The Port of Castellón took a decisive step to reinforce its competitiveness with the signing of a historic agreement between the stevedoring sector and the terminals operating in the port area. This pact, the result of long negotiations and a firm commitment from all parties involved, will substantially adjust operational costs, improve productivity, and therefore attract new traffic, according to the port company.
With this agreement, PortCastelló positions itself as one of the ports with the lowest cost for containers in the entire Mediterranean arc, being approximately 15% cheaper than other nearby ports. This is in addition to the 40% container rebate, a measure that further strengthens its appeal for operators and exporters.
The president of the Port Authority of Castellón, Rubén Ibáñez, underlined the significance of the agreement. “This pact was essential to continue moving forward. Its impact will be direct and positive for the economic fabric of the province, especially for the ceramic sector, which will be able to reduce its logistics costs by more than 25%,” he stated.
Ibáñez also indicated that the cost reduction and the increase in productivity will generate “the optimal conditions to attract new container lines and consolidate PortCastelló as a benchmark port for exports.”
The agreement adds to the process of reorganizing spaces and terminals that the Port Authority is executing, which will allow for more versatile, more efficient terminals capable of responding to the real needs of the market.
The works committee of the Castellón Port Employment Center has endorsed the agreement because it “consolidates a framework of stability, allowing progress towards a more efficient and sustainable organizational model. The agreement incorporates measures to optimize workdays, improve coordination between shifts, and allow greater flexibility in complementary tasks when the workload permits, favoring more agile management adapted to the real needs of the port.”
For its part, Noatum Ports Castellón Terminal very positively valued the reached agreement “because it guarantees the stability of the Port Employment Center. This step reinforces the port’s competitiveness and creates a more flexible and efficient environment, key to attracting new traffic and offering a quality service to our clients. We are convinced that this collaboration will help consolidate PortCastelló as a dynamic and attractive port for the logistics and maritime industry.”
“The agreement has the vocation and clear intention of contributing to the attraction of new traffic. With the adopted measures that are being implemented, a notable saving on the current stevedoring cost will be achieved, in addition to guaranteeing an increase in the competitiveness and productivity of port operations. On the business side, labor stability is guaranteed, as well as the professionalization and professionalism of port workers,” communicated Terminal Marítima del Grao.
