Port investments
Construction to begin on multistorey parking expansion at port of Koper
Luka Koper, which runs operations at the Slovenian port of Koper, has taken its next step in expanding finished vehicle storage at the port by signing a construction contract for a multistorey parking facility.
The car park will provide an additional 11,665 vehicle spaces to the 13,600 the port operator has in its existing garage. Work will begin on the new €46.7m ($54.6m) facility this autumn and it is expected to be complete by spring 2028. Engineering firm Kolektor Koling is working with construction partner Pro-Concrete on the build.
The construction of the new multistorey garage is divided into two phases. In phase 2b, the construction of a 177,811 sq.m facility with a capacity of 9,374 units is planned, while phase 2c foresees an additional 48,600 sq.m with space for just under 2,300 vehicles.
“The basic structure of the building will consist of reinforced concrete slabs supported by columns founded on piles,” said a spokesperson for Luka Koper. “The garage will have five covered levels and a roof. The facility will be equipped with energy-efficient lighting and 30 charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs).”
For enhanced safety in the storage of EVs, an active fire protection system will be installed, ensuring early detection and response in case of fire, as well as additional protection through automatic fire suppression activation to contain the spread of any fire.
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Luka Koper registered a growth in vehicle imports from China last year, which are expected to grow in 2025.
Investment wave
Alongside investment in the parking extension Luka Koper has completed a number of other projects at the finished vehicle and ro-ro terminal.
“In July we opened an additional storage area (area 6a) for 3,500 vehicles,” said the spokesperson. “Alongside the parking areas, we arranged 52 loading stations for trucks, 21 parking spaces for electric vehicles with charging stations, as well as a small service facility for rest.”
July also saw the inauguration of a new workshop at the Avtoservis Technical Center. Avtoservis provides pre-delivery services including vehicle upgrades, repairs, and accessorisation among other services.
Luka Koper said the pace of investments will continue “at full speed”, including construction of an open storage area (7a), which will accommodate 3,000 vehicles. Since last year work has also continued on Berth No. 12, in the second basin, which will also be adapted for the mooring of ro-ro vessels. The new berth is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
The port of Koper has seen sustained growth in recent years and only recorded a marginal decline in passenger car throughput in 2024 to just under 885,000 because of delays in ship arrivals in the first half of the year. One of the main reasons for that, according to Luka Koper, was the disruption caused by conflict in the Red Sea. At the same time it recorded a greater diversification of oversea destinations served from/to Koper and registered more ro-ro cargoes, such as trucks, heavy machinery and special equipment (read more in this year’s annual review of vehicle throughput at the European ports).
