NORTH AMERICA

Libra promises capacity boost

21 years ago

In the next two years Santos port operator Libra Terminais is to boost box handling capacity by 50%. However, this depends on the port authority carrying out two commitments it agreed to when awarding the company the concession for Terminal 35: realigning an existing rail link which is disrupting productivity, and dredging two berths.

“Major considerations will be the commitment to South Carolina, the length of the offer, the cargo volume projection and the financial terms. Any necessary followup discussions with the firms will be initiated within the next two months”, the SCSPA say.

Furthermore, Libra is seeking an additional 18,000 sq m in the area. Originally Terminal 35 was to have covered an area of 100,000 sq m but in the event the company received just 82,000 sq m and requires the extra 18,000 sq m as compensation to enable it to handle additional traffic. Libra currently handles around 490,000TEUs/year, although the concession agreement envisaged throughput in the region of 750,000TEUs. This will not now be possible unless the port authority agrees to the changes demanded.