The Government Delegate visits the Port of Tarragona

Teresa Cunillera: “The Port of Tarragona is a fundamental infrastructure, a benchmark in transport and logistics in the Mediterranean, a dynamic port in expansion with projects that will advance with joint work”

Tarragona, 2 September 2019. On Monday the Government Delegate in Catalonia, Teresa Cunillera, visited the Port of Tarragona, where she was received by the president of the Tarragona Port Authority (TPA), Josep Maria Cruset. The institutional meeting consisted of a tour of the port facilities and, in particular, the customs control and inspection areas.

The first part of the visit consisted of a presentation of the Port and its activities by the TPA president. The Government Delegate was told of the latest cargo handling data, which have seen a marked upward trend in recent months, and was also able to learn of the Port of Tarragona’s strategic projects.

According to Teresa Cunillera, the Port of Tarragona “is a fundamental infrastructure, a benchmark in transport and logistics in the Mediterranean, a dynamic port in expansion, with projects that will advance with joint work”.

For his part, Mr Cruset highlighted that “the Port of Tarragona increased the amount of cargo it handled by 6% between January and July 2019, compared to the same period last year and, at the same time, it is preparing to face up to the challenges of the future with investments that will further improve its competitiveness”.

The delegate also received an explanation of the latest advances in the Port’s strategic investments, including the Balears Wharf project that will improve the facilities for cruise ships; the Logistics Activities Zone project; the Els Prats breakwater project; the Guadalajara intermodal terminal project and the rehabilitation of the former TPA office building.

After signing the Port’s distinguished visitors’ book, Ms Cunillera toured the port facilities to see the activities and cargos on the different docks. The tour focused particularly on the border cargo sanitary inspection facilities (IFCSM) and its different areas, including the Fiscal Inspection Point (PIF), the Customs Inspection Point (PIA) and the container and vehicle scanner on the Andalusia Wharf.

The IFCSM is made up of the PIF, which inspects live animals and products of animal origin for human and non-human consumption; the PIA, a customs and inland revenue inspection point to ensure payment of the relevant duties and taxes established under the current Spanish and EU legislation that is operated by the Department of Customs and Special Taxes of the Spanish Inland Revenue Agency (AEAT); and the scanner for the non-intrusive inspection of containers and vehicles that facilitates customs procedures in the Port, speeding up cargo inspections and reducing delays.