The agreement was signed by Sorin Mihai Grindeanu, Romania’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, and Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO & Managing Director, DP World UAE and vice-chairman of PCFC.

The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure aims to develop a new ro-ro terminal to boost cargo vessel traffic at the Black Sea port which has become an important gateway for trade into Eastern Europe. 

This will require significant investment and improved procedures to speed up the transit of ro-ro units through Constanta Port. Under the agreement, PCFC will work with DP World, a leading provider of global end-to-end supply chain logistics solutions, to modernise and develop the infrastructure on Pier II-S at the Port.

DP World will implement the project and provide the necessary investments in physical and electronic assets to help turn Constanta into a key centre for imports into Europe. This includes a new state-of-the-art X-ray scanner at the ro-ro terminal, which will significantly reduce the amount of time needed for physical inspections and boost its operational efficiency.

Commenting on the agreement, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman of PCFC and Group Chairman and CEO of DP World, said: “A few weeks ago, we celebrated our 18^th year of operations at DP World Constanta. We are proud of the confidence that the government of Romania continues to show in us and look forward to delivering a world-class, integrated supply chain solution that will enhance Constanta Port and Romania’s position in the region. This agreement is a testimony to the strength of the relationships we build with our partners around the globe.”

Rashid Abdulla, CEO of DP World Europe, added: “The expansion of the terminal in Constanta comes as the result of listening to our customers and partners in the country, and we are committed to cater 

to their cargo movement needs and support their growth objectives through our enhanced infrastructure services. In addition to our recent launch of the new terminal in Aiud, the new ro-ro terminal at Constanta demonstrates our commitment to developing Romania as a premier logistics hub for Eastern Europe and the Black Sea.”

DP World operates a state-of-the-art 1.5 million TEU/yr Constanta South Container Terminal (CTST), already the largest port on the Black Sea, under a concession contract that runs until 2049. It also provides a full rail coordination service with three rail lines, each 600m long, capable of handling three complete 30 wagon trains at one time.

In addition, DP World is pushing ahead with plans for a new road-rail intermodal terminal in Aiud in Romania, which is expected to operational in the first half of 2023. The terminal will be linked by rail to Constanta establishing a new export route for the key Transylvania region in central-Romania, which has traditionally lacked robust infrastructure for exports.