COSCO upgrades Spanish ports

Looking out of the windows of his office near the Port of Valencia, Spain, Sun Kai can clearly see the huge "arms" of bridge cranes stretching out into the sky."Every day, when looking out at those cranes, I see my company's business expand in concrete steps," said Sun, chief executive officer of Noatum Ports S.L.U.

Headquartered in Valencia on the Mediterranean coast, the company operates container terminals in the Port of Valencia and the Port of Bilbao on the northern Atlantic coast, and railway terminals in Zaragoza and Madrid.

Last November, COSCO Shipping Corporation Ltd -- a Chinese shipping giant -- acquired a majority stake in the Spanish company.

The investment was accompanied by advanced management, know-how and global resources, energizing Spain's transport and logistics industry.

"China has accumulated abundant management experience in running container terminals. After the acquisition, we've gradually introduced an advanced operation process and management into Noatum, and improved efficiency," said Sun.

With the help of the Chinese management team, the company has established an operations department to increase efficiency at the ports and railway terminals. A new health, security and safety department has been set up to ensure the company meets the highest safety standards.

It has also established a railway service unit to improve intermodal transport between Spain's coastal areas and hinterland, and is working on a project to upgrade the operating system of the two ports.

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