[110220.EN.BIZ] Yilport's 2020-2050 Business Plan Targets Organic Growth

TURKISH port operator Yilport is aiming to focus on organic growth and to start operations in two container terminals this year, according to its new business plans for 2020 and beyond.

The two container facilities include Taranto Container Terminal in Italy, which the company plans to revamp and bring annual capacity up to 1.5 million TEU, and Gulfport Terminal in Mississippi, US.

At Gulfport, the company has committed to reach an annual throughput of 600,000 TEU in two years with immediate investments once it has taken over the terminal in the second half of 2020, reports Container Management, UK.

A second 450-metre long container berth is being constructed at Puero Bolivar, Ecuador, equipped with six new ship-to-shore (STS) cranes and 18 electric rubber-tyred gantries (e-RTGs) from Mitsui E&S.

Two STS cranes with a 22-row outreach plus six e-RTGs were shipped from Japan in January 2020, with the remaining STS cranes with a 24-row outreach and 12 e-RTGs are scheduled for delivery at the end of 2020 or first days of 2021.

The terminal already has two Gottwald super-post-Panamax mobile harbour cranes (MHCs), delivered in October 2019, in operation.

In addition to the two MHCs at Puerto Bolivar, four e-RTGs were added to the Yilport Gebze terminal in Turkey which have helped to improve yard and berth productivity at the terminal.

The company has also ordered four new STS cranes with a 23-row outreach and six new e-RTGs for its Gemport terminal in Turkey.

Founder and chairman of Yilport Holding Robert Yuksel Yildirim, who also took on the role of CEO when Christian Blauert stepped down in December 2019, said that the group aims to prioritise efficiency increase across its current portfolio of 22 terminals in 10 countries.

He added: "After our intensive investments for terminal equipment and cranes in 2019 and 2020, Yilport will be ready to serve our customers more productively and more efficiently.

"In addition to organic growth, Yilport will continue its second round of acquisitions, especially pursuing gateway terminals in emerging markets. We will try to acquire one or two ports per year in line with our typical growth strategy."

Source : HKSG.