21th Century
The foundations for the Outer Port are laid
The new century got under way with the preparation of the project for building the new port facilities in Punta Langosteira, analysing the technical viability of the structure, which was subject of fierce scientific debate. At the same time, work started on the economic viability study, defining as funding the decommissioning of certain quays in the inner port, EU funding and funding from the Port Authority itself.
The "Prestige" catastrophe, in November 2002, prompted the debate on the need to distance hazardous traffic from the Coruña coast, and the project was reactivated thanks to the approval of the Galicia Plan in the Council of Ministers held in A Coruña Town Hall 24 January 2003.
As of that moment, three work committees were established to study the technical, urban development and financial viability of the project. In February 2004 the intensive work of these committees would result in invitations to tender for the works and the subsequent awarding of the project to the TBA formed by Dragados, Drace, Sato and Copasa in December of that year.
Meanwhile, the outstanding milestone in the urban port during this period was the construction, in 2004, of the A Coruña Fish Market; this would be a defining moment for fisheries activity, on which 10,000 families in the city are dependent. This building, with its modern facilities, along with the pioneering self-management formula implemented by the sector itself, succeeded in placing the city at the forefront of Spanish fresh fish captures.
The work at Punta Langosteira begins
On the 11th March 2005 the works for the new port facilities at Punta Langosteira began and on the 2nd April, the official ceremony for the laying of the first stone took place.
It was an event which was attended by hundreds of representatives of the social and business sectors of the region of Galicia, who celebrated the achievement of a collective yearning.
This crucial year culminated with a decision of vital importance to the future of the project: on the 29th November the European Union announced that it would fund the works.
Planning the road connections
The Demarcation of Roads in Galicia and the Ministry of Development of Galicia performed an informative study and detailed design for access to the Outer Harbour. The chosen solution allowed direct access to the AG-55 motorway and from there to the A-6 motorway section. Also in 2006 the analysis of economic and financial viability of the rail access was discussed. In addition, the studies to plan the development of industrial land in the vicinity of Punta Langosteira began.
Meanwhile, the works to start the construction of the infrastructure of the Outer Harbour followed. Besides performing the blasting to generate esplanades and qualify the land, we proceeded to the construction of the auxiliary sea wall and auxiliary port.
The final seawall starts
Once the explanades of the auxiliary port sea wall were constructed, the works for the installation of the final park blocks began. The volume of concrete required for the Outer Port reached quote 3.5 million cubic meters, similar to nine months figure total production of ready-mixed concrete in Galicia.
On 17th April 2007 another great historic moment happened in the evolution of the work: the start of the construction of the final wall. During this first task, the first 800 meters in length were achieved.
The world's largest crawler crane arrived
In 2008, the resistance of the works in adverse weather conditions was tested. The storm that hit the Galician coast on March 10 caused significant damages to many coastal areas, but the first section of the dam withstood the force of the sea.
To cover the mantle of this structure, with blocks of 150 tons, a Liehberr 11350 model crane was used, the biggest crane crawler available on the market. During this task, were exceeded 1,600 meters in length and the crown wall work started.
Changes in the Presidency
In June the Port Authority Presidency hand-over occured, and the position was taken by Enrique Losada Rodríguez. Under his presidency the first two phases of the Outer Port were completed; the third phase began, the financing plan disposed and the activity began in Punta Langosteira.
On the constructive side, in 2009, were exceeded 2,500 meter in lenght of the sea wall, exceeding submarine depths of 40 meters, and the works to build the transversal dock began.
The sea wall completed and the financial scheme depleted
The biggest achievement from constructive point of view was the culmination of the Outer Port seawall, reaching 3,360 meters length. A tree and a sign reading "End of the Road" commemorate this achievement as a great technical challenge.
Finally, the financial viability was cleared and the Port Authority agreed with the National Ports Authority the overall funding scheme, ensuring solvency to undertake all the required infrastructure investments.
In addition to advancing the implementation of "Punta Langosteira", the Port Authority faced the Inner Port modernization to specialize it in clean goods. Thus, in May, expanding to Dock East is inaugurated, with the objective of the containers movement. This work allowed to extend the terminal to a length of 160 meters, reaching a total of 410 meters.
