The new Moín Container Terminal (TCM), operated by the Dutch firm APM Terminals, officially started operations on Thursday, with the promise of boosting the national economy and being the most efficient port terminal in Latin America.
APM Terminals started its operations with the promise to improve the country’s competitiveness, for which it will take less than half the time the Port Administration and Economic Development Board of the Atlantic Coast (Japdeva) needs for the attention of a ship.
To this end, the TCM will have an artificial island with more than 40 hectares, six gantry cranes and 29 yard cranes, in addition to more qualified personnel.
The company’s facilities were inaugurated this Thursday, with the presence of the president of the Republic, Carlos Alvarado, and the president of APM, Morten H. Engelstoft.
It is estimated that in its first weeks of operation the terminal will serve 35 vessels per week. TCM will generate 650 new direct jobs and more than two thousand indirect jobs.
The remaining phases, denominated 2B and 3, would increase the attention capacity in Moín. Phase 2B will have 20 hectares and its construction will begin when the terminal reaches an attention of more than 1.5 million TEUs per year (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit, a measurement used in maritime transport).
There will 250 meters of dock with a depth of 16 meters, two gantry cranes (Super Postpanamax) and the diameter of the turning basin will be increased to 600 meters.
In Phase 3, another 20 hectares will be added. They are projected for when attention reaches more than 2.5 million TEUs per year.