APM Terminals invests in Gothenburg and conflicts with dockers

APM Terminals reports that its Gothenburg office has signed an addendum to the original concession agreement with the Port of Gothenburg to invest an additional SEK 250 mln (EUR 25 mln or USD 27.8 mln) through 2024 in the largest container port in Scandinavia. The new investment will be targeted at increasing operational productivity for vessels, improving gate access for trucks and enhanced rail services, as well as reaching ambitious volume growth.
In October 2011, APM Terminals was named the winner of the Skandia Container Terminal concession. In January 2012, it started operations, with plans to invest SEK 780 mln (EUR 81 mln) in infrastructure and equipment upgrades through 2017. New equipment investments have included two 23-container wide reach super post-panamax STS cranes, two RMG cranes, lengthened and additional rail lines, 12 new diesel-electric straddle carriers and other extensive terminal improvements including a new terminal operating system (TOS) and safety upgrades.

Through improved operational efficiency created by these investments, the terminal’s annual rail volume capacity was increased by 50% using two new specialized rail cranes and the completion of an expansion project which added a sixth access track to accommodate three full trains of 750m length simultaneously.

In 2015, the terminal handled 743 000 TEU.

The news of the additional investment came amid the conflict between APMT Gothenburg and the Swedish Dockworkers’ Union (SDU). Caused by a change in the company’s personnel policies, the dispute has been ongoing since last spring. Now that the terminal operator plans to proceed with massive layoffs and the implementation of new work patterns, SDU has issued a notice of a new overtime ban, which will cover the recruitment of new employees and the use of contract staff during evenings and weekends. The ban will come into effect today, March 13, at 4pm and is due to continue until midnight on April 30 unless the dispute can be resolved before. The ban only applies to APM Terminals and not the other terminals at the Port of Gothenburg.