Manila-based terminal operator International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) announced its Ecuadorian subsidiary Contecon Guayaquil set a new operational benchmark after servicing the largest ship to dock in Ecuador.
The 10,010-TEU neo-Panamax ‘CMA CGM Cochin’, which services the Ecuador-Asia route, was able to access the dock after the recent dredging of the 95-kilometer main access channel leading to the country’s primary seaport.
With deeper waters, the Port of Guayaquil is the first in Ecuador to accommodate ships of this size, ICTSI said.
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. 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,
…said José Antonio Contreras, CGSA CEO.
Earlier in March, Contecon Guayaquil also received the 10,500-TEU capacity boxship ‘CAP San Sounio’.
In October 2018, the City of Guayaquil granted Luxembourg-based Jan De Nul Group a 25-year concession for the dredging and maintenance of the port’s access channel.
The Ecuadorian government is also working on the Southern Viaduct Project, which will connect the port to El Oro province and the southern part of the country via a new road and two bridges.
These projects are aimed to further improve access to the port to pave the way for more robust trade opportunities for the region.
