South America

The 886m tonnes of freight handled by Brazilian ports in 2011, a year-on-year increase of 6.25%, set a new record.

Altamira Port Authority has issued a tender in respect of the construction, fitting out, management and operation of Specialist Dry Bulk Terminal (TEGM).

Asaf Ashar, ports consultant at the University of New Orleans, believes that the new tender proposed for Terminal 2 at the Chilean port of Valparaiso may well fail again.

The government of Ecuador has introduced new directives that will formalise all services offered by those working within the ports industry.

Manta Port Authority in Ecuador has issued a tender for a 25-year concession to not only expand the existing port, but also to operate it.

According to terminal operator Santos Brasil, it is studying three possible new concessions in Brazil, two of which will be in the port of Suape and one at Manaus.

The Brazilian state of Pará is to issue a $546m tender for a dry bulk terminal at the port of Outeiro in May.

The Panama Canal Authority has released proposals to hike Canal toll charges, increasing the number of vessel types, and breaking the tanker segment down into three segments.