Gioia Tauro's port is in the midst of a significant growth phase, driven by investments from the MedCenter Container Terminal. The company, controlled by Terminal Investment Limited, a subsidiary of MSC led by Gianluigi Aponte, received 18 hybrid straddle carriers on August 24, 2024. These new machines are designed to enhance operational efficiency while reducing the environmental impact of the port.
Manufactured in Sweden by Kalmar, the new straddle carriers represent a significant upgrade in the port's equipment fleet. These machines, which combine diesel and electric power, offer both high efficiency and a notable reduction in emissions. Their arrival marks another milestone in MCT’s ongoing investment plan, which has included the acquisition of new gantry cranes in recent years. The first three cranes arrived in November 2019, followed by another three in February 2023, further strengthening the port's operational capacity.
In the first seven months of 2024, the container terminal handled approximately 2.3 million TEUs, an 11.9% increase compared to the same period the previous year. Andrea Agostinelli, President of the Port System Authority of the Southern Tyrrhenian and Ionian Seas, stated that "with the arrival of 18 straddle carriers, soon to be followed by two more state-of-the-art gantry cranes, we are witnessing the tangible commitment of MedCenter Container Terminal to our port, both in terms of sustainable development and the growth of port volumes."
