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Spain’s Council of Ministers is set to approve a €27.6 million expansion of the Escombreras basin at the Port of Cartagena this Tuesday June 23 in a move designed to increase maritime traffic capacity and strengthen one of Spain’s key logistics hubs.

 

The funding forms part of Cartagena’s 2025 to 2029 port investment plan, which sets out more than €350m in infrastructure spending over five years. The programme includes upgrades across docks, logistics systems and operational capacity.

 

According to the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, the works will be put out to tender to expand one of the berthing fronts at the head of the Bastarreche dock in the Escombreras area.

 

Officials explained the upgrade is needed due to the increase in liquid bulk traffic handled by the port in recent years, which requires specialist facilities and more flexible berthing arrangements.

 

The berth in question was built in 2004 and is designed to accommodate tankers of up to 315,000 deadweight tonnes. It consists of two parallel berths, E-19 and E-20. E-20 is currently operational and managed by Repsol, while E-19 has never been brought into service as it was originally intended for very large vessels.

 

The planned work will adapt E-19 so it can also handle smaller ships, giving the port greater flexibility in day-to-day operations. Once completed, it will be able to accommodate either two vessels between 6,000 and 20,000 deadweight tonnes at the same time or a single vessel ranging from 30,000 up to 315,000 deadweight tonnes.

 

The project includes building a continuous berthing line of around 300 metres with a usable draught of 25.85 metres. This will be achieved through the installation of six new caissons integrated into the existing structure at Front E-19.

 

This investment plan, called 'Horizon 2030', was presented at the end of last year by Minister Óscar Puente, who announced more than €7 billion of investment in the state-owned port system from 2025 to 2029, which will allow these strategic state infrastructures to improve their competitiveness and boost their growth.

 

Despite its strategic role, the Port of Cartagena has seen some fluctuations in traffic in recent months. Cargo volumes fell by 11.7% between January and May last year, a drop well above the national average, largely linked to instability in global trade.

 

Even so, it remains Spain’s fourth largest port and the second most important for liquid bulk cargo, including oil and liquefied natural gas. The port is also expanding its container and agri-food operations, while cruise passenger numbers have increased in recent years.

 

 

Image: MITMA