DP World Constanta on ambitious expansion drive

Constanta Building on steady growth over the past three years, DP World Constanta South Container Terminal in Romania is pursuing an ambitious expansion drive in the near future.

"We are in the process of finalising further expansion of the facilities at the Constanta port," said Sorin Petrec, technical manager at DP World Constanta.

"We took over an empty port facility just three years back, and today we have made such huge strides that it is necessary that we expand and attend to the growing demand in this region," Petrec added.

Profitable deal

DP International signed an agreement to handle the Constanta container facility at the end of 2003. Actual operations commenced only in April 2004, and the largest port serving the Black Sea region has shown a steady handling growth since then.

"We acquired six empty terminals then, and today we do not have sufficient place to handle the containers coming in to the port," Petrec stated.

From handling a modest 100,000 containers in its first year in 2004, the Constanta facility improved to 580,000 containers in 2005.

Last year, the port handled 870,000 containers and this year they have set a new record of 1.2 million containers.

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"Business has grown by leaps and bounds since 2004 and we have to plan for the immediate future. The only way forward is to expand," Petrec said.

A substantial part of the first phase of expansion was undertaken last year providing additional storage TEU capacity and adding new operating equipment.

"This year we are in the final stages of acquiring an additional 25 hectares of land and putting up an additional kilometre of key line. A decision should be taken by the end of this year," Petrec stated.

"The plan is to have an additional eight RTGs and at least ten more hectares of new platforms as part of the next phase of expansion," Petrec said.

"The plan is to expand and keep up with the times. And at the moment, we are in such a strong position that we have no other choice but to expand and cater to the growing demand for container handling in this region," Petrec added.

Most of the business to the facility comes from the Far East serving the Black Sea region of Europe predominantly Russia, Ukraine, Georgia and Bulgaria.

DP World Constanta hosted drivers and officials of the Dubai-based Victory Class One Powerboat Team. Victory is competing in the Romanian Grand Prix - the fourth round on the 2007 WPPA World Class One Powerboat Championship being held here this weekend.