US ports are said to be among the competitors to benefit the most from the completion of the Panama Canal expansion, however, TOS system provider Real-time Business Solutions (RBS) has made an urgent call-out for Latin American ports to build on their infrastructure, in order to take advantage of the boom in trade volumes.
In order to receive the new class of panamax ship, RBS believes that Latin American terminals need to have at least a 15-metre draft, proper machines and, a Terminal Operating System (TOS) to manage operations more effectively and efficiently.
Meeting with RBS executives at TOC in Panama, where the company will be located at stand A56.
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RBS's Latin American division believe that providing transshipment services can make a huge difference to trading volumes due to the current challenge of fully loading vessels up to 13,200 TEU at either origin or final destination.
The company also point out that new Panamax operational costs are very high, making transshipment a better option.
Terminal operators are already seeing opportunities for trade, with DP World recently announcing that it will boost its infrastructure at its Caucedo transshipment hub to prepare for the surge in cargo volumes.
View an infographic of the top 20 Latin American ports
The Panama Canal Expansion is anticipated to be completed in April, 2016, after more intense repair works took place at the canal recently to resolve a crack in the Cocoli Locks on the Pacific side.