Employee Relations, Public Affairs & Communication.
DIRECTION AND COORDINATION: Eduardo Sánchez.
WRITING AND DESIGN: Araceli Muñoz.
CONTENTS:
Ana Duarte, José Miguel Carreño, Crisanto Domínguez, Irene Rodríguez, Juan Jesús Lara, Isabel Rodríguez, Enrique Manso, Alejandro Rego, Joaquín Sánchez, Juan Luis Cabrera.
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
María Aznar, Francisco Gil, Jesús Ugarte, Eva Luna, Gloria Vizcaíno, José Canas, Santiago Rodríguez, Isabel Calvo, Cristina Gómez, Sophia Linares.
SUGGESTIONS BOX araceli.munoz@apmterminals.com
Follow us @apmterminalsalgeciras
Momentos APM Terminals Algeciras
Page 2 | MAY 2025
CONTENTS
OUR EVENTS
Find yourself in the pictures from the last Christmas lunch, and look at the photos of your colleagues on the electric car ride.
OUT OF CONTEXT
María Aznar practises archery, did you know that?
The power outage on 28 April brought out the best in us to keep the business going.
Francisco Gil, ship planner, is returning to photography in his life far from the terminal.
OUR JOB Momentos talks to Jesús Ugarte, a crane operator at APM Terminals, about what his job on a RTG is like.
OPERATIONS
Manila Maersk’s scale in week 14 was historic: 225 PMPH and 11 cranes operating simultaneously.
OUR TEAM
Our colleagues Eva Luna and Gloria Vizcaíno, from Asset Maintenance, answer the questionnaire in the Veterans vs New Talent section.
Hello! We’re Javier Jaén and María Aznar, and we’re very excited about the mission of relaunching the Employees Group. We want to promote activities that foster relationships among colleagues, and if you’re interested in organizing something, we’d like you to join us. Your ideas are very welcome! Use this QR code to let us know what you’d like to promote, and if you’d like to help us give the Employees Group a new lease on life. Your opinion and participation are very important
Send your pictures and ideas to: araceli.munoz@apmterminals.com
It has been a while since I last used Momentos, our internal communication magazine, to address you. Until now, Zsanett was responsible for introducing each publication. As you all know, she has accepted a position in Dubai as Director of Operations for India, the Middle East and Africa. I would like to take this opportunity to thank her once again for her dedication over the last three years.
During this time, Zsanett has helped us improve performance, reduce idle time and implement Gemini effectively. For this, and for other reasons that are more personal to all of us, we will certainly miss her.
We could have reacted urgently to find a replacement quickly. But faster would not have meant better. I am fully confident in you, in the experienced and senior professionals we have in Algeciras, and in the formula chosen for the transition, with Sophia, José Miguel and Eduardo taking over the
Visit to Airbus: an opportunity to collaborate
Our visit to Airbus highlighted how a strong commitment to Lean practices, the integration of smart technology and a customer-centric mindset can transform the way a company operates. Its facilities are an example of operational excellence, built around the SQDCP model: safety, quality, delivery, cost and people. This model is applied with front-line teams initiating discussions and escalating issues in a structured and manageable way.
Keld Pedersen Head of West-Med Terminals
management of the company from a leadership perspective until we find a new COO for the terminal, probably after the summer/autumn.
In this industry, we live with challenges, and after 40 years of history in Algeciras, we are so used to them that, thanks to the efforts of the entire team, a power cut like the one we experienced in Spain on Monday 28 April was nothing more than an anecdote. In managing this new and demanding situation, we once again made it clear that Algeciras is capable of successfully tackling major challenges and delivering extraordinary results when necessary.
I am confident that we can count on everyone’s support to continue meeting the demands ahead of us.
Kind regards. Keld.
Special moments at Christmas
The La Almoguera estate host once again our informal Christmas lunch for colleagues in December.
If there is a good occasion to spend some time with colleagues, it is at Christmas. And this year was no exception. The APM Terminals staff had the opportunity to get together again this year at La Almoguera estate. With an informal format that we have successfully repeated because it allows us to enjoy an even more
relaxed atmosphere, we highlighted our most veteran colleagues and welcomed the new additions who have joined us during the year. There were raffles, speeches, toasts... and, above all, the good atmosphere that characterises these celebrations among those of us who are part of the APM Terminals Algeciras family.
An electric car ride through Los Alcornocales
During the last edition of Go Green, several colleagues won a raffle for an electric car ride through Los Alcornocales, where they enjoyed unforgettable moments with family and friends. Here are some of the photos.
Thank you for all these years
We bid farewell to several colleagues after many years of working at APM Terminals Algeciras.
We continue to bid farewell to our most veteran colleagues who have decided to take advantage of the APM Terminals Algeciras Voluntary Redundancy Plan. On this occasion, Matilde Sánchez, José Tomás Cádiz, Francisco López,
Ana Mª García Moreno, Alberto Rodríguez, José Antonio Mesa (Kiko), Miguel Rodríguez Caparrós, Julio Martínez and Javier Ortiz have begun their new lives. As you can see in these photos, we had some very emotional moments as we said goodbye.
