PORT OF SINES TERMINAL XXI: WHICH DEVELOPMENT SCENARIOS?
Manuel Tão, Universidade do Algarve ([email protected])
Frederico Ferreira ([email protected])
Elisabete Arsenio, LNEC I.P. ([email protected])
Abstract
The Port of Sines “Terminal XXI” is an Iberian sea container harbour capable of accommodating
vessels of the “Post-Panamax” type. Located in the South of Portugal´s West Coast, “Terminal
XXI” bears a unique location towards the Atlantic (37º57´N, 08º53´W), being the result of a thirty
year-long public concession awarded to the Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) on a BOT model
basis. The main sea container carrier associated is the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC).
This paper aims to assess the likely developments of the Sines “Terminal XXI” container facility,
presenting alternative development scenarios, set at three distinct periods: i) 2014-2020, during the
first years after the widening of the Panama Canal; ii) 2020-2030, including the fully completion
and bringing into commercial operation of the new RTE-T “Corridor 16” Rail Link; and iii) beyond
2030, contemplating the establishment of a Central Pyrenean Tunnel as an alternative to the
historical and traditional rail links, via the Basque Country and Catalonia, and the widespread use of
1435mm standard-gauge tracks, replacing the 1668mm broad-gauge ones, currently existent on
virtually all conventional (non-high speed) main line railways of the Iberian Peninsula.
Recent proposals concerning the possible constitution of an American-EU Free-Trade Area on a
medium-term period, further emphasize the likely importance of Sines “Terminal XXI”. Since the
port of Sines presents a unique deep-water Atlantic container terminal in Western Europe, research
results are expected to provide useful indicators for policy purposes, leading to more sustainable
development patterns of global freight and logistics.
1. Introduction - Presenting Sines Harbour Terminal XXI
Portugal has a strategic location in the Atlantic European coastal area and the Iberian Peninsula,
being crossed by principal maritime routes North-South and East-West (ENM, 2013).
The Port of Sines “Terminal XXI” is an Iberian sea container harbour capable of accommodating
vessels of the “Pos-Panamax” type. Located in the South of Portugal´s West Coast, “Terminal XXI”
bears a unique location towards the Atlantic (37º57´N, 08º53´W), being the result of a thirty yearlong public concession awarded to the Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) on a BOT model basis, in
2004. As a deep water port (17.5m ZH depth), Sines “Terminal XXI”, presents a capacity of
handling 1.320.000 TEU´s per year, over a 940m long quayside, and includes a 24 ha (38,4 acre)
storage surface. Up to a total of 230,4 Million Euros were invested by PSA in Terminal XXI.
Figure 1: The privileged Atlantic positioning of Sines and its container Terminal XXI
(Source: APS – Administração do Porto de Sines)
2. Main target markets of Terminal XXI?
Sines Harbour Terminal XXI is inserted in a broader territory of mainland Portugal designated by
Alentejo Region. This is a vast extension of land, accounting roughly for one third of Continental
Portugal. But, in reality, such region delivers a very limited contribution in terms of national GDP
and demographic strength (Table 1).
Table 1: Sines Harbour and its near region
Alentejo Region (2010)
Portugal (2010)
Surface Km2
31.605
92.212
Population (Residents)
749.055
10.562.178
Population Density(inh/ Km2)
23,7
114,5
Gross Domestic Product 106€
11.027
172.571
GDP/capita 103 €
14,70
16,20
Source: INE-Portugal and AICEP – Portugal Global
A deep-water container terminal, able to accommodate Post-Panamax vessels can hardly be
justified by the local market presented by the Alentejo Region. Its role can only be explained in the
light of a much bigger “hinterland”, comprising the whole mainland Portugal and also the center of
the Iberian Peninsula, with a particular emphasis placed on the Comunidad Autonoma de Madrid.
Table 2: A comparison between Portugal and Madrid, Sines potential “hinterland”
Portugal (2010)
Comunidad de Madrid (2010)
Surface Km2
92.212
8028
Population (Residents)
10.562.178
6.458.684
Population Density (inh/ Km2)
114,5
804,6
Gross Domestic Product 106€
172.571
188.076
GDP/capita 103 €
16,20
29,11
Source: INE-Portugal, INE – España and AICEP – Portugal Global
The Region of Madrid assumes a leading role from the economic perspective, its GDP surpassing
the whole economic output of Portugal, both in absolute and relative to the resident population.
