Christian Manrique (engineer)

Christian Manrique

Christian Manrique Valdor (born 1975 in Santander, Spain) is a Spanish civil engineer and the CEO and founder of Soulware Global Development. He was the youngest ever Chairman of the Port Authority of Spain,[1] taking this post in Santander from 2007 to 2011.

Port Authority of Santander

On 24 September 2007 Manrique was appointed as a Chairman of the Port Authority of Santander[2] by the Spanish minister of Public Works, Magdalena Álvarez, which was proposed by the Government of Cantabria. Being granted this appointment at the age of 31, he became the youngest ever Chairman of a Spanish Port Authority. The Port Authority is the public institution managing the port of Santander in Cantabria within the bay of Santander.

Activities as Chairman of the Port Authority

Between 2007 and 2011 the Port Authority took different steps to improve its relations with the city, its citizens and its stakeholders.

  • Santander Sea Front: Investment in the sea front has reached 300 million euros[3] and has allowed the sharing of port facilities and spaces with the citizenry. This investment includes the construction of the Alejandro Zaera High Performance Shipping Centre and the Emilio Botín Arts Centre. The signing of the agreement, on 19 March 2011,[4] was the first step, after a long period of research, to develop new business and recreational areas within the city. As a result of this project, different historical sections of the harbour were improved.
  • Environmental issues: The deployment of the coal terminal eliminated dust particles that once surrounded the city. Also the seed bulk terminal became a major improvement for food tracking.[5]
  • Added value traffic: New car shipping routes from different brands - Ford,[6] Tata,[7] Iveco,[8] BMW and Mini,[9] among others - were added to the existing ones to grow activity among port agents. Also, a new traffic route was settled with Gothenburg, Sweden.[10]
  • Port transit forbidden within the city of Santander: Construction of the Raos Bridge[11] became the solution to drive all heavy freight lorry traffic through port facilities.
  • Motorways of the Sea improvement: Motorway of the Sea to the United Kingdom with Brittany Ferries and to Zeebrugge, in Belgium,[12] was enhanced. By doing so, heavy lorry traffic decreased within the area. This also increased road security and improved environmental conditions.
  • Training: The International Centre for Port Technology and Administration (CITAP)[13] for postgraduate studies in logistics and port facilities settled in Santander. The centre has links with the Spanish Cooperation Agency AECID, OEA, Puertos del Estado and Cantabria University.

References

  1. ^ Bustamante, Donata. ««El puerto necesita nuevos muelles; ya tenemos problemas de espacio»». eldiariomontanes.es, last accessed 27 April 2016. (in Spanish)
  2. ^ Orden FOM/2775/2007, de 24 de septiembre, por la que se dispone la publicación del nombramiento del Presidente de la Autoridad Portuaria de Santander. Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado, 27 September 2007, last accessed 27 April 2016. (in Spanish)
  3. ^ Memoria del Puerto de Santander. (in Spanish)
  4. ^ «José Blanco firma el convenio para la reordenación del Frente Marítimo Portuario de Santander». Gobierno de España Ministerio de Fomento, 19 March 2011, last accessed 27 April 2016. (in Spanish)
  5. ^ 20minutos (6 February 2011). "La terminal de graneles agroalimentarios estará en funcionamiento a finales de este año". www.20minutos.es - Últimas Noticias (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 May 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ Pérez, José Luis. «Ford desembarca en el Puerto de Santander». eldiariomontanes.es, 8 August 2010, last accessed 27 April 2016. (in Spanish)
  7. ^ Bustamante, Donata. «Tata duplicará el tráfico de sus coches en Raos, según la Autoridad Portuaria». eldiariomontanes.es, last accessed 27 April 2016. (in Spanish)
  8. ^ Bustamante, Donata. «El Puerto logra atraer a Santander cinco nuevas marcas de vehículos». eldiariomontanes.es, last accessed 27 April 2016. (in Spanish)
  9. ^ «El puerto de Santander capta el tráfico de vehículos BMW y Mini». eldiariomontanes.es, 5 July 2009, last accessed 27 April 2016. (in Spanish)
  10. ^ «El Puerto de Santander logra una escala con Escandinavia para apoyar a las empresas cántabras». Gobierno de España Ministerio de Fomento, Puerto de Santander, 2 February 2011, last accessed 27 April 2016. (in Spanish)
  11. ^ Blanco, José. «Inaugurado el puente de Raos, un «ejemplo de integración puerto-ciudad»». eldiariomontanes.es, 1 July 2009, last accessed 27 April 2016. (in Spanish)
  12. ^ «La Autoridad Portuaria ultima una nueva autopista del mar con Brujas». eldiariomontanes.es, last accessed 27 April 2016. (in Spanish)
  13. ^ «Colombia acoge la presentación internacional del CITAP». Gobierno de España Ministerio de Fomento, Puerto de Santander, 19 November 2009, last accessed 27 April 2016. (in Spanish)