ZAGREB, 5 Nov 2021 - An agreement on a concession to develop and commercially use the Zagreb Deep Sea container terminal in the Port of Rijeka, estimated at HRK 20 billion (€2.7 billion), with the concession fee fixed at €2 million annually for a period of 50 years, was signed in Rijeka on Friday.

The agreement was signed by Rijeka Port Authority head Denis Vukorepa, the director of the international terminal operator APM Terminals, Morten Engelstoft, and Energia Naturalis Grupa Management Board chair Pavao Vujnovac on behalf of the concession holder ENNA Logic of Croatia.

The concession holders undertake to build the necessary infrastructure and fully equip the Zagreb Deep Sea container terminal, including building another 280 metres of pier and its equipment, and they also guarantee container turnover of one million units in the first two years of the terminal's operation.

Phase 1 of the Zagreb Deep Sea terminal, with 400 metres of pier and a sea depth of 20 metres, was completed as part of the Rijeka Gateway project in May 2019. The public opening of bids for a concession to operate the terminal was held in May 2021, and an offer by APM Terminals and ENNA Logic was assessed as valid, after which the Rijeka Port Authority Management Board in June decided to award the concession to operate the terminal to the consortium of the two companies.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, who attended today's signing of the agreement, said it successfully wrapped up long-lasting efforts regarding the Rijeka Gateway project.

"The agreement will create conditions for the Rijeka Port to take the role of the leading cargo port in the northern Adriatic, thus becoming the most important point of entry to Central and Southeast Europe," said Plenković.

The terminal means an opportunity for economic development and is important also because of strategic autonomy, Plenković said, adding that the government would continue investing in infrastructure projects, notably those that bring long-term economic benefits.

Sea, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Oleg Butković said the agreement would make the Port of Rijeka the most important intermodal centre in the northern Adriatic.

Once the Zagreb Deep Sea terminal starts operating in 2025, the container turnover in the Port of Rijeka will reach one million units, and by 2028 it will reach 1.5 million units, Butković said, noting that with that, Rijeka would overtake the Slovenian port of Koper.

Construction work on the D-403 road, which is to connect the terminal with the Rijeka ring road, is proceeding well, he said, adding that another important project is the construction of a lowland railway from Rijeka towards Croatia's interior and expressing hope it would be completed in about ten years.

Rijeka Port Authority director Vukorepa, APM Terminals executive director Engelstoft and Energia Naturalis president Vujnovac underlined the importance of the Rijeka Gateway project for the development of Rijeka and Croatia, with Vujnovac noting that along with the lowland railway, the Rijeka Gateway project was the most important national project connecting Rijeka and the country's interior.

It will secure the flow of large quantities of cargo thus enabling economic growth, he said, adding that it would make Rijeka an important spot on port maps.

For more on business, CLICK HERE.

June 25th, 2021 - The Rijeka Port Authority Governing Council decided on Thursday to grant a 50-year concession for the development and economic use of the Zagreb Deep Sea terminal in the port to the APM TERMINALS/ENNA LOGIC Consortium.

APM TERMINALS is based in the Netherlands and ENNA LOGIC in Vukovar. The consortium will now establish a special-purpose company in which APM TERMINALS will hold 51% and ENNA LOGIC 49% and with which the Rijeka Port Authority will sign a concession agreement.

The estimated value of the concession is HRK 20.5 billion (excluding VAT), and the determined amount of the fixed concession fee is €2 million per year.

For more news, follow TCN's dedicated page. 

ZAGREB, 10 June 2021 - The Adriatic Gate Container Terminal (AGCT) handled two million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) at the Brajdica Terminal in Rijeka in the last ten years since it became a member of the International Container Terminal Services, Inc., the AGCT reported on Thursday.

The Adriatic Gate Container Terminal (or the Jadranska Vrata in the Croatian language) recalls that in April 2011, the International Container Terminal Services (ICTSI) became the majority owner in this Croatian company specialized in operating container cargo.

The results in the last ten years have proved the success of the public-private partnership with the Port of Rijeka, the Port of Rijeka Authority, and the Croatian government, the AGCT says.

The AGCT executive director Emmanuel Papagiannakis was quoted as saying that the handling of two million TEU in ten years was an extraordinary success for the company.

In the last decade, more than 50 million dollars were invested in the upgrade of the company.

For more about business in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

The first Seabin device, a floating “trash can” and seawater filter, was installed on Friday in the passenger port of Rijeka.

Rijeka Based Initiative S.E.A. Donated Seabin Device

The Rijeka-based Initiative S.E.A. (Save, Embrace, Achieve) donated the Seabin device to the Port Authority of Rijeka to raise awareness about the need to protect and conserve the marine environment. The initiative also introduces sustainable solutions for the use and management of marine life as one of its most valuable resources.

Seabin is a floating trash can which constantly filters seawater, collecting plastics, microplastics, detergents, oils and other materials from the surface, preventing them from drifting off to the open sea and harming marine flora and fauna, according to Morski HR on February 10, 2020.

“The initiative was founded to primarily to raise awareness about the need to change environmental attitudes, especially in our oceans, and to foster further debate on the ‘green transition’ which is beginning to take hold in response to the global environmental crisis. The focus of the initiative is to dispose of plastics and micro plastics. It also promotes implementing the most advanced green methods, practices and technologies for better environmental management and utilization of its resources,” they explained.

Seabin Acts as Floating ‘Trash Can’ in Marinas, Yacht Clubs, Ports

According to their website, the Seabin V5 unit is a ‘trash skimmer’ designed to be installed in water at marinas, yacht clubs, ports and any body of water with a calm environment and available suitable services.

The unit acts as a floating trash can which skims the water surface by pumping water into the device. The Seabin V5 can intercept floating debris, macro and micro plastics and microfibers with an additional filter. By acting as a trash skimmer, the Seabin V5 is also able to clean the water from contaminated organic material including leaves and seaweed.

The Seabin V5 can be equipped with oil absorbent pads that absorb petroleum-based surface oils and detergent which is predominant in most marinas worldwide.

Surface Water Passes Through Catch Bag At 25,000 Liters Per Hour

Water is sucked in from the surface where it passes through a catch bag inside Seabin. The device is equipped with submersible water pump capable of displacing 25,000 liters per hour and can be plugged directly into either a 110V or 220V outlet. The water is then pumped back into the marina leaving litter and debris trapped in the catch bag.

The Seabin V5 can catch an estimated 3.9 kilograms of floating debris per day or 1.4 tons per year (depending on weather and debris volumes) including micro plastics as small as 2 millimeters.

Follow our Lifestyle page for more information on environmental initiatives in Croatia. More information about the Seabin V5 can be found on their website and Facebook page.

Construction of a new container terminal at the port of Rijeka will cost nearly 4 million euros. While the project has already been extended, the new plan should have the construction of the terminal completed by December 15, 2018. 

Seven European port cities - including Zadar and Rijeka in Croatia - are joining forces to improve the logistics and planning of the transportation-related impacts of cruise tourism, reports HRTurizam on January 18, 2017.