Reports say that officials are pressing ahead with urgency as the proposed development “cannot come fast enough for busy Santos port.”
2007 saw Tecondi handle 260,000 TEUs, already surpassing its designed capacity of 250,000 TEUs.
This was a 17% jump from 2006 throughput, a growth rate which if repeated this year could seriously strain the terminal's handling capacity.
Development plans will include expansion of the quay and deepening of alongside depth from 12.5 metres to 15 metres, thereby allowing post-Panamax vessels to call.
Tecondi director Luis Araujo has been quoted saying that “we really do need the extra space. It can't come quick enough especially as we have a number of new service calls expected for the near future.”
Araujo also quashed industry rumours of a partnership with APM Terminals BV. in Santos, but went on to confirm that they have had “an enquiry” from “another European operator.”
Tecondi's 2007 throughput makes it Santos' third busiest container terminal. The busiest container facility in Santos is Santos Brasil, which handled 1.26 million TEUs in 2007, followed by the Libra Terminals T-37 facility with 790,300 TEUs.
Rodrimar container terminal is fourth having handled 200,000 TEUs in 2007, while the rest of Santos' total throughput of some 20,000 TEUs was handled around the public general cargo berths, said a Lloyd's List report.