Port operator Sociedad Puerto Industrial de Aguadulce (SPIA) has set a new operational milestone at the Port of Buenaventura in Colombia after servicing the 14,436-TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) vessel MSC Faith, the largest ship ever to dock in the country.
With an overall length of 366 meters, MSC Faith made its maiden call on December 4 in South America at Puerto Aguadulce, part of Mediterranean Shipping Company’s (MSC) weekly service between Asia and Latin America’s west coast, said SPIA parent company International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) in a statement.
SPIA—a container and bulk handling facility which was jointly developed by ICTSI and PSA International Pte. Ltd. of Singapore and which began operations in November 2016—can handle mega box ships of up to 18,000 TEUs in capacity.
ICTSI added that SPIA, having the largest port-handling equipment in Colombia and with the port’s deep berth, is fully equipped to handle the largest vessels plying Latin America today.
“Puerto Aguadulce, with its quay structure, its depth of 16.5 meters, its latest generation equipment and its strategic location, is very well-positioned to receive these types of vessels. Thanks to our well-trained workforce and our high-level quality and service standards, the operations on this record vessel have been concluded successfully,” Puerto Aguadulce general manager Miguel Abisambra said.
Part of MSC’s green fleet
Built in South Korea in 2019, MSC Faith is one of the most modern and energy-efficient vessels of more than 14,000 TEUs in capacity to be added to MSC’s green fleet.
Designed with efficiency and the environment in mind, the latest generation MSC vessels are powered by Tier III diesel engines for their main propulsion and auxiliary power, and are 75% cleaner than the Tier II standard set by the International Maritime Organization.
MSC Faith’s maiden call at Puerto Aguadulce likewise coincided with SPIA’s third anniversary.
“The arrival of the vessel with the biggest capacity ever in a Colombian port confirms that Puerto Aguadulce is a terminal with global service standards, thanks to the efforts we have put into the fields of technology, infrastructure and security. Puerto Aguadulce is a terminal at the forefront, offering quality services with the highest competitiveness in the region,” Abisambra said.