Cargo Business Newswire

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

The Port of the Americas in Puerto Rico seeks port operator

Puerto Rico is looking for a major port operator to help develop the Port of the Americas on its Southern Coast in Ponce, according to the Puerto Rico Department of Economic Development and Commerce.

The Port of the Americas site encompasses 300 acres just 5 miles from Mercedita Airport, which is good news for port capacity expansion and industrial growth.

In recent years, Puerto Rico has invested more than $285 million in upgrades to the port, including dredging the entrance channel and berth depths of up to 50 feet, according to the statement.

The government of Puerto Rico is positioning the island as a global business hub in the region, now that the island’s broadband Internet service and power production have been significantly expanded.

"We are excited to work with a private-sector partner on the Port of the Americas, to help bring jobs and economic opportunity to the southern coast of Puerto Rico," said Alberto Bacó-Bagué, secretary of Puerto Rico’s Department of Economic Development and Commerce. "Infrastructure investments create valuable jobs in the immediate term and are pivotal to our sustained success in the years to come."

The Port of the Americas is located along the Mona Passage – a key shipping route between the Atlantic Ocean and the Panama Canal – and is equipped to serve Panamax and Post-Panamax vessels. It features two super Post-Panamax ship-to-shore cranes and 4,400 linear feet of quayside.

"We envision the Port of the Americas becoming a major global shipping hub in the years to come," said Carlos Mejia, director of the Port of Ponce Authority.

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