The first phase of the improvements will be complete by the end of 2015, when the company will start operating Puerto Quetzal Container Terminal (TCQ).

TCQ will operate the new port terminal,110 kilometres south of Guatamala City, under a lease arrangement for 25 years. The port will be equipped to accept the new post-Panamax class of mega cargo ships that will begin passing through the expanded Panama Canal.

In phase one, Grup TCB will invest €133 million to build a terminal with the capacity to move 400,000 TEUs per annum. It will have a yard area of 13 hectares and 350 metres of pier. The second phase will involve a yard extension of up to 20 hectares and 540 metres of pier with capacity for 700,000 containers per annum. The total investment will be €192 million.

Otto Pérez Molina, president of Guatemala, officiated the start of the work, saying that the extension project is a step towards the development of this Central American country, foreign investment and improved productivity of the port infrastructure. The construction project will create 600 jobs.

Ángel Pérez Maura, vice president of Grup TCB, said: “This is a magnificent opportunity to modernise Guatamala’s Pacific port and to be a logistical area in Central America”.

The improvement to the installations in Puerto Quetzal makes this a strategic location for international trade on the US west coast and large Asian markets. TCQ will be the only terminal in the Pacific, between the Panama Canal and the state of Michoacán in Mexico, equipped to provide services to post-Panamax class cargo ships  

About Grup TCB

The order includes 12 automated stacking cranes and 11 automated shuttle carriers and they will be delivered during 2016.

Kalmar’s partnership with VICTL, a consortium comprised of Philippines-based International Container Terminal Services Incorporated (ICTSI) and Australia’s Anglo Ports, marks a milestone in Australia’s port infrastructure development. Australia has shown the way in port automation and Kalmar has played a key role in introducing innovative automation solutions to the country’s leading ports.

The new terminal at Melbourne’s Webb Dock will introduce fully automated operations from gate to quayside and deliver an estimated capacity of 350,000 TEU in its first phase. When fully developed, the 35.4 hectare terminal will be able to handle up to 1.4 million TEU annually. Construction of the terminal superstructure and facilities is planned to commence in late 2014.

Christian R. Gonzalez, ICTSI head of the Asia-Pacific region said: “This is a premier project for ICTSI in Australia and the partnership with Kalmar allows us to introduce cutting edge, best-proven automated container handling equipment and technologies to Webb Dock. Kalmar’s strong track record in delivering automated terminal solutions in Australia as well as in other parts of the world will help us to put Melbourne amongst the leading ports of the world.”

Olli Isotalo, President of Kalmar, said: “We are extremely pleased to have been selected as the main partner in this landmark project. Our proven solutions and experience in port automation will not only ensure superior operating efficiency but also minimal environmental impact in this highly populated area. We are committed to delivering VICTL a high-performing system with best of breed automated port equipment.”

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An independent research firm that focuses on global trade topics, measured the number of container moves per-vessel, per-hour at the world’s ports and marine terminals in 2013. As mega-container ships replace smaller vessels, port productivity, turnaround times and throughput time for containers are important metrics for carriers and trade customers in order to realize significant cost savings.

Martijn van de Linde, Chief Executive Officer, ADT, commented: “We are very proud to rank fifth in the EMEA Port Productivity list in our first year of operations. Khalifa Port Container Terminal has been constructed to achieve high productivity levels; this not only increases turnaround time for ships, but also benefits the supply chain and local trade as cargo moves faster through the port.”

With depth reaching 17m, Khalifa Port Container Terminal is equipped with the latest technology and equipment in the industry making the terminal capable of servicing vessels as quickly and efficiently as possible in this era of mega-ships. The port currently operates nine super post panamax ship- to-shore cranes which can reach across 22 container stacks on a ship, and 42 automated stacking cranes and 28 straddle carriers.

Considerable productivity progress has also been made on the landside as truck turnaround time currently stands at 12 minutes which makes Khalifa Port Container Terminal the most efficient in the region. The port’s congestion free access and a robust network of road and future rail connectors add additional value to the trade and its service providers.

The Port Productivity rankings were determined by evaluating 483 ports and 771 terminals and analysing more than 150,000 port calls in 2013.

ADT, a Private Joint Stock Company (PJSC) owned by Abu Dhabi Ports Company, Mubadala and Mubadala Infrastructure Partners, commenced operations of Khalifa Port Container Terminal in September 2012 and provides complete and cost-effective supply chain, logistics and warehousing solutions.