Hutchison completes first phase of Lazaro Cardenas expansion
Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) on Friday celebrated the completion of phase one expansion of Lazaro Cardenas Terminal Portuaria de Contenedores (LCT) at the Port of Lazaro Cardenas on the Pacific Coast of Mexico.
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Lazaro Cardenas Terminal Portuaria de Contenedores |
The $244 million expansion program includes the construction of a new 600-meter quay, a 48-hectare yard area incorporating additional 250 reefer plugs, and an area of 7,000 square meters for a container freight station (CFS). Also part of the modernization package is improved intermodal connections to other Mexican cities and the southern U.S. border. In addition, a dedicated area has been set up for railroad, truck and reefer cargo customs inspection.
Currently, 350 meters of the new quay are operational, with the remaining 250 meters scheduled for completion by April. Upon completion of all phases, the LCT terminal will have four berths with a continuous quay length of 1,425 meters, a total yard area of 122 hectares and depths alongside up to 18 meters.
The Hong Kong-based terminal operator first invested in the Mexico port in 2003 when it reopened a single-berth terminal.
Felipe Calderon, president of Mexico, said of the expanded terminal: “It brings a much-needed deepwater container-handling facility to the country, and will provide strategic links to global carriers by facilitating the movement of cargo between the Pacific region and the Mexican hinterland. The expansion enhances the Port of Lazaro Cardenas' unique advantages, which will attract the necessary investment to develop other peripheral logistics services.”
According to ComPair Data (www.compairdata.com), American Shipper’s affiliated database for global liner services, there are five weekly liner services calling at Lazaro Cardenas.