Blue Atlantic Industrial & Logistics Park is welcoming a ‘transformational’ dredging project which will unleash trade and export opportunities in the Port of Setubal, Portugal.
The 96-hectare site is located 40km south of Lisbon in one of Europe’s leading maritime industrial zones. It is being offered for sale by Portuguese holding services company Sapec.
Blue Atlantic project lead Fernando Fernandes said APSS – Administration of the Ports of Setubal and Sesimbra – is scheduling the dredging project for October 2018. It will see the depth of the port entrance increased from 12metre to 15metres with berthing and turning areas rising to 13/14metres.
“The port authority’s dredging plan comes as a major boost to the Blue Atlantic’s seaport facility,” said Mr Fernandes. “Earlier this year we released plans for an 800metre quay showcasing the maritime trade potential of the site. The latest dredging plan to deepen the port channel will make the area even more accessible to some of the world’s largest containers as well as multi-purpose vessels including bulk and cargo carriers.
“The Port of Setubal is already at a large advantage compared to other Mediterranean-bound ports, due to its prime position on the Atlantic Ocean, along global shipping routes. A major benefit being that vessels can avoid the congested Mediterranean passage. The fact that the facility will be able to accommodate larger vessels than ever before is a transformational move for transport and logistics firms, exporters and traders in our region.
“The Blue Atlantic site itself is highly versatile and could be adapted to many different specifications from heavy industry, manufacturing and engineering, industrial supplies, consumer goods and machinery as well as fuels and lubricants. Due to the site’s world-class transport connections we feel it is ideally positioned as a multi-modal hub or industrial and logistics park. It is in poll position for any importer or exporter looking to harness the full trade potential of the Iberian Peninsula and broader Europe. In terms of operational efficiency, the port’s sheltered, calm waters and temperate climate also ensure it never closes.”
The dredging project will come as a further boost to private enterprises including Sadoport, TERSADO, AutoEuropa and Sapec which already operate specialised terminals handling break bulk and general cargo, RO-RO, solid and liquid bulks and containers.
Mr Fernandes said the area is currently home to three of Portugal’s top four exporters and some of the region’s largest international enterprises including Volkswagen Autoeuropa and MEGASA (ex-Siderurgia Nacional) steel company.
“One of the key drivers behind Setubal’s industrial growth is the highly-skilled local labour force,” he said. “From an investors perspective the region is ripe with engineering talent and skills that have been passed down through the generations following centuries of industry by the sea.
“However, the overwhelming attraction is its location with direct road and rail connections to mainland Europe. Setubal is linked to Portugal’s National Highway Network, while a new €500million rail connection being built in the Portuguese interior will provide a new high-speed freight connection across Iberia. This combined with new and improved maritime facilities make for a unique and compelling investment proposition.”
For more information contact Blue Atlantic on Phone: (+351) 265 710 253 Mobile: (+351) 96 322 49 71 E-mail: geral@blueatlantic.pt
Notes to editors
Blue Atlantic Industrial & Logistics Park
-
- Blueatlantic Industrial & Logistics Park is a 96ha site located in the Mitrena Industrial Zone, Setubal, 40km south of Lisbon, Portugal.
- It is being offered for sale by Portuguese industrial and holding services company Sapec.
- It’s position on the Atlantic Ocean is ideal for exporting along global shipping routes combined with direct road and rail connections to mainland Europe, meaning vessels don’t have to enter the Mediterranean.
About the site
- The site has regular orography with mild slopes which facilitate earth movements.
- It has a 380,000 metre2 maximum construction capacity and the following infrastructures already in place: low and medium-voltage power networks, lighting and optic fibre communication networks (voice, data and CCTV), treated household and industrial effluents, with connection to Cachofarra sewage treatment plant, drinking water and fire extinguishing networks, natural gas network and rainwater network with retention and flood control equipments.
- A dredging project will see the Port of Setubal’s depth increased from its current 12metre draught to 16metres at the port entrance and 13 to 14 metres at berthing and turning areas – allowing capacity for Panamax sized vessels.
