The presence of an oil slick in Manzanillo Bay mobilized maritime, port, and environmental authorities, as well as Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) , who are conducting an investigation to determine the origin of the hydrocarbon detected on June 2nd in the vicinity of the tourist pier and the Maritime Terminal of the state-owned company.

According to the Mexican Navy (Semar) , the contingency resulted in the activation of the Local Contingency Plan for Spills of Hydrocarbons and Potentially Hazardous Noxious Substances in Mexican Marine Zones, after the National Port System Administration (Asipona) Manzanillo reported the presence of the contaminant in waters near the city’s historic center.

The first inspections carried out by specialized personnel made it possible to identify “scattered patches of surface iridescence in the water” , which were concentrated around the perimeter barriers of the Pemex Maritime Terminal, a situation that triggered the application of response protocols to contain a possible environmental impact.

As part of the emergency response, the Mexican Navy (Semar) deployed a joint operation with the Pacific Naval Force, the Fourteenth Naval Zone, and ASIPONA Manzanillo to carry out cleanup efforts and determine whether the presence of the hydrocarbon was due to an isolated incident or a continuous source of contamination. The response included the deployment of 200 meters of containment booms from the Mexican Navy ship “Comala,” with support from a tugboat, two Defender-class vessels from the Naval Search, Rescue, and Maritime Surveillance Station (ENSAR), and a Go-Fast vessel.

These efforts were complemented by the installation of an additional 270 meters of barriers as structural support for the containment work, along with another 450 meters placed at the Pemex Maritime Terminal. Naval authorities stated that the cleanup and recovery of the hydrocarbons continues, with the goal of preventing or mitigating damage to the marine ecosystem.

As containment efforts in the water progressed, Pemex reported that it is maintaining inter-institutional coordination to help identify the source of the oil spill. The company stated that personnel from the Federal Maritime Guard, Asipona Manzanillo, the Mexican Navy, and Pemex itself conducted verification tours of docks, beach pipelines, and facilities at the maritime terminal.

As a result of the inspections carried out on June 2 and 3, Pemex assured that “the facilities are operating under normal conditions and without evidence of damage or incidents associated with the event,” ruling out so far any indications that directly link the contingency to a visible failure in its infrastructure.

The company also reported that it is maintaining constant coordination with the Mexican Navy, Asipona Manzanillo, and other relevant authorities to monitor the investigations . It also announced a new pipeline inspection with the participation of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) , the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) , Asipona, and Civil Protection, as part of the efforts to determine the origin of the hydrocarbon.

In its statement, Pemex reiterated “its commitment to protecting the environment, the safety of its operations, and the timely attention to any situation that could represent a risk to the communities and ecosystems where it carries out its activities,” while the investigations continue.

For its part, the Mexican Navy emphasized that the central purpose of activating the contingency plan is “to establish actions for the containment and recovery of the oil spill in the sea in the shortest possible time to prevent or mitigate damage and pollution to the marine environment.” In this regard, the agency reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the marine environment and ensuring the safety of port activities, in a situation that keeps authorities under close observation while the origin of the substance that reached the waters of Manzanillo Bay is determined.

Comment and follow us on LinkedIn:  @GrupoT21

El cargo Oil spill under investigation off the port of Manzanillo apareció primero en T21.

Hazardous materials preparedness continues to gain importance within the operations of the Port of Manzanillo, one of the most important logistics hubs in the Mexican port system. In this context, the Manzanillo Port Authority (Asipona) conducted a specialized training exercise on the identification and containment of hazardous materials (HAZMAT) , aimed at strengthening the operational capabilities of its personnel.

The training session was part of the ongoing risk response plan implemented at the port and focused on enhancing the response capacity of the teams responsible for handling emergencies within the maritime-port facilities. The activities combined theoretical and practical exercises geared towards managing incidents involving hazardous substances, an increasingly sensitive component of logistics and foreign trade operations.

With this, Asipona Manzanillo seeks to strengthen the action protocols of its operational staff, particularly the Port Emergency Coordination (CEP) , the area responsible for coordinating immediate reaction actions to different contingency scenarios within the port.

The practice is also framed within compliance with the Port Emergency Response Plan , an instrument that establishes specific guidelines to deal with incidents that may compromise the safety of operations, infrastructure or personnel involved in maritime and logistics activity.

