| Written by Mark Buzinkay
Table of contents:
- Building a greenfield smart terminal on the Adriatic
- Digital operations at the core of Rijeka Gateway
- Reefer Runner: bringing intelligence to cold chain handling
- The bigger picture
- Glossary
The new Rijeka Gateway terminal represents a rare opportunity to build a major container hub “smart from day one.” In this blog post, we explore how this greenfield megaproject on Croatia’s North Adriatic coast combines large-scale infrastructure, deep decarbonisation ambitions, and advanced digital systems. We take a closer look at the strategic role of Rijeka Gateway within European logistics networks, its phased development, and its design principles centred on electrification, automation, and renewable energy. We then dive into Identec Solutions’ Reefer Runner deployment at the terminal, examining how real-time reefer monitoring, seamless Navis N4 integration, and granular energy data are transforming the way refrigerated cargo is managed. Together, Rijeka Gateway and Reefer Runner illustrate what a next-generation “smart terminal” can look like in practice.
Building a Greenfield Smart Terminal on the Adriatic
Major container terminals are rarely built from scratch. Most evolve incrementally over decades, layering new technologies atop legacy infrastructure. Rijeka Gateway is different. It is one of the most significant greenfield port developments in Europe today, conceived from the outset as a digitally enabled, low-emission terminal designed to handle the largest container vessels in the world while serving as a strategic logistics bridge between the Adriatic and inland European markets. Located at the Port of Rijeka, Croatia’s principal maritime gateway, the project is being developed through a joint venture between APM Terminals, which holds a 51 percent stake, and Croatian logistics company Enna Logic, which holds 49 percent. This partnership blends global terminal operating expertise with local logistics knowledge and political support, creating a foundation for long-term success.
With a total investment of €380 million, Rijeka Gateway is currently the largest private investment in Croatia. This scale signals both confidence in the terminal’s commercial potential and recognition of Rijeka’s geographic importance. A 50-year concession agreement, signed in November 2021, gives the joint venture company Rijeka Gateway d.o.o. the mandate to design, build, and operate the facility in phases. Phase 1, completed with the official opening in September 2025, required €200 million and delivered 400 meters of berth with an annual capacity of 650,000 TEUs. Phase 2, planned as a follow-on investment of €180 million, will extend the berth to 680 meters and raise capacity to over 1 million TEUs per year. This staged approach allows the terminal to ramp up operations in line with market demand while continuing to invest in technology and infrastructure.
From a technical perspective, Rijeka Gateway is engineered to accommodate ultra-large container vessels of up to 24,000 TEUs. This places it in the top tier of European deep-sea terminals and ensures it can serve the newest generation of mega-ships calling the Mediterranean. The quay is equipped with remotely operated electric ship-to-shore cranes, a feature that not only improves operational precision but also reduces on-site emissions and noise. More than 95 percent of the terminal’s equipment runs on electricity, reflecting a deliberate move away from diesel-powered machinery. Instead of retrofitting sustainability into existing operations, the project embeds it into the terminal's very architecture.
Sustainability goes far beyond electrification. Rijeka Gateway is fully powered by renewable energy from ENNA Next, meaning terminal operations are effectively carbon-free at the point of use. This aligns the project with broader global decarbonisation goals in shipping and logistics, sectors that are under increasing pressure to reduce their environmental footprint. By minimising CO₂ emissions through clean power, automation, and efficient equipment design, the terminal positions itself as a model for future port developments across Europe.
Digital Operations at the Core of Rijeka Gateway
The strategic significance of Rijeka Gateway also lies in its connectivity. The Port of Rijeka sits at a critical junction between the Adriatic Sea and Central and Southeastern Europe. The new terminal is designed as a key intermodal entry point, tightly integrated with regional rail and road networks. This enables faster, more efficient movement of containers to inland markets such as Hungary, Austria, Slovakia, and beyond. In practical terms, this strengthens Rijeka’s role within European logistics corridors and offers shipping lines and cargo owners an attractive alternative to more congested ports in the North Sea or Western Mediterranean.
Beyond trade flows and technology, the project has a substantial socio-economic dimension. The terminal already employs more than 400 people, and this figure is expected to rise significantly as Phase 1 reaches full capacity. Indirect job creation in trucking, rail logistics, warehousing, maintenance, and related services will further amplify the region's economic impact. Recognising this, the Croatian government has designated Rijeka Gateway as a strategic national project, viewing it as a catalyst for transforming Rijeka into a major logistics and trade hub.Within this broader context, digitalisation is not an add-on but a core pillar of the terminal’s identity. From the outset, Rijeka Gateway has been conceived as a “smart terminal,” leveraging data, automation, and integrated systems to enhance efficiency, transparency, and reliability. A central component of this vision is the deployment of Identec Solutions’ Reefer Runner system for refrigerated container monitoring.
Reefer Runner: Bringing Intelligence to Cold-Chain Handling
In June 2025, Identec Solutions completed the installation of Reefer Runner at Rijeka Gateway, connecting 170 refrigerated containers directly to the terminal’s Navis N4 Terminal Operating System. The system went live in September 2025, coinciding with the launch of full container terminal operations. Rather than treating reefers as isolated assets, the integration embeds them into the terminal's digital workflow, enabling real-time monitoring, automated work order generation, and seamless coordination across operational teams.