Sines Harbour´s Terminal XXI, and its thirty-year long concession to the Port of Singapore
Authority, together with its association with a major planetary logistics operator (MSC), may only
be understood by the Atlantic positioning relative to the center of the Iberian Peninsula, and its
generation of international freight, both import and export flows.
The importance of the Comunidad de Madrid, as a major World economic player within a
globalized market may be even further emphasized when the main geographical patterns of its
international trade are observed.
Table 3: Exports and Imports of the Comunidad de Madrid at a glance
Exports (FOB)
Imports (CIF)
2010
Operations Amount Weight
Operations Amount Weight
(Nº)
€ 1.000
Tonnes
(Nº)
€ 1.000
Tonnes
TOTAL
1.650.494 21.580,17 9.822.535 2.712.455 52.171,43 16.833.983
EUROPE
841.652 13.905,90 4.713.788 1.630.558 35.396,32 9.767.783
AFRICA
76.271 1.290,30
875.883
30.705
947,91 1.453.039
AMERICA
250.912 2.551,10
884.846
350.574 5.847,95 3.082.521
NORTH AMERICA
97.371 1.390,12
276.636
288.107 4.158,79
763.135
Of which USA
69.723 1.135,99
173.064
275.373 3.920,02
664.437
Of which Canada
27.645
254,11
103.571
12.725
238,77
98.697
CENTRAL AMERICA
99.167
503,89
119.555
25.113
480,73
83.116
SOUTH AMERICA
54.374
657,10
488.655
37.354 1.208,43 2.236.270
ASIA
268.922 1.803,50
502.506
685.358 9.292,30 2.329.863
Of which Korea
7.507
116,73
12.823
27.454
335,09
38.573
Of which Japan
16.295
357,22
10.684
80.394
822,34
167.332
Of which Taiwan
1.819
67,04
16.432
33.673
312,13
27.723
Of which Hong Kong
12.658
133,20
30.072
17.509
110,35
4.162
Of which India
8.648
116,76
31.201
54.666
617,52
315.251
Of which China
25.866
239,74
111.172
378.768 5.054,58
773.512
OCEANIA
4.109
346,88
21.314
3.613
135,63
4.573
Of which Australia
3.210
326,77
20.270
2.714
116,76
1.663
Of which New Zealand
607
18,70
926
850
18,68
2.852
Source: Instituto Estadistico de la Comunidad de Madrid. Comercio Exterior (2010).
Of both the Export and Import flows originating/towards the Region of Madrid, susceptible of being
mostly carried by sea transport, North America, Central America (Mexico and Caribean), and South
America, on the one hand and Asia (China, India and Japan), on the other hand, emerge as major
geo-economic areas generating traffic. The first three groups of Origins and Destinations are
logically prime users of the Atlantic Ocean routes, as a support to their trade flows, whereas Asian
trade relies mostly on the Mediterranean and Suez/Indic Ocean traditional routes.
Figure 2: The logical potential “hinterland” of Sines Terminal XXI in Iberia
Source: APS – Administração do Porto de Sines
3. Terminal XXI and its Iberian competitors
Being a “Post-Panamax” facility, Sines Harbour Terminal XXI appears as a recent additional
infrastructure to the very restricted group of container ports of such a kind in the whole Iberian
Peninsula. The other three container ports with the same characteristics are all located in the
Spanish territory, more precisely in the Mediterranean Sea: Bahia de Algeciras, Valencia and
Barcelona. A brief comparative description with Sines Terminal XXI can be summarized as
follows:
Table 4: A comparison between Sines Terminal XXI and its Iberian competitors
Depth
(ZH)
Distance to
Panama
Container
Traffic
Container
Traffic
Growth Rate
2009/2012
(m)
Nautic Miles
2009 (TEU)
2012 (TEU)
%
Land
Availability
Algeciras
16
4376
3042782
4070791
34
Very scarce
Valencia
14
4754
3653890
4469754
22
Very scarce
Barcelona
16
4885
1800662
1749974
-2,8
Limited
17,5
4168
253495
553065
118
Good
Sines
Source: APS – Sines, 2012; Estadisticas de los Puertos de Estado, Ministerio de Fomento.
Madrid, 2013 and Moreira, P.J.P, 2013.
