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ICTSI Ecuador handles mega ship

International Container Terminal Services Inc.’s (ICTSI) Ecuadorian subsidiary Contecon Guayaquil has serviced Chinese flag mega vessel, CMA CGM Cochin that operates in the Ecuador-Asia route.

José Antonio Contreras, Contecon Guayaquil SA (CGSA) chief executive officer said the Port of Guayaquil was able to receive larger vessels serving the intra-Pacific trade because of the recent dredging of the 95-kilometer main access channel leading to the country’s primary seaport.

“We congratulate and support the City of Guayaquil in its initiative to improve maritime access to the port. The dredging of the access channel paved the way for the arrival of these ships, which is something we look forward to as a huge boost to the local and national economy,” Contreras said.

CGSA set a new operational benchmark after servicing the neo-Panamax CMA CGM Cochin, which has 337 meters in length, 48.20 meters in beam, 119,000 deadweight tons (DWT) and has a capacity of 10,010 twenty-fact equivalent units (TEUs).

With deeper waters, the Port of Guayaquil is the first in Ecuador to accommodate ships of this size–elevating its status as a world-class port.

“This also allows us to maximize our operations. We’ve made the necessary investments in infrastructure, equipment, and technology to ensure the efficient handling of these neo-Panamax vessels,” he added.

Earlier in March, CGSA also received the 10,500-TEU capacity boxship CAP San Sounio, described as a stimulus for maritime activity and trade.

In October 2018, the City of Guayaquil granted Luxemborg-based Jan De Nul Group a 25-year concession for the dredging and maintenance of the port’s access channel. The Ecuadorian government was also working on the Southern Viaduct Project, which would connect the port to El Oro province and the southern part of the country via a new road and two bridges.

Upon completion, these projects would further improve access to the port to pave the way for more robust trade opportunities for the region.

Currently, CGSA is Ecuador’s top trade facilitator for banana, shrimp, fish, cocoa and wood; as well as the importation of raw materials, general merchandize, goods and finished products for consumption.

Nearly 85 percent of the country’s imports and exports pass through Guayaquil, due in part to its proximity to agricultural and export zones.
Source: Manila Times

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