Work on the master plan commenced in April this year.

Depending on the outcome of the master plan, the development could include container berths, liquid and dry bulk berths, roll-on roll-off berths, a passenger terminal, cruise terminal and ship repair facilities, all with associated port storage, infrastructure and buildings.

The programme will also include an extension to the existing breakwater to provide ships with shelter from the severe storm waves experienced along this area of Mediterranean coastline.

Mott MacDonald, working with National Consulting Bureau, will plan and design the expansion project including master planning, environmental impact assessment, preliminary and detailed design. The company will use numerical and physical modeling to refine the designs and minimise any effects on the coastal environment.

The project will be developed in phases. Phase one is already under construction and, when complete will provide for some mixed commercial traffic.

Design work on phase two, the expansion phase, began in April 2004 and it is expected that construction could start in 2007.