Valencia Port is from 2008, the most important sea container terminal in the Iberian Peninsula, and
the prime freight World access to the Comunidad de Madrid, closely followed by Algeciras. But
what is remarkable is Sines Terminal XXI growth rate within less than a decade of existence.
Recent estimates pinpoint traffic loads of 800.000 TEUs for Sines Terminal XXI at the end of 2013
(APS, 2013), denoting a sustainable tendency of traffic increase, which is even more relevant taking
into account the general economic recession affecting the Euro Zone, and Portugal, in particular.
There are other qualitative aspects in which Sines Terminal XXI appears with a clear advantage
over its closest Post-Panamax Iberian competitors: land availability for expansion and Atlantic
positioning. As far as the latter is concerned, Sines is closer to main American ports than any other
deep-water sea container terminal in Iberia.
Table 5: Atlantic sea distances from Terminal XXI and its competitors to Americas
Santos (Brazil)
Buenos Aires (Arg)
New York (USA)
Halifax (Can)
Nautic Miles
Nautic Miles
Nautic Miles
Nautic Miles
Sines
4062
4964
2864
2392
Algeciras
4403
5305
3205
2733
Valencia
4781
5683
3583
3111
Barcelona
4912
5814
3714
3242
Source: National Geospatial-Inteligence Agency. Distances between ports. Bethesda,
Maryland, 2001.
4. Terminal XXI and the widening of the Panama Canal
The Atlantic positioning of “Terminal XXI” acquires a particular importance in the wake of the
Panama Canal widening. From 2018 onwards, it will be possible for the Post-Panamax container
carriers, to follow a new planetary route linking the emerging economies of Far East Asia and those
of Western Europe, with a passage by North America´s East Coast, as an intermediate point. The
economies of scale brought about by the new route, presenting itself as an alternative to the
traditional Indic-Suez and Cape Horn-South America routes, is susceptible of originating a reconfiguration of the pattern of “Post Panamax” vessel routes worldwide, with an increasing
emphasis being conferred to the North Atlantic. Even if a combination of world Post-Panamax
routes, under a “round-the-world” basis, by the simultaneous use of both the Suez Canal and the
widened Panama Canal route becomes feasible (Notteboom, T. e Rodrigue, J-P. ,2009), a higher
importance of the Atlantic sea container routes appear as most likely.
The "trade-off" between the costs per TEU, carried on conventional Panamax ships, from the Far
East economies to America´s East Coast (and therefore Eastwards through the open Atlantic to
Europe) can be illustrated as follows:
Table 6: Annual Cost per TEU (including Panama Tolls) of a typical Far East-NY Route
Hong Kong to New York via Panama Evergreen Line: (11,211 Nautic Miles)
Current
Post-Panamax
Post-Panamax
Cost per TEU moved (U$)
Panamax
(1)
(2)
Annual Total Vessel Cost (U$)
54,908,090
106,054,472
105,715,772
Vessel Utilization
80%
80%
51%
TEU moved (round-trip voyage)
6400
19200
12240
Annual Trips per Vessel
5.8
5.8
5.8
TEU moved per year
37079
111238
70914
Cost per TEU moved (U$)
1481
953
1491
Source: NC Maritime Strategy. Vessel Size vs. Cost (2012)
As it can be observed, an 80% ship loading enables an approximate overall 33% cost reduction per
TEU, on the route between the Far East and the ports of North America´s East Coast, if PostPanamax vessels are employed, from 2018 onwards. This route is mostly the Pacific portion of a
longer intercontinental path to the European Atlantic ports, alternative to the Suez route.
The Atlantic positioning of Sines Terminal XXI is emphasized by the fact that it matches perfectly
the main Panama Canal routes established between either its most direct competitors in the Iberia,
or even the planetary harbours located in Northern Europe.
Table 7: Distance between Sines, several other European post-Panamax
container terminals and the Far East, via widened Panama
Singapore
(SG)
Nautic Miles
Sines
14,673
Algeciras
14,881
Valencia
15,259
Barcelona
15,390
Le Havre
15,122
Antwerp
15,320
Rotterdam
15,315
Hong Kong
(HK)
Nautic Miles
13,293
13,501
13,879
14,010
13,742
13,940
13,935
Shangai
Kobe (JP)
(CN)
Nautic Miles Nautic Miles
12,734
12,132
12,942
12,340
13,320
12,718
13,451
12,849
13,183
12,581
13,381
12,779
13,376
12,774
Source: National Geospatial-Inteligence Agency. Distances between ports. Bethesda,
Maryland, 2001.
