GPO Terminal
Technical Concept & Presentation
A terminal designed for flexibility, speed, and simultaneous operation — to European standards, in the river-maritime area of Constanța Port.
A modern terminal, in the river-maritime area
The GPO Terminal occupies 9,714 m² on Plot 36.1, Berth 97, in the river-maritime area of Constanța Port. The investment objective is to create a modern liquid products terminal in accordance with European standards, which will increase the share of liquid goods transported by water and the volumes operated in the port.
Unlike existing terminals, predominantly focused on petroleum products and operated by state-owned companies, GPO offers a predictable commercial environment, modern technology, and the ability to operate three product categories simultaneously — liquid bitumen, biodiesel, and liquid fertilizers — without technological losses and without risk of cross-contamination.
9714
m² terminal area
6
tanks × 5,000 m³
15000
tons simultaneous capacity
450000
tons/year operating capacity
Simultaneous operation — the essence of the technical concept
The terminal’s configuration allows for unloading a vessel into a tank in parallel with loading other products into road tankers and railcars — without one process blocking the other.
Vessel Unloading
Unloading rates into tank: 250–300 m³/h, using the vessel’s own pumps, via marine loading arm (bitumen) or flexible hoses DN250–DN300 (biodiesel, fertilizers).
Road Tanker Loading
Two simultaneous stations, full/empty metrological weighing, DN80 arms or hoses, rates of 80–100 m³/h, control via mass metering.
Railcar Loading
Internal rail siding of 90 m, 6 railcars parking capacity, loading rates up to 250 m³/h, fixed weighing at entrance.
All processes are monitored and coordinated by a single dispatcher from the administrative building, via the SCADA system. Transport documents (CMR, accompanying letters) are automatically generated at the end of the operation.
Operational Flow — step by step
From vessel berthing to issuing transport documents, all stages are standardized and automated.
- Berthing at Berth 97 and inspection by the Romanian Naval Authority.
- Quantitative and qualitative verification: the independent inspector (representative of the cargo owner) boards the vessel together with the terminal’s quality operator. The quantity of cargo on board is checked, and 2 samples per tank are taken and sent to the certified laboratory for qualitative certification.
- Connection: the quay operator, together with the vessel’s personnel, connects the marine loading arm or flexible hose to the vessel’s manifold.
- Installation preparation: terminal personnel open the route valves, prepare the pump, check the stock in the tank — from the terminal’s dry manifold to the storage tank, according to work instructions.
- Start unloading: the dispatcher orders the start of pumping until the agreed unloading rate with the vessel’s agent is reached. Unloading is done with the vessel’s own pumping unit.
- Continuous monitoring: the dispatcher monitors flow, pressure, and temperatures. Terminal personnel monitor the tank, pumping line, and connection to the vessel’s manifold.
- Completion: valves on the tank and line are closed, the arm/hose is disconnected, and the cargo is quantitatively and qualitatively received at the tank.
Loading river vessels from the terminal follows the same principle, in reverse.
- Transfer from tank: the stored product is transferred from the storage tank using pumps from the pump house (flows 80–250 m³/h, depending on the installation).
- Railcars: the product reaches each railcar through the loading arms. The quantity is measured by mass flow meters; upon reaching the prescribed quantity, the solenoid valves on each arm’s pipelines close automatically.
- Road tankers: the pump house simultaneously supplies both loading stations. For fertilizers and biodiesel, the quantity is metered with flow meters; bitumen is loaded from the top, the rest from the bottom.
- Automated control: the technological flow is controlled by solenoid valves that separately isolate each facility. Control is done from the administrative building, via the automation system.
- Transport documents: through the same automation system, documents accompanying the cargo are issued (quantity, quality, product identity, loading time).
Terminal Components
Nine technical elements integrated into a single automated flow.
Transfer Installations
Segregated pipelines per product, with short routes and thermal insulation where necessary.
Pumping Unit
10 encapsulated pumps, dedicated per product, with temperature, vibration, displacement sensors.
Thermal Power Plant
Diathermic oil for bitumen heating circuits.
Tank Farm
6 storage tanks (5,000 m³) + 1 operational bitumen tank (500 m³).
Internal Rail Siding
90 m operating ramp, 6 railcar capacity, with fixed weighing at entrance.
Dedicated Fire Protection System (PSI)
PSI pump house and fire water tank, 40 minutes autonomy according to legislation.
Road Ramp
2 loading/unloading stations + 2 metrologically certified scales.
SCADA Control Center
Administrative building (300 m², G+1) with control room and video monitoring system.
Infrastructure
Access roads, concrete platform, retention basin for tanks.
European Standard, ESG Profile
The project complies with current European requirements and brings a positive impact by reducing emissions and ensuring the availability of products imported by sea transport.
EU Compliance
All design, approval, and authorization stages were completed in December 2024, in accordance with national and European legislation in force.
Reduced Emissions
Transporting products by water, in large volumes, significantly reduces emissions per ton/kilometer compared to long-distance road or rail transport.
Eligible Funding
The project is part of the EU’s priority axes in the transport sector and eligible for non-reimbursable funding over 50%.
Explore the Terminal
Three complementary perspectives on the investment.
Location & Connectivity
Berth 97, Plot 36.1 — real multimodal access (sea, river, rail, road).
Shall we discuss operations at GPO?
Send us the product type, annual quantity, and transport modes — we will respond with a tailored technical and commercial proposal.
