Although the government of Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) placed maritime cabotage in Mexico as one of its priority projects, this activity did not show considerable progress during the six-year term.
Wow, in AMLO’s Sixth Government Report , only a few lines are dedicated to explaining the “actions” undertaken.
“(…) the planning and construction of port projects that stimulate the internal market by taking advantage of cabotage and short-distance maritime transport was promoted, always with a perspective of sustainable development,” the report states.
Meanwhile, the volume of goods transported in cabotage activities in Mexico shows an inconsistent evolution.
National Cargo Movement – Cabotage (tons)
The Executive then combines in the President’s latest report the various investments that both the public and private sectors have made in the last year around the port sector.
In general, it mentions that, from September 2023 to June 2024, port investment amounted to 11 thousand 413 million pesos (mdp) , made up of 10 thousand 091.9 mdp of public resources (own and fiscal) and 1 thousand 321.1 mdp of private investment.
In addition, it lists the works carried out in the different Administrations of the National Port System (Asiponas)
The following investment projects were carried out with public resources:
− Ensenada. Progress was made in the construction of the Transport Regulatory Centre (29% complete).
- The Maritime Traffic Control Center is being built (50% complete).
- Access to the tourist boardwalk and the fiscalized area of Ensenada and El Sauzal were modernized (31.6% progress).
- Progress was made in maintenance programs for the port infrastructure and electrical system of Ensenada (19.4% progress) and El Sauzal (46.4% progress).
− Topolobampo. Progress was made on the port infrastructure maintenance program for 2021-2024 (76.5% complete).
- As part of the Maritime Traffic Control Center, the construction of the 30-meter-high tower, which is the base structure for the port radar, was completed.
- The construction of the platform and hydraulic concrete slab covering 2.3 hectares of the storage yard surface has been completed.
− Manzanillo. The Armería Manzanillo aqueduct was completed, modernizing 42 kilometers of hydraulic infrastructure to benefit 170,000 residents.
− Lázaro Cárdenas. The marginal dock, 350 metres long, 29 metres wide and four metres high above sea level, was cemented and will accommodate vessels with a length of 285 metres, a width of 42 metres and a draft of 12 metres (96% complete).
- The 207.9-meter-long dock for smaller vessels and tugboats was completed. * Work continued on the expansion of the access and exit road to the port area for coastal cargo (95% complete).
- The Isla de la Palma project is being developed on 608 hectares adjacent to the port area, where perimeter roads, communication bridges, perimeter walls and fencing, electricity, raw water and voice and data services are being built to incorporate it into the support area for port activities (10% progress).
- The infrastructure of buildings that comprise the logistics services area for motor transport was completed.
− Salina Cruz. At the oil port, the breakwater was completed, which will reduce the delay in loading fuel onto vessels, which will generate savings in the operating costs of the Maritime Terminal.
- At the commercial port, the docks were reinforced and the Multipurpose Dock was completed.
− Altamira. The walls were reinforced on the overpass at kilometer 30+880. Construction of access ramps and foundations of piles, placement of beams and abutments and drainage works (98% complete).
− Tampico. Progress was made on the port and services infrastructure maintenance program (75% complete).
− Veracruz. Natural expansion works were carried out on the port and progress was made on the construction of the new port customs office.
− Coatzacoalcos. The development of port infrastructure in Laguna de Pajaritos continued, stage 2 (99% complete).
− Dos Bocas. Work is underway on the sanitary island for the treatment and disposal of wastewater and rainwater at the Multipurpose Terminal and on the construction of the administrative building.
− Progress. The maintenance programme for the communication viaduct breakwaters was carried out.
The following projects were carried out with private investment :
− Ensenada. The container terminal is currently being expanded: 300 meters of dock and 4.37 hectares for maneuvering yards.
− Topolobampo. Work is underway on the executive project for the construction of a multi-purpose facility for handling general cargo.
− Manzanillo. The automation of the Specialized Container Terminal (TEC II) continued; two gantry cranes and five hybrid gantry cranes were acquired. The equipment of the Specialized Container Terminal (TEC I) continued; seven latest-generation electric E-RTG cranes were acquired.
− Lázaro Cárdenas. Works were carried out to restore paving levels, improving the traffic and operation of forklifts and the stability of the arrangement of containers at height.
- At the Port Container Terminal, adjustments were made to the yard area with new traffic lanes for electric yard cranes and photovoltaic panels were installed.
− Altamira. Infrastructure works were carried out for the storage of hydrocarbons.
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