Four port operators were recently pre-qualified during the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for companies interested in competing to design, develop, finance, construct, operate and maintain the Corozal Container Terminal at Corozal Port in Panama.
The four pre-qualified companies were APM Terminals B.V. (Netherlands); Terminal Link (France); PSA International Pte., Ltd (Singapore) and Terminal Investment Limited, S.A. (Netherlands).
Technical Paper: PSA: Mega-Terminal Operations
Jorge L. Quijano, Administrator of the Panama Canal, said: “The result of this process demonstrates the potential of Corozal Port and especially the confidence of the leading port operators in the world.
“The new Corozal Port is among the most advanced synergistic business initiatives, providing new products and services to customers in the maritime industry. The new port is certain to enhance the canal’s offering and revenue base.”
By March 11, 2016 – the RFQ closing date – the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) had received documentation from seven companies interested in the pre-qualification for Corozal Container Terminal.
(Source: Panama Canal / YouTube)
In addition to pre-qualified companies, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (Japan), Manzanillo International Terminal – Panama, S.A. (Panama), and Ports America Terminal Holdings II, Inc. (USA) also participated in the process.
PTI previously reported that the ACP was focusing its effort on the new container terminal in a bid to attract manufacturing and assembly activities.
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This followed news that 11 of the world’s biggest port operators were in talks to publicly bid for the operation Corozal Port.
The on-going Panama Canal Expansion is nearing completion and is set to be inaugurated on June 26, 2016.
Watch a video showing how Corozal Port will enhance capacity on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal:
Fact File: PSA International Pte., Ltd is based in Singapore and was founded in 1964. It is positioned as the largest port operator worldwide mobilising more than 64 million TEU in 2015. It has 44 terminals in 14 countries including Panama.
Fact File: Terminal Link, is part of the CMA CGM Group, which is one of the five largest shipping companies in the world. It was founded in 2001 and to date has port operations in 14 countries, in four continents. In 2014, Terminal Link handled 12 million TEUs.
Fact File: Over the past decade, TIL has become one of the 10 largest port operators worldwide, operating 29 terminals in 21 countries. In 2014, it moved 33 million TEU. Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) develops port activities in TIL terminals.
Fact File: APMT is based in The Hague, Netherlands, and is part of the Danish group AP Moller Group. It handled 36 million TEU worldwide. APMT operates 72 terminals in 69 countries and is currently developing eight new terminals. APMT is one of the top five largest port operators worldwide.
Fact File: The Panama Canal is run by an autonomous agency of the Government of Panama in charge of managing, operating and maintaining the Panama Canal. The operation of the ACP is based on its organic law and the regulations approved by its Board of Directors.