Different moments from the farewells of our colleagues at APM Terminals Algeciras.
Out of context
María Aznar Archer
If there is one thing a grandparent can pass on to their grandchildren, it is their hobby. This is the case for our colleague María Aznar, Asset Maintenance Planner Engineer , who has been practising archery for a couple of years for precisely this reason.
In tribute to Manuel and because it is such an unusual hobby, María deserves her place in the Out of Context section of issue 8 of Momentos , the internal communication magazine of APM Terminals Algeciras. Manuel belonged to the Sagitta club in Campo de Gibraltar, and when he took his granddaughter along, he passed on his love of the sport to her.
‘Then my grandfather fell ill and decided to give me his equipment: a longbow and a classic bow, and that’s how I joined the federation and now, every weekend, or whenever I can, I go and shoot,’ explains María, who has become hooked on the concentration required to hit the target with a bow and arrow, and even aims to compete.
Strings, tension, anchors, grips, dominant eye... ‘It’s not just a bow and arrow. It’s a very technical sport and there are many variables that can affect the shot,’ says María, who also enjoys the resources that the community of members at her club provide to hang out and practise. ‘They’re guys who work really hard: they make 3D foam targets for fun and to simulate hunting, and we have a great time.’
Managing a power outage
APM Terminals Algeciras demonstrated during the power outage on Monday, 28 April, its ability to protect people, facilities and cargo in extreme situations.
It is in exceptional situations that a team’s capabilities are truly tested. And last Monday, 28 April, was one such occasion. A power outage across virtually the entire Iberian Peninsula at around 12:30 p.m. put all Spaniards to the test in one way or another. And, of course, the APM Terminals Algeciras team was there to ensure the safety of
Momentos APM Terminals Algeciras
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The team’s ideas flowed freely in an effort to plugmore than 2,000 reefers
people, facilities and goods. It was a normal morning, with the Maersk Cunene and Maersk Narmada ships operating at the dock, when an unprecedented situation arose: the power went out and we didn’t know when it would come back on.
The management team was quickly called to a crisis committee, which activated the Contingency Plan (known as the Business Continuity Plan), established with the aim of coordinating the necessary actions to minimise the impact of the power outage on the terminal as much as possible. To make matters worse, communications were also affected on this occasion, making it even more difficult to monitor and implement the actions.
The plan’s order of priority was clear: first, attend to the people, so all available resources had to be deployed to assist and rescue operators who may have been trapped in lifts or in the cabins of the portainers. At the same time, priority was given to containers and hold covers that had been suspended, as well as spreaders stuck in the hold, as these situations could pose a risk to people and equipment.
Second, ensure the protection of the facilities by increasing security measures at the entrances and inside the terminal. All electrical personnel intervened in the transformer stations to keep the terminal running with auxiliary equipment and to ensure an orderly and incident-free recovery of all services once power was restored. Orderly shutdown and constant supervision and communication with the work teams so they could be activated immediately when necessary, both to resume work
Business Continuity Plan helped minimise the impact
and to collaborate in the actions requested by the Crisis Committee. And thirdly, the goods, with contingency measures to maintain essential operations to protect the integrity of critical cargo. This is where the team’s ideas flowed to power the more than 2,000 reefer containers that were at the terminal on Monday. The image of cables with plugs coming out of the ship to the quay, which were used to plug in 22 containers, is a good example of the level of creativity demonstrated by the team. In record time, auxiliary equipment was gathered, containers were escorted to a specialised reefer facility within the port, and even the RTG engines were used to provide power.
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who participated with their hard work and long hours to ensure that we were able to manage the power outage in the best possible way. It was a new and demanding situation, both on a personal and operational level, but the commitment and energy shown by everyone once again made it clear that Algeciras is capable of successfully tackling major challenges and delivering extraordinary results when necessary,” said Keld Pedersen, Managing Director of APM Terminals West-Med Hub.
We would like to extend our gratitude for the management of this crisis to the employees of APM Terminals and Maersk, the CPE (dockers’ collective, with special mention to the foremen involved), operations, appointment and IT staff, APBA, Customs, contractors and transport companies. Thank you all.
During peak hours, solar panels provide between 15 and 20% of the energy required by the terminal
The facility occupies 9,294 square metres in the car park, at the automatic truck gate and in the groupage warehouse
APM Terminals Algeciras is already contributing to the group’s global ambition to reduce atmospheric emissions by 70% by 2030 and become carbon neutral by 2040, with the installation of 2,627 photovoltaic panels with a nominal power of 1,360 kW, which already produce, at peak sunlight hours, between 15 and 20% of the terminal’s energy needs.
The installation, which covers a total area of 9,294 square metres - slightly more than a professional football field - is spread over three areas: the employee car park, the automatic truck gate and the groupage warehouse. In addition, other projects are already underway to cover other facilities.
