The Tourism Ministry and the Freeport Terminals will be working together with the Birżebbuġa council on a corporate social responsibility project financed by the freeport for the benefit of the local community.

Konrad Mizzi yesterday made his first visit to the Malta Freeport Terminals as minister responsible for the Malta Freeport Corporation.

He was welcomed by Malta Freeport Terminals CEO Alex Montebello and company directors.

During a meeting with the minister, Mr Montebello highlighted the freeport’s growth and outlined the vision for the coming year.

Since Malta Freeport was privatised in 2004, the company has undertaken an ambitious investment programme to the tune of over €237 million. As a result of the measures being pursued, the freeport is well on course to surpass the 3 million TEU mark once again this year, Mr Montebello said.

Dr Mizzi noted the significant contribution the Freeport had made towards Malta’s economy and competitiveness. 

After the meeting, Dr Mizzi was taken on a tour of the Freeport’s Control Centre.

The minister then proceeded to the Container Terminals, stopping at Terminal Two North Quay to view operations at this berth. He was also taken up several storeys high on one of the quayside cranes, which is capable of handling 25 containers across. These particular cranes are among the largest in the Mediterranean.

Berthed alongside the North Quay of Terminal Two was also Marchen Maersk, one of the largest vessels in the Maersk fleet with an overall length of 400m and a capacity of 18,270 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit). This vessel was diverted to Malta due to the recent cyber attack which left a number of terminals, across Europe and the US, reeling from massive disruptions.