The $538 million first phase of the new Deepwater Port of Posorja in Ecuador by DP World, has been completed and is now successfully operational. The US$1.2 billion project will replicate Dubai’s Jebel Ali Port and freezone, opening a gateway for large container ships with capacities exceeding 10,000 TEUs.
Regarding the second phase two of DP World’s project in Ecuador, the ‘Posorja ZEDE’, will be developed. This will be an economic zone (SEZ) for maritime, logistics and light industrial businesses.
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The freezone will be modelled on Dubai’s Jebel Ali Port and freezone in the United Arab Emirates. The Jebel Ali model has already been successfully replicated around the world including London Gateway in the UK and the greenfield terminal in Caucedo, Dominican Republic. When completed, the 1,000,070m² special economic zone will act as a manufacturing and distribution hub.
The port has already been operational for two months, handling thousands of containers and over a dozen post-panamax ships. Posorja is now expected to welcome an annual volume of 750,000 TEUs during the first phase, and 1.5 million TEUs at full port capacity. The Port is also equipped with new technology, infrastructure, and the largest gantry cranes in South America.
Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, DP World Group Chairman and CEO and Chairman of Ports, Customs & Free Zone Corporation, highlighted:
The beginning of operations at Posorja is a defining moment in Ecuador’s economic growth. The new Port and Special Economic Zone will significantly improve Ecuador’s global competitiveness and position the country as a dynamic business hub for the west coast of South America, following the model that has been tried and tested in Dubai and around the world
Currently, ships that in the past could not come to Ecuador because of size restrictions, will now be able to call in Posorja.
Finally, the project includes a deep water port with a capacity of 1.5 million TEUs, in addition to a 21-km access highway and a 21 nautical mile maritime access channel that is 16.5 meters in depth.