The port authority emphasized that these types of drills and training sessions are conducted continuously and under different scenarios within the port community, with the aim of strengthening inter-institutional coordination and ensuring timely attention to any eventuality.

The increasing movement of goods and hazardous materials in the port of Manzanillo has raised the need to maintain trained personnel and updated protocols , particularly in an environment where operational continuity and safety have become strategic factors for port competitiveness.

With these actions, Asipona Manzanillo reinforces its risk prevention and management strategy , while seeking to consolidate safer conditions for operations and for the various actors that make up the maritime-port community.

Comment and follow us on LinkedIn:  @GrupoT21

El cargo Asipona Manzanillo strengthens emergency response apareció primero en T21.

The alert didn’t come from an official channel, but from a social media post. And yet, it was enough to trigger a reaction at one of the most sensitive nodes in the Mexican port system .

The Manzanillo Port Authority (Asipona) confirmed in a statement that on April 5th it detected a post on social media warning of a potential data breach on the Smart Port for Safety (PIS) platform , the system that coordinates much of the logistics operations at the country’s ports. Following this, security protocols were activated, resulting in temporary disruptions to system access. According to the agency, access has now been restored and the system is operating normally.

The episode, however, is not insignificant. And even less so given the context in which it arises.

So far, Asipona Manzanillo has been the only one of the 18 port authorities coordinated by the Mexican Navy (Semar) to issue a public statement regarding this alleged incident, despite the fact that PIS has a national scope . This silence from the other port authorities creates uncertainty in a platform designed precisely to standardize and centralize operations.

In fact, since the evening of April 5, PIS users nationwide reported receiving an official email requesting them to change their passwords for using this digital platform.

The initial alert was issued by journalist Ignacio Villaseñor, who on April 5th published information in X about an alleged hack of the system. In his message, the journalist stated that a cybercriminal identified as “marssepe”, allegedly linked to the group SOCIEDAD PRIVADA 157 , had released a 39.7 gigabyte file containing records extracted from PIS.

According to the publication, the information contains sensitive data on more than 640,000 port operators , including full name, CURP (Mexican national ID number), RFC (Mexican tax ID number), social security number, blood type, facial photograph, as well as company, position, and port of operation. Villaseñor warns that the exposure of this registry—which is mandatory for operating in port facilities—could escalate from a digital risk to a physical security threat, enabling practices such as identity theft, extortion, or coercion within the logistics chain.

So far, no federal authority has confirmed the veracity of said leak in the terms presented on social media.

What is certain is that Asipona Manzanillo’s response focused on preventative measures . The agency reported that, after detecting the leak, it restricted access to services hosted on its servers, updated user credentials, disabled direct access to databases from external IP addresses, and canceled access in test environments. It also implemented additional tools to prevent unauthorized API requests and strengthened the monitoring of system traffic and URLs.

Beyond the technical aspects, the incident highlights the importance of PIS as critical infrastructure. This system was created in 2021 at Asipona Manzanillo itself with the intention of operating as a one-stop maritime-port window, capable of centralizing, standardizing, and providing traceability to operational, administrative, and revenue collection processes in ports.

According to its logic, all logistics actors—from carriers to customs brokers and operators—must register on the platform to operate, making PIS a repository of highly sensitive information. Currently, the system has 32 modules developed and implemented nationwide.

That level of centralization, which under normal conditions represents efficiency and control, also amplifies the risks when the possibility of a breach arises .

The statement from Asipona Manzanillo insists that the system is operating normally and that constant monitoring is being maintained to prevent incidents. However, the lack of a coordinated national approach in a system that is by definition cross-cutting raises a fundamental question: if the risk is shared, why isn’t the response?

In an industry where digitalization has become the backbone of operations, cybersecurity management is no longer just a technical issue, but a matter of systemic trust. And in this arena, silence speaks volumes .

Comment and follow us on LinkedIn:  @Enrique Duarte Rionda  /  @GrupoT21

El cargo Asipona Manzanillo activates protocols after alert of breach at PIS apareció primero en T21.

The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) , through the General Directorate of Environmental Impact and Risk (DGIRA), determined to formally end the environmental impact assessment procedure of the project “Development of the New Manzanillo Port, in the Basin II of the Cuyutlán Lagoon” , promoted by the National Port System Administration (Asipona) Manzanillo .

