Contecon Manzanillo S.A. de C.V. (CMSA), International Container Terminal Services, Inc.’s (ICTSI) Mexican business unit operating the Specialized Container Terminal 2 at the Port of Manzanillo, recorded another milestone receiving the CMA CGM Liberty – the first LNG-powered container vessel to arrive in Mexico. They also handled the first carbon-neutral container in North America
These milestones were celebrated in a ceremony attended by representatives of the government, CMA CGM Mexico, Walmart de Mexico and Central America, administrations of the National Port System Manzanillo and Port of Manzanillo, among others.
“It is a great day for us, since today we have established not one but two precedents for port decarbonization in Mexico and in the north of the continent: the handling of the first carbon-neutral container in North America and the arrival of the first container ship powered by LNG. This makes us pioneers in the beginning of a new way of mobilizing TEUs. We are happy because we have been lucky enough to work with companies with a really important environmental responsibility,” said José Antonio Contreras, CEO of Contecon Manzanillo.
The arrival of the 14,806-TEU CMA CGM Liberty represents a key step in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainable maritime transport in Mexico. The vessel’s LNG-powered propulsion represents numerous environmental benefits, achieving a 99% reduction in sulfur dioxide emissions, a 92% decrease in nitrogen oxide emissions, and a 91% reduction of particulate matter (PM10) in emissions.
“This technology is the most advanced in sustainable maritime transport, since it eliminates polluting emissions in a high percentage. We are the first to rotate ships of this type on a regular basis in Mexico, with the Port of Manzanillo as the first point of arrival,” explained Javier Moreira, General Director of CMA CGM Mexico.
Contecon Manzanillo is investing more than USD230 million to expand the terminal. This includes the construction of a new dock and infrastructure in the yard that will increase the terminal’s capacity from 1.5 million TEUs to more than 2.2 million within the next two years.
Investment in infrastructure and the adoption of cleaner technologies represent fundamental actions on the agenda of the port industry, which aims to achieve more sustainable logistics.
Source: ICTSI
