Chile''s national environmental board Conama has given the go-ahead for a $12m package of works at the northern port of Antofagasta.
"It is no longer a question of if our nation's transport infrastructure will start to fail, but when," Mr Raymond said. Short-sea shipping services could move cargo from congested ports to ready ports with available capacity,such as ports in Wilmington and Philadelphia.
Concessionaire, Antofagasta Terminal Internacional (ATI), is to undertake seismic re-enforcement work on berths 4 and 5 on Quay 2, with ships diverted in the meantime to berth 3. ATI, whose 20-year concession also encompasses berths 6 and 7, says that work should be concluded by the end of next year, virtually completing its agreed investment obligations.