Through Official Letter SRA/DGIRA/DG-10367-25 , dated December 17, 2025, the environmental authority resolved to “finalize the Environmental Impact Assessment Procedure and order its filing as a concluded matter,” considering it materially impossible to continue with the evaluation of the project under the current file (code 06CL2025V0012).

The resolution does not imply a suspension or an administrative prevention: it is a formal termination of the procedure, which legally extinguishes the ongoing environmental process and eliminates the possibility that the project will continue its evaluation under the environmental impact statement (MIA-R) originally submitted.

In practical terms, the DGIRA’s decision compels Asipona Manzanillo to completely restart the environmental process if it intends to continue developing the new port. The resolution itself stipulates that any modification or reconfiguration of the project must be processed through a new Environmental Impact Statement in the regional modality, with a new file, new technical studies, a new public consultation, and a new comprehensive evaluation.

A project that ceases to exist administratively

The document is clear in its institutional scope: the Puerto Nuevo Manzanillo project, as it was presented in the procedure initiated in August 2025, ceases to exist from an administrative and environmental standpoint. This is not a technical correction or an engineering adjustment, but rather the complete invalidation of the evaluation process .

The DGIRA concludes that the “alternative” presented by the promoter – a reconfiguration of the port design to reduce the impact on the mangrove and avoid direct intervention on the Cocodrilo I and II islands – actually constitutes a new project , with environmental impacts different from those originally evaluated.

Among the elements that support this determination are the modification of docks, dredging, terminal platforms, navigation routes and the hydrodynamic interaction of Basin II with the other basins of the Cuyutlán lagoon system (I, III and IV), which generates cumulative and synergistic impacts not considered in the initial MIA-R.

The environmental authority points out that this reconfiguration involves the occupation of new areas , the alteration of hydrological flows and sediment transport, as well as the need for new specialized technical studies, including hydrodynamic modeling, sediment balances, flora and fauna inventories, and regional impact analysis.

The mangrove as a turning point

One of the central points of the resolution is the impact on the mangrove ecosystem. The DGIRA concludes that, even with the alternative presented, the project still involves the removal and alteration of mangroves , an ecosystem subject to strict regulatory protection.

Furthermore, the document warns that the port operation would modify the physicochemical conditions of the water , generating a progressive deterioration of the habitat, with additional loss of mangroves, affecting associated species and weakening the ecological functionality of the lagoon system in the long term.

The resolution also identifies risks of contaminant dispersal towards basins III and IV of the Cuyutlán Lagoon, areas linked to the proposed creation of a Protected Natural Area, with possible impacts on fishing, resident and migratory birds, regional biodiversity and salt production.

From strategic project to restartable project

From an institutional perspective, Semarnat’s decision transforms the status of the New Manzanillo Port: it ceases to be a project under evaluation and becomes a project that can be restarted .

This implies that any attempt at development must be rebuilt from the zero phase of environmental planning, with new technical bases, new studies, new social consultations and a new comprehensive assessment of impacts, in an environment where the ecological component acquires a determining weight.

Strategically, the resolution reshapes the horizon for port expansion in Manzanillo . The new port ceases to be a short- or medium-term project and shifts towards a long-term planning approach, subject to complex processes of environmental assessment, territorial governance, and social legitimacy.

Beyond the administrative record, the document reflects a structural shift in the relationship between port expansion and environmental boundaries. The development of new logistics infrastructure in ecologically sensitive areas is no longer solely governed by technical engineering criteria and operational capacity, but also by an institutional framework that prioritizes ecosystem integrity , public participation, and cumulative regional impacts.

The New Manzanillo Port project was not rejected in terms of future viability, but it was legally deactivated in its current configuration. From this point forward, any new attempt must be built under a completely different approach: not as a port expansion, but as a new project that is environmentally, territorially, and socially validated from its inception.

A multi-year project

The project for a new port in Cuyutlán is neither a recent nor a circumstantial idea: it is an initiative that has endured decades of failed attempts, technical redesigns, and planning adjustments without ever coming to fruition . However, it was during the administration of Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum that this proposal received more direct and structured institutional attention, to the point that, within the strategic plan, it was projected that at least one container terminal could be operational in the area before 2030.

