When it opens for business by mid-year, the Port of Manzanillo in Mexico is expected to improve Mexico’s stock among ports in Latin America.
“The Port of Manzanillo, which is the most important port in Mexico, occupies the sixth position in Latin America and it is expected that the expansion project of ICTSI will take Mexico to the number three position in the Latin America region after Panama, with its ports Balboa and Colon, and Brazil with its port of Santos,” said Pamela de la Vega, commercial manager of Contecon Manzanillo, S.A. de C.V. (CMSA), a subsidiary of International Container Terminal Services Inc.
CMSA bagged in 2010 the 34-year concession to develop and operate Manzanillo’s second specialized container terminal, expected to start operating by the second half of the year.
“With the new port of Manzanillo, a raise of about 400,000 TEUs is expected for the first year of operation and the projections for 2021 indicate that more than 500,000 TEUs will be in movement,” de la Vega added.
Once complete, the terminal will have an annual capacity of two million TEUs, a 100% increase over the current capacity. It will be equipped with four quay cranes and 10 rubber-tired gantry cranes.
The port development covers about 77 hectares with 1,080 meters of seafront.
Construction for the first phase will take 18 to 24 months to complete or until the second half of 2013.
Construction and equipment cost is estimated at $250 million, of which 75% is for civil works and dredging; 22% for equipment; and 3% for information and technology.
The Port of Manzanillo is located on the Pacific coast of Mexico and is Mexico’s busiest port. The port is connected by Ferromex rail lines to Guadalajara and Mexico City.
Photo from www.ictsi.com
