Future developments

The Port of Avilés is looking with great enthusiasm to the future of its facilities. As a result of the assignment of European Cohesion Funds (approximately €30 million), the extension of our quays on the right shore of the estuary will soon become a reality. The area will be equipped with over 1,700 m of quays boasting draughts of up to 14 m, and a logistics activities and storage area in excess of 375,000 m2, which will give rise, after the first construction phase alone, to an increase of traffic to the order of around two million ton.)

The first phase of the project foresees the building of 505 m lines of quays boasting a draught of up to 14 m, to be complemented with a service esplanade of nearly 55,000 m2. This phase is currently in progress.

The second phase of the works on the extension of the right shore of the estuary will see it equipped with a further 500 metros, or thereabouts, of 14-m draught quays, which will be finished off by means of a logistics and storage surface area in excess of 115,000 m2. Work is expected to begin on this phase at the end of 2009, or at the beginning of 2010.

The third and final phase of the works will consist of the building of 725 m of quays, to which a service area of over 208,000 m2 will be attached.

Neither will access points to the area be overlooked, given that these will be ensured by an increase in the capacity of the AS-328 and through the provision of rail services by way of San Agustín dock.

A start was made on this extensive enlargement work in the summer of 2008 by way of the dredging of the entrance to the Port of Avilés, the navigation canal and the so-called Curva de Pachico (up to the start of the manoeuvre circle). This operation, which resulted in the obtaining of a draught of -12.50 m at maximum equinoctial low tide, will enable the daily (not only under spring tide circumstances) admission of ships for which the quays on the right shore of the estuary are being prepared, that is to say, PANAMAX ships of up to 80,000 ton. This dredging work was co-financed with ERDF funds.