Completed the first phases of the Outer Port
In the summer of 2011 the last campaign of the first two phases of the Outer Harbour is executed, which at the end of the year are completed and delivered to the Port Authority. The works include the construction of the seawall, the flagship of the work, which is more than three miles long, and the dock and the hammer, besides a esplanade of 144 hectares.
2011 is the year too when the project "Parrote" parking is unblocked, finally finding a technical solution that allows the construction of the parking lot while take care the preservation of the remains of the old fortress.
Starting the Outer Port
This year was a critical in the the port of La Coruna history, with the commissioning of the Outer Port and the first commercial loading and unloading of goods. In September start to occur handling on the operations esplanade, beginning with the clinker and pontoons, large metal structures of complex manipulation by its large size. The success of operations supports the appropriate operating conditions of Punta Langosteira for loading and unloading of goods of different kinds.
The study presented in July 2012 by the Center for Studies of Experimentation of Public Works (CEDEX), Ministry of Public Works is tested on the ground, which determines the Outer Port will be operational for the entry of ships 97% of the year.
In constructive context the third phase of works begins, highlighting the interconnectedness of the concourses, liquid bulk gallery and breakwater, a key to ensure the operability of the Outer Port, complete coat of surface waters and expand infrastructure esplanades.
The marketing plan of the Outer Port get a big boost with the agreement reached with the Mexican multinational Pemex, the first in Latin America in the hydrocarbon sector, to install in Punta Langosteira its logistics base in Europe.
The year 2012 closed with a positive balance of traffic, getting the best figure in the movement of goods in the last five years, surpassing the 13.5 million tons.
Repsol signs his transfer to Langosteira
Concluded the first phase of implementation of the seawall and other works that get close the Outer Port to its final configuration.
The major milestone for the future of the Outer Port was the signing of the agreement for the first phase of moving to Punta Langosteira Repsol, in a ceremony held on October 14 with the presence of the Minister of Development, Ana Pastor; the Rural Environment and Sea Coincil, Rosa Quintana; the mayors of A Coruña and Arteixo, Carlos Negreira and Carlos Calvelo; and Repsol president Antonio Brufau, and other authorities.
The agreement allowed the release of more than 26,000 square meters of land by Repsol Petroleum in the Inner Port, and the compensation was fixed at 23.9 million euros, after two years of hard bargaining. The company's investment amounted to 124.6 million euros, having to start business in Punta Langosteira by April 2018. This is a key step not only to ensure safety at sea and the movement away from the most sensitive traffic from the centre of the city, but also because it meant Repsol had a long-term bet for the port of A Coruña.
In the port-city relationship, the operation area Parrote-La Marina is the most prominent landmark. The construction works of the tunnel and parking and redevelopment of the area pass them apace since the start of the construction of the tunnel to La Marina, which was a major fact for the urban future of the city center, as it will provide a pedestrian area of 52,000 square meters for the use and enjoyment of the citizens.
In the traffic balance highlights the spectacular growth in the cruises movement. After sustained growth that began in 2009, and in which the number of passengers is tripled, going from 54,000 to 140,000 travelers in 2012, the year 2013 closed with no less than 157,000 cruise passengers and 108 stops. A Coruña is port becomes the largest number of berths liners throughout Atlantic and Cantabrian cornice.
Six cruise ships in one day
In 2014 there have been consolidated operations of loading and unloading of goods in the Outer Port, while it has significantly boosted the process of moving some traffic from its location in the Inner Port, the facilities Langosteira. A request made by Repsol to build an oil terminal at the new port, requests for such prominent companies as Galigrain, Marítimos de Galicia and Pérez Torres Marítima, who have applied for grants to enable ships and auxiliary equipment for the load are added and discharge of dry bulk and general goods.
In early 2014 highlighted two very important events for the port. On the one hand, the coincidence of six ships on the same day, May 2, a fact that had never happened in A Coruña or the whole of Galicia. Vessels Empress, Oriana, Deuschtland, Delphin, Voyager and Hamburg made history by staying docked simultaneously at different docks, encouraging the provision of a special operation which involved the Port Authority, the City, the concessionaire of the passenger terminal, consignees and security forces, with excellent coordination.
