The Canary Islands Port of Arinaga has inaugurated a new €8 million dry bulk terminal, which is owned by the local Yecasa Group. This is formed of Yesos Canarias, Gramelcan, Proyecto Dover, and the Arabella and Camarex shipping line, which has a fleet of ten vessels.
Company president, Enrique Delgado, says he wants the port to be converted into a hub for transshipment of dry bulk commodities to ports in North and West Africa. However, in order to do this, he believes the port authority will have to offer rate discounts.
Yecasa, which is already in talks with international operators, says the terminal will be able to accommodate vessels of up to 25,000dwt and that there are on shore facilities able to warehouse commodities prior to shipping them across to Africa. It is prepared to offer discounts on rates for feeder vessels and now expects both the port authority and stevedores to follow suit.
Delgado revealed that the Arinaga terminal is one of the first in Spain to be almost entirely covered, thereby minimizing negative environmental impact.
In total, the facility can store 60,000 cubic metres or around 90,000 tonnes at one of its warehouses. These are serviced by 300 metres of conveyors that can move up to 500 tonnes per hour, as well as a 100- tonne hopper.
The new terminal will triple existing maritime traffic at Arinaga, which should be handling up to ten to 12 vessels per month.
Previously, Yecasa had operated from the Reina Sofi´a dock at the Port of Las Palmas, but this had run into financial difficulties and has now been re-concessioned to Hamilton y Ci´a.
Source: Barry Cross