The Adriatic Gate Container Terminal (AGCT), operated by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), made port history on 5 July as it welcomed the CMA CGM ADONIS, the largest container ship to ever dock in Rijeka.

The 15,536 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) vessel, part of the OCEAN Alliance’s Asia-Med (MED5) service operated by CMA CGM, OOCL, COSCO Shipping Lines, and Evergreen Line, marks a major capacity upgrade for the region. AGCT officials confirmed that more ultra-large vessels are expected, including the CMA CGM APOLLON, CMA CGM OZIRIS, and CMA CGM HERMES.

“The arrival of CMA CGM ADONIS is another milestone for AGCT and the Croatian port sector,” said Emmanuel Papagiannakis, AGCT’s Chief Executive Officer.

The port’s readiness to accommodate such large vessels follows the completion of Phase 1 of a major dredging project, part of an ongoing USD 40-million infrastructure upgrade. These improvements have deepened berths and expanded the terminal’s capabilities, preparing it to handle more vessels of similar size.

Papagiannakis added that plans are underway for further enhancements. “We have the design for Phase 2 dredging underway and proposal for extending the quay line on the west side. At the same time, rail works remain on schedule to ensure increasing vessel capacity is matched by landside capability, given that the Port of Rijeka’s future growth depends on increasing its rail share.”

To complement the berth improvements, two new super post-Panamax ship-to-shore cranes are scheduled to arrive by November. The terminal will also integrate two hybrid rubber-tired gantry cranes and a fleet of electric terminal tractors to promote greener, more energy-efficient operations.

AGCT, in partnership with the Croatian government and the Port Authority Rijeka, continues to position the Port of Rijeka as a high-capacity maritime gateway for Central and Southeast Europe.