APMT refutes ‘iron fist’ claim
APM Terminals has been accused of taking an ‘iron fist’ approach when dealing with port unions at the Costa Rican port of Moín – an accusation it vehemently denies.
This is according to Aubrey DeYoung, managing director of America’s Gateway Development Corporation (Amega), which is also a concessionaire at the port.
The policy, Mr DeYoung suggests, has been one of trying to weaken the unions, who are opposed to the 30-year concession on grounds that it is effectively a monopoly in box handling.
Port Strategy spoke to Captain Paul Gallie, managing director of APM Terminals, Moín, who said that these allegations made by Amega are “totally untrue”. He said: “APM Terminals has not in any way attempted to destroy the port labour union.”
Back in 2010, APMT participated in and won the international public bid for the 33 year concession to design, finance, construct, operate and maintain the specialised container terminal in the Caribbean.
Captain Gallie pointed out that the concession means plenty of good news for the area. He said: “APM Terminals will invest approximately US$1bn in the Moín Container Terminal, representing Costa Rica’s largest single infrastructure investment. The port promises to transform the economic and social development of Costa Rica and the Province of Limón in particular.”
He added that this should generate approximately 700 jobs during the construction phase and 400 jobs during the first phase of operation, coupled with other new investments and indirect jobs in the area.
The Moín Container Terminal is on track for construction to start in October 2013 and inauguration to take place in 2016.
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