Joining forces in six Sicilian ports - ISLA is the new owner of Esterminal Europea Servizi Terminalistici
Palermo-headquartered Italian Shipping & Logistics Agency Srl. (ISLA), a member of the German EMS-Fehn-Group, has acquired all shares in Esterminal Europea Servizi Terminalistici Srl. (EST). The fully licensed stevedoring company operates terminals in six Sicilian ports and offers a wide range of services, including container terminal operations, Ro-Ro terminal operations, warehousing, and the handling of breakbulk, project, and reefer cargo. EST will continue to operate independently and under its current branding.
“EST and ISLA are a perfect match,” says Pietro Coniglio, Managing Director of ISLA. “With its experienced employees, well-connected terminals, and modern cargo handling equipment, EST is just the right addition to our portfolio. This acquisition will support us in our growth strategy and help us to further improve our services.” Founded in 2011, ISLA offers comprehensive logistics services across Italy, with a strong focus on tailored solutions for the onshore and offshore wind industry.
EST was founded nearly two decades ago and is well-established on the market. The company’s team of 60 highly trained professionals operates across multiple locations along the Sicilian coast. The team will be led by General Manager Antonio Pandolfo, who has been at the helm of the company since 2004. “I am excited to expand our business further and leverage the synergies that our strong ties with ISLA will bring,” says Pandolfo.
EST operates multipurpose terminals in Augusta, Catania, Mazara del Vallo, Trapani, Termini Imerese, and Porto Empedocle. While all locations offer a range of services, each of them have their own focus. For example, the terminal in Trapani is ideal for handling and storing project cargo. In Termini Imerese and Catania, EST manages the Ro-Ro terminal and provides intermodal services as part of the Mediterranean Motorways of the Seas network. Also in Catania, EST has a total of 25,000 square meters of outdoor storage area and 8,000 square meters of warehouse space. The facilities serve as convenient logistics hub and distribution center.
In early 2024, EST was awarded a 25-year concession to operate the new container terminal in Augusta, the largest in Sicily by volume and service capacity. Already spanning 86,000 square meters, the terminal will be further expanded to allow for more container traffic as well as for a substantial increase in the volumes of general and project cargo. EST has committed to a multi-million Euro investment plan, which will drive the automation and digitalization of cargo handling processes at the terminal.
“At EST, we are fully dedicated to meeting our customers’ needs and managing critical parts of their supply chains,” says Pandolfo. “This includes, among others, cargo handling and storage, customs services for import and export, and even door-to-door deliveries worldwide. We also provide maintenance and repair for dry cargo and reefer containers, as well as comprehensive ships agency services for shipowners.”