Malta freeport expands reach to five more ports with new service

Malta Freeport Terminals is expanding its reach with five new ports by adding a new service to their portfolio to the Caribbean and the United States, according to a press release by the freeport. The freeport expects to enhance its connectivity with the western and southern continents.

The new service, operated by CMA-CGM and Marfret — French container transportation and shipping companies —, now allows Maltese importers and exporters to connect to Pointe-à-Pitre (Guadeloupe), Fort-de-France (Martinique), Houston (US), Veracruz (Mexico) and Puerto Moin (Costa Rica). These five ports come addition to the freeport’s present network to South America, which covers five countries including Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Uruguay.

“We are delighted to add this new service to our portfolio, which is a reflection of the confidence of transhipment industry in our port which is ideally positioned in the heart of the Mediterranean”, said Alex Montebello, Chief Executive Officer of Malta Freeport Terminals.

“We are also pleased to note that they will be making use of our upgraded reefer facilities in which we have invested considerably over the past year,” adds Mr Montebello. The Malta Freeport offers 1,582 reefer points at its terminals and will be installing a further 180 reefer plugs across three new platforms, in order to handle more perishable cargo.

In addition, the freeport made a €31m investment in 2018 in 15 Kone Rubber-Tyred Gantry Cranes (RTGs) as well as in other yard equipment, including 67 new tractors and trailers.

The Malta Freeport currently provides network links to 115 ports around the world, 59 of which are in the Mediterranean.

EDITORIAL NOTE: The cover picture of the story has been changed to an aerial shot of the Malta Freeport, originally posted on Wikimedia Commons by Alecastorina93.