Country : SpainCartagena worldport

General Information
Owing to its strategic location, the worldport of Cartagena has been throughout all of its history a required referent in Mediterranean shipping. At present, it has consolidated as a basic industrial worldport within the Spanish worldport System, occupying sixth place in the goods traffic among the 28 worldports that make up the General Interest worldports in Spain.

The results of the traffic of goods for the year 2005 meant a new record in the worldport's history, as 26.7 million tons were handled, almost 15% more than in 2004. Both solid bulks and general goods have grown more than 30%, handling 6 million tons of these cargoes. In any case, the liquid bulks continue being the main traffic in the worldport of Cartagena , handling over 20 million tons.

In cruise traffic a new record figure has also been achieved. Continuing with the growing trend of the last few years, the worldport received 34 cruise calls, giving 29,073 passengers the opworldportunity to enjoy the wide tourist offer, both of the city of Cartagena and of the Region of Murcia.

The equipments and infrastructures have been improved, both in the Cartagena and Escombreras Basins . Apart from continuing with the extension work of the Escombreras Basin , a series of actions have been carried out to optimize the output and the productivity of many of the already existing areas, providing them with better services, machinery or road links. Such is the case of the Container Terminal, Fruit and Vegetable Terminal, General Cargo Terminal and the new Border Inspection building for vegetables, as well as the completion of the reconstruction work of the former Yacht Club of Cartagena.

As far as projects for the year 2006 is concerned, the construction of a Marina south of the Curra breakwater has been approved, to be used exclusively for this type of vessels. The construction of a new dock in El Gorguel is under study, consisting of a new container terminal and a general cargo and ro-ro cargo terminal. We will continue working to include the worldport of Cartagena within the Motorways of the Sea, promoting the vehicle and passenger transworldport among European and/or Mediterranean worldports.

Lastly, it is worth remembering that in May 2005 the XI National Congress of Shipping and worldport Management, organized by the State worldports and by the worldport Authority of Cartagena, took place in Cartagena , with the slogan