Despite this, the constant factor preventing its realization has always been the same: environmental viability . The ecological complexity of the Cuyutlán lagoon system, the presence of mangroves, the hydrodynamic fragility of the ecosystem, and the cumulative regional impacts have transformed the environmental component not into an administrative obstacle, but into the true structural limitation of the project.

In one of his last public appearances as general director of Asipona Manzanillo, Admiral Guillermo Mejía George had announced that by October 2025, letters of interest had been received from the 13 most important shipping companies and terminals worldwide to participate in the future tenders for the Cuyutlán project.

“The next terminal will be put out to tender in July 2026 (…) and the first terminal will be operational in 2028-2029 ,” Mejía George announced during his participation in the XXIX Annual Congress of Shipping Agents, organized by the Mexican Association of Shipping Agents (Amanac) .

The new port facility planned by Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration, located about 30 kilometers from the current port, would cover approximately 1,880 hectares, an area four times larger than the current port of Manzanillo . It would specialize in containers and hydrocarbons, but would also include a support dock for inter-port transfers. Its depth of -18 meters would allow it to receive deep-draft vessels, while the terminals would have docks ranging from 1,176 to 2,000 meters in length, and surface areas ranging from 49 to 104 hectares.

The plan envisioned five highly technological container terminals , with yards and docks designed for progressive automation and comprehensive rail connectivity.

In its strategic conception, the project for the new port in Cuyutlán not only responded to a logic of expansion, but also to an operational need of the national port system: to serve as a relief valve for the current port of Manzanillo , which in recent years has operated recurrently under conditions of saturation.

The pressure on its infrastructure is not insignificant: Manzanillo closed 2025 handling 3,893,357 twenty-foot containers (TEUs), with only a slight decrease of 0.8% compared to 2024 , according to official statistics, which confirms that, even in scenarios of marginal stagnation, the levels of operation remain structurally high.

In that context, Cuyutlán was emerging as a key element for redistributing flows, alleviating bottlenecks, and reconfiguring the region’s logistical capacity. However, the Semarnat resolution makes it clear that port expansion can no longer be considered solely as a response to operational saturation: the environmental variable has become the structural factor that defines the real limits of port growth, even in the country’s main logistics hubs .

Comment and follow us on X:  @EnriqueDuRio  /  @GrupoT21

El cargo Semarnat closes the environmental file for the New Manzanillo Port and forces the project to be restarted from scratch. apareció primero en T21.

With 200 years of port history, Manzanillo has established itself as the most important logistics hub in the Mexican Pacific. Since its establishment in 1825 as a deep-sea and coastal port, it has overcome political, geographical, and operational challenges to become the country’s leading container port and one of the most important in Latin America.

Infrastructure development was key to its growth. At the end of the 19th century, under the Porfiriato, fundamental works such as the breakwater and the dredging of the access channel were built. In 1908, the railway connection with Guadalajara and Mexico City marked a turning point in its logistical integration. Decades later, the construction of the San Pedrito complex, inaugurated in 1970, laid the foundation for its modern transformation.

Currently, the Port of Manzanillo handles more than 23.5 million tons of containerized cargo annually and maintains a steady flow of operations with more than 1,700 arrivals annually. These figures confirm its role in the regional and national logistics network.

A structural change occurred in December 2020, with the transfer of port functions to the Ministry of the Navy (Semar) . The transformation of the APIs into ASIPONAS, as is the case in Manzanillo, allowed for management focused on safety, sustainability, and operational efficiency under a strategic model led by officials with an administrative and commercial vision. This new phase prioritizes sustainable growth, private investment, intermodal connections, and harmony with the city through the Port-City program.

In response to projected cargo increases at the Port of San Pedrito, the ambitious development of the New Port of Manzanillo-Cuyutlán began in 2024. This new logistics platform covers more than 1,880 hectares in the Cuyutlán Lagoon’s Vaso II basin. This new logistics platform includes two specialized container terminals with the capacity to handle up to five million TEUs, 1,500-meter docks, two oil terminals, a new Pemex complex, dredged channels for mega-ships, maneuvering bays, customs infrastructure, rail connections, elevated viaducts, and clean energy through natural gas.

The project seeks to position Manzanillo as the most modern and sustainable port in Latin America. It is estimated to generate tariff revenue of up to 450 billion pesos and 10 billion pesos in compensation, with the potential to double its current capacity and climb to the top 15 of the world’s most important ports.

