The Port of Algeciras Bay: Physical and Logistic Infrastructure in the Context of the Mediterranean Ports

2.6 Conclusions

This chapter presents a concise description of the physical and logistic characteristics related to the container traffic in the PAB.With the object of evaluating its position with respect to the other principal Mediterranean ports, a comparative analysis has been carried out, from which the main results are the following:

• Physical infrastructure. The PAB is differentiated from most of Mediterranean ports by having some of its wharves devoted exclusively to container traffic, and by having sufficient depth to allow the entry of the largest container carrier ships.

• Concentrationof activities. Its activity is characterisedby a strong concentration in comparison with the rest of specialized ports of the Mediterranean: two terminal operators (one predominant); unlike the PAB, in the ports of Barcelona, Valencia and Genoa, there are more operators (4, 6 and 5 respectively); both the number of carriers and also the number of routes operated are lower in the PAB than in the principal Mediterranean ports; the ten leading world carriers account for 56% of the routes, compared with 33% for Gioia-Tauro and 27% for Marsaxlokk.

• Distribution of lines.With respect to regular lines that call at the port, the PAB is the only one of the Mediterranean ports studied that is served by routes connecting to all five continents; the long distance routes exceed the short/medium distance ones. In Valencia, Barcelona andGenoa, the long distance routes also have more weight, although not to the same extent as in the PAB. In the contrary situation, with the short routes having greater weight, are Marseilles, Piraeus and Marsaxlokk, in order of importance, while in Gioia Tauro themix of long and short distance routes is more equal.