New port terminal in Osijek

The aim of constructing the bulk cargo terminal in the Port of Osijek is to raise the level of environmental protection during transshipment of cargo and safety of ships in port, increase the accessibility of port infrastructure, develop a more efficient method of intermodal freight transport and, due to the use of new equipment and technology, reduce operating costs.

The Osijek Port Authority had used a bulk cargo terminal built in 1974 in the center of Osijek (known as the “old port”), in the immediate vicinity of the Osijek Clinical Hospital Centre. The “old port” was decommissioned in 2015, due to the start of the project “Osijek Water Infrastructure Improvement Project”, co-financed by the EU’s Cohesion Fund.
Once the construction of the water infrastructure has been completed, the construction of a promenade, which will be connected to the existing promenade from the city center, is planned to begin in the former “old port” area. For the reasons stated, this project aims to relocate port activities to a new location in the non-urbanized part of the city (“new port”), which will, inter alia, contribute to the quality of life for the citizens of Osijek and ensure environmental protection.

Construction works include the following:

• approx. 240 m of coastal structure with 2 berths
• loading units for unloading/loading and transport of equipment (transhipment facility with incoming hopper)
• access road approx. 300 m long
• rail tracks approx. 610 m long
• crane tracks and roads approx. 285 m long
• incoming hopper in the dimensions 14,8 x 8,6 x 7,8 m
• substation – 1 unit
• construction of the necessary infrastructure (water supply and drainage – water supply system will consist of three water supply branches approx. 363 m long in total – electricity supply and lighting, open storage).

Failure to construct a new bulk cargo terminal would result in:
a) the impossibility of transshipment of bulk cargo in the port of Osijek which would directly contribute to an increase in the price of bulk cargo since the need for transport, either by rail or truck, would arise
b) isolation of the port of Osijek since shipowners would choose to bypass the port due to lack of adequate conditions for transshipment
c) slow the entire region’s development.

The problems the project aims to solve are the following:

• reduction of traffic congestion in the center of Osijek,
• prevention of possible environmental pollution in the city center and in the vicinity of the Osijek Clinical Hospital Centre,
• increasing the accessibility of Osijek-Baranja County,
• ensuring integrated transhipment at a single location.

General project objectives are the following:

• raising the level of environmental protection during transhipment of cargo,
• increasing the safety of ships in port,
• improving the availability of port infrastructure by enabling quality transport links to the new port,
• development of efficient intermodal freight transport,
• reduction of operating costs due to the use of new equipment and technology.

Strategic project objectives are the following:

• increasing the share of inland waterways in comparison to railway and road freight transport in the Republic of Croatia,
• revitalization of the economy in Osijek-Baranja County,
• balanced development of regions in Croatia and the EU,
• improving transport productivity and intermodal capacities,
• becoming a hub for attracting new industries, added value and industrial development.