The system began producing energy on 20 March, underwent testing until 1 April and is now in full production. As it is fully monitored, initial data on the gate installation already indicates that during peak sunlight hours, between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., it is self-sufficient, and the surplus energy produced powers the entire auxiliary installation of the terminal, including lighting, buildings and workshops. There is another interesting feature of the installation chosen for the employee car park: the panels have replaced the old canopies with an innovative sealing system between the panels so that, in addition to providing shade for parked vehicles, rainwater cannot seep in between them.
New Sany empty handlers: more sustainable operations with 62% fewer emissions
The three new cars will replace the old Ferrari models
Asset Maintenance team has put three new Sany empty handlers into operation: EH001, EH002 and EH003. This addition is part of our fleet renewal plan, which will replace three of our old Ferrari machines. One will remain as a backup, giving us four active empty handlers. The new
EHs are powered by EU Stage V engines, which will reduce NOx emissions by 62.5% compared to the old machines. In the next renewal, we will take another step towards a fully electric fleet, reinforcing our commitment to more sustainable and environmentally friendly operations.
Francisco Gil · Shipplanner
‘I have always enjoyed teamwork and work that is delivered successfully”
In Momentos #8, we spoke with Paco Gil to find out what his life is like after retirement
Afew months ago, Paco Gil left behind the fast pace of shift work in Operations. Retired since the end of September 2024 after more than 24 years at APM Terminals Algeciras, he now has time to keep up his exercise routine, cook, and take up photography again to capture landscapes and the beauty of details. He also has time to maintain his close friendships with his long-time colleagues: Diego de Jesús Salas, Francisco José Cañadillas, and Adolfo Maza.
‘I have always been committed to Sealand’s policy of teamwork, enjoying human relationships, camaraderie and a job well done. When you retire and isolate yourself in a way, you feel strange: you have to adapt and take up new hobbies,’ says Paco,
Momentos APM Terminals Algeciras Page 10 |
A portrait of Paco Gil with his camera, and a selection of the images he captures with it.
His daughter, a handball player, and his son, a photographer, inherited his hobbies
who has a son and a daughter who have inherited his passions: sport and photography.
On the one hand, there is his daughter Laura, a psychology student and indoor handball player in Algeciras, Tenerife and Malaga, and a beach handball player with the University of Malaga - whose team was crow-
ned European University Champion in 2023 and 2024 - and who has also been called up several times for the Spanish national team. She is the pride of her father, who played handball for La Piñera until he was 21. On the other hand, his son Daniel Gil is one of the best-known event photographers in Algeciras, having been at practically every event in recent years. The love of photography comes from a previous generation, because Paco says that his taste for the visual arts comes from his father, who painted in oils and liked to take photos. For the moment, he is just reviewing equipment, so that he can soon sign up again for themed photography meet-ups to capture landscapes, practise macro photography and take part in an exhibition with Infocus. ‘But I’m taking it easy. I feel young, but I can’t keep up with my son,’ jokes Paco.
So there’s plenty to fill the free time he has to adapt to. For now, his routine is sport. ‘Running is my way of clearing my head, both physically and mentally,’ he says. At 8:30 in the morning, he sets off for a run along the beach. When he returns, he devotes himself to cooking, another of his passions that he learned from his mother, and which he practises with ideas and recipes he picks up from well-known social media influencers. In the afternoons, he goes out again, this time for a walk to enjoy the tranquillity of the moment he is living.
Approval of the 2025-2029 Equality Plan
The document and protocol to prevent sexual harassment have already been registered with the Labour Authority.
On 28 March, the Equality Commission approved the APM Terminals Algeciras Equality Plan, which will be implemented over the next four years. As required by law, the document and the protocol for the prevention of sexual and gender-based harassment were sent to the labour au -
Objectives
thorities for filing and registration, which was confirmed on 9 April. The plan is the result of the work of the Equality Commission, which agreed on its sections in 2024 after a process of dialogue and collaboration. Its implementation will begin shortly, starting with its dissemination and communi -
• Promote a culture that fosters the principle of equal treatment and opportunities.
• Ensure and guarantee equal treatment and opportunities for all staff.
• Ensure a gender-neutral selection and recruitment process for new professionals.
• Promote and facilitate access for women and men to all categories and departments of the company with a view to achieving balance.
• Propose the necessary measures to prevent imbalances in terms of equal opportunities.
• Ensure that work-life balance is accessible to all, regardless of gender.
• Guarantee and ensure the principle of equal pay.
• Ensure balanced representation in the various bodies of the company.
• Continue to promote the use of inclusive or gender-neutral language in the company’s internal and external communications.
• Guarantee a system for the prevention of sexual and gender-based harassment in the workplace.
Structure
• Situation diagnosis: analysis based on quantitative and qualitative data that includes different aspects and policies of the company such as recruitment, selection, professional classification, training, promotion, benefits, etc.
• Action plan: specific actions and measures required,
cation to all staff, including new recruits. Next, training actions aimed at those responsible for selection and promotion will be addressed, with the aim of continuing to advance towards a more equitable and inclusive organisational culture.
