North Terminal of Callao will increase capacity by 200%

The port of Callao is increa-sing its capacity on par with other ports in South America and Mexico.

Henrik Kristensen, CEO of the Danish company APM Terminals Callao, that in April 2011 was awarded a concession in the Port of Callao, announced that for the first half of 2014, the dock capacity will be increased by 200% from being able to receive 300,000 to 1 million TEUs.

This is part of Stage 1 and 2 of the modernization of the North Multipurpose Terminal, which includes the purchase of eight mechanical cranes (of which two are already operating) for $100 million, $33 million in power shovels, maritime software for $9 million and $3 million in dredging Dock 5, increasing the depth from 11 to 13 meters, allowing larger vessels to enter.

“We are in a process of remodeling in the first and second phases in which we plan an investment of $307 million which will begin to bear fruit in the first half of 2014 when we will double the operational capacity,” he said.

He added that with this upgrade the port of Callao will be on par with the docks of Iquique and Antofagasta in Chile and those of Mexico once the planned investment is completed. He added that it is planned to increase the present terminal area from 16.2 to 35.7 hectares.

Mr. Kristensen also referred to questions asked in the Peruvian Congress discussing the cancellation of the grant to APM Terminals for breach of contract by failing to invest in infrastructure the budgeted $1,900 million and only spending $750 million.

Faced with this accusation, Kristensen said that within the concession agreement is provisied for the payment of about $300 million to the National Port Authority (Enapu) and other unspecified payments.