, expects to add countries such as Israel and Egypt to its portfolio in the coming years. The port’s annual capacity of 70,000 units carried by trains in 2016 is expected to rise to 100,000 units in 2017.

Seasoned team

Ahmet Musul, Ekol Logistics and Yalova Ro-Ro Terminal Chairman, said: “The Port of Trieste enjoys a vital location for our intermodal transportation solution, a pioneering service we offer to customers in a superior, sustainable, low-cost and effective way. We have solidified our position here by acquiring the majority of Europa Multipurpose Terminals, the company we received services from up until now. We are sure to make a leap by proceeding with a such a seasoned team in port operations. I am confident that we will convey the experience we gain to Yalova Ro-Ro Terminal, scheduled to open in beginning of 2017.”

Freight gateway

Further good news for EKOL came in an award received for the shuttle service launched with partner VIIA from the southern French port of Sète to the Noisy-le-Sec region of Paris. The service, which only launched in September but which opens up a potential freight gateway to northern Africa, was recognised in the Multimodal Operator category at the Nuit du Shortsea Shipping et de l’intermodalité Gala.

Alaa Jennane, Engineering Business Development Director at Ekol, said: “The connection between Sete and Paris is key for us as thanks to it we can better connect Turkey or Iran with Europe, and Maghreb with the Paris region. We are very happy and proud to receive this award. It shows that the way we develop the intermodal solution in Ekol is a proper one. We plan to implement more train connections in Europe in the next few months.”

Intermodal transportations

The winners are chosen by the Grand Jury composed of professionals in the sector and the competition was tough this year. The goal of these awards is to promote initiatives in the area of shortsea and intermodal transportations, as well the environmental friendly solutions.

Thierry Le Guilloux, President of VIIA, added: “We are very glad to receive this trophy. Here at VIIA, as we focus on trailers business, we are convinced that it is a key issue in the transport sector to develop intermodal connections between railways and ro-ro ports. The connection between the port of Sète and Paris is the first success which will certainly lead to other similar initiatives in the future.”