The new Moin Container Terminal (MCT) will be built near the existing Puerto Limón/Moín complex on a completely new land reclamation. The first phase contract covers 1.5km of reinforced shoreline and breakwater protection, a 40 hectare reclamation and dredging the access channel and turning basin.

Van Oord will deploy a trailing suction hopper dredger, a cutter suction dredger and rock installation equipment. BAM International will construct the 650m quay for the first phase and complete the yard area, utilities and terminal buildings. Work will start in the first quarter of 2014.

Speaking at the TOC CSC conference in Miami recently Rogelio Douglas, GM APMT Costa Rica said MCT is one of the most expensive terminals ever undertaken by APMT. The company is confident it will be a commercial success as Costa Rica’s exports continue to grow strongly. Banana exports alone have now reached 93,000 FEU and pineapple exports have increased 500% in the last 10 years.

Puerto Limón handled over 1M TEU in 2012 and is now under capacity pressure. It can only accommodate ships up to 2,500 TEU, waiting times are up to 29 hours and vessel call time averages 24 hours said Douglas. With an initial depth of 18m MCT will be able to handle the 12,000 TEU vessels that transit the expanded Panama Canal and significantly improve capacity for reefer shippers.

APMT is planning to open MCT with an initial capacity of 1.3M TEU 36 months after construction begins. “This new terminal will create 400 new direct jobs, can attract around 5000 indirect jobs, inject USD 4 billion into the national economy and protect Costa Rica’s fantastic biodiversity. Equally important, it will reshape world refrigerated markets by making cold supply chains more efficient, less costly, and with fresher produce on supermarket shelves for the consumer. The terminal will clearly become a magnet and shining star for future investment in Costa Rica” said Paul Gallie, managing Director of MCT.