First test container ship docks at Rijeka Gateway Terminal
Final phase of equipment and system testing underway
Date publishedAugust 12, 2025
Zagreb, 12 August 2025 – The first test container ship has arrived at the new Rijeka Gateway terminal, marking the start of the final phase of equipment and system testing at the terminal. The vessel Cape Fulmar arrived from Port Said, Egypt, and will remain in Rijeka for one month.
The 170-metre-long ship, with a capacity of 1,440 container units, will be used as a platform for comprehensive training and testing of all operational processes and scenarios under conditions almost identical to those when the terminal begins operations. This includes planning, loading and unloading of all types of containers, securing the cargo, as well as coordination and transportation by terminal vehicles.
Over the next four weeks, the operation of all equipment at the terminal, including the large shore-based STS (ship-to-shore) cranes, will be checked to ensure everything is ready for the start of operations. The first ship carrying commercial container cargo at RGW is expected to dock on 12 September this year, while the first lorries and trains with export goods are expected at the beginning of September. Initially, ships will dock once a week, with the frequency of arrivals set to increase soon.
As we announced yesterday, the first test train operated by ENNA Logic has also arrived at the terminal. The 500-metre-long train, divided into two compositions on two tracks, delivered empty containers that will be used to test the RMG cranes at the terminal, specifically for cargo handling. During August, a total of 5 to 6 trains are expected to arrive, which will be used to verify equipment and operations.
Two years after the official start of construction, RGW is entering the final phase of testing so that everything will be ready for the arrival of the first ship carrying commercial cargo in a month. Currently, 220 people are employed at the terminal, and more than 45,000 hours have been invested in team training in 2025.
The Rijeka Gateway terminal is the largest private investment in logistics in Croatia and a joint venture between APM Terminals and the ENNA Group. With a capacity of 650,000 TEU in the first phase and the ability to accommodate large container ships up to 18,000 TEU, the terminal positions Rijeka as a key gateway for goods travelling towards Central Europe.
This is the most modern container terminal in the region, about which you can read more in the article Interesting facts about the Rijeka Gateway Terminal.