The implementation of the Equality Plan, beyond legal obligations, reflects APM Terminals Algeciras’ commitment to establishing and developing policies that integrate equal treatment and opportunities between women and men, without direct or indirect discrimination, as well as promoting measures to achieve real equality within the organisation, establishing equal opportunities as one of the Company’s strategic principles and in line with the Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) policies that form part of the Maersk Group’s values.
deadlines and persons responsible for implementation, and criteria for evaluating progress in gender equality and reducing the gaps identified.
• Follow-up and evaluation: monitoring of the implementation of the plan, collection of data on its execution, its results and its overall impact on the company.
Highlights
• There is no gender pay discrimination.
• Same average age for men and women.
• Higher level of education among women.
• Female representation in both management and the Works Council.
Areas for improvement
• Under-representation of women in some positions
• Male-dominated workforce.
• High average age.
• Need to promote practices that ensure a balanced representation of both sexes (recruitment, promotion, etc.).
• Strengthen the recruitment of women in technical positions.
Momentos on...
an RTG with Jesús Ugarte
We spent a day with the crane operators at APM Terminals Algeciras. Who would you suggest we accompany in the next edition of Momentos, our internal communication magazine?
It is 6:00 a.m. on Wednesday, 23 April, and the crane operators at APM Terminals Algeciras begin their shift. As they do every day, they enter the control room, or Marina, as the most veteran operators continue to call it, to find out which straddle ca-
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rriers they will be using to distribute containers in the yard of Spain’s largest terminal, the leader in the Mediterranean and one of the largest in Europe. Today, these machines will be RTGs (Rubber Tired Gantries) 4, 7 and 11, and Andrés Luque, José Luis
Puertollano, Alberto Cote and Jesús Ugarte will take turns loading and unloading containers from the truck or position them in the stack until the end of their shift at 2 p.m., with the precision of someone who has been fitting 20- and 40-foot pieces together all his life.
Ugarte has been part of the APM Terminals Algeciras crane operator team since 1991, and before joining the port, he worked for a truck tyre change company. ‘I love driving, and these machines are like Mercedes, so I love this job,’ he says on his way to the cab of number 7, where he will spend a day that is not for the faint-hearted, 20 metres above the ground. ‘Ours is the best job in the terminal: you’re on your own, at your own pace, and the sunrises from here, even the storms, are breathtaking,’ he explains. Once up there, he hangs up his backpack and takes control of the RTG, where the monitors display the data of the containers he has to pick up from the indicated location and position in another assigned location. ‘The old hands don’t take more than a minute to move a container to its place,’ says the crane operator. After more than 30 years in the port, he knows the areas, streets and alleys of the terminal, the position codes and the information that appears on the screens like the back of his hand. However, Ugarte explains each piece of information with the patience of someone who knows that the person listening to him has never been at the controls of a yard crane, and
Jesús Ugarte, at his post on RTG 7 at APM Terminals Algeciras.
with a desire to teach others his job. In fact, he is more than used to it, because he was part of the remote RTG pilot project and is now a trainer for other colleagues. ‘To move the spreader, you have to be more than 15 metres high,’ he says, looking down, but with one eye on the data provided by the screen and the images from the cameras.
He activates one of the two joystick-type controls with which he operates the machine from his seat, the spreader’s clamping elements lock onto the corners of the container, and it rises from the truck’s flatbed. The unloaded vehicle drives away, and the container is moved precisely to its exact location in the stack. The trolley automatically slows down as it approaches an obstacle and, at his command, the container is lowered. When it is deposited, the contact is felt in the cab. It’s perfect. Now, on to the next one. Although he spends a lot of time alone, the crane operator explains that his colleagues, who usually take turns operating the machines available during their shift, form a good team. Spending so much time up there, loading, unloading and positioning containers with movements that are as second nature to him as driving, which he has been doing for years and can now do almost without thinking, even gives him time to think about lyrics. Jesús composes rock music, plays the guitar and records his songs in his home
“Ours is the best position in the terminal. And sunrises are impressive”
Algeciras, from testing remote RTGs to teaching how to operate them
Remote RTG project developed in Algeciras is attracting interest from colleagues around the world, who are coming to the port to learn how to use the machinery from the office in a safer, more efficient and more comfortable way. In fact, at One Maersk there is a space where
colleagues from Rijeka, who have already come for training, share their experiences in Algeciras. The intranet also features a video explaining the project and highlighting the differences between working remotely and working on a traditional RTG. Scan this QR code to watch it!
studio. He also studies acupuncture and enjoys spending time with his son Alén.
Now it’s time to move the Konecranes RTG around the yard. The next 40-foot container to be loaded onto a truck is in zone 9, and we’re in zone 7. All we have to do is make sure the spreader is at a safe height to start moving, safe in the knowledge that the GPS system will prevent the crane from straying from the designated route. ‘If there’s a Maersk container, I usually use the E as a reference point,’ says Ugarte. Once positioned, moving the container onto the skid seems easy. And the pace won’t let up until the end of the day, another day for the crane team and for a container terminal that is key to global maritime trade.
Several RTGs at the yard..
Manila Maersk: the best productivity performance in our history
Congratulations to everyone involved in this operation, which entailed working with 11 cranes simultaneously on Friday, 4 April.
