CONTECON Manzanillo Authorized to Handle 24,000 TEU Megaships in Mexico

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Container terminal operator CONTECON Manzanillo has received authorization from the Port Maritime Authority (Capitanía Regional de Puerto) to handle vessels with a draft of up to 15.5 meters and a length not exceeding 400 meters. This condition strengthens the logistics infrastructure of the Port of Manzanillo (Puerto de Manzanillo), a major commercial port on Mexico's Pacific coast.

With this authorization, CONTECON becomes the only terminal at the Port of Manzanillo with this operational capability, enabling it to handle high-capacity container vessels used on major international shipping routes, including ultra-large container vessels (ULCVs) designed to carry up to 24,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in a single voyage.

The arrival of such high-capacity vessels aligns with the trend in the international maritime industry toward larger ships. Shipping companies aim to transport more cargo per call using these vessels to optimize logistics costs and reduce emissions associated with transporting each container.

This new authorization is part of the expansion plan currently being implemented by CONTECON Manzanillo, aimed at adapting terminal infrastructure to the needs of shipping companies and the growth of foreign trade. Currently, the terminal is equipped with STS (ship-to-shore) cranes, considered among the largest models in Latin America, capable of handling vessels of this size. As the next step in the expansion, the company plans to add two Super Post Panamax cranes in September to enhance its capacity to manage growth in port operations.

José Antonio Contreras, CEO of CONTECON Manzanillo, stated that this authorization is a strategic step in the terminal's development and confirms that investments in infrastructure are aligned with the evolution of international maritime shipping. He added that the authorization is also the first step toward achieving an operational draft of 17 meters, corresponding to the design draft of the terminal's new berths.

If the 17-meter operational draft capability is achieved, CONTECON will be able to handle vessels with larger cargo volumes and offer more options to major shipping companies operating in international trade. The expansion of port throughput capacity is particularly important amid rising demand for efficient logistics chains and the trend among shipping companies toward adopting larger vessel sizes. These vessels incorporate technologies designed to improve fuel consumption and reduce emissions per container transported.