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• 4 min de lectura
August 18, 2026
Santander, August 18, 2026. The Port of Santander has once again obtained one of the most important distinctions for excellence in maritime and port traffic of new vehicles, jointly awarded by ANFAC and Puertos del Estado.
This quality certification evaluates, among other things, rigorous incident control and adherence to vehicle handling rules within the terminal, the condition of storage areas, agility in storage and land and sea connections, efficiency in customs procedures, and the level of involvement of the audited port authorities.
It is noteworthy that Santander was the first Spanish port to obtain this distinction in 2004 and, since then, has always ranked among the top positions in the global maritime-port logistics assessment carried out annually by ANFAC, leading in nine of the eighteen times this ranking has been compiled.
ANFAC 2025 Report
In the latest ANFAC assessment report, in which the Port of Santander obtained a rating of 4.4 out of 5, the proactivity and customer relationship, agility in customs procedures, flexibility in working outside regular hours, and especially the Port's accessibility by both road and rail, were highlighted positively.
These results are particularly significant as the score is awarded by direct clients, who, through ANFAC, evaluate the quality of work of all agents involved in the automotive sector at the Port of Santander, making this logistics hub a national benchmark in this type of traffic.
The Port of Santander, through its Investment Plan which includes over 145 million euros in public-private investment until 2030, is making a considerable effort to increase the efficiency and capacity of the automobile terminal, as well as improve rail-port connectivity in a traffic segment that is strategic for the Cantabrian dock.
Highlights include the expansion of the automobile silo, the improvement of railway connectivity, the Ro-Ro ramp at Raos 7, Raos 9 quay, as well as the heel and ramp for this infrastructure, and the creation of new logistics activity areas such as the curvilinear triangle which will provide 37,000 new m2 for this traffic, or the integration of part of the Wissocq industrial estate into the port's enclosed area.
Vehicle Terminal
The terminal is located on the Central Raos Pier, occupying almost its entire surface. Including other adjacent areas also dedicated to the automotive sector, the Port of Santander currently has over 500,000 m2 for this type of traffic.
Raos 8 and Raos 9 quays, with one kilometer of berthing line for Ro-Ro (wheeled traffic) and car-carrier vessels, allow up to four large vessels to berth simultaneously. In addition, there are four Ro-Ro ramps dedicated to vessels with stern ramps for operations.
This configuration provides the terminal with the capacity and versatility to serve both regular transoceanic lines and those dedicated to Short Sea Shipping (SSS).
The terminal also consists of two large differentiated areas for automobiles.
The first, comprising an area of 250,000 m2 dedicated to vessel loading and unloading operations. Noteworthy is the automobile silo, which is currently undergoing expansion and, with a ground floor plus three and a half decks, will occupy a total of 324,000 m2 and have a capacity for 15,000 units.
The second large area houses two concessions granted to logistics and pre-delivery centers for cars, occupying the remaining surface to complete half a million m2. To expand the capacity of these two centers and the terminal itself, the APS has just put into service 37,000 new m2 with a capacity for 1,800 units.
The terminal also has four railway tracks dedicated to car trains, where wagon compositions up to 580 meters long can be operated.
The versatility of the yard is complete with the presence of an area of over 100,000 m2 dedicated to UTI traffic, a mode of cargo presentation compatible with automobile traffic that also complements the automotive sector by allowing the transport and handling of its parts and components.