APM Terminals Algeciras recorded its highest ever productivity figure during week 14, with 225 PMPH (Port Moves per Hour). This was achieved during the call of Manila Maersk, one of the Triple-E vessels included in the AE3 service of the East-West network of Cooperación Gemini, with which the team worked on Friday, 4 April, with 11 cranes operating simultaneously. This was also a record that beat the one set just a few days earlier by the
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Monaco Maersk, which achieved 209.52 PMPH.
“Operations like this reinforce our commitment to punctuality and efficiency, key pillars of the Gemini Cooperation, designed to offer our customers a robust and predictable shipping network. Congratulations to everyone involved for their excellent work. This is the spirit with which we are accelerating our performance,” said Keld Pedersen, managing director of APM Terminals West-Med Hub. Meanwhile, the team continues to implement measures to reduce idle time, such as the management of fully automatic twistlocks to speed up the start of operations.
The best productivity record forAlgeciras is now 225 PMPH
Manila Maersk at Juan Carlos I Quay with 11 cranes operating simultaneously..
Algeciras
debuts in
Gemini with AS Nina
APM Terminals Algeciras began providing Gemini Cooperation services between Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd on Monday, 3 February, with the arrival of the vessel AS Nina. During the call, Zsanett Balla, then Chief Operating Officer, and the President of the Port Authority, Gerardo Landaluce, presented commemorative plaques to the ship’s captain, Emil Petrov Tonchev.
The latest SeaIntel report reveals that Gemini achieved 90.3% reliability in March. Now that Gemini is much more integrated compared to February, these figures have a more robust database and demonstrate a notable improvement in reliability performance. This improvement has also had a positive impact on the north-south network. However, it is important to remember that the gradual rollout process is still ongoing. Gemini’s success is measured in four main categories, with schedule reliability being the best
Gemini offers reliability
SeaIntel reports 90.3% reliability for March
known. Another crucial metric for network stability is hub status, where it is essential to remain within safe operating capacities in terms of movements, yard density and connection success. In addition, close attention is paid to delivery volume to balance utilisation, overbooking control and reliability. Network efficiency is also monitored to track fuel consumption and equipment
Kaikaku Kaizen: an important step towards optimising our operations
APM Terminals Algeciras held a Kaikaku Kaizen during week 15 focused on reducing Man Hours Per Move. This was an important step towards improving our efficiency and optimising our operations at the terminal.
During the week, processes and workflows were analysed with the aim of identifying key areas where inefficiencies could be eliminated and productivity improved.
balance. The gradual introduction of shuttle services has been completed, with 260 of the 277 vessels on the main line now operating on Gemini schedules. The last 2M vessel is expected to be withdrawn by the end of the month, marking the end of the introduction and phase-out period. June will be the first month in which the east-west network will be fully operational.
On the scheduled days, the team actively participated in working sessions to share ideas and suggestions, evaluate processes and discuss how to implement improvements. The changes were tested based on Kaizen best practices to achieve continuous improvement and a positive impact on the terminal’s overall productivity. Many thanks to all participants!
Eva Luna Clerk
‘New colleagues bring many ideas that can help speed up the work’
Eva is from Algeciras and has been working at APM Terminals for over 30 years. She joined the company at a very young age, as an intern after completing her studies in finance, and it is in this area that she has forged her career. She occasionally
manage costs. ‘I do cost control, I process closings and requests, I do administrative work and also the financial side, and I like what I do,’ she says during the interview. What is the first thing you do when you arrive at the terminal?
I say good morning, turn on my
Algeciras for just six months. She came from Seville, where she worked for a consulting firm. She was looking for new professional challenges, but says that the job at the terminal found her on LinkedIn, where she was contacted because they were looking for profiles like hers. She studied a double degree in Mathematics and Statistics and
here before, but I have been pleasantly surprised, to be honest,’ she explains in a chat with Eva, one of the most senior members of the team.
What is the first thing you do when you arrive at the terminal?
I also say good morning, turn on my computer and check any emails
What do you like most about your job?
What I like most is that it’s not repetitive at all. All the tasks I’m given are very different from each other, which I find entertaining. I learn a lot, to be honest. I also like the relationship with my colleagues, I feel very comfortable. What do you like to do to relax?
for the day.
What do you like most about your job?
I like the relationship with my colleagues the most. I also like what I do, the work itself. What do you like to do to relax?
I really like spending time with my family. We have lots of siblings and we all get on really well. I also like going out, having dinner with
friends, going for a drink. What does the port of Algeciras mean to you?
For me, it’s my life. It’s what has always fed me. I also think it’s the heart of the region; many jobs depend on the port. And at night it’s beautiful, with the lights it looks like a city in itself, and on a clear day... I love it, I’m passionate about it. It’s a beautiful sight.
What do you think the new blood, the colleagues who have been here less time, bring to your daily work?
Obviously, for me they are new blood. They bring lots of ideas and use technology, among other things, that I don’t know about and that can help speed up my work.
Eva Luna and Gloria Vizcaíno take the Experience vs New Talent test.