Manzanillo’s bicentennial is more than a historical commemoration: it marks the beginning of a new port era under the direction of the Semar (National Maritime Service), consolidating Manzanillo as Mexico’s strategic logistics hub for the 21st century.

Comment and follow us on X:  @GrupoT21

El cargo Manzanillo: 200 years of leadership apareció primero en T21.

MANZANILLO, COL.- The customs office at Mexico’s main container port says it has found a way to overcome the operational chaos caused by the blockades carried out by its own employees in mid-May, which continues to persist two months later.

T21 visited the port of Manzanillo yesterday, invited by the Ministry of the Navy (Semar) , to learn about the work the customs office has done to improve the flow of goods along its fiscal route.

In response to a specific question from this reporter, General Corps Commander Luis Ángel Martínez Cabrera, deputy director of Customs Operations at the Manzanillo customs office, explained to the media group that attended the visit that the reasons that led foreign trade officials to carry out the “illegal closures” of the port are still unknown .

But they “assume” that part of their discomfort was due to two main factors. The first is the changes in leadership that occurred after Captain Rodolfo Torres Chávez took over as head of the Manzanillo customs office in mid-April of this year.

Martínez Cabrera stated that some customs personnel refused to surrender their posts , which led to the first protest and closure on May 12. “They weren’t going to be fired, but rather relocated wherever customs requested,” he stated.

The second factor, he continued, was the request from the “central area” for the dismissal of four people who arrived during those days, for reasons that are still unknown or if there is a judicial investigation into the matter, generating even more annoyance and indignation among foreign trade officials, who in a second demonstration blocked all access to the port for two days (May 14 and 15).

The Deputy Director of Customs Operations confirmed that following the blockades, just over 70 foreign trade officials “abandoned their jobs .” This caused a significant delay in the customs clearance operations that were able to be carried out.

In fact, attendance at appointments granted for the pickup or delivery of goods for trucking units in the following days fell to record lows at the port.

On May 17, 2,802 appointments were granted, of which only 1% were fulfilled ; on the 18th, there were 257 appointments with 10% compliance, and on the 19th, there were 2,896 appointments, of which only 12% were completed, according to the document Statistics on customs clearance operations of the MCE, April-May 2025 , from the National Customs Agency of Mexico (ANAM) , of which T21 has a copy.

Faced with the departure of just over 70 employees, the response was to assign staff from the same customs office to essential activities. Furthermore, the flow of vehicles wishing to enter was coordinated with the National Port System Administration (Asipona) in Manzanillo , which was reduced by up to 50% . Meanwhile, ANAM assigned staff from other customs offices in the country to Manzanillo to assist in relieving the workload.

Luis Ángel Martínez confirmed to this outlet that they have currently hired 40 new officers and that all remaining positions are expected to be filled in the coming weeks.

The three days of closures at the port of Manzanillo created a profound imbalance between the number of goods entering (exports) and those leaving (imports).

The Deputy Director of Customs Operations indicated that, to repair the damage, a model has been developed that is “working properly and is intended to be permanent .” The official referred to more precise and stricter regulation of appointments.

“Before the closure, 4,500 vehicles were handled daily by appointment, but in the end, only 2,800 to 2,900 vehicles were served, and the rest didn’t enter and caused congestion outside (the port). Terminals were asked to provide their actual operating capacity, indicating how much they can handle per hour, and appointments are being issued based on that,” he described.

He also stated that in recent days, up to 3,100 vehicles have been served in 1.5 hours , up from the three hours previously allowed for appointments. “This means there is no longer overcrowding outside and there is a positive flow in and out,” he stated.

According to the Average Port Transportation Time Index (ITPAP) , conducted by T21 Business Intelligence, the port of Manzanillo averaged up to 11.6 decimal hours last May in the time taken by a transportation unit to collect imported merchandise, measured in three stages: waiting, maneuvering, and customs.

Depressed statistics

For the first six months of this year, the port of Manzanillo has accumulated the operation of 15,491,564 tons of merchandise (including petroleum products), representing a 9.7% drop compared to the same period last year, according to statistics from Asipona Manzanillo.

Likewise, container handling totaled 1,884,028 TEUs (20-foot containers) during the first half of 2025, a 2.7% decrease measured at an annual rate.