- The Port of Setubal offers many commercial incentives. It is sheltered with calm waters and a temperate climate with 300 days of sunshine a year.
- The port never closes ensuring maximum operational efficiency. Its sandy and stable river bed is also easy to modulate making maintenance cheaper than neighbouring harbours.”
The Setúbal Peninsula
- The Mitrena Industrial Zone is a large and strategically advantageous industrial zone.
- It comprises of a large shipyard, cement and paper mills, chemical and fertiliser industries, metal working facilities and an industrial waste treatment plant and many other facilities.
- The region’s leading international businesses include Volkswagen Autoeuropa, Siderurgia Nacional steel company, Navigator Papermill and Sapec chemicals and two big fertilizer industries.
- The Setúbal Peninsula has a very lively economy based on the sea, a factor that has led to the formation of a specialised workforce for the sector and for different industrial purposes. The majority of professional training courses are located on the Peninsula and are in line with this economic purpose.
- Made up of nine councils with an area of more than 1,400 km2, it has good demographic indicators. It has about 82,000 people and 49%pc of the population is economically active.
Companies located in Setubal:
Portuguese economy
- With a population of 10.4 million within an area of 92 thousand km2 (approximately 35.5 thousand mi2), Portugal has a GDP of 16,200 euros per capita. About 15pc of the national population has a higher education and the country’s labour force is well regarded for its high quality.
- A distinctive factor noted in the Portuguese workforce is its entrepreneurial ability, as observed in the emergence of countless start-ups that have transcended borders from all parts of the country.
- The Portuguese economy is diversified and almost all industries are strongly driven to export. Exports represented 45% of the GDP in 2016 and keep growing, with special emphasis on industrial supplies, consumer goods, transport material and accessories, machinery, food and drinking products, as well as fuels and lubricants.
- Some products take the Portugal brand and its special quality label worldwide, as in the case of wine, processed tomato, footwear, cork and olive oil. These last two products have a greater relevance: Portugal is the largest cork exporter and it occupies the 3rd position in the ranking of olive oil exports throughout the world.
- The main trade partners are based in Europe, namely Spain, France, Italy, United Kingdom and Germany. However, there was an increase in business relationships with the CPLP countries (Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries) – which form a market of 250 million consumers. In this regard, Angola and Brazil still hold the highest volume of commercial trade with Portugal.
- The Portuguese language represents an important factor for the economy. It is the fifth most spoken language in the world and the sixth most used language in business.
- ISCTE – Instituto Superior de Ciências do Trabalho e da Empresa – conducted a study which revealed that business activities related to Portuguese language countries represent 17% of Portugal’s GDP.
National Highways
- Portuguese national highways rank number one in Europe and number two worldwide behind the United Arab Emirates.*Data from the World Economic Forum.
Port Sector
- The seven main Portuguese ports handled 82.5 million tons in 2014, with a growth of 4%. These figures are largely due to the port of Setúbal, one of the country’s most strategic ports. *Data from the IMT – Institute of Mobility and Transport.
National Railway System
- The railway sector is a key priority for government investments throughout the national territory, especially the connection between Sines/Setúbal and Spain. *Data from the Working Group for Added Value Infrastructures (GTIVA)
Exclusive Economic Zone
- Portugal has one of the longest maritime coasts in Europe, with 942 km. Its EEZ– Exclusive Economic Zone – is the 3rd largest in the European Union (representing 11% of the total) and 11th largest in the world. But there are plans to expand this economic zone, which currently extends to a limit of 200 miles of territorial sea, to cover 350 miles, which will make it the 10th largest in the world.
- The sea is seen as a “national plan for the future” and the country’s strategy now is to promote maritime transport, naval construction, fishing and fish processing, among other activities. *Source: Banco BPI.
20th Tourism Destination Worldwide
- Tourism is a strategic sector for Portugal. In 2016, the country received 28 million visitors, making it one of the most relevant tourism destinations on the planet, according to the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index 2016.
- A study carried out by Portugal Tourism reveals the criteria that most affect tourists’ decision to visit the country: Climate, beaches, safety, scenery, cuisine, hospitality, cost, attractions, entertainment, events and infrastructures.