On 1 June, PSA Voltri-Prà Terminal in Italy held a ceremony to celebrate the inauguration of the first four new Gooseneck quay cranes. The event was graced by Mr Tan Chong Meng, Group CEO of PSA International, Mr Giovanni Pettorino, Harbour Master and acting President of the Genoa Port Authority, Mr Luigi Merlo, Consultant for the Minister for Infrastructure & Transport, members of the Italian Parliament, local authorities, PSA management and staff, customers, partners and stakeholders.
The new cranes are part of a big investment plan worth 250 million euros that is currently being rolled out. With these investments, PSA Voltri-Prà will become the only terminal operator in the North Tyrrhenian region able to serve multiple mega-vessels simultaneously. The new cranes have an outreach of 53 meters or up to 25 containers wide and are equipped with the latest technology and safety devices. The second batch of four cranes is expected to arrive at the start of 2017. When the investment project is fully completed, PSA Voltri-Prà Terminal will have an annual handling capacity of two million TEU.
Mr Tan Chong Meng, Group CEO of PSA International said, “We believe that the bold investment program we have put in place will strengthen the position of the terminal as the preferred gateway for shipping lines serving the vast hinterland of Southern and Continental Europe and beyond.”
Mr Giuseppe Danesi, Managing Director of PSA Voltri-Prà, said, “The investment in the upgrading of the PSA Voltri-Prà facilities is a clear demonstration of the PSA commitment to transform the Terminal in Genoa into a key gateway. The new cranes are the first tangible demonstration of this project.“
Formerly known as Voltri Terminal Europa, PSA Voltri-Prà is the main container terminal of the North Tyrrhenian region and of the port of Genoa. Since its acquisition in 1998, PSA has invested around EUR 600 million to develop and grow the terminal in Genoa. Currently VTE can simultaneously serve two mega container vessels (up to 18,000 TEU each).
