Mexico's Michoacán state Lázaro Cárdenas port has allegedly reached the limit of its handling capacity, in spite of a US$200mn expansion project carried out in 2007, specialized website Info-Transportes reported.
Capacity doubled to 7,000 TEUs last year after the inauguration of works, the report said.
However, in addition to insufficient space, the facility is allegedly understaffed and lacks the necessary personnel to operate post-Panamax cranes.
Other problems affecting the port in the face of increasing worldwide traffic include lack of cranes, insufficient intermodal infrastructure, slow customs operations and inadequate work schedules to handle cargo entrance and exit, the report said.
VEHICLE SPECIALIZED TERMINAL
On September 2, Mexican press reported that the transport and communications ministry (SCT) failed to meet the deadline for the tender to build, operate and develop a public-use, vehicle-specialized terminal at the port.
On August 27, SCT announced it would launch the tender for the project before the end of that month.
Furthermore, Mexican port authority API previously cancelled a US$250mn tender for the same project on July 1, as the site allocated to build the facility was already occupied by US-based portside vehicle processing company Amports.
Other factors that played a role in the cancellation were the facility's proximity to an industrial complex - whose residues could affect workers' health - and insufficient space for the proposed terminal.
Covering 40ha, the project aims to expand the site's operational capacity to 700,000 vehicles, making it the largest of its kind in Mexico, and to guarantee enough space for future expansion and development.
According to SCT's project schedule, the contract is to be awarded in December and the new terminal is expected to begin operations in 2010.
