Hutchison to build Ecuador terminal
Hutchison Port Holdings(HPH) said Thursday it was awarded the concession to build and operate a new container terminal at the Port of Manta in Ecuador.
Manta is a natural deep-sea port and will be able to handle the largest vessels in service, HPH noted. The port is located approximately one hour from international shipping lanes. HPH said the location would make a good first port call in the region for global shipping lines.
'We welcome this opportunity to build and operate a container handling facility which will strengthen HPH's Latin America network on the West Coast of South America,' said John Meredith, group managing director of HPH.
The terminal will have a 1,250-meter berth and a 15-meter draft, with a total area of 63 hectares when all phases are completed. It is scheduled to be operational in 2007.