New Rijeka Gateway terminal officially opens – one of Europe’s most advanced
- by croatiaweek
- in Business
Rijeka Gateway (Photo: APM Terminals)
Rijeka has officially opened its new Rijeka Gateway container terminal, marking a major step forward in Croatia’s maritime and transport infrastructure.
The €380 million facility, now in full operation since early September, is described as the most technologically advanced terminal in this part of Europe.
As HRT reported, the opening ceremony was attended by Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, along with members of his cabinet and Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen.
Prior to the ceremony, the delegations held bilateral talks and a meeting with representatives of Maersk and APM Terminals, the project’s key partners.
Prime Minister Plenković highlighted the strategic timing of the project, noting Croatia’s leadership in two major regional initiatives.
“This event is significant as it comes at a time when Croatia is chairing two initiatives that connect the Mediterranean with continental Europe. We currently hold the presidency of the Three Seas Initiative, linking the Adriatic, Black and Baltic Seas, and have just assumed the chairmanship of the EU-MED 9 in Portorož, uniting nine Mediterranean EU members,” Plenković said.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure, Oleg Butković, emphasised the project’s transformative impact on Rijeka and the wider region.
“With this project, Rijeka stands alongside the major ports of the northern Adriatic and becomes a new hub of intermodal connectivity for the region. Together with projects by the Port Authority, Croatian Roads and HŽ Infrastructure, we have created a system that links sea, road and rail into a single logistical network.
These investments are changing the face of the city and the entire region,” Butković stated.
The terminal recently welcomed the ‘Alva Maersk’, the largest vessel to dock in Rijeka to date, capable of carrying nearly 16,600 containers.
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The concessionaires, Netherlands-based APM Terminals and Croatian company ENNA Logic, plan to further expand the terminal’s operational quay. The project’s next phase will increase capacity from the current 650,000 to over one million containers per year, with an additional €500 million investment earmarked for expansion, equipment, and supporting infrastructure.
The Rijeka Gateway project marks a defining moment for Croatia’s role in international trade, positioning Rijeka as a key entry point connecting Europe’s Mediterranean and continental corridors.
