Hutchison Ports BEST terminal in the Port of Barcelona has recently increased its storage and connection capacity for reefer containers. It now has up to 2,750 connection points, an increase of 70 per cent from the 1,600 points it previously offered. The terminal wants to be a hub for refridgerated containers in the Mediterranean area.

“With this increase BEST has reinforced its position as a hub for refrigerated cargoes. It is offering the main pharmaceutical and food product shippers all types of cold cargo related services, in addition to maritime connections with main ports of origin/destination”, said CEO Guillermo Belcastro. BEST also offers other services facilitating the refridgerated transport business, such as pre-trip inspection, cleaning, overhauls, monitoring, etc.

Cooled transport

In May this year the first he first trans-European fresh-dedicated rail connection became operative. Called the CoolRail train, it runs between the Port of Rotterdam and Valencia. This service has the potential to serve the terminal in Barcelona too.

If export demand from Barcelona surges, a detour to Barcelona might be included during summer. Currently, exports during winter account for much more cargo than during summer.

Best terminal

Currently, BEST has 11 Super Post-Panamax quay cranes that are able to operate the biggest vessels in the world, 48 ASCs, 2 rail terminal cranes (RMGs) and 30 Shuttle Carriers to operate the terminal. Hutchison Ports BEST is the first semi-automated terminal developed by Hutchison Ports Group.

It has one of the largest railway terminals within a container terminal in the Mediterranean, with eight mixed gauge tracks (Iberian and UIC). Hence, it offers daily connections with different points of Spain and the South of France.