Boluda Maritime Terminals is expanding in Spain with an investment of nearly $45 million in a new multipurpose terminal at Port of Barcelona. The project comes after the company was awarded a 16-year concession to operate facilities at the Príncep d’Espanya wharf, helping it to handle a wider range of cargo.
The concession has been awarded after a public tender process initiated by the Port of Barcelona in February 2026. The contract was awarded to Boluda Maritime Terminals, which presented the best proposal in the selection process.
The terminal has 87,425 square meters of space and 531 meters of quay. Boluda will inject nearly $45 million into cargo-handling equipment and improvements to the terminal’s facilities and operational areas as part of the project.
Annual cargo volumes set to reach 1.3 million tonnes
Under the concession, Boluda has committed to handling a minimum of 1.3 million tonnes of cargo annually between 2028 and 2032. Operations will primarily focus on non-containerised general cargo, including roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) shipments and project cargo.
Container handling could also become part of the terminal’s activities. The port anticipates demand from vessels transporting a combination of general cargo, Ro-Ro freight and containers. These mixed cargo operations cannot be accommodated at the existing specialised container and Ro-Ro terminals, creating a potential role for the new multipurpose facility.
New equipment and automated access systems
The investment programme will introduce a range of cargo-handling machinery designed to support the terminal’s operations. Planned equipment includes ship-to-shore (STS) cranes, additional cranes, reach stackers, terminal tractors, electric forklifts and specialised platforms for handling different types of cargo.
Boluda will also modernise terminal access and operational processes through automated access controls, licence plate recognition and optical character recognition (OCR) technology. These systems are intended to improve access management and support more efficient terminal operations.
Environmental measures integrated into the project
The development will also incorporate measures aimed at reducing the environmental impact of terminal activities. Boluda plans to progressively electrify its equipment, use renewable electricity, install electric vehicle charging points and generate renewable energy on-site.
The Barcelona project forms part of the company’s wider investment strategy across its terminal network. It follows recent investment by Boluda Maritime Terminals in the Canary Islands, including a programme worth more than $44 million at its Tenerife terminal.
With its new concession, Boluda is strengthening its cargo-handling capabilities while preparing the Port of Barcelona to accommodate a wider mix of freight and evolving operational requirements.
