In the coming months adaptation works at Lezo Station will be auctioned for €3.1 million so it may receive trains 550 metres long

The president of Puertos del Estado highlighted the potential and future of Pasaia Port

• In 2018, more than 277,000 units of new vehicles may be moved at the port
• Pasaia will be a "pilot port" on a project so ships may disconnect their engines and connect to the general supply
  
   

26-04-2018 (Ministry of Public Works). The President of Puertos del Estado, José Llorca, highlighted the magnificent work being undertaken by Pasaia Port at the service of the Basque economy and, by extension, the Spanish economy. "Its connections with all other infrastructure and the quality of the services it provides grant it unbeatable conditions when it comes to increasing its competitiveness." These words, which were spoken during the opening of the automotive workshop titled "Puerto de Pasaia, en el buen camino" confirm, according to the president of Puertos del Estado, the port's chances of continued growth and gaining traffic.

Llorca revealed that investments expected at the port and included in the State's General Budgets (more than €15 million in 2018) comprise a significant starting point dedicated to intermodality and improving the environmental conditions in which port activities are developed, with some of the more notable including: implementation of an electrical supply system for ships, a project involving Puertos del Estado, the Port Authority and the shipping company UECC, which includes an electrical tax rate reduction of 100% for ships that disconnect their engines and connect to the general supply, and in which Pasaia will be a "pilot port" in implementing this, achieving sustainable port activity on the way to decarbonisation; adaptation of the ADIF station in Lezo, work that will be auctioned in the coming months for €3.1 million so the station may receive trains 550 metres long, allowing Pasaia Port to continue gaining in competitiveness and offer quality service to users; and a study on increasing the dock capacity to receive larger ships.

On a local level, the Port Authority is committed to its surrounding area, as proven, according to the president of Puertos del Estado, by port-city interaction projects, such as recent approval of the special plan, which will allow inhabitants of Trintserpe and La Herrera to enjoy new pedestrianized spaces, completion of the fish market and its integration within the urban area.

Despite iron and steel products continuing to hold a strong position in its traffic (48% of the almost 3 million tons that were moved in 2017), Pasaia Port has set itself up as a strategic ally of companies in Álava, Navarre and the Ebro Valley that is capable of attracting new goods in this extensive, rich area of influence.

With regard to new vehicle traffic, today Pasaia is among Spain's main ports in terms of moving vehicles, becoming a leader for manufacturers such as Mercedes, Opel, Citroën and Volkswagen who channel exports from their factories. Pasaia Port is sixth among Spanish ports regarding the movement of vehicles and 19th in Europe, with more than 234,000 units moved in 2017.

In this regard, Llorca noted that outlooks are optimistic as, according to the forecasts of automobile manufacturers, new vehicle traffic will increase to more than 277,000 units in 2018, which would equate to an increase of 18% from the 234,000 moved the previous year.