Panama’s Evergreen Colon Container Terminal inaugurates expansionPanama’s Evergreen Colon Container Terminal inaugurates expansion

Panama's President Juan Carlos Varela and the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Administrator of the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) Jorge Barakat joined CCT Chairman Captain Yen-I Chang for ribbon cutting.

CCT registered the highest growth amongst Panamanian terminals for January-October 2015, with an increase of 20.8% to 666,846 teu, from 424,442 teu in 2014. “I can foresee cargo volume picking up this year since we saw the return of Evergreen service NUE 3 and MELFI calling CCT since May while Cosco has increased their feeder services,” said Chang. Panamanian ports moved 5.82m teu from January to October 2015, an increase of 3.4% over the year before.

“The canal expansion brings great expectations for the region. At CCT we have been investing continuously since the terminal opened in 1996, and we are ready to provide a highly efficient service to global trade,” said Chang. Evergreen CCT has invested a total of $700m in the terminal to-date.

President Varela told the audience, amongst which assisted various officials from the Evergreen Group, that [his] government will support CCT’s vision of the future and would take [the necessary steps] to “walk with you along your development.” CCT’s investment is a clear signal of its confidence in Panama and the province where it is located, praised Varela.

Phase Three of CCT expansion, built by China harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), brings 320 metres of additional quay and a 8.5-hectare-container yard. Three new STS 22-row- across cranes arrived in November and another STS 24-row-across crane is expected next year.

Dredging has increased draught to 16.5 metres giving capability to the terminal of handling simultaneously two large vessels of 12,000-14,000 teu. Besides, CCT is continuing with the next stage of its expansion programme to further increase quay length of berth 3 and berth 4 to 780 metres.