Moreover, the increase in distance, resulting from switching routes from Suez-Indic to PacificAtlantic, once the Panama Canal is widened, remains very much in line and within the same
magnitude experienced for a set of competitors, with a slight advantage towards Iberian postPanamax container ports, and a small disadvantage relative to the major ports of Northern Europe.
Nevertheless, transport costs increase less that proportionally with distance, roughly 2% for every
10% of mileage Micco et al. (2001) and Fink et al. (2000). Therefore, the overall cost increase
accruing from a greater distance being travelled by Panama becomes clearly offset by the savings
enabled with the scale of operations of Post-Panamax vessels. As in the case of Panama, the Suez
passage is also subject to the levy of tolls.
Table 8: Distance increase between Sines, several other European post-Panamax
container terminals and the Far East, via Panama, relative to Suez-Imdic Route
Sines
Algeciras
Valencia
Barcelona
Le Havre
Antwerp
Rotterdam
Singapore
(SG)
Hong Kong
(HK)
Shangai
(CN)
Kobe (JP)
%
%
%
%
51
53
56
57
44
44
43
32
35
39
40
26
26
25
26
29
33
34
19
19
18
18
22
26
27
12
11
11
Source: National Geospatial-Inteligence Agency. Distances between ports.Bethesda,
Maryland, 2001.
The post-2018 scenario, with the full completion of Panama Canal widening, suggests the
establishment of a new hierarchy of planetary sea routes. However, such routes are not likely to be
captured equally by all the possible competing Post-Panamax terminals located on the European
side of the Atlantic. There are a set of port endogeneous and exogeneous variables which appear to
be determinant, to explain inter-port competitiveness. A different number of authors and their
respective approaches mention more or less factors susceptible of explaining port choice: Decruet
and Noteboom (2010), refer at a maximum eleven influential factors, whereas Zondag (2008)
concentrates on just seven. Owing to its strategic positioning as a deep-water container port, Sines
“Terminal XXI”, is a likely candidate, to become integrated into the new emerging global logistics
network. For this purpose, transport intermodality will play a key role for cost reduction. Some of
the endogeneous variables, such as port operation efficiency, are to a great extent in reach of an
entity, such as the Port of Singapore Authority (PSA), and the Mediterranean Shipping Company
(MSC), its main associated sea carrier. But other aspects, regarding for instance, the establishment
of land transport infrastructure determinant to port "hinterland" size and a greater number of inland
final clients, depend strictly on decision-makers and the expenditure of public funds.
5. Terminal XXI and the problem of the inland traffic: the rail accessibility
Hitherto, it has been stated that the natural “hinterland” of Sines Terninal XXI, is the Region of the
Comunidad de Madrid, overlapping with each one of the much-better established post-Panamax
counterparts lying in Spanish territory along the Mediterranean (Algeciras, Valencia and
Barcelona). But no details have been given yet on the crucial factor of rail accessibility. The scale
of operation of such kind of container terminals relegate road transport to insignificance. Studies by
Wilsmeier and Notteboom (2010), state that the configuration of the maritime service lines are not
just the result of exogenous factors related to the development of trade and the dispersal of
economic activity in the hinterland. The authors emphasize endogenous factors, such as the local
environment of the port, access to the hinterland, the strategies of market players and government
policies, as well as the public investment made in basic infrastructure and interconnectivity of the
hinterland throw a key card in allowing fast, efficient and reliable land connections. MartinezZarzoso et al. (2005) e Combes et al. (2005) stress how the quality of transport infrastructure plays
a determinant role in the overall cost. Arionetis et al. (2010) state that shipping companies decision
to call at a port cannot be made without available cargo from/to that port, which is closely linked to
ports’ geographical location and the area that can be served through it.
