AGUNSA took over the operation of the terminal at Manta through TMP

This upgrading project entails a total investment of USD177 million.
Today, by means of the symbolic delivery of a rudder by the Port Authority of Manta (APM), company Terminal Portuario de Manta S.A. (TPM) took over the management of the piers and yards of the international area of the main port of Ecuador, for 40 years.
APM’s CEO, José David Recalde, reported that the handover occurred at midnight of 1 March without any inconveniences, so the port continued operating. “This is the beginning of a new chapter, of an upgrade of the port system that is part of the Ecuadorian national port system, which is our goal. Now come the big challenges for the development of the port and logistics of the region and of the country, starting the process of controlling the franchisee, performance and capture of new markets, strengthening and improving efficiency in port operations”, he said.
TMP was incorporated with capital of Chilean consortium Agencias Universales S.A. (AGUNSA), which, on 16 December 2016, was awarded the public request for tenders for the design, financing, execution of additional works, equipment, operation and maintenance of the terminal; they were the only offeror in the process.
AGUNSA set a fixed royalty of USD310,000 per year and a variable royalty of 28 cents per metric tonne and USD5 per TEUs, which approximately represents USD600,000 per year at the beginning, which will increase with the performance of the business.
Roberto Barriga, official spokesman of TMP, said that this is the result of joint work with APM as public partner. He said that the studies for the reconstruction of the port facilities damaged by the earthquake, which should be approved by the port authority, are progressing.
He also said that Samuel Franco Caicedo will be in charge of the terminal operations in Manta, whilst more than a hundred workers of APM have been hired for the operational and technical part, based on their expertise in port matters, thus complying with what was undertaken during the negotiation and hiring stages.

Project
The Chilean company will invest USD177.3 million in the upgrade and new works in the terminal’s international piers in the Manabi province. The first visible work will be the passengers’ terminal, which should be ready within one year. The facility will be located between the administration building of the Port Authority and the Malecón Escénico.
The development of the passengers’ terminal is part of the first investment stage of AGUNSA’s project, which means an investment of USD66.6 million. This includes the 100-metre extension of pier 2, dredging the canal, an operations area and the fitting out of a 12.2 metre berth at the lowest tide.
Additionally, two state-of-the-art port cranes and other equipment, such as container carriers, tractor-trucks and forklift cranes will be incorporated in this phase.
The improvement of road serviceability, access controls, safety, lighting, water supply and extension of yards is also considered.
The second stage considers an investment of USD110.7 million to build a new 300-metre long, 35.5 wide skirt for pier 2 that will allow the operation of two Gantry cranes (STS). Also, the dredging of the access canal to 14.5 metres at low tide.
The Manta port authority will continue managing the Fishing and Coastal Trading Terminal and the Malecón Escénico of El Murciélago beach.
Source: MundoMaritimo
Date: 1 March 2017