OPC inks sister port pact with Port Everglades

Puerto Cortés operator Operadora Portuaria Centroamericana, together with Honduras’ Empresa Nacional Portuaria (ENP), signed last October 5 a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Port Everglades in Boward County, Florida as part of a Sister Seaports agreement.

Signed during the 6th Annual Latin America Ports Forum in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the MoU aims to promote all-water shipping routes between the two ports – an initiative that could generate new business.  The MoU outlines joint initiatives that include market studies and marketing initiatives, data sharing, training, as well as information sharing regarding modernization, improvements and technology.

Gerardo Murillo, ENP General Manager, said:  “The expansion of the Honduras National Port Authority’s organic law (National Decree 30-2020) gives us the facilities to promote and create Dry Port Projects.

“This will amplify and expand our seaports with areas of strong economic development of different countries inside Honduras territory, thus creating ample feeder port capacities and focusing Honduras’ strategic and geographical location to the principal East and West coast market of the USA, anchoring and expanding stronger roots of Europe and Asia to America.”

Nearly 75,000 TEUs of cargo have been moved between Puerto Cortes Cortés and Port Everglades between September 30, 2020 to October 1, 2021.  These include fruits, vegetables and assembled light clothing products from Honduras, and electronics, automobiles and parts, textiles for assembly and yarn from Florida.