MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Port of Montevideo expanding.

The port of Montevideo in 2003 mobilized 210.348 containers and 5,2 million tons of cargo, and this year given traffic during the first six months of 2004 the number of containers is forecasted to be above 250,000 and cargo over 6 million tons.

Mario Baubeta, president of Uruguay's Navigation Center addressing this week the annual meeting of local chandlers and maritime agents said the numbers were very encouraging, making Montevideo one of the most dynamic and competitive terminals of the region and with prospects of further services expansion.

However Mr. Baubeta also warned that to keep the port of Montevideo's privileged position, dredging docks and access channels to 12 meters depth was essential to ensure that the new generation of cargo ships, and cruise vessels, can operate in the coming years.

Since 1994 the different services of the port of Montevideo have been increasingly privatized but there are still some concessions to be awarded, and being election year in Uruguay, private investors are requesting the timetable to remain unchanged.

"Investments can't wait twelve months; if they are good for the country they must become effective because for when the new government takes office, investors, ships and cargo could have migrated to other ports", stressed Mr. Baubeta.

Some of those private investments, totalling 60 million US dollars according to Mr. Baubeta, are the extension of some docks, greater container storing capacity and a terminal for loading wood chips, since forestry has become a fast growing industry in Uruguay.

The counterpart promised by the Uruguayan Ports Authority is 95 million US dollars, mostly in dredging and the building of another 12 meters deep jetty.

"I believe the port of Montevideo is a good example of what private and public effort working together can achieve, not only for us but for the country", said Uruguayan Public Works Minister Gabriel Gurmendez present at the meeting.

"Property of the port infrastructure is not really relevant; it's the mechanisms of concession and authorization which have opened space for the private sector and private investors enabling them to do the things they can achieve more efficiently and more competitively", underlined Mr. Gurméndez.

More info see: www.anp.com.uy