● The extension of the container terminal quay by some 230m – providing, for the first time, a wharf that is suitable for the introduction of high capacity container gantry cranes.

●The refurbishment of the existing container wharf and terminal infrastructure.

●The re-equipping and reorganisation of the existing container terminal area.

●The refurbishment of the wharf line utilised for banana exports and general cargo handling.

●The general upgrading of the banana cargo export and general cargo terminal facilities. There are also what Mr Villacres describes as “13 micro projects”that will be undertaken by ICTSI covering aspects such as IT system development and traffic management – all important in their own right and as a whole expected to contribute significantly to the enhanced performance of the port facilities.

Two key goals, he notes, are to reduce ship waiting time, currently running at an average of 18 hours, and cargo dwell time in the terminal areas. Container handling performance at the port of Guayaquil has been understandably slow, six to seven moves per hour, due to the absence of specialised container handling gantries.

Despite the port handling just over 600,000 teu in 2006 the main method of realising over the wharf container handling was ships’ gear, an unsatisfactory method given the volume involved.

The new container quay, which will be built by ICTSI, is designed to resolve this problem. Prior to this being developed, however, as Marcelo Suarez, senior vice president, ICTSI, explains:“The idea is to introduce high capacity mobiles designed with container handling in mind onto the existing quays.

This,” he states, “will allow us to expedite the introduction of specialised handling capacity and raise performance significantly.” For the landside operations, ICTSI has already placed an order for 10 new reachstackers, although Mr Suarez emphasises this is just an initial step and that the overall package of measures to be introduced will be much more comprehensive.

“You have to remember,” he says, “that presently the container terminal operates according to a first generation style system whereby different stevedores occupy different sectors of the container yard.Under the new system, the container yard and quay will be operated as one integrated unit which experience shows is the best system to get the optimum performance. We have a well developed plan for the terminal,” he elaborates,“and presently our team is here preparing for the handover and the implementation of the new measures.”

Planned IT system developments further illustrates the type of positive changes in the pipeline. Presently, the container terminal has what can be described as a fragmented IT system coverage – some business systems and only management and operational systems that cover the terminal’s gate operation – none for vessel loading/ unloading and yard management.

Under the new arrangements planned by ICTSI a priority will be the introduction of systems to cover vessel loading/unloading and yard management, linked to the gate operation and incorporating modern add-ons such as radio data transmission between the terminal control centre, cargo handling equipment and handheld units.

Over the lifetime of the 20-year concession, which includes a renewal option,the total investment forecast by ICTSI across all the existing and planned new facilities is put at $400m.

Complementing this investment, within a year of the start-up of the concession, the port authority has committed to implementing dredging works designed to take the access channel depth down from the existing draught of 9m to 9.6m.