The only existing rail accessibility linking Sines Terminal XXI to the center of the Iberian
Peninsula and the rest of mainland Portugal was not designed to serve a post-Panamax sea container
interchange. It results from a set of historical circumstances that a former rural 50 Km-long railway
inaugurated as late as 1937, and branching off one of the two main lines from Lisbon to the South,
became, de facto, the only existent Sines rail accessibility to the present day. Eventually, the line
was upgraded and even electrified in 2002 (together with the main line from Lisboa to Faro, to
where it is connected). But its insertion within the active Portuguese rail network does not account
for a direct route to Madrid through the logical Extremadura Community land gateway (via
Badajoz): Instead, any rail movement from Terminal XXI towards Spain involves necessarily a
circuitous itinerary, using many sections of mostly congested single-track.
Figure 3: The lengthy Sines rail access to Spain and the need of Corridor 16
Source: REFER (Portugal)
The shortcomings of the rail link to Terminal XXI are addressed by the main directives of RTE-T
Corridor 16. Such corridor includes building a 92 Km-long cut-off line from Évora to the
Elvas/Badajoz border enabling a saving of nearly 140 to 200 Km route distance and reducing in
nearly 50% the travel time to the border. Also, under the directives of Corridor 16, in Spanish
territory, the conventional line, from Badajoz to Mérida and Ciudad Real/Manzanares, enabling
access Madrid and the Mediterranean will be upgraded and electrified on the 25 kV 50 Hz as far as
Puertollano (existing 3 kV dc catenary Eastwards would mean the use of dual-voltage ERTMS
equipped motive power).
Figure 4: The full development of RTE-T Corridor 16 in Iberia
Source: TEN-T Executive Agency.
The Portuguese section from Sines to Évora is already fully upgraded, with the 92 Km “missinglink” from Évora to Elvas/Badajoz border, having been contracted out after a bidding process by the
XVIII Portuguese Government in 2011, with completion and full operation being envisaged for the
three years kater. Since this project was suspended due to its financial sustainability, it is not known
when the scheme will be revived, since, unlike Spain (and its Ministerio de Fomento PITVI 20122024), Portugal has not yet an integrated Master Plan for its rail (and other transport modes)
infrastructures. However, some efforts have been made to build a long-term National Strategy for
the Sea (until 2020) and, in 2011, of a Strategic Transport Plan focusing of the financial
sustainability of the transport sector.
The circuitous rail route from Sines Terminal XXI to Spain will therefore remain for a further
period (of uncertain time length) as the only possible connection to Greater Madrid, and such a
situation is a clear disadvantage, when a comparison is made with railway accessibility of the other
three pot-Panamax container terminal of the Spanish Mediterranean coast.
Table 9: A comparison of rail accessibility of Terminal XXI and its Iberian competitors
Rail
Distance
to Madrid
(*) (Km)
Basic Infrastructure Characteristics
Algeciras-Bobadilla, under electrification.
Algeciras
756
Bobadilla-Madrid electrified 3 kV dc. (partly double track).
Valencia
464
Fully electrified 3 kV dc. Mostly double track.
Barcelona
665
Fully electrified 3 kV. Mostly double track, or with 3 alternative routes.
Electrified 25 kV ac 50 Hz Sines-Entroncamento, Diesel Eastwards.
Sines
921
Mostly single track.
(*)Approximate distances, not including the final approaches to Abroñigal Container
Terminal or Vicalvaro-Coslada Puerto Seco.
Hopefully, the opportunity of Sines Terminal capturing intercontinental traffic originating from the
Far East, resulting from the widening of the Panama Canal is far from being lost, since the scheme
has been slipped in time, from its initial 2014 target, to the year of 2018.
6. Supplementing Sines Terminal XXI: the new Vasco da Gama Terminal
Besides its privileged Atlantic location as a Post-Panamax container port, one of the biggest assets
of Sines is a considerable extension of free land, available for expansion. Such a condition positions
Sines very differently relative to the other three Iberian Post-Panamax container ports. Either
Barcelona or Valencia face physical constraints for further expansion, dictated by the proximity of
huge evolving urban areas, whereas Algeciras is strongly conditioned by natural factors of its bay,
the Strait and vicinity with Gibraltar.
The name of the 16th century navigator Vasco da Gama was chosen to designate a new proposed
container terminal, to be located South of the present Port of Singapore Terminal XXI, and
supplementing it. When built, such terminal would have the following main characteristics:
- A double terminal with an annual capacity of 4,5 Million TEU´s, each.
- A 3360m-long quay.
- A 113 ha container storage area.
