Piling begins for €153m expansion at Slovenia's Port of Koper

Construction work began this week on the extension of the northern part of Pier I at the Port of Koper, with contractors starting the installation of 1,750 piles. The total value of the public contract for the expansion is approximately €153 million.

The project will build 326 metres of shoreline with two new berths, adding seven hectares of additional storage and handling areas. The piling phase of the work is scheduled to continue until December 2026, with overall construction expected to be completed by the end of 2027.

The contractor, a joint venture of Kolektor Koling Inženiring and CGP, has completed several months of preparatory dredging. The steel piles, ranging from 60 to 70 metres in length, will be installed using vibration techniques for the first 80 per cent of their depth, with the final 20 per cent being driven to reduce noise.

Nevenka Kržan, President of the Management Board of the Port of Koper, stated that the port is paying particular attention to reducing environmental impacts. Upon completion, the expansion is expected to increase the port's annual container handling capacity to 1.8 million TEU.