March 30, 2020 [Port Technology] – Terminal operators in the North Tyrrhenian port system have come together as one group to increase storage capacity and ease the flow of cargo coming in from Asia.

 
In a joint statement, the Port System Authority of the Eastern Ligurian Sea, Terminals of the Port of La Spezia, Association of Shippers of the Port of La Spezia, Customs Association of the Port of La Spezia and Maritime Agents and Consignees of the Port of La Spezia, said the deal was effective immediately.

They have all rallied together to offer what they call a “number of solutions” to prevent the risk of congestion in Northern Italy. These include making making available storage space for more than half a million TEU in the Port of La Spezia and the intermodal-hubs in Melzo (Milan), Dinazzano and Padua.

These short-haul solutions are connected to medium-range container transportation solutions in the intermodal centers operated by Contship Italia, the parent company that manages La Spezia Container Terminal.

Port congestion has become a significant problem in the region as businesses have rapidly limited their operations to non-essential mode in response to the COVID-19, or coronavirus pandemic.

This has meant the processing of goods from Asia has slowed down considerably. Factory production in China has recovered and this raises the threat of new cargo adding to the backlog that the country is shipping out to Europe.

Daniele Testi, Contship Italia Group Director of Marketing and Communications, commented: “Contship and its subsidiaries are able to step-up and respond to this call.

“We are committed to offer all our capabilities and operational resources to help wherever possible the customers of the port and the systems of shippers, with access to our integrated intermodal solutions that we believe are the mark of the unique offering of our Group.”

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