The Croatian Port of Rijeka has begun final testing with the arrival of its first container vessel and test train, marking a key milestone ahead of the Rijeka Gateway's commercial launch, reported London's Port Technology.

Rijeka Gateway is Croatia's largest private logistics investment, a joint venture between APM Terminals and ENNA Group.

The 1,440-TEU Fulmar, a 170-metre-long vessel, arrived from Port Said, and will remain docked for four weeks. It will serve as a platform for training and testing operational procedures under real conditions.

Training will include container planning, loading and unloading, cargo securing, and coordination using terminal vehicles. The terminal also received its first test train from ENNA Logic, a 500-metre composition split across two tracks, delivering empty containers for RMG crane trials.

These developments highlight Rijeka Gateway's readiness and focus on multimodal transport. Export cargo via trucks and trains is expected in early September, with the first commercial vessel scheduled to arrive on 12 September. Weekly Friday calls will begin, with frequency increasing thereafter.

The terminal now employs over 220 staff. More than 45,000 hours have been invested in training this year, reflecting the company's commitment to workforce development.

"Two years after construction began, our terminal is now fully equipped and ready for trial operations," said Peter Corfitsen, CEO of Rijeka Gateway. He added that the arrival of the test vessel and train marks the start of a critical phase.

Phase One offers a capacity of 650,000 TEU and can handle vessels up to 18,000 TEU, positioning Rijeka as a strategic hub for Central and Western Europe.