The Contecon Manzanillo terminal has added a new large-scale maritime service operated by the shipping line CMA CGM, strengthening the port of Manzanillo’s connectivity with markets in Asia, the Caribbean, and South America.
The service began operating on March 13 with the arrival of deep-draft vessels at the terminal, confirming the operational capacity of the Colima port to handle next-generation vessels on the main Pacific trade routes.
The new route is part of a logistics network connecting ports in the Far East with the east coast of South America, the Caribbean, and northern South America, expanding Manzanillo’s trade links with these strategic markets.
The service schedule includes stops in Cai Mep, Chiwan (Shenzhen), Hong Kong, Ningbo, Shanghai, Qingdao, and Busan, in addition to Manzanillo, Balboa, Cartagena, Kingston, and Caucedo.
The service will operate weekly and will be served by a fleet of approximately 13 vessels with capacities ranging from 9,469 to over 15,000 TEUs, a unit of measurement used in the maritime industry for container transport.
The first vessel to arrive at the terminal was the CMA CGM Liberty, measuring 366 meters in length, 51 meters in beam, and with a capacity of 15,200 TEUs and a draft of 15.5 meters.
This vessel uses liquefied natural gas (LNG) as fuel, a technology that reduces polluting emissions and improves the environmental efficiency of maritime operations.
One of the key aspects of this service is the draft of the vessels arriving at the port, exceeding 15 meters, which confirms the port infrastructure’s capacity to receive large-scale vessels, a growing trend in international maritime transport.
To handle these types of operations, the terminal boasts state-of-the-art STS cranes, considered among the largest in Latin America, with structures reaching approximately 60 meters in height and designed to operate with vessels up to 400 meters in length and over 60 meters in beam.
This equipment allows for faster and more efficient loading and unloading maneuvers, even on very large vessels.
“This new service confirms that our infrastructure and equipment have the necessary capabilities to handle larger vessels. We will continue to promote investments and operational improvements that strengthen the competitiveness of the Port of Manzanillo and Mexican foreign trade,” stated José Antonio Contreras, CEO of the terminal.
The capacity to receive larger vessels also opens opportunities to attract new maritime services to Manzanillo, currently considered the country’s main logistics hub, which handles nearly 70% of imports from Asia.
Source: elcomentario.ucol
