Hutchison Ports EIT reached a new milestone last Friday by receiving, for the first time in its history, two large container vessels simultaneously . This achievement marks a significant advance in the operational capacity of the Ensenada Multi-Purpose Terminal (TUM), following the company’s recent infrastructure expansion.
“This event represents a key advance in our operational capacity. Being able to handle two vessels simultaneously not only demonstrates the success of the terminal’s physical expansion, but also the robustness of our logistical and technological processes,” said Javier Rodríguez, general manager of Hutchison Ports EIT.
The event is notable not only for the number of vessels received at the same time, but also for their size. These were the CMA CGM GANGES, a 9,960-container vessel from CMA CGM , measuring 300 meters in length, and the WAN HAI 621, a 6,350-container vessel from WAN HAI , measuring 293 meters in length. Both are part of direct weekly services from Asia to the port of Ensenada .
To accomplish this operation, the terminal activated high-level logistical coordination. The docking of both vessels required the participation of the Harbor Master, pilots, authorities from the National Port System Administration (Asipona) , and an operational deployment with doubled resources: more cranes, more personnel, more tractor-trailers, and a complete supervision and security team, all while maintaining regular loading and unloading operations on the federal route.
The key behind this progress was the expansion of the pier to 600 meters in length and the recent addition of a super post-Panamax crane , which allowed both ships to be serviced simultaneously. With this, the terminal now has four super post-Panamax quay cranes and a larger maneuvering area.
“During this day, the entire team worked to their full potential. The cranes, tractors, and systems worked in unison, allowing for optimized loading and unloading times. Our operations remained safe and smooth thanks to the N-GEN system,” added Rodríguez.
From an environmental perspective, this operation also represented an improvement. By avoiding waiting for ships at anchor, their polluting emissions were reduced. Furthermore, the entire maneuver was carried out using zero- and low-emission equipment : electric cranes on the quayside and electric tractors, and hybrid cranes in the yard, in line with the NET Zero strategy, which aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
This ability to operate multiple vessels in parallel opens up new logistical opportunities for Ensenada and its surrounding area. It improves efficiency, offers more maritime connectivity options, and responds to the growing demand from companies in the maquila and manufacturing sectors.
“We plan to add a new super post-Panamax crane, two electric RTG cranes, and optimize the entry and exit doors for tractor-trailers, which will reduce wait times and further strengthen our operational capacity,” Javier Rodríguez said.
With this milestone, Hutchison Ports EIT reaffirms its commitment to port modernization and consolidates the Port of Ensenada as a key platform for international trade in northwestern Mexico.
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