The second event was the celebration in the city of the XVIII General Conference of the International Association of Maritime Signals and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA), which was the first took place in Spain. Between 25 and 31 May, attended by 500 professionals from 60 countries, with such prominent figures as Princess Anne of England or the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Koji Sekimizu.
A year of intense activity
The year 2015 has been particularly strong both in terms of construction activity and the management of the two harbor basins that depend on the Port Authority: the Outer Port and the Inner Port. In the first chapter outlines the implementation of the third phase of works at Punta Langosteira, with the dam as the main work, as well as the redevelopment of the Marina’s area. In relation to the management of the Port basins, the process of moving operators of the Outer Port evolves rapidly with the main consignee and stevedoring already in place, while the Inner Port has advanced in promoting fishing and cruises.
OUTER PORT
In 2014 was started the process for the grant of the main port operators for implementation in the Outer Port, but in 2015 is when the fruits of the agreements reached with the Port Authority can be seen. The company Terminales Marítimos de Galicia, TMGA, was the first to open their industrial unit for bulk storage and management, operating with agri-food products and coke. In the operation esplanade adjacent areas’ two other prominent companies of the port have been added, Pérez Torres Maritina, Perez Torres Maritima, which has been operating in Punta Langosteira since it started trading in September 2012, and Galigrain, from the Nogar group, the main bulk food operator of the Port of A Coruña. The three companies already address the expansion of their facilities and even the construction of new industrial units, as is the case of TMGA.
In addition, after the granted concession agreement with the Port Authority of A Coruña, Repsol plans to build an independent terminal in the Outer Port. The oil company will invest 125 million euros and its facilities will be completed in early 2018.
Regarding traffic, it has already surpassed one million tonnes loaded and unloaded in Punta Langosteira. The forecast is to achieve an exponential growth in the coming years, thanks to the recent implementation of the new industrial units of the operators and the transfer of 60% of Repsol's activity and the acquisition of new investors in which the Port Authority is working.
The constructive chapter is also in its final stage, this year proved to be decisive for the boost given to the implementation of the road connection with high-capacity roads and also with the progress in the construction of the dam, which is already in its final stage. In addition to the waters’ shelter closing, this project will expand the surface of the esplanade to 200 hectares and will allow to run a new quay of 300 meters.
INNER PORT
The Port Authority has made a firm commitment to specialize the Inner Harbor's traffic in clean goods, with rising sectors as cruises or fishing, and by further strengthening the Port-City relations, which is underpinned by the history and the common development in between A Coruña and its Port.
In the fishery field there is still work to maintain the leadership position achieved by this strategic sector in the city, which generates around 15,000 jobs. Regarding the cruise traffic, it has achieved exponential growth since 2009, bringing the number of passengers around 130,000 people. This position has been consolidated in 2015, and the port of La Coruña remains the first of the Cantabrian-Atlantic cornice in number of calls. Cruise traffic is strategic for the harbor Authority because of the benefits to the tourism industry and services in the city, and also contributes to enhance its image as a destination.
PORT-CITY RELATIONSHIP
One of the most important actions in recent years in the field of Port-City relations was culminated during the year 2015. It is about the operation of redevelopment of the Marina-Parrote axis, which began with the recovery of the area of O Parrote, with the parking realization and the enhancement of the architectural remains, and continued with the redevelopment of the Marina. The goal is to provide citizens with wide space of 55,000 square meters for pedestrians use and get the urban citizens close to the sea, reducing road traffic surface through an underground road tunnel connected with Maria Pita and O Parrote.
This action is essential to reorder a very characteristic area of the city and provide a space for leisure, sports, walking and outdoor activities. Over time the importance it has had on the urban development of the city will be seen, like other emblematic operations operations undertaken in the past that have contributed to the appearance and identity which currently has A Coruña.
