The Costa Rican courts yesterday ruled in favor of APM Terminals in two lawsuits opposing its takeover of the Moin Container Terminal (TCM).

The lawsuits were brought against the company and the Costa Rican government by the Atlantic Port Authority union, representing dockworkers, and the National Banana Workers union, which were intended to block the awarded concession for the new terminal.

The unions claim that the Hague-based terminal operator was awarded its 33-year concession for the terminal without the necessary economic, environmental and technical studies.

“Today’s favorable decision from the Second Circuit Court in San Jose affirms the transparency and legality of the concession process,” said Capt. Paul Gallie, Managing Director, APM Terminals Moin.

The 33-year concession will require an estimated investment of US$992M from APM Terminals for the design, finance, construction, operation and maintenance of the terminal.

In the first phase the TCM will consist of a 40 hectare area of reclaimed land off the Caribbean coast with 600 meters of quay, 2 berths, a 1.5 kilometer breakwater, a 16 meter deep access channel and 6 super-post Panamax ship-to-shore gantry cranes.

When fully completed, TCM will have an area of 80 hectares with 1,500 meters of quay, 5 berths, a 2.2 kilometer breakwater, an 18 meter deep access channel and 9 or more super-post Panamax ship-to-shore gantry cranes.

“The implementation of the TCM project is currently on track and during this transition period APM Terminals will perform the required detailed environmental and engineering studies in order to produce the final design and gain the statutory licences and permits,” added Gallie.

“These will be submitted for Government approval, prior to construction start in 2013.”

Moin Port currently handles up to 80 percent of the country’s international commerce, and is located just 10 hours by sea from the Panama Canal. The development coincides with the completion of the canal’s expansion to handle the larger vessels cascading into the region.

The terminal, which is expected to generate over 1,000 jobs for the region, is scheduled to begin operations in the final quarter of 2016.

Source: PortTechnology.org