Original news was published 18 December, 2017

Hutchison Ports' BEST semi-automated terminal in Bareclona has broken its own throughput record, breaking through the 1M moves/year barrier on 15th December

The millionth container move is equivalent to around 1.8M TEU. The landmark container was loaded aboard the 13,800-TEU MSC BETTINA operated by Mediterranean Shipping Company.

Commenting on the terminal’s achievement, Guillermo Belcastro, Chief Executive Officer of Hutchison Ports BEST, said: "We are proud of reaching this latest milestone. The new record highlights BEST’s value proposition delivering the highest berth efficiency in the Mediterranean and the fastest delivery processes for trucks and trains. This way we are able to deliver our customers the perfect service combination at seaside and landside of the terminal.”

Since its official opening in September 2012, BEST has continued to set new standard for ports in the region: it has achieved a Vessel Operating Rate of more than 220 moves per hour and a sustained annual average gross quay crane rate of over 40 moves per hour.

BEST currently has 11 super post-Panamax quay cranes, all of them capable of servicing ultra-large container vessels, 48 ASCs and 26 shuttle carriers operating along a berth line of 1,500 metres with a draft of 16.5m.

This record is aligned with the Port of Barcelona’s container volume growth of 33% up to November 2017.

Hutchison Ports, BEST (Barcelona Europe South Terminal) is the first semi-automated terminal in the Hutchison Ports Group.

*NEWS SOURCE