The year of the deployment of the traffic of the Exterior Port
OUTER PORT
2016 was a year of great importance in the history of the Port Authority for the advancement of the important traffic movement in the Outer Port. After completing the basic infrastructures and intensifying the activities to favor the implementation of solid bulk, mainly energy and agri-food, a stable rhythm of activity is again generated, the figures were increased by 50% in 2015. In that year, the Port in In this case, it is the leader in the total volume of loading and unloading of goods between the galleries.a
In 2016, the works of the sector and the bulk liquids gallery were completed, a great importance for the exploitation of the port. The draft in the access channel was also improved, the interior roads were enabled and the point of a maritime signaling system that operates 24 hours a day. In 2016, the development of concessions in the outer port continues. In addition to the completion of the works corresponding to the existing concessions, some new ones were granted that were assumed, at the end of the year, a total concession area of almost 133,000 square meters, which means an increase of 38% compared to the Closing from the previous year.
All this, together with the confidence and consolidation of the main operators, and the solvency offered by the services of mooring, towing and practice, that allow to reach in Punta Langosteira a movement of 1.46 million tons, increasing by 50% the figures of 2015. Out of the form of its best records, it channels 35% of the solid solids that are operated in Puerto Coruñés.
The terrestrial connectivity also received a boost with the opening of the access road and the contracting of the rail link construction project.
The high level of activity and the increase of the concession area, together with the adequate control of expenses, the proposal of, for the second consecutive year, the port authority achieved the highest turnover in its history, 27.6 million euros.
INNER PORT
The Port Authority maintained the objective of continuing to be a dynamic lever in the creation of wealth and quality employment in its area of influence. Thus, its commercial activity during the year 2016 achieved a movement of total traffic very similar to the previous year, consolidating the increases of previous years and reaching the total figure of 13,919,796 tons.
It was remarkable the increase in the general merchandise sector, which exceeded one million tons, and the maintenance of good figures in the areas of fishing and cruises. In the chapter of fresh fishing and seafood, the A Coruña fish market was still consolidated at the head of Spain. As for the cruise ships, the Port continued with its status as leader of the Cantabrian-Atlantic coast in number of stopovers and strengthened its ties with shipping companies and operators in the sector. During 2016, very good results were maintained, with 94 stopovers and a total of 126,735 passengers.
The consolidation of Punta Langosteira in a year of records
The Port of A Coruña reached its historical record in freight traffic in 2017 when it surpassed 15 million tons for the first time, reinforcing its position as the first in Galicia in traffic volume. The record in the movement of merchandise allowed that in 2017 also reached the highest turnover of the Port Authority, which amounted to 30.3 million euros, and the year closed positive.
The port activity during the year 2017 strengthened the dock Coruña as the first port of Galicia in volume of traffic, and reaffirmed also the success in the bet that the operators have made for the outer dock of Langosteira, which leads the growth of the activity.
The Outer Port recorded 2.33 million tons in merchandise import and export operations, which was 63% more than the previous year and made Langosteira the first multi-purpose dock, surpassing the Centennial North. Its optimal conditions led to solid bulk, the most relevant sector in the new dock, reaching 5 million tons, a figure also unprecedented until then.
Throughout 2017, a new 300 meter pier in the Outer Port was put into service, as well as other infrastructures
INNER PORT
Regarding the interior port, the merchandise traffics also highlighted the results in fishing and cruises, two strategic sectors in the management of the Port Authority for the value they bring to the city in terms of employment and economic dynamism. The fishing discharges stood at 51,102 tons, 17% more than the previous year, strengthening the state leadership of the A Coruña fish market in volume of fresh fish and shellfish.
In cruise ships all the records reached up to that moment were broken, with the arrival in the city of 121 stopovers and 184,069 passengers, which implied a 45% growth with respect to 2016. A Coruña became the first port of the entire cornice Cantabrian-Atlantic, both in number of cruise passengers and stopovers, from the French border to Lisbon.
PORT-CITY
During the year 2017 the culmination of the total integration of the Marina-Parrote axis in the urban landscape of the heart of the city and in the daily life of the Coruñeses and visitors came. Not only has it been consolidated as a space for leisure, walking and sports, but also a qualitative leap in the conditions of reception of the city to the cruise passengers, who highlighted as one of the most attractive elements of the Port its proximity with the city and the pedestrian connection from the Transatlantic Pier.