The impact of the closures is also evident in the tax sector . ANAM data indicates that, during May of this year, the Manzanillo customs office, the second largest generator of tax revenue, collected 13,921.72 million pesos in cash flow collections (which does not include virtual payment methods and Special Certificates), achieving a real variation (which excludes inflationary effects) of 5.1% annually.

However, within this amount, there are decreases in the payment of taxes such as the Special Tax on Production and Services (IEPS), the General Import Tax (IGI) and the Tax on New Automobiles (ISAN) .

Comment and follow us on X:  @EnriqueDuRio / Sent /  @GrupoT21

El cargo Manzanillo customs exonerates itself apareció primero en T21.

The Ministry of the Navy (Semar) is willing to launch the Nuevo Manzanillo (Cuyutlán Port) project before the end of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s term. And no proposals have been spared.

At the last extraordinary session of the Board of Directors of the National Port System Administration (Asipona) Manzanillo , held on June 20, it was reported that the port authority plans to begin the administrative process for the relocation of the Specialized Container Terminal (TEC) I , concessioned since 1995 to the American company SSA Marine Mexico , to the port of Cuyutlán.

“(…) this ASIPONA Manzanillo considers the relocation of TEC I feasible for reasons of public interest,” according to a document signed by Asipona Manzanillo presented at the Board of Directors meeting, of which T21 has a copy.

In November 2024, the federal government launched the priority project for the construction of the “Puerto Nuevo Manzanillo Cuyutlán” (New Port of Manzanillo Cuyutlán)—a total of 1,880 hectares— which plans to include up to four specialized container terminals , the current largest business line of the Port of Manzanillo. This measure seeks to address the operational problems facing the main commercial port on the Mexican Pacific due to the saturation of its current terminals.

Since the Executive’s announcement, the local and international port community has been waiting for Asipona Manzanillo, a subsidiary of Semar, to publish the bidding rules for the first two terminals considered for the project’s initial phase.

According to the Asipona Manzanillo document, the main legal basis for proposing the relocation of TEC I is referred to in what is explained in the penultimate paragraph of article 41 of the Ports Law: “The Secretariat, with a view to the public interest, may modify the uses, destinations and modes of operation provided for in the PMDP (Port Development Master Plan) with respect to the different areas of the port or group of them or terminals not yet used.”

However, to carry out the relocation, Asipona Manzanillo requires SSA Marine Mexico to make a minimum investment of 800 million dollars (mdd) applicable to preliminary studies and the construction work carried out by the American company in the development of the transition project to the port of Laguna de Cuyutlán, where it would go from the current 35 hectares to almost 90 hectares, similar to those of TEC II, operated by Contecon Manzanillo .

With this relocation, the port authority expects to alleviate Manzanillo’s ongoing congestion problems and allow it to reorganize the port with the 1,500 meters of dock and 35 hectares of storage space that SSA Marine Mexico would make available at TEC I of the Port of San Pedrito (current Port of Manzanillo).

TEC I is the main container terminal in the port of Colima. Last year alone, it handled a total of 1,724,906 TEUs , representing 43.9% of the total TEUs handled in the port, according to statistics from the General Coordination of Ports and Merchant Marine (CGPMM) , an office of the Ministry of Marine Affairs (SEMARNAT).

The document highlights that over the past 10 years, volumes recorded at the Port of Manzanillo have been steadily increasing, with no opportunity to expand the port’s infrastructure to meet the demand for services , which has posed a challenge for maintaining operational efficiency.

In the last decade, the handling of cargo increased from 25.2 million tons in 2015 to 31.4 million tons in 2024, particularly in the case of containers, which increased from 18.1 million tons of containerized cargo to 23.58 million tons, which in container boxes represents increasing from 2.54 million 20-foot containers (TEU) in 2015 to 3.9 million TEU last year.