- Depth: -18m (ZH)
- Able to accommodate Post-Panamax vessels carrying 18.000 TEU´s.
Vasco da Gama Terminal would result, together with Terminal XXI, in a container handling
capacity of over 10.6 Million TEU´s per year. At present, no operators have made any firm decision
on Vasco da Gama, which would be set up following a BOT model basis similar to Terminal XXI,
run by the Port of Singapore Authority. Expenditure would reach as much as 931 Million euros,
with 705 Million being funded by the concessionary entity. (APS, 2013)
7. Beyond Iberia
Much public discussion has taken place in Portugal on the prospects of Sines Harbour, as a
container port, is its ability to capture traffic beyond the geo-ecomic space of the Iberian Peninsula.
Basically, Post-Panamax inter-port competition would not be limited to the Iberian “hinterland” and
its “puertos secos” (dry ports, such as Zaragoza´s PLAZA), but would extend to the core of
mainland Europe. Sines, together with Algeciras, Valencia and Barcelona would reveal some
capacity to abstract inland traffic from container port facilities in Northern Europe.
Corridor RTE-T 16, Sines/Algeciras-Manzanares-Madrid-Zaragoza-Pyrenées will take years, if not
decades to acquire its final form, as a major standard-gauge (1435mm), ranging from both Iberian
Atlantic ports to a so-called 40 Km-long “Central Pyrenean Base Tunnel” (Zaragoza-Tarbes),
without prospects of funding on a medium-term basis. As a standard-gauge passenger-dedicated
AVE high-speed network is progressing, full conversion of over 15,000 Km of 1668mm-gauge
conventional routes in Iberia has no foreseeable completion, apart from an isolated penetration from
France to Barcelona (eventually Tarragona, by 2016), by the addition of a third rail, under the
auspices of Spanish PITVI (2012-2024), “FERMED/Mediterranean Corridor”. Nevertheless, for an
undefined period, most conventional Iberian-gauge (1668mm) main lines will remain unchanged,
and connected with the French network by means of the usual axle-changing facilities, run by
Transfesa, located at border points such as Hendaye and Cerbère.
But even if rail accessibility and interoperability conditions of Iberian Post-Panamax ports were
been strengthened to the maximum extent, the reduction of generalized cost accruing from running
750m-long container trains (currently 450m being the maximum in Iberia) without any break of
gauge along the route, might not constitute a “trade-off” susceptible of matching the inertia of major
logistic operators and their long and well-established chains, associated with huge historical
harbours, such as, for instance, Antwerp or Rotterdam.
8. Prospective analysis: some insights
A prospective analysis for the Port of Sines cannot be presented without a considerable extent of
simplification. This is due to the vast number and different nature of both endogenous and
(particularly) exogenous variables, as main determinants for the development of planetary, trade
and consequently container transport.
As far as exogenous variables are concerned it will be assumed that for an horizon of 2030, the
widening of Panama Canal will have introduced a new pattern of sea routes, from Far East Asia to
Europe, wholly enclosed within the Western hemisphere, which are relatively immune to political
uncertainty to which the Suez Route, located in the Middle East is potentially more vulnerable. As
far as port endogenous variables are concerned, it will be considered that internal efficiency will not
differ greatly from competing Post-Panamax container terminals, with a higher degree of
automation being achieved by virtually all deep water ports in Europe, becoming increasingly more
capital intensive.
Hence, a brief prospective analysis for Sines Terminal XXI will be undertaken, based on the
following variables:
a) Exogenous;
1) Stage development of Atlantic Trade, between EU and America. This variable may
assume a conservative level (I) and an optimistic one (II), the latter reflecting the
creation of a Transatlantic Free Trade Area between the European Union and the USA
and Canada.
2) Stage development of trade, between the European Union and the big economies of Far
East Asia: conservative (I) and optimistic level (II).
3) Capacity of Portugal to capture foreign investment and trade flows from Brazil (or
Brazil-related) and other Portuguese-speaking states in Southern Hemisphere:
conservative (I) and optimistic (II).
4) Development of Rail accessibility. A conservative (I) level would consider no further
development whereas an optimistic level (II) would contemplate not only completion of
the Portuguese missing section providing a direct route to the Spanish border, but also
full upgrading of the whole remaining route of Corridor 16, from Badajoz to
Puertollano, the Center of Spain and beyond.