Check out their answers
I really like music, I play the flute in my village band, I also go to pottery classes and I really enjoy being in the countryside with my family and friends. What does the port of Algeciras mean to you?
Until six months ago, I didn’t know anything about it. I knew there was a port, but now it’s where I work. I see it as something really big, a connection point for lots of different parts of the world, and it’s also
‘Every time I have doubts about something, I ask those who have been around longer’
crucial: if something goes wrong here, it affects the whole world. What do you think your more experienced colleagues bring to your daily work?
Experience and knowledge, not only from a technical point of view, but also about the company itself, the relationships between people and the dynamics they have. Whenever I’m unsure about something, I ask those who have been there longer.
Gloria Vizcaíno Asset Maintenance Planner Analyst
José Canas Head of the Algeciras Fire Station
‘It is essential that my team knows the terminal and its staff’
José Canas has been working for the Provincial Firefighters Consortium since 1 February 1993. He remembers by heart the dates and parks he has worked in since he decided to give up painting to prepare for joining the fire brigade. His first posting was in Jimena de la Frontera, and from there he moved to Los Barrios, Tarifa - where he is from - and La Alcaidesa, with a period back in Algeciras, where he has been since November 2023 as acting deputy inspector.
Do you like your job?
I love my job. My philosophy in life is to help people, both on the street
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and at work. And for those who like being a firefighter, in Algeciras, in addition to the specific risks of the port, which is one of the most important in Europe, we have all the possible risks covered by Civil Protection legislation (forest fires, traffic accidents, Operation Paso del Estrecho, floods, storms, etc.). The Algeciras Fire Station can be compared to any station in a provincial capital, and we provide support to other stations in the area as we are a central station for the Cádiz Province Firefighters’ Consortium. We have resources that, because of where we are, are only available
here. For example, we have a recently acquired mother ship vehicle designed for large industries, financed through an agreement with various industries in the Association of Large Industries, which is the only one of its kind in the province of Cadiz. It’s a real fire truck.
What resources do you usually mobilise when responding to an incident at the terminal?
Depending on the type of incident, the Chief of the Guard mobilises the vehicles available at the Algeciras Fire Station. We normally go out with a first response vehicle, and if the incident is confirmed to be serious, we are reinforced with the rest of the vehicles that are necessary. In addition, if the emergency requires it, we can call on off-duty firefighters to respond as quickly as possible. As we are a consortium, we can call on resources and personnel from other depots and other areas if necessary. We normally take an access vehicle, or light urban fire engine, which is where the commander goes, accompanied by a heavy urban fire engine with greater water capacity. In the event of an intervention at height, we also take the ladder truck, with a ladder up to 30 metres high. At APM Terminals, we have practised several times where to position the ladder in different possible emergencies, which is very useful in rescues from container ships. In the event of emergencies involving dangerous goods, we have a specific NRBQ (Nuclear, Radiological, Biological and Chemical Defence) intervention vehicle with specialised equipment. Depending on the type of intervention, the officer on duty decides what to take, based on our internal procedures.
You have these interventions well rehearsed...
Yes, perfectly. We usually do drills every 3 or 4 months. The truth is that we have a close relationship with APM Terminals. It is one of the companies where we have carried out the most exercises and have the most contact, since the colla-
José Canas, at the Algeciras Fire Station.
boration agreement was signed between the Cádiz Province Firefighters Consortium and the Port Authority of the Bay of Algeciras. I am delighted because I can see that they care, they give us the importance we deserve, and I feel more at ease. We have fires under control, as well as leaks, but the most important intervention for us is when people’s lives are at risk. That’s why 90% of the operations we carry out at the terminal are rescues: in lifts, on cranes, in workplace accidents... For me, it’s essential that my firefighters go there, get to know the terminal and their team. It’s not the same for me to go to a fire in a neighbourhood, where I encounter obstacles from onlookers who have parked at the door, as it is to go to a terminal with a first response team where, when I arrive, the shift manager, who knows me, says: “Pepe, this is what’s happening”. They give us all the information and help us. That’s essential for me. The next one we’ll do will be on 6 May, a rescue in a confined space.
After so many drills, all the staff at the station know the terminal, right?
You may have noticed that when we arrived [at the interview at the Algeciras Fire Station], my firefighters greeted Joaquín [Sánchez, Environment Technician at APM Terminals Algeciras]. That’s very important: it’s not the same for me to go to APM Terminals to work as it is to go to another company that doesn’t even know the colour of my eyes. I have a very good relationship with the Port Authority, and I have offered our collaboration to all the companies in the port, but APM Terminals is the company we have worked with the most. The relationship we have with APM Terminals is an example to be followed by the rest.
People tend to remember Santa Bárbara when it thunders.
My job is to prepare us so that, if something happens, we have everything under control. We must be aware that chance also plays an
‘The relationship we have with APM Terminals is the example to follow with companies in the port.’
important role, because we may have practised for an acid spill and what we get is a base spill. But at least we have everything more or less organised.
What are the most notable interventions you remember at the terminal?
