APM Terminals (APMT) has announced a new warehouse and a last-mile transport service at Porto Itapoá, Brazil for increased flexibility, efficiency, and lower operating costs.
The company said the project is part of an ongoing investment at the terminal which will increase capacity from 1.2 million TEU to 2 million TEU upon completion in 2023.
The Brazilian Real 750 million ($144 million) expansion plan at Porto Itapoá will also expand the yard from 250,000 to 455,000 metres.
“The new 2,000 square metres warehouse for general cargo is strategically located in the port, which makes the ‘unloading’ of the container and its return to the shipowner more practical and faster,” said Roberto Pandolfo, Customer Experience Business Director at Porto Itapoá.
“This is particularly important as free-time – the length of time, a container can be stored free of charge at the port – has reduced considerably since the beginning of the pandemic to help reduce congestion.”
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“It can also help customers reduce or completely remove demurrage charges – a penalty paid by customers for using a container beyond the contracted term,” added Pandolfo.
Porto Itapoá was already offering fractional cargo operations (LCL – Less Container Load). The addition of the new fractional cargo transport service (LTL – Less-than-truckload) aims to add flexibility for customers.
Deliveries are made within a 160- and 260-kilometres radius of Porto Itapoá.