The Port advances in its leadership position and new traffic in Langosteira
The year 2018 yielded excellent results both in traffic and in turnover in the Port of A Coruña. In the case of Punta Langosteira, the new dock experienced an important boost in terms of infrastructure development, with the start of work on a new 350-meter-long section of the quay, after the commissioning of another phase in 2017 300 meters.
Regarding traffic, one of the most outstanding aspects was that 30% of the total volume of imports and exports that took place in the Outer Port corresponded to new traffic, which did not exist until that moment in the Coruña docks. This highlighted the capacity of the dock to host operations of a very different nature, some of them very unique and complex. This was the case with the manufacture and subsequent transport to Scotland of 22 large concrete caissons, which were used for the expansion of the port of Aberdeen.
In the economic section, the good results of 2018 led the Port Authority's turnover to reach 31.76 million euros, setting a new record, and that the year closed with profits of 2.2 million euros. euros.
LEADERSHIP IN TRAFFIC
The total movement of goods in 2018 exceeded 15.7 million tons, which represented an increase of 3.3% compared to 2017, which had already registered record figures. This meant consolidating the leadership position of the Port of A Coruña in Galicia as a whole, highlighting above all the cruise traffic, which is constantly evolving in the inner port, and of agri-food bulk, the engine of the consolidation of traffic in the Outer Port.
In Punta Langosteira, traffic reached 2.27 million tons, reaffirming itself together with the Centenario Norte as the first multipurpose dock in the Port of A Coruña. One of the most important factors that justify this growth is the commitment made by some of the main operators and clients, such as Repsol, which began construction work on the jetty in 2018 to house oil discharges.
INNER PORT
CIn the Inland Port, the good results in cruise ship traffic stood out for yet another year. Thus, during 2018 the leadership in the Cantabrian-Atlantic coast was consolidated with an influx of almost 180,000 passengers, tripling the records of a decade earlier. The most important milestone in this sector took place in September, with two massive triples of large ocean liners, which in just two days brought 25,000 people to A Coruña.
The Port-City relationship was reinforced with permanent support for the nautical sports sector and close collaboration with the fishing sector, which constitutes one of the main industries in the city, employing 10,000 people. During 2018, progress was made in improvements such as the new jetty to facilitate the unloading of inshore fishing in the Lonja de A Coruña, first in Spain in volume of fresh fish and shellfish catches, and the investment of one million euros for the renovation of infrastructures used by producers, traders and auxiliary companies.
The Port withstood the impact of the cessation of activity in Meirama and Alu Ibérica
Activity in the Port of A Coruña during 2019 was marked by resistance to difficult situations such as the cessation of activity at the Meirama thermal power plant and at the Alu Ibérica factory. This situation caused a 12% decrease in traffic, after the two previous years in which records had been broken in the movement of goods. The biggest impact was the closure of the Naturgy plant, which caused a drop of more than one million tons in the movement of coal.
However, the Port continued at the head of Galicia in terms of traffic and billing, as well as fresh fish landings and the cruise ship sector. In addition, the Port Authority continued to advance, with more energy if possible, in its commercial campaign to attract new traffic and investors, mainly in the Outer Port. Meanwhile, the operators already established in the new dock reinforced their commitment to Punta Langosteira with new works to expand their facilities. To these was added the process of transferring Repsol, which during the 2019 period continued with its works to build its terminal in Langosteira, in order to discharge crude oil. Specifically, during the year the boxes that make up the dock were manufactured and installed and the work corresponding to the superstructure was carried out.
The transfer of Repsol will mean a new leap in the growth of the new dock, while fulfilling one of the fundamental objectives that led to its construction: to remove the most sensitive traffic from the urban environment. In total, private investment in the Outer Port rose in 2019, exceeding 215 million euros, confirming the potential of the new facilities as a generator of wealth and employment for the entire metropolitan area of A Coruña.
CONSOLIDATED TRAFFIC
In parallel to the private investment, the Port Authority continued with the works to complete the endowments of Langosteira, among which were the expansion of the interior roads and the construction of a new pier to extend the berthing line to 1,560 meters in length in continuous section.
The volume of traffic reached in the Outer Port in 2018 remained at around two million tons in 2019, consolidating Langosteira's position, especially in the movement of solid bulks and, especially, agri-food bulks. The Port of A Coruña has established itself, in this last sector, as the leader of Spain in traffic, serving as a fundamental support to the industry linked to animal feed, with a great weight in Galicia.
