The new Mediterranean Ports Association (MEDports Association) has approved an action plan for 2019 which includes the adoption of common key performance indicators and a ‘single window’ cargo community system.
The roadmap, approved at the end of November during the body’s second general assembly (which took place straight after the first meeting of the organisation’s executive committee), has other goals like the expansion of onshore power for vessels, a training program (to be developed by members’ training institutes) and the launch of an association website in the spring.

Three major international meetings are already set for next year: a spring meeting with European corridors coordinators, a June MEDports Association forum in France’s Marseille and an autumn presentation to European institutions in Brussels.
The November MEDports Association event also saw members give the green light to the 2018 activity report, which featured the creation of special committees on issues like smart port development, safety, security, training, the environment and market analysis.
Membership applications were accepted from the Port of Cartagena and the Ports of Catalonia group managed by the Catalan government.

The MEDports Association, founded earlier this year by 20 Mediterranean port authorities and headquartered in Marseille, derives from a 2016 forum organised by the Port of Marseille Fos port authority to look into ways of sharing best practice on mutual opportunities and challenges.
Current membership is spread across Spain, France, Italy, Lebanon, Morocco, Slovenia, Algeria, Egypt, Malta and Tunisia.

At the Port of Marseille Fos, the port authority is planning on extending Fos service facilities for empty containers and haulage contractors after ‘saturation’ demand because of increasing container throughput.
A second service zone is now planned by 2020, with 28 hectares devoted to empty containers and 20 hectares supporting haulage and intermodal road/rail activities.
Besides supporting intermodal development, the works on the service zone will include improved container terminal access.
A consultation process on the venture has been launched.

Source: Port Technology