We’ve had a few important ones. The most frequent are rescues at height, and we also had an acetylene intervention. But, thank God, everyone is healthy, thanks to the work that is being done. We’ve also had some interventions in lifts, because when a lift breaks down, it’s on a Saturday at 3 a.m. in the middle of a storm. And the lifts in the port are not like those in a normal building. That’s why we had a specialist from the OTIS lift company at the terminal, so that if a problem arises, we know how to work and the specific risks of these facilities. How do you think the terminal could be improved in terms of safety equipment?
I think it would be advisable to increase the number of hydrants in the terminal’s internal network, in
the container yard. We must continue with training, and we could improve with some specific resources. There are things I cannot ask my company for because they are too specific, such as a water-pressure door opener, which would only be used for containers from Algeciras. And APM Terminals could do with a stretcher for its medical service. It’s not that they’re going to do our job, but if, by the time we arrive, the doctor has already stabilised the person and put them on the stretcher, and it’s the same model as ours, we can get on with it. How long does it take you to reach the terminal in an emergency?
From the Algeciras depot, it takes us about six or seven minutes with the priority lights and sirens on. Currently, with the work on the northern access road, it’s a bit slower, but normally it’s about 6 or 7 minutes. It also depends on whether our vehicles are responding to another call in the city, in which case it may take a little longer. But if we get the call here at the station, the arrival time at the terminal is not very long.
Momentos APM Terminals Algeciras Page 19 | MAY 2025
Image of the latest high-altitude rescue drill.
Several moments from the APM Terminals Reading Club, at their meeting and getting to know their favourite writers.
Colleagues and readers
APM Terminals’ Book Club celebrates six years of shared reading and initiatives to meet favourite authors
They knew that everyone liked reading because it was a recurring topic of conversation in their brief chats by the printer. In March 2019, they decided to formalise this shared hobby by forming a club. The first book they read together was The Clockmaker’s Daughter by Kate Morton. They chose Castel-Arte, the most suitable café they could find in Algeciras to chat about books and spend some time with their colleagues. Since then, with the pandemic forcing them to hold their meetings on Zoom, the APM Terminals Book Club reads and meets to discuss a book a month and is very active in getting to know its favourite authors.
Mikel Santiago, Juan Gómez-Jurado, María Oruña... are some of the writers they have already met, either online or in person. This is because they often attend literary events in the area, especially the regular sessions of the José Cadalso Literature Classroom in San Roque. Sometimes they dress up in T-shirts from the novel or even bring boxes of biscuits to hand out. These ideas are now part of their archive of anecdotes, which in six years has grown considerably and promises to grow even more. Over the years, the meet-ups have changed cafés. Now they are held at the Central, although the readings are still proposed through their WhatsApp group, where they discuss new releases and ideas. Because reading together usually happens naturally. ‘We all have our
favourites, but we tend to like the same themes,’ say Santi, Isabel and Cristina, who, together with Mariló, keep the monthly rhythm of readings and meet-ups alive. There were many more in the original group, and most of them are still on WhatsApp to keep up with the latest news. ‘Thanks to the club, we’ve read books that we never would have chosen on our own, and in the end, we loved them,’ they say. Another good thing they highlight about reading this way, collectively, is being able to discuss afterwards, during their get-togethers, the different interpretations that certain moments in the different plots can have.
In any case, reading is an individual pleasure for them, a time for themselves which, through their reading and discussions, has brought them even closer together as colleagues, even in their free time away from the terminal.
Moeve and Pequeño Deseo, joining forces for kids in hospital
Volunteers from Campo de Gibraltar put together superhero kits to lift the spirits of patients
Moeve Foundation has joined forces with Pequeño Deseo Foundation to put together superhero kits for hospitalised children as part of its corporate volunteer programme. Thanks to this initiative, a total of 31 Moeve volunteers in the Campo de Gibraltar area dedicated part of their time to working as a team to make costumes, IV covers, armbands and other items of equipment and uniform that every child in hospital needs to transform themselves into a superhero and take their mind off their treatment.
The activity began with an initial educational talk by the Pequeño Deseo Foundation on how this type of action brings joy to hospitals, serves to lift the spirits of children and parents, and brings them a little love from afar. Afterwards, the volunteers divided into teams to make the superhero kits and write letters of encouragement and strength
to the hospitalised children. Pequeño Deseo Foundation will deliver these kits to the hospitals with which it regularly collaborates. For their part, through Moeve Foundation’s volunteer programme, Moeve professionals share values and develop their solidarity concerns, as well
Fundación Moeve impulsa iniciativas de voluntariado entre su personal
as contributing to improving the environment and achieving a better, fairer and more equitable society.
Through the volunteer programme, Moeve Foundation promotes volunteer initiatives, awareness campaigns, donations and fundraising in different workplaces.
The original members of the Reading Club are: Santiago Rodríguez, Mariló Contreras, Isabel Calvo, Rosa León, Raquel Guijarro, Irene Rodríguez, Alfonso Gantes, María Pérez, María Montero, Mariana López, Fran Toledo, Julia Rodrigo and Cristina Gómez.