INNER PORT
In the inland port, the results in fishing and cruises stood out once again, complying with the strategic planning of the Port Authority, focused on the commitment to clean goods in urban docks. Although the restrictions derived from the quotas caused a decrease in catches, the Lonja de A Coruña remained at the forefront of Spain in unloading of fresh fish and shellfish, with high-quality products and a great reputation throughout the country.
In cruise traffic, the figures continued to advance and once again confirmed A Coruña's position as one of the most attractive destinations in the Atlantic. Thus, it remained the leading port in the northwest of the peninsula, with a calendar for 2020 that pointed to a new record and which was unfortunately truncated due to sanitary restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020: A financial year marked by the pandemic caused by Covid
The pandemic caused by COVID-19 affected the economy and international trade in 2020. The global situation had a very important effect on ports, and the port of A Coruña was not exempt from the consequences of the drastic reduction in business activity that occurred starting in March. The drop in industrial production and consumption led to a reduction in port traffic of 22%.
Just as it caused this negative impact, the pandemic also revealed the strategic role that ports play in the production and supply chain to industry and the public. In the case of the Port of A Coruña, it should be noted that its activity did not stop at any time, except for the mandatory stoppage of cruises and recreational boating. Two of our most important companies, the Repsol Refinery and the Fish Market, continued the indispensable supply of fuels and fresh fish, in spite of the difficulties that appeared, above all, in the first few weeks of the state of alarm. And, like them, the other port operators and users continued to supply raw materials to feed livestock or construction materials, to cite two of the most thriving sectors.
Because of this, it can be said that this unexpected and extremely complicated situation made it possible to confirm that the community of companies and professionals that makes up the Port of A Coruña is qualified and cohesive. The Port Authority and the other public and private entities that make the Port's daily operations possible adopted, from the very first moment, the measures needed to keep this essential activity going, by implementing telecommuting where it was possible, and by applying the sanitary and organisational protocols required for on-site working.
Investments
Even with the effects of the pandemic, in 2020 private investment in Punta Langosteira continued, showing that the companies had confidence in the future of the Outer Port, and the Port Authority continued its actions to support and facilitate these industrial sites. Of note was the completion of the new section of the wharf, which completed a continuous line of berths measuring 1,560 metres, enough to handle solid bulk and general goods in the short term.
The year ended without any definitive agreement being reached on two central issues: the Outer Port train and the solution to the debt incurred by the Port Authority for the execution of the Langosteira facility. However, the intense work that had been done was beginning to bear fruit and in the first few months of 2021 it was confirmed that the rail link will be built entirely with Next Generation EU funding; and, at the same time, progress was made on the institutional dialogue focusing on adopting measures that would guarantee the financial sustainability of the Port Authority.
The financial year ended in December with the appointment of Martín Fernández Prado as chairman of the Port Authority, to replace Enrique Losada Rodríguez, who had chaired the institution since June 2009.
2021: Rail link, Green Port and opening the port to the public
In 2021, the Port of A Coruña regained some of the activity it had lost in the previous year as a result of the serious crisis caused by COVID-19, ending the financial year with 12% growth over 2020. However, in addition to the traffic statistics, the year was marked by three singular milestones for the future of the port and the city: the expected institutional agreement to build the rail access to the Outer Port, the launch of the “Green Port” project and the opening of new port spaces to public use.
After a decade of paperwork and technical studies, in March 2021 it was confirmed that the port of Punta Langosteira will be linked to the general rail network, with an investment entirely financed by NextGenerationEU funding, thereby avoiding a greater financial burden for the Port Authority.
The development of the “Green Port” was no less important for the Port and for A Coruña and the entire metropolitan area. This is a project promoted by the Port Authority to make Punta Langosteira into a great logistical and industrial decarbonisation hub, by taking advantages of the port’s excellent capacities in terms of its depths, the available esplanades on land and its sheltered waters.
