Yilport Latam has announced the inauguration of Container Berth 6 and a new container yard in Puerto Bolívar, Ecuador.
The $400 million overall investment is the first step in an ambitious phase of strategic development aimed at improving the operating capability of a 1941-built terminal.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by over 200 people, including Ecuador’s President, Daniel Noboa Azin; the Minister of Public Works, Roberto Luque; and the President of the Machala Chamber of Commerce, Luis Aguilar, as well as press members and other guests.
Alfredo Jurado von Buchwald, Regional General Manager of Yilport Latam, said: “The inauguration of Berth 6 represents a crucial advance in our modernisation and expansion strategy. The total projected investment for the concession contract will be more than $750 million in the next 40 years.”
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In 2023, Puerto Bolívar handled 250,000 TEU, primarily bananas and copper concentrate.
The most prominent changes are the building of Berth No. 6, which contains a 450-metre-long new berth, a new container yard with a capacity of 1 million TEU, and equipment capable of processing 1 million TEU per year.
Additionally, the depth of the access channel has been expanded to 14.5 metres, with intentions to reach 16.5 metres by 2025.
The inauguration also included the laying of the first stone for a new automated gate system, a refrigerated warehouse of 20,000 square metres, and control systems.