5) Fuel prices: a moderate increase (I) or a high increase (II), the latter bringing about a
penalty on the Panama route from Europe to Far East Asia, relative to a shorter SuezIndic route.
b) Port endogenous variables
1) Expansion of TEU handling capacity: conservative (I), as it is, with Terminal XXI
stabilizing at 1,5 Million per year or, optimistic (II), with the addition of a further 9 Million
TEU capacity, enabled by the construction of the new Vasco da Gama Terminal.
2) Port congestion at closest competing terminals: low (I) and high (II).
Many Scenarios, originating from combining Exogenous and Endogenous is possible to obtain, but
only a restricted number of them, appear to be realistic.
8.1.Horizon 2014-2020
8.1.1. The “strangled” port scenario
Exogenous variables, such as EX 1) EX 2) and 3) point at a lesser or greater intensity of trade flows
across the Atlantic (North in the first case and South, in the second). Sines and its Iberian
“hinterland” are more sensitive to the South Atlantic trade development, owing to the former
colonies of each one of the Iberian States, who maintain a strong relationship with them. Should EX
1) and EX 3) be combined with EX 4) (Rail Accessibility) in level I, and Sines would not be
prepared to challenge the role of harbours such as Algeciras and Valencia. Such a situation would
relegate Terminal XXI to a mere Portuguese “hinterland”, and throws attention on one of the
biggest present shortcomings of Sines as a planetary port scheme: absence of good rail connections,
compounded by a political and institutional framework where port planning is completely apart
from railway investment.
Such a scenario would be very adverse to Sines Terminal XXI, since the opportunity posed by the
widening of the Panama Canal would bring about benefits which would fall entirely on competitors
such as Algeciras, and particularly Valencia, which has excellent rail accessibility to Greater
Madrid and other Communities in Spain (development of a through third-rail mixed-gauge
(1435mm+1668mm from Barcelona to Valencia in 2016-20, would further increase the centripetal
force, by extending both ports “hinterland” to regions of the Languedoc Roussillon) . The risk of
such a scenario is real, since Portugal has no Rail Master Plan since it joined the EU in 1986, and
quite simple schemes, such as 92 Km of new line from Évora to the Spanish border of Badajoz take
years (if not decades) to materialize.
8.1.2. Terminal XXI challenging logistics hierarchy in Iberia Scenario
If EX 4) (level II rail investment) were combined with EX 1) EX2) and EX3) in a level (II), of
development of Rail Corridor 16, and also with the possibilities of Sines conquering part of the
Madrid “hinterland” would be significant: congestion of Algeciras, Valencia and Barcelona (EN2 ,
level II) being possibly higher to reach, in the light of physical constraints posed by the location of
any of these three ports. Sines Strategic Plan (Neptune Program, 2003), estimated as much as
887,000 TEUs per year, the container traffic originating (or directed) to the Comunidad de Madrid,
with the completion of Corridor 16 within Iberia.
This Scenario would imply a major political change in Portugal, directed at a new use for the
package of Structural Funds (Cohesion Funds, FEDER and others, up to 21,000 Million Euros) to
be awarded to the country in the period 2014-20. At time of writing, it is not known exactly what
investment in transport infrastructure is to benefit an investment-starved rail system, compounded
with the change of the internal political cycle, by 2015. Anyway, the 92 Km-long “missing link”
allowing a direct rail connection from Sines to Spain (Comunidad de Madrid and Aragón), would
require three years to build, and was evaluated at 222 Million Euros in 2011 (REFER, 2011). A
quite similar time span would be required to fully upgrade and electrify (25 kV, 50 Hz) the
conventional line, from Badajoz to La Nava de Puertollano (290 Km), along Extremadura and
Castilla-la-Mancha Communities.
8.1.3. “Latinamericanization” of Terminal XXI Scenario
Development of trade between Iberia and Far East Asia EX3) level I and level II (more intense)
might have a moderate or small impact on Sines and other Iberian deep-water container ports, if by
2030 fuel prices are high (variable EX5, level II). In an extreme case, the Panama route, via the
widened Canal, no longer would present a competitive alternative to the Suez-Indic route, with a
reflection on lesser traffic being captured. Deep-water container ports in Iberia would be mainly
directed to give a response to traffic flows between the Spanish and Portuguese economies, and
those emerging ones which were former colonies: Castillian-speaking Latin America, on the one
hand, and Brazil, on the other.