Windfarm
The project started to take shape in April with a request from Inditex to build a wind farm in the Outer Port, with three wind turbines that would supply green energy to both the multinational's facility in Sabón and the port itself. This initiative by a company of the size of Inditex gave an enormous boost to the "Green Port". Subsequently, proposals would come in from Enerfin to set up a hydrogen production and supply plant for port activities and mobility, and a request from Fisterra Energy to build a large hydrogen and green ammonia generation, storage and distribution facility.
The third great success of 2021 was the opening of the port to the public. Many generations of A Coruña residents nostalgically remember strolling through the port, and the opportunity to again walk on the dockside was warmly welcomed by all local inhabitants. With the slogan "Open to everyone", we began in March by opening the Transatlantic dock, taking advantage of the fact that because of the pandemic there was no cruiser ship traffic, and on 16 July, the feast of the Virgin of Carmen, the Batería dock gate was opened. Throughout the year, the docks were the venue for exhibitions, concerts, sporting competitions, guided tours and a fantastic photographic exposition by Peter Lindbergh, of international renown, sponsored by Marta Ortega.
Granary of Galicia
p style="text-align: justify;">In the Outer Port, the big operators continued their efforts in 2021 to extend and modernise their facilities. Galigrain, Pérez Torres and Terminales Marítimos de Galicia continued to strongly back Langosteira, which, in 2021, handled 1.4 million tonnes and consolidated its position as the granary of Galicia, the leader in the north of Spain in the importation of agri-food products. Our major customer Repsol completed its investment of no less than 126 million Euro in order to transfer petroleum unloading.
In large part, the smooth functioning of the Outer Port permitted an increase of 12% in port traffic, which included both solid and liquid bulk and general goods. Fishing activity, however, decreased because of the many problems affecting it, and cruise ships started up again in September with a total of 33 stopovers, and with forecasts of extraordinary growth in 2022 and 2023.
2022: Increased growth in the Spanish port system
The financial year 2022 ended with very positive results for the Port of A Coruña, with excellent figures for goods traffic and business generation, plus the implementation of significant investments in the future of A Coruna, Arteixo and the entire metropolitan area, such as the new Repsol terminal, the Punta Langosteira rail link and the “Green Port” project.
Port traffic exceeded the figures from before the pandemic. There was a total of 14.9 million tonnes, the third highest recorded in the port’s history, with an increase of 25% from 2021. It was also the highest growth in the entire Spanish port system, which on average grew by 3.5%. Historic records were achieved in solid bulk, the agri-food product imports and operations in the Outer Port, which handled the loading and unloading of 211 ships and 4.2 million tonnes of merchandise, well above the figure for previous years. As a result, the financial results were the best in the entire historical series, with a turnover of some 32 million Euro, profits of 5.3 million Euro and cash generation of more than 16 million Euro.
Coal hub
Punta Langosteira became the number one port in the north of Spain in terms of animal feed product movements and added new cargoes in 2022, including rock phosphate and especially coal, a new traffic that arose because of the war in Ukraine and made the Outer Port a great hub for coal destined for Northern Europe.
In addition, the extraordinary reception given to the “Green Port” project positioned Punta Langosteira as a benchmark European industrial hub in the area of new energies. Some important multinationals applied to move into the port to set up some very significant projects related with hydrogen and green ammonia, and the offshore wind industry.
In regard to the inner port, in 2022 an extraordinary surge in cruise ship traffic began, with the arrival of 130 ships and 223,732 passengers, the best figures in the history of the Coruña dock. This success has aroused the interest of the Port Authority in improving the traveller experience and supporting the shipping companies in their commitment to sustainability. The first steps were taken to electrify the Transatlantic quay, sharing the sector's intention to reduce its carbon footprint.
Opening of the Calvo Sotelo dock
The transformation of the inner port also experienced significant progress in 2002 with the opening of the Calvo Sotelo dockside for public use, completing, with the Battery dockside, the 800,000 square metres that were already open to the public.
The public use of these spaces achieved some significant milestones, such as the second cycle of guided tours of the port, with 800 participants; the Noroeste Estrella Galicia Festival; the second cycle of “Noites do Porto” (Nights at the Port) concerts; the erection of a giant big wheel; and the second photography exhibition sponsored by the Marta Ortega Foundation, dedicated on this occasion to Steven Meisel.