Contecon Manzanillo, Sociedad Puerto Industrial Aguadulce receive largest boxship

Maiden call of CMA CGM Alexander Von Humboldt at Contecon Manzanillo (left) on 21 August and Sociedad Puerto Industrial Aguadulce on 31 August. The ship is part of CMA CGM’s ACSA1 service, which calls key Asian ports such as Chiwan (Shenzhen), Hong Kong, Kaohsiung, Ningbo and Shanghai. It continues its journey to Puerto Nuevo de Busan, Manzanillo, Lázaro Cárdenas, Buenaventura, Callao, Posorja, Lázaro Cárdenas, Manzanillo, Yokohama, Puerto Nuevo de Busan, forging an indispensable trade link across continents.

International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) marked a new operational milestone in Latin America with the arrival of CMA CGM Alexander Von Humboldt at Contecon Manzanillo S.A. (CMSA) in Mexico and Sociedad Puerto Industrial Aguadulce (SPIA) in Colombia.

The 396-meter-long vessel is the first of its size to operate a regular service in Latin America. Its arrival underscores the capabilities of CMSA and SPIA to efficiently handle larger vessels and stimulate economies of scale. CMA CGM Alexander Von Humboldt operates the Asia Central South America 1 (ACSA1) service, which connects Asia and Latin America.

“With the historic arrival of the CMA CGM Alexander Von Humboldt, Mexico is at the gates of a new era in maritime transport, increasingly larger ships that enhance economies of scale and cost optimization. We have prepared for this moment in recent years, designing and sizing our terminal to be able to serve these ships. It is our obligation to ensure that Mexican foreign trade has competitive and efficient maritime logistics," emphasized José Antonio Contreras, CMSA chief executive officer. 

The vessel’s arrival at the Port of Manzanillo highlights Mexico’s position and impact on global trade and reflects CMSA’s commitment to contribute significantly to the national economy. 

“As a strategic partner in the history of growth in Mexico, Contecon Manzanillo recognized the importance of its role as an engine of economic progress,” added Mr. Contreras.

For SPIA, the vessel’s arrival reaffirms the terminal’s position as the preferred terminal in the Colombian Pacific. SPIA’s capacity and the confidence of shipping lines in its infrastructure and service, has made the terminal the primary destination for the most important ships that arrive in Colombia.

“The arrival of this vessel represents an important step forward for SPIA in Buenaventura, Colombia, and in general, for Latin America. It demonstrates that SPIA has the experience, talent and optimal conditions that allow it to adapt to new port and maritime dynamics of the world, making our terminal visible for the arrival of future larger vessels,” explained Álvaro Otero, SPIA general manager.

ICTSI operates 32 terminals worldwide, eight of which are in the Americas region.