The largest STS cranes in Barcelona are now at the dock
At the end of March, APM Terminals Barcelona welcomed three of the new Triple-E Shipto-Shore (STS) cranes, the largest and most powerful in the port, purchased from ZPMC. They are part of
Twistlock box
an ambitious modernisation plan to strengthen the terminal’s strategic position in the Mediterranean and offer a more agile and efficient service to the latest generation of container ships.
APM Terminals Valencia installs 4,752 m2 of solar panels
In line with APM Terminals’ ambition to be carbon neutral by 2040, APM Terminals Valencia is embarking on an ambitious solar energy project. The project began in December 2024 and involves the installation of 1,674 solar panels on various roofs of the terminal. This includes 502 panels with a nominal power of 655 watts each, and another 1,172 panels with a nominal power of 575 watts, covering a total area of 4,752 m². With a total installed capacity of 1 MWp, these solar panels are expected to produce approximately 1.2 GWh per year.
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Sinky, the cat
In November 2023, the Maersk Nokwanda reported that it had an unusual passenger on board: a cat. It had boarded the ship in Turkey, and the crew was trying to rescue it and requesting assistance to disembark it in Algeciras. The animal lovers from the Algeciras HOC, Noatum and Terminal Operations teams responded quickly. If possible, the cat would be disembarked in Algeciras, and a kind-hearted member of one of these teams had already expressed a desire to adopt it. But the cat did not make things easy. Despite the combined
efforts of the various teams, the cat was not found in time and had to remain on board. The next step was to cross the Atlantic. The ship was due to return to Algeciras in January 2024, and the same teams had everything ready and were eagerly awaiting another attempt to rescue him. The crew did not give up and finally managed to ‘persuade’ the cat to take up residence in an
empty bathroom, where he settled in the sink, earning him the name Sinky, and his games even caused a small flood. Finally, the cat was able to disembark in New Jersey and became a citizen of the United States. Those who had been following the case from Algeciras breathed a sigh of relief and were very grateful to Captain Richard McGarvey and the crew of the Maersk Nokwanda for their humanity. So when the ship returned to Algeciras, they took the opportunity to board and express their gratitude to these people for making them proud to belong to an organisation that recognises the importance of values in its employees.
Juan Luis Cabrera, Shift Manager
A virtual coffee with...
Sophia Linares Operations Execution Manager
Interim COO
In this new edition of Momentos, we are swapping coffee for green tea with lemon and ice, which is what Sophia Linares, Operations Execution Manager and Interim Chief Operating Officer, likes to drink. Sophia joined APM Terminals Algeciras a few months ago from The Hague, where she worked in the Global Employee Relations team. Before moving to the Netherlands, she worked for the Employee Relations team at APM Terminals Spanish Gateways, which she joined after gaining experience at the National Association of Stevedoring Companies and Port Employment Centres (Anesco) as responsible for Public & International Affairs. She studied law and speaks three languages: Spanish, English and Dutch. You can read the rest of the conversation here:
Tell us about yourself in one sentence.
Both personally and professionally, I think I am a mixture of my parents’ cultures: I have the Spanish side of me that likes closeness and contact with people... and then I have the Dutch side, which is more structured and organised.
What quality do you admire most in people?
Kindness, people’s hearts are what I admire and value most.
What do you like most about your day-to-day life?
I’m on a total learning curve right now, and that keeps me really motivated: there’s Gemini, the technical side of Operations, getting to know the team, the SMT, the terminal strategy... How could I get bored with that?
What do you like doing in your free time?
I really enjoy spending time with friends and doing things outdoors. I’ve always been involved in something, whether it’s a rowing team, climbing classes, training for a triathlon... I’m always doing something. And I really like reading.
What was the last book you read? What kind of literature do you like reading?
I like to read 15 or 20 pages before going to sleep and have three books at a time, which I pick up depending on the day. Right now I’m reading “El miedo es de valientes” (Fear is for the brave) by TEDAX, who came to Safety Day, “It’s the manager”, on professional development, and I’ve started the Trajano trilogy by Santiago Posteguillo. I can’t read romantic or detective novels that don’t teach me anything.
What about films? What’s your favourite film?
I’m very simple in that regard, I have to say. I love superhero films, films about magic, big American productions that go against arthouse cinema and good cinema. I’m sorry.
Do you have any unfinished personal projects?
I have a list of things I want to do in life, like learn Chinese, play the piano, dance tango, boxing (I’ve already done that), climb Kilimanjaro (I’m doing that in 2026), play more chess (that’s a bit of a work in progress), go to a Coldplay concert (I’ve already done that), run a half marathon... And I’d love to go to a typical harvest festival in Texas.
Is there anything you’re deeply satisfied with?
I’m satisfied when I do a job well done. When you say, ‘We put a lot of love and effort into this, and the result is good.’ But I also love it when I cook, and it tastes good and people eat it. Or getting all 47 members of my family together for the first time this Christmas at my parents’ house. I don’t know if it was up to me, but we worked out all the details and had a wonderful time together.
Could you tell us a dream?
I usually turn my dreams into plans to achieve them. I believe that if you set a specific goal and work hard, you can achieve almost anything in life.
