Toyota has recently completed a trial project for vehicle throughput at the Turkish Autoport terminal near Koecaeli, with operator Arkas Group. The trial involved 1,500 imported vehicles and 475 exports, and is the biggest vehicle handling project terminal has handled since it opened in June 2008.

Ocean forwarder UECC delivered the vehicles.

The Autoport terminal, which is located Yeniköy in northeast Turkey, where 80 per cent of the country’s automotive production is carried out, is the first (and currently the only) purpose-built car handling terminal in Turkey with facilities situated on 160,000 square metres of land and an additional 60,000 square metres available for expansion. It is capable of handling 400,000 vehicles per year and has storage space for 6,000 passenger cars. The terminal uses the Advance yard management systems supplied by industry software specialist Vehnet.

“This project has enabled us to prove beyond doubt that Autoport operates to the high international standards that customers are accustomed to on a global basis,” said Ozgur Kalelioglu, director of Port Services at Arkas Holdings. “Thanks to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved, we were able to deliver on our promises, both in terms of visibility, operational efficiency and cost.”

Vehnet worked closely with Arkas to support the Autoport operation, providing the software to handle routine maintenance, customs clearance, discharge and storage, as well as back office functions.

“We are delighted for Arkas and congratulate the team on their success,” said Steve Jones, Vehnet’s managing director. “Everyone was deeply impressed with the facility and with the operation, and we are proud to have played our part.”

The next phase of development at the terminal will be to add a processing facility for the provision of pre-delivery inspection (PDI) and other services according to Kalelioglu. “Our IT system is already configured to extend into workshop management, so we will continue to look to Vehnet to work in partnership with us going forward,” he said.