Key Projects

In a global economy, maritime container terminals are under pressure to optimise their operations in order to drive efficiencies and meet the demands of corporations’ global outsourcing strategies. In order to achieve this and maintain its position as a market leader in its sector, Mariner’s terminals have set in motion long term expansion projects including investments in infrastructure, IT and automation and cargo handling equipment. Expansion and development of our facilities is vital to accommodate ever increasing traffic and allows our clients to increase their volumes through our terminals with confidence in our performance.  Complex software systems coordinate a ballet of container movements designed to minimise waiting time for cargo as well as reduce the number of man-hours and crane time required for each container.  This is combined with modern equipment incorporating the latest technological advances and eco-friendly systems.

Pioneering state-of-the-art IT across the board

Mariner is an assiduous believer in the continuous development of its IT-integrated systems at all its port terminals and other companies within the Group. Our terminal operating systems are instruments that maximise all aspects if the terminal operation, including equipment maintenance, man-power deployment and automation of stevedoring services.

To this end, all three Terminals of the Group have upgraded their Terminal Operating Systems to the latest NAVIS N4 platform. This was finalised in Riga in 2016, whereas this was implemented in Venice in 2019. This offers significant advances on previous versions as well as solutions of competitors, not least of which is its modularity to increase expansion according to need, thus ensuring that the terminals’ long-term growth is secured. In 2021 Mariner’s container terminal in Durres was the first terminal in the world to go live with the Navis N4 Saas terminal operating system, Navis’s cloud-based TOS solution.  Implementation of cloud-based Navis N4 Saas allows the terminal to streamline day-to-day operations utilising Navis’ cloud and lays the groundwork for the continuous development and improvement of the terminal operation.

The implementation of an automated gate operating system for container deliveries has also been put in place in both Riga and Venice terminals. These systems, built on cutting edge OCR and machine learning technologies, are integrated with TOS thereby ensuring automation and optimisation of the terminal's core operations. Through the implementation of these systems, the processes of container acceptance and release via gate or rail do not require human intervention resulting in a more streamlined and efficient process. In addition, it provides real-time tracking and tracing of containers and railcars, thus improving management control and storing of historical information of each container movement.

Similarly, the integrated nature of management of information systems has become the daily grammar of the company for many operations including vessel movements, configurations and loading plans, container quayside loading/unloading sequences, yard planning, equipment control and exchange of information with lines, agents and hauliers. This real-time communication mode ensures close collaboration between the various roles in operations, engineering, technical, procurement and security. In fact, this service’s capability has become so effective that it has become an integral part of Mariner’s terminals. It is the best method to keep a container terminal under operational surveillance consistently and efficiently.

Growth of infrastructure 

The company invests and manages the infrastructure in its terminals to build greater efficiencies and productivity for its customers.

Leading the ship-to-rail market in the Baltic States.

Baltic Container Terminal (BCT) almost doubled its railway infrastructure and the terminal now serves 64 (80 foot) rail platforms simultaneously. This new capacity allows the direct proximity of container storage to the rail access zones and a more efficient shunting of block trains, giving BCT a comparative advantage over other terminals in the region. This investment makes BCT a leading player in the ship-to-rail market in the Riga Freeport.

Warehousing

Baltic Container Terminal

Warehousing is a key area of development for Riga.  BCT invested in additional warehousing in 2014. This has flourished to the extent that a further 13,568 square meters was constructed in January 2020.  This warehouse has direct rail access on one side with access for trucks on the other side. Additional warehousing amounting to will be followed with the construction of a further warehouse of 11,000 square meters. This will bring the terminal’s total warehousing to 45,500 square meters.

Terminal Intermodale Venezia

In Venice the acquisition of an additional 50,000 square metres including a 17,500 square metre warehouse has also allowed for an increase in the volumes we handle as well as the services we offer.  Logistics activities have grown as we offer more options to our clients in Venice.

Increasing the Quay length

Baltic Container Terminal

BCT have recently extended the quay length by 57 meters, thus bringing the total quay length to 506 meters. This extension, allows for servicing two large vessels simultaneously, will also significantly speed up operations at the terminal.

Increasing the Container Stacking Area

Baltic Container Terminal

BCT are currently in the process of extended its container stacking area by 29,600 square metres. Works are envisaged to be complete by August 2025.