The Port of Barcelona’s Board of Directors has definitively approved the concession for a new automobile terminal to Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK).
The Japanese shipping company—one of the largest in the world and owner of the second-largest global fleet of car carriers—won the tender for what will become the Port of Barcelona’s third vehicle-dedicated terminal, initially approved last April. This decision marks the final step before construction begins in the coming months.

NYK will invest €75 million in building the new public terminal, which will occupy 101,058 m² on the Príncep d’Espanya quay, strengthening the Port of Barcelona’s position as an international hub for the automotive sector. The concession has a term of 27 years, and the terminal is expected to be operational in early 2027.

Awarding of the Fishermen’s Market Restaurant

The Board of Directors has also approved granting Grupo Restauración Aventura SL the management of the restaurant located in the Fishermen’s Market building. The premises, situated on the building’s first floor, comprise 292.66 m² plus an adjacent covered terrace of 80.21 m². The concession will run for 20 years.

Grupo Restauración Aventura SL—operator of the restaurants Cobre, Thonet and Vraba (the latter located on the Muelle d’Espanya)—presented a gastronomic proposal crafted by chef Albert Ventura, based on seafood sourced from local fishermen who use sustainable and responsible fishing methods. The menu will be dynamic, depending on the daily fish auction, with a focus on high-quality local products and catering primarily to local customers.

New Strategy and Corporate Management Area

The Board of Directors has approved a reorganization of the Port Authority’s structure, creating the Strategy and Corporate Management Area to maintain strategic vision and reinforce leadership in major strategic projects.

These changes accompany the upcoming retirement of Santiago Garcia-Milà, current Deputy Director-General and head of Innovation and Business Strategy.

The new area entails the creation of a Strategy Committee, a cross-departmental body involving the presidency, management, and deputy directorates. It will define the Port’s vision and mission, set strategic objectives (growth, innovation, sustainability), establish priorities, make key decisions on investments and business models, and ensure clear communication of these priorities within the organization and to stakeholders.

This new area will be integrated into the Deputy Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs, which will now be named Deputy Directorate-General for Economic-Financial Affairs, Strategy and Corporate Management. It will assume all functions related to the Port’s strategic planning (evaluation of strategic proposals, development and monitoring of the Strategic Plan, project management, etc.) as well as corporate governance support for companies in which the Port of Barcelona participates.

Additionally:

  • International relations responsibilities previously under Innovation and Business Strategy will move to the Institutional Relations Directorate.

  • Commercial functions will be integrated into the Commercial and Marketing Deputy Directorate.

  • Innovation and Blue Economy functions will fall under the Organization and Internal Resources Deputy Directorate.