Contecon Manzanillo S.A. de C.V. (CMSA), International Container Terminal Services, Inc.’s (ICTSI) Mexican business unit at the Port of Manzanillo, has handled the first carbon-neutral container in North America.
The milestone was celebrated in a ceremony attended by representatives of the government, CMA CGM Mexico, Walmart de Mexico and Central America, Administrations of the National Port System Manzanillo, Manzanillo port, along with other stakeholders.
“It is a great day for us, since we have established not one but two precedents for port decarbonisation in Mexico and in the north of the continent,” said José Antonio Contreras, Contecon Manzanillo CEO.
“This makes us pioneers in the beginning of a new way of mobilising TEU. We are happy because we have been lucky enough to work with companies with a really important environmental responsibility.”
“Contecon Manzanillo was recognised in 2022 as the first port terminal in North America to receive the UNE-14064-3:2019 carbon neutral certification. This demonstrates our commitment to the fight against climate change,” added Contreras.
The arrival of the 14,806 TEU CMA CGM Liberty represents a key step in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainable maritime transport in Mexico.
The vessel’s LNG-powered propulsion represents numerous environmental benefits, achieving a 99 per cent reduction in sulphur dioxide emissions (SO2), a 92 per cent decrease in nitrogen oxide emissions (NOx), and a 91 per cent reduction of particulate matter (PM10) in emissions.
“This technology is the most advanced in sustainable maritime transport, since it eliminates polluting emissions in a high percentage,” explained Javier Moreira, CMA CGM Mexico General Director.
“We are the first to rotate ships of this type on a regular basis in Mexico, with the Port of Manzanillo as the first point of arrival.”
Aside from Contecon, Walmart de Mexico also received its carbon-neutral certification.
READ: Contecon Manzanillo, CMA CGM introduces new Walmart block train service in Mexico
Claudia de la Vega, Walmart de Mexico and Central America Director for Corporate Affairs, said: “This event is fundamental for the company, since a significant volume of our imports that enter the Port of Manzanillo arrive at the Contecon terminal.”
“We are very proud to collaborate with CMA CGM, because at Walmart, we have the ambition to be a zero-emissions company, placing humanity and the planet at the centre of our business practices. We celebrate this important milestone for sustainability in our country.”
Contecon Manzanillo is investing more than $230 million to expand the terminal.
This includes the construction of a new dock and infrastructure in the yard that will increase the terminal’s capacity from 1.5 million TEU to more than 2.2 million TEU within the next two years.
In December 2022, Contecon Manzanillo started its third phase port expansion project.
