Portsines, which is the concessionaire of the Portuguese Port of Sines’ Multipurpose Terminal, has reported handling a historic shipment of iron ore.
The consignment consisted of 75,000 tonnes of iron ore, all of which was handled using a single crane, generating productivity of 860 tonnes per hour.
The iron ore was imported from North America, although sent to Sines for subsequent onward shipment to the Port of Amsterdam.
The move is a significant one, since both the port authority and Portsines have been promoting the Multipurpose Terminal across markets in Latin America as a potential hub for European markets for various cargo types.
The terminal has two quays: an external one of 645 metres and an internal one of 296 metres, as well as a dedicated quay for dry bulk and a ro-ro ramp. The deepest draught available is of 18 metres, meaning it can accommodate vessels of up to 190,000dwt. In addition, it is equipped with both warehouses and silos, and is also rail connected. Portsines, which is part of the ETE Group, became concessionaire following a port authority tender launched in 2021.