The document, held by T21, highlights the following advantages of relocating SSA’s TEC I to the Laguna de Cuyutlán port:

1. Streamline port operations and maintain the efficiency and functionality of port operations and facilities at the Port of San Pedrito (subordinated to the Port of Manzanillo).
2. Immediate development and operation of the Laguna de Cuyutlán port, so that from its inception and as soon as possible, it will have the infrastructure of a competitive port terminal that efficiently meets the demand for port services.
3. Under the assumptions of the agreement, and the timeframes analyzed for accelerated planning and development, the new TEC I will be established and operational in the fourth quarter of 2029 in Laguna de Cuyutlán.
4. Ensure an orderly and rapid transition to the port of Laguna de Cuyutlán, maintaining the competitiveness of its operations and their costs, which impact the price and availability of imported or exported goods for the consumer or producer population.
5. Dimension and equip the new terminal with automated technology and systems to optimize operational efficiency, minimize response times, improve cargo handling capacity, ensure safety, and reduce CO2 emissions by prioritizing rail transport and reducing the margin for road transport.
6. Achieve the new TEC I to handle at least 2.5 million TEUs  by 2037.
7. Maintain the continuity of operations throughout the Manzanillo-San Pedrito-Laguna de Cuyutlán port system.
8. Maintaining the growth of the container business line , allowing for the funding of the development of inland navigation facilities, which has naturally been determined as the vocation of the Manzanillo system to go from handling 3.9 million TEUs annually to more than 10 million.
9. Generate 4,731 new jobs with the relocation of TEC I, both in its construction and with the reorganization of the southeastern San Pedrito area.
10. Inject an estimated investment of US$800 million into the port of Laguna de Cuyutlán for construction works that will benefit Asipona.
11. Seek financing mechanisms to provide infrastructure and service delivery for the hectares that TEC I will use at the new location.
12. Obtain a substantial increase in the amounts of the fixed and variable consideration from TEC I, as a result of the increase in the surface area subject to the transfer at the new location in the port of Cuyutlán and the growth in the number of containers that TEC I will move at the new location.

Likewise, the document also indicates that Asipona Manzanillo will propose to the owner of TEC I that he initiate the necessary steps, studies, and actions to carry out the relocation of its specialized terminal under the following requirements:

1. Carry out the relevant procedures in coordination with this Asipona Manzanillo and with the authorization of the competent port authority to ensure an orderly, coordinated, and expeditious transition to the port of Laguna de Cuyutlán.
2. Make a minimum committed investment of US$800 million for preliminary studies and construction work carried out by SSA Marine for the development of the transition project to the port of Laguna de Cuyutlán.
3. Maintain payments of the corresponding considerations for the areas currently operated, in accordance with the transition schedule and in adherence to the currently established amounts and their corresponding updates, maintaining the level playing field established by Asipona Manzanillo between container terminals.
4. Begin payments of the corresponding consideration for the areas to be built and operated , in accordance with the transition schedule and in adherence to the currently established amounts and their corresponding updates, maintaining the level playing field established by Asipona Manzanillo between container terminals.
5. Determine, through financial analysis, the necessary timeframe to cover infrastructure investment costs , consideration payments, operating expenses, and expected profitability.

The Asipona Manzanillo document does not clarify whether other terminals could be invited to participate in the same relocation process to the port of Cuyutlán, as Contecon Manzanillo, or whether a future bidding process will continue to be considered for the other three terminals considered in the federal government’s project.

Cuyutlán Lagoon has an area of ​​water and land four times larger than the current port area , which is expected to meet the constant growth in demand for the movement of goods, mainly imports, which on several occasions has exceeded the supply of private infrastructure and logistics services.

Comment and follow us on X:@EnriqueDuRio / @GrupoT21

El cargo Cuyutlán already has its first tenant; they propose relocating SSA to Nuevo Manzanillo. apareció primero en T21.

The Association of Customs Brokers of the Port of Manzanillo (AAAPUMAC) published a statement this Thursday to its members, reporting that the modulation operations at the Manzanillo customs office are proceeding “slowly,” both in the northern and southern zones, following the operational challenges the port has experienced in recent weeks.

The bulletin identifies four points to consider :

1. The operation in the southern zone is being slowly ramped up, beginning with a review of the previous day’s reconnaissance as the operation allows.
2. Management module: Requests are being received; there is no system for assigning folios; Customs will manage entry folios directly.
3. The operation in the northern zone is being ramped up slowly as saturation allows; it has not yet begun reviewing the inspections pending from yesterday.
4. For customs inspections in Bonded Warehouses, the workload limit is being reviewed.

Customs clearance is a procedure used to channel and verify goods entering or leaving the country , with the aim of ensuring compliance with customs laws and avoiding fraud, smuggling, or errors in the import or export process.

