Rijeka Gateway, the most modern and technologically advanced container terminal in this part of Europe, today marked the arrival of the first commercial ship, Al Jasrah, which symbolically signifies the beginning of the operational phase of the terminal following a testing phase during the summer months in which terminal operations were successfully tested, according to a statement.
The start of the operational phase comes after two years of construction and equipping the terminal, which is the largest private investment in logistics in Croatia, valued at 380 million euros, resulting from a joint investment by APM Terminals and ENNA Group. In the first phase, the terminal has 400 meters of quay, a depth of 20 meters, and a capacity of 650,000 TEU annually, which will increase to 680 meters of quay and a capacity of over one million TEU after the planned expansion of the terminal.
The terminal is equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure: four remote-controlled ship-to-shore cranes (STS), 15 rubber-tired gantry cranes (RTG), two rail-mounted gantry cranes (RMG), and 28 terminal tractors. All systems are connected to a unique control center, enabling a high level of safety, efficiency, and sustainability. Operations at the terminal will be driven by the latest technology with complete automation and the use of renewable energy, making the terminal the first of its kind in the Adriatic region.
The Ship from Egypt
The first commercial ship to dock at Rijeka Gateway is Al Jasrah, which is 368 meters long and 51 meters wide. The ship arrived in Rijeka from the Port Said in Egypt, as part of the Asia – Europe route. The ship’s captain received a commemorative recognition presented by Rijeka Gateway representatives Peter Corfitsen, Tomislav Rosandić, and the Minister of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure Oleg Butković.
The Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia and Minister of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure Oleg Butković emphasized that this is a historic moment not only for Rijeka and the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County but for all of Croatia, and the arrival of the first ship at one of the most modern terminals in this part of Europe confirms that all the effort invested has paid off. He pointed out that the journey to this day has been demanding – from securing financing and constructing access roads to signing the concession agreement, but he thanked everyone involved for completing the entire project on time and without delays. He emphasized that at its full capacity of one million TEU, this terminal opens a new chapter in the development of Rijeka’s transport and the economy of all of Croatia.
– Today is a great day for the Port of Rijeka, the Rijeka transport route, and the entire port and transport system of Croatia. We have the first “mother” ship docked at the new, sustainable, “green,” and technologically most advanced container terminal in this part of Europe. When we signed the concession agreement with Rijeka Gateway in November 2021, I said it was the largest contract in the history of the Port of Rijeka, the most important and valuable contract for all of us – for this City, for the Port Authority of Rijeka, the Port of Rijeka, the Rijeka transport route, and the entire port and transport system of Croatia.
A strong and financially robust concessionaire, an experienced global terminal operator focused on sustainable development, has brought significant investments into our port system. And not only that – it has brought valuable and invaluable “know-how” for all of us. This is the largest, most important, and most complex project in our history, I would say a generational project in the Port of Rijeka. When we sum up all investments in the terminal and transport infrastructure, from roads to the railway interface in the port and around it, we arrive at a figure of about 600 million EUR. There is, of course, the investment in the construction of 400 meters of quay financed by a loan from the World Bank, the construction of the connecting road DC 403, internal port roads, a new intermodal terminal, and a railway interface for the new terminal, and finally, the concessionaire’s investment in the arrangement of the hinterland and terminal equipment; from STS cranes, storage and portal cranes for transloading containers to other various equipment.
A complex joint investment project of the Croatian Government and the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure, the Port Authority of Rijeka, HŽ Infrastrukture, Hrvatske ceste, and the concessionaire Rijeka Gateway. The concessionaire is investing 380 million EUR in our port system, which has opened new jobs and employed 250 young professionals so far and which brings a leading position to the Port of Rijeka and the entire transport system of the Republic of Croatia in the northern Adriatic and the wider region. I thank the leaders and team of Rijeka Gateway, the company APM Terminals/Maersk Group, and the Croatian company ENNA Logic for their excellent cooperation, congratulate them on the professionally managed project, and wish the terminal successful operations for the next fifty years – said Denis Vukorepa, director of the Port Authority of Rijeka.
“This terminal is more than just infrastructure. It is a symbol of Rijeka as a modern, sustainable, and technologically advanced port that creates value and drives the local and national economy while caring for the community and the environment. A good terminal is not made by equipment and technology, but by people. We are proud of our 250 employees, and soon we will have 300. In this operational phase, we must show that everything we have built, from infrastructure to the team, can function daily at the highest level of operational excellence that our customers expect. I am convinced that Rijeka Gateway can be one of the best terminals in this part of the world, to the pride of Rijeka and all of Croatia,” said Peter Corfitsen, general director of Rijeka Gateway.
– Our commitment to quality employee training has been one of the foundations of our success. So far, the team has spent over 50,000 hours in various training sessions, including advanced simulations that have played a key role in preparing for daily challenges and operations. Additionally, our expert team has visited a number of terminals around the world to study them in detail and implement the best global standards in our work. And our vision extends beyond the coast. Quality rail connectivity is extremely important for our terminal, so we strongly support the construction of a lowland railway that will enable Rijeka to become an entry point for Central and Southeast Europe. Currently, our plan is to use the railway for 60 percent of terminal-related traffic, and we look forward to the potential increase of that share as it will further strengthen the competitiveness and sustainability of the terminal – emphasized Tomislav Rosandić, chief financial officer of Rijeka Gateway.
Entry Point for Emerging Markets
The Rijeka Gateway terminal has been included in the Gemini collaboration between Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd on the EA12 line, making Rijeka a key terminal on one of the most important global shipping routes. Regular ship arrivals are expected to strengthen Croatia’s connection with global supply chains and contribute to the economic growth of the entire region.
– We are pleased to welcome Rijeka Gateway to our reliable ocean network, further strengthening connectivity and providing greater value to our customers and their supply chains. Strategically located on the Adriatic coast, supported by impressive infrastructure, Rijeka Gateway offers direct access to Croatia and its hinterland, positioning itself as a key entry point for emerging markets. As trade patterns change and businesses seek more agile and resilient logistics solutions, the importance of well-connected, modern, and reliable infrastructure systems becomes clear – and Rijeka Gateway can uniquely meet those needs, bringing tangible benefits to our customers – highlighted Johan Sigsgaard, chief product officer at Ocean in A.P. Moller – Maersk.
In addition to the terminal itself, an extensive renovation of Warehouse 22 in the Metropolis complex has been completed. This historic building, restored under strict conservation supervision and the application of the latest earthquake-resistant measures, will become the administrative building of Rijeka Gateway, adding new value to Rijeka’s cultural heritage, they conclude in the statement.
