Metropolitan Bilbao boasts
competitive port facilities up to standard with ports in other major metropolitan
areas. The Port of Bilbao is already Spain's premier port in terms of shipping
volume and water depth.
An extension of the port
is underway to provide more space for activities and to transfer port facilities
from their old inner city riverside sites. Eight kilometers of dikes harboring
6 km2 of water are to be built and the depth of the docks will range from
21 to 25 meters. The project will allow the recovery of a 3,5 million
m2 area of land. The Phae I of the project was inaugurated in December
1998 with a cost of 240 million Euro.