Philippines-based International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) has inaugurated the newly-expanded Batumi International Container Terminal (BICT) in Georgia.
Both the waterside and landside areas of the multipurpose terminal were expanded with the aim of optimizing the processing of existing cargo flows and installing additional capacity.
Following the expansion, the port’s annual container handling capacity was increased to 200,000 TEUs, it was noted.
“A comprehensive dredging program, undertaken in cooperation with Batumi Sea Port, provides an 11.5-meter draught in the port’s fairway and alongside BICT’s quay line allowing easy access for feedermax vessels at the port and making it Georgia’s deepest draught port,” Hans-Ole Madsen, ICTSI’s senior vice president, commented.
Landside improvements include a new container freight station with a 180-meter rail spur to facilitate cross-stuffing from containers to rail cars, according to Madsen.
Compared to Potti – Georgia’s other major port – Batumi offers all-year round access without closures due to high winds.