MSC and Contship Italia given Gioia Tauro ultimatum
The fight between the two 50:50 shareholders of Medcenter Contianer Terminal, Italy’s main transhipment hub located in Gioia Tauro, is coming to an end as Italy’s transport minister, Danilo Toninelli, has given MSC and Contship Italia 30 days to sign a commitment aimed at investing and relaunching terminal operations.
The Eurokai-controlled terminal operator did not attend the last meeting called in Rome by the minister while MSC sent a letter stating the company is willing to invest more than €120m for new equipment and works at the terminal. MSC also guaranteed a total annual throughput of 4m teu handled in two years’ time at the port.
Contship Italia declined to comment on the matter and it’s still unclear at the moment whether the group will decide to invest in the Medcenter Container Terminal with MSC.
The 30-day ultimatum will expire at the end of March.
Medcenter Container Terminal last year handled 2.3m teu.