The importance of this integration is underscored by the terminal’s own leadership. As Jean-Louis Sebapo, Senior Technology Project Lead at Rijeka Gateway, noted: “Implementing a state-of-the-art reefer monitoring system was essential for Rijeka Gateway as we scale up operations and position ourselves as a leading smart terminal in the Adriatic. The integration with our Navis N4 TOS allows us to monitor refrigerated containers in real time, automate work orders, and ensure the integrity of temperature-sensitive cargo around the clock. This project reflects our commitment to innovation, operational excellence, and delivering reliable, data-driven services to our customers.” These words highlight how digital systems are not merely about efficiency but about trust, reliability, and service quality for cargo owners handling perishable goods.
Reefer Runner is designed as a universal, plug-and-play solution that works with reefers from any brand or type. At its core is a robust wireless device that attaches to each refrigerated container and communicates continuously with the terminal’s central systems. Compatibility with Navis N4, one of the most widely used TOS platforms worldwide, ensures that data flows smoothly into existing operational processes rather than sitting in a separate silo. This reduces complexity for terminal staff and eliminates the need for extensive retraining.
One of the standout features of the system deployed at Rijeka Gateway is its energy monitoring module. This goes beyond simply checking whether a reefer is running at the correct temperature. Instead, it provides granular, real-time insights into power consumption by measuring parameters such as voltage, current, and total kilowatt-hours. For a modern, electrified terminal powered by renewable energy, this level of visibility is invaluable. It allows operators to detect abnormal consumption patterns that could indicate equipment malfunction, improper settings, or potential maintenance issues.
From an operational standpoint, this data supports multiple objectives simultaneously. It enhances cargo safety by ensuring that temperature-sensitive goods remain within their required ranges. It improves efficiency by automating work orders when thresholds are breached, reducing manual checks and paperwork. It also aligns with sustainability goals by enabling the terminal to track and optimise energy use at a very granular level. Over time, this kind of data can inform predictive maintenance strategies, helping prevent breakdowns before they occur and extending equipment lifespan.Elmar Hartmann, Co-Owner of Identec Solutions, framed the project in broader terms: “Rijeka Gateway is a flagship greenfield project that showcases how advanced digital solutions can future-proof terminal operations from day one. For Identec Solutions, being part of this strategic development is both a milestone and a statement of our commitment to innovation in the maritime sector. The integration of energy monitoring within our Reefer Runner system is particularly significant—it gives terminal operators the visibility they need to manage energy consumption, reduce emissions, and make informed, sustainable decisions in real time.”This perspective emphasises that digitalisation is not just about short-term productivity gains but about long-term resilience and environmental responsibility.
More broadly, Reefer Runner is positioned as a core operational tool rather than a niche monitoring add-on. The system offers automated, real-time visibility across all refrigerated containers in a terminal, helping to reduce cargo claims, lower labour requirements, and cut maintenance costs. With a battery life of up to 10 years, it is designed for durability and minimal intervention, even in harsh port environments. Today, Reefer Runner is used in more than 70 container terminals worldwide, demonstrating that the approach tested at Rijeka Gateway is part of a wider shift in how ports manage reefer logistics.
The combination of Rijeka Gateway’s infrastructure and Reefer Runner’s digital capabilities illustrates what a next-generation terminal can achieve when physical assets and data systems are designed together rather than separately. On the physical side, the terminal offers deepwater access, large berth capacity, electric equipment, and renewable energy. On the digital side, integrated systems like Navis N4 and Reefer Runner create a continuous flow of information that supports smarter decision-making.
For cargo owners shipping refrigerated goods such as food, pharmaceuticals, or chemicals, this translates into greater confidence that their products will be handled safely and efficiently. For the terminal operator, it means better control over reefer operations, lower risk, and clearer alignment with sustainability targets. For the region, it means a more competitive logistics hub capable of attracting new trade flows and investment.
Ultimately, Rijeka Gateway is more than just a new container terminal. It is a statement about the future of port development in Europe: large-scale, highly connected, digitally intelligent, and deeply committed to decarbonisation. The deployment of Reefer Runner at the terminal is a concrete example of how this vision is being realised in practice, one refrigerated container at a time.
The bigger picture
Rijeka Gateway and Reefer Runner together embody a new generation of port operations where infrastructure, digital systems, and sustainability are inseparable. By building a terminal that is electrified, renewable-powered, and data-driven from the outset, Rijeka Gateway sets a benchmark for future European port projects. The integration of Reefer Runner demonstrates how advanced IoT solutions can turn refrigerated containers from passive assets into continuously monitored, intelligently managed elements of the terminal ecosystem. For shipping lines, cargo owners, and terminal operators alike, this combination delivers greater reliability, efficiency, and environmental responsibility—pointing the way toward a smarter, cleaner Adriatic gateway.
Delve deeper into one of our core topics: Refrigerated containers
Glossary
A deepwater port is a maritime port located in naturally deep or artificially dredged waters that are sufficient to accommodate very large, fully laden ocean-going vessels with deep drafts. Such ports typically require deep approach channels, robust quay structures, and specialised berths to handle ultra-large container ships, bulk carriers, or tankers. Deepwater access reduces the need for tidal restrictions, enables higher cargo volumes per call, improves vessel turnaround times, and strengthens a port’s competitiveness within global shipping networks.
References:
(1) https://www.apmterminals.com/en/rijeka
(2) Stopford, M. (2009). Maritime Economics (3rd ed.). Routledge.
Note: Images (c) Rijeka Gateway
