Extension to the port of Gijón, Spain

The port of Gijón is Spain's leading dry bulk-cargo port with annual traffic in excess of 21·5 Mt. Its main unloading terminal - designed for an annual traffic of 12 Mt - is at present unloading more than 16 Mt, with rates of occupation that are greater than advisable and limits on vessel draughts. This paper reports on the current port extension project, which involves building a new breakwater with a total length of 3834 m and creating a basin of 145 ha sheltered water. This will enable three 230 000 t deadweight bulk carriers with a draught of 20 m to berth simultaneously. It will also provide the port with a new solid bulk terminal that has an unloading capacity of over 25 Mt and a storage area of 60 ha, which will enable up to 2 Mt of iron ore and coal to be stocked. The €580 million, part-EU-funded project is due for completion by 2010.