Port of Ensenada will increase capacity to receive post-panamax vessels

With a clear objective to increase port infrastructure capacities, a new dredging investment will allow the Port of Ensenada to receive 6th generation vessels in 2009. The port Administration Office published a global bid for a dredging work project in the port’s navigation areas, which includes turning basin, access channel and container terminal berth. The project was awarded to Mexicana de Dragados who participate also in the bid for Manzanillo and Mazatlan.

The dredging project will start on April 2009, with the extraction of 1.5 million cubic meters of material, within a 16 million dollar budget investment, and the increase of navigation areas draft from 40 to 46 feet. The works are estimated to conclude by the end of June 2009.

This mayor infrastructure work will allow the Port to receive post-panamax ships, with 320 meter length and 46 feet draft, which it means, that the Port would accept vessels with capacity of 6,500 to 7,000 TEUS, comparable to the same capacity in the Mexican Port of Lazaro Cardenas, Michoacan.

Therefore, projected capacity will be more attractive to shipping lines and shippers that are looking for alternatives to move cargo besides the congested ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, CA.

At the same time, new port capacity will boom logistics services, attracting shippers and logistics operators located in South California and Arizona.  

With this dredging project, the Port of Ensenada reaffirms its compromise with current and potential customers to impulse competitiveness and efficiency in the regional market.

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