8.1.4. Terminal XXI on a congestion Scenario
Such a Scenario might take place in either 8.1.2 or 8.1.3 variants, and basically would consist of EN
2) level (II) (congestion at neighbor Valencia and Algeciras competitors), without any major
extension to Terminal XXI, such as the proposed Vasco da Gama Terminal, being put into
commercial service. In general, the larger scale of operation of Northern Europe deep-water
container terminals might supplement the Iberian market, putting otherwise a greater pressure on
existing (and congested) conventional Trans-Pyreneean rail links. Such a Scenario would call for a
fast completion of, at least one of the phases (annual 4,5 Millon TEU capacity) of Vasco da Gama
Terminal, hardly feasible before 2020.
Figure 5: Possible development Scenarios for Terminal XXI (2014-2020)
8.2.Horizon 2020-2030
Development of Corridor 16 would experience a new role, with a generalized track gauge
conversion of the conventional rail network (1668mm to 1435mm) in Iberia and Sines Terminal
XXI would have been supplemented by a an extra annual capacity of 9 Million TEUs, offered by
Vasco da Gama Terminal. Valencia port would increase its capacity up to 10 Million TEUs per
year, following its Master Plan, by reclaiming sea land. Basically, there would be Iberian container
terminals, both in Spain and Portugal, matching in magnitude and scale of operation, those located
in Northern Europe. The patterns of World Trade by 2025-30 are difficult to foresee, but a
Transatlantic Free Trade Area would certainly reinforce sea routes on the Atlantic, regardless of the
Panama/Far East variable. Distribution of such traffic by European deep-water container ports
would be far from uniform, and the capacity of a fully interoperable rail network to greatly change
port “hinterland” is not absolute. The Pyrenée “border-effect” would certainly fade (but to what
extent?). Languedoc-Roussillon and Aquitaine Regions of France might become target markets of
Iberian harbours, if only the land distance factor is taken into account.
8.3. Beyond 2030
All deep-water sea container terminals in Iberia, including Sines, would be linked to a conventional
rail network with an enlarged capacity (double track throughout, enabling 750m-long trains without
restrictions) and also without other capacity bottlenecks. The 40 Km-long Central Pyrenée Tunnel,
from Zaragoza to Tarbes would be operative. But, on the other hand, an hypothetical bringing into
use of an underwater Gibraltar Strait Tunnel, with provide a physical rail link to the Tanger Med
Container Terminal to Iberia and mainland Europe. Such effect on the existing hierarchy of
container ports and their respective “hinterland” remains, so far unknown.
9. Conclusions and Further research
Sines Terminal XXI, or broadly, Sines deep-water container port, is susceptible to introduce the
Portuguese territory into a non-negligible share of planetary logistics. The scope to which such
target is achieved is however difficult to determine. The biggest shortcoming of Sines, as a
container harbour lies in its so-far unsolved intermodal and rail accessibility based problem, despite
its very attractive location and also full potential for expansion, provided by available land. Further
research is required on port intermodality (prospective scenarios) using a cost-efficiency approach.
The Comunidad de Madrid (or Greater Madrid) holds an important transatlantic trade with both
Latin America and the USA/Canada, which, in the latter case is a candidate for further development
and growth, with the eventual emergence of an “EURAMERICA” free-trade zone. Logically, being
located within Spain, Algeciras and particularly Valencia sea container terminals are the prime
theoretical beneficiaries of such trade flows. But their limited availability for expansion due to land
scarcity may shift the balance to other ports, such as Sines, if RTE-T Corridor 16 is finally
completed within Portugal and Iberia. A significant need of further research on Sines Terminal XXI
will be necessarily focused on both the development of rail accessibility, particularly within Iberia.
Such an aspect is crucial for a better understanding of the full extent of “hinterland” expansion and
its respective effect on a new logistic hierarchy of the different Iberian Communities and their
respective geo-economic spaces. The nature of exogenous variables determining attractiveness of a
Far East Route via Panama in replacement of an Indic-Suez traditional one for Post Panamax
vessels is complex, without a clear certainty of how fuel prices may evolve on a long-term basis. In
such a case, however, Sines would be better positioned in the Atlantic, relative to its most direct
Iberian competitors.
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