A dockers strike in the Port of Bilbao has caused a significant increase in volumes that APM Terminals Gijon receives, exceeding its capacity and causing congestion, the strike has now lasted over a month.
APMT Gijon is currently handling twice the usual number of containers due to the diversion of cargo on ships calling at the port in Asturias, which usually also call at Bilbao.
In order to respond to the new conditions, APMT Gijon has been supported by the company’s Spanish Gateway Terminals structure, to temporarily move employees from other terminals and double its team in Gijon.
In collaboration with the Port Authority, it has also doubled the size of its empty container storage yard by utilising an area next to the terminal. Additionally, new machinery has been made available and operational improvements, such as extending the opening hours of the gate, have been implemented.
Furthermore, APM Terminals Gijon is working in co-ordination with the administration to speed up customs procedures and improve the delivery of empty containers which, being in separate areas, no longer have to share queues with full containers, guaranteeing the delivery of this equipment.
Moreover, the company said it had put a new procedure in place for the delivery and reception of containers by truck to accelerate and improve the flow of incoming and outgoing boxes. In addition, having two rail operators will support APMT Gijon to relieve gate congestion with incoming rail cargo.
“APM Terminals Gijon has been able to respond quickly to provide solutions and resources, and coordinate with all the stakeholders involved in the supply chain, to seek a joint global solution to return the service to normal,” the company said in its statement.
