The Contecon Manzanillo (CMSA) container terminal at the Port of Manzanillo has achieved its first year-to-date, four-millionth TEU milestone since being taken over by Philippines-based port operator International Container Terminal (ICTSI) in 2009.
The ICTSI subsidiary’s milestone comes on the back of investments that are aimed at expanding Mexico’s largest trading gateway in the Pacific and improve fluidity at the port.
CMSA recently started the second phase of expansion of the terminal’s yards and entry and exit gates.
In 2015, ICTSI embarked on a USD 260 million project to expand the terminal’s capacity. Once completed, CMSA’s handling capacity will increase from the current 1.2 million TEU to 1.6 million TEU, the company said. The upgrades are expected to be completed by 2020.
The arrival of two more quay cranes and five yard cranes, scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2019, will enable CMSA to service the largest vessels plying intra-Pacific routes, according to ICTSI.
“We are very pleased to announce these additional investments aimed at securing Manzanillo’s position as Mexico’s leading maritime gateway,” Fortino Landeros, chief executive officer of ICTSI subsidiary CMSA, commented.
“Along with further investments in port equipment and systems, we continue to work hand-in-hand with our customers to improve the efficiency of our operations and processes, and inevitably make their experience a more pleasant one.”