APM Terminals signs Costa Rica deal

APM Terminals signs Costa Rica deal    APM Terminals said Tuesday it has signed a $992 million, 33-year concession contract with the government of Costa Rica to design, finance, construct, operate and maintain a container terminal in Moin on the Caribbean Coast.
   About 80 percent of the country's commerce is handled in the current port complex of Puerto Limon/Moin.
   Henrik L. Pedersen, vice president of business development for the Americas for APM Terminals, said the terminal will “help Costa Rica achieve its economic ambitions. Not only will it increase the country's international trade competitiveness, the terminal will reduce logistics costs through higher operating efficiency and enhance Costa Rica's container cargo security reputation.

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   “Our investment in Costa Rica reflects our Latin America strategy to partner with government and business leaders and apply our financial and operational strength to upgrade Latin America ports,” he added. “The new port in Moin will attract additional international investment, create new jobs and business growth benefiting the country and region.'
   Costa Rica’s Minister of Public Works and Transportation Francisco Jimenez said the terminal “is one of several national transportation infrastructure modernization projects which are expected to produce major efficiency gains for the country's international commerce. Costa Rica intends to increase our participation in the global market and we need the most modern tools to win.'
   In the first phase of the project the terminal will feature 600 meters (1,969 feet) of dedicated container berth with six post-Panamax ship-to-shore cranes and nearly 100 acres of yard. Water depth in the channel and alongside will be 52 feet and the terminal will be protected by 1,500 meters (4,921 feet) of breakwater to enable year round operations.
   In the final phase of construction, the terminal will have 1,500 meters of quay wall, 198 acres of yard and the water depth will be increased to 59 feet.
   Paul Gallie, managing director of APM Terminals Moin, said the company was “extremely pleased with the Costa Rican government's dedication in advancing this vital project. The administration truly demonstrated this is a top priority for the country and we intend to follow through by inaugurating operations on schedule in 2015. It will be a secure modern facility in accordance with the international security standards.
   'Environmental sustainability will be achieved by the use of eco-friendly machinery and systems. The terminal will require up to 1,000 staff when opened, creating important new jobs and economic development in the entire Costa Rica-Caribbean region,' Gallie said. ' Chris Dupin