Eleven of the world’s biggest port operators are currently in talks to participate in a public bidding, which will see one terminal operator operating the Port of Corozal in Panama, according to World Maritime News.
It has been mooted that the port is set to become the largest logistics hub in Latin America.
Panama Canal Administrator/CEO Jorge L. Quijano, said: “We are thrilled at the sizeable interest we have received so far.
“It further demonstrates the demand that exists for service on the Pacific Coast of Panama, a demand which will only grow with the opening of the expanded Canal in 2016.”
According to the Port Authority, many of the interested bidders are working with the Panama Canal’s customers, “representing their commitment to the waterway and the desire to develop more port capacity on the Pacific side of Panama.”
Phase two is anticipated to boost the terminal’s capacity by a further 2.1 million TEU, bringing the total to more than 5 million.
The terminal operators which have shown an interest in bidding for the port so far include APM Terminals, Ports America, CMA-CGM Group, Taiwan’s Evergreen International Corp and Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG.
