The recession has forced the European Bulk Handling Installation (EBHI) in the northern Spanish port of Gijon to slow down investment. Company management believes now is not the time to shift installations to a new series of quays to be built on reclaimed land. Instead, it has set a short-term objective of winning back lost traffic, which fell by 30% in 2009.
Longer term, the aim is to move to a new terminal capable of discharging 25mt (million tonnes) annually, compared with the 70mt achievable at the moment. It will have a 1,250m-long quay capable of accommodating three 230,000dwt bulk carriers simultaneously.
In 2010, EBHI accounted for 10.6mt, an increase of 8% after having lost 5mt in the previous three years.    
 
BC