Meanwhile, the National Port System Administration (Asipona) in Manzanillo issued a statement yesterday stating that, “according to information from Manzanillo Customs, operations at the bonded facility have been fully restored . Following recent events that impacted operational rhythm, the Port of Manzanillo is back in normal operation, with a safe, efficient, and continuous flow of goods.”

There, he stated that “this Tuesday, May 20, 2025, alone, during the reactivation process, the terminal complex handled a total of 4,367 containers , including import, export, and empty cargo; and 14,524 tons of loose and bulk cargo were dispatched, with a total of 4,190 trucking units arriving.”

This information contrasts with what the port terminals themselves have been issuing. In the case of Contecon Manzanillo , a statement was published yesterday afternoon stating that, “In coordination with the authorities, it was determined that it will no longer be possible to receive trucks for imported cargo , due to circumstances beyond the terminal’s control. We urge transport users not to send imported vehicles to avoid further logistical disruptions.”

“We also indicate that any appointments that cannot be entered today (May 21) will be automatically rescheduled for Monday, May 26. This change will be visible tomorrow, May 22, so there will be no need to attempt to make any changes, as scheduling new import appointments on our operational portal will not be permitted until further notice,” stated the operator of one of the port’s specialized container terminals.

The operational chaos at the Manzanillo customs office comes after its own employees, mostly civilian foreign trade officers, closed access to the port on two occasions last week , in protest of alleged poor working conditions and unjustified dismissals since the arrival (April 15) of Captain Rodolfo Torres Chávez as head of the Manzanillo customs office.

The Manzanillo customs office is the second highest in tax collection in the country , behind only the Nuevo Laredo customs office, which is the largest border crossing for goods with the United States.

On May 20, T21 reported that, based on information from a source close to the Manzanillo customs office who requested anonymity, the inspection and oversight authority is working with just five inspectors, when on a “normal” day of operation there should be at least 25 inspectors distributed throughout the day.

According to official data, just over four thousand trucking units enter the port of Manzanillo daily to pick up or unload cargo.

Comment and follow us on X: @GrupoT21

El cargo Customs clearance in Manzanillo is proceeding slowly: AAAPUMAC apareció primero en T21.

The entry and exit of trucking vehicles to the port of Manzanillo remains halted. The reason is no longer the protesters, but rather a lack of personnel at customs , the second largest tax collection center in Mexico.

Chaos continued this weekend at Mexico’s main Pacific commercial port, following protests last week by civilian workers at the Manzanillo customs office, which is run by the Navy , which twice blocked access to the port, seriously disrupting the flow of cargo .

Contecon Manzanillo , one of the main operators of specialized container terminals in the port, issued a statement yesterday afternoon, Sunday, May 18, urging its customers not to ship export or import units until further notice, to avoid further logistical disruptions.

“Entrance and exit to the northern port are suspended,” the statement reads.

According to official data, just over four thousand trucking units enter the port of Manzanillo daily to pick up or unload cargo.

For its part, the National Port System Administration (Asipona) Manzanillo released a statement on Saturday, May 17, explaining that, during the period following the demonstrations, “operational decisions related to the entry, exit, and handling of merchandise in the Fiscal Precinct of the Port of Manzanillo (…) are the responsibility of the National Customs Agency of Mexico (ANAM) in coordination with the Manzanillo Customs Office, in accordance with its powers in matters of customs control.”

There, he explained that the provisions regarding the temporary restriction on the entry of vehicles into the port area, and the guidelines for the removal of merchandise, the determination of fiscal routes, and confinement, “are issued by the Manzanillo Customs Office based on its technical and legal evaluations . “

Customs employees, mostly civilian foreign trade officers, closed access to the port on up to two occasions last week, due to alleged poor conditions and unjustified dismissals since the arrival (April 15) of Captain Rodolfo Torres Chávez as head of the Manzanillo customs office.

However, a report in the newspaper Milenio has highlighted a different situation. The article, published last Saturday, mentions that federal authorities have uncovered a corruption network at the port of Manzanillo that financed last week’s blockade, following the dismissal of officials investigated for facilitating the entry of illegal goods.

It is also mentioned that customs agents are also being investigated for their alleged involvement in the blockades.

Late last week, the Association of Customs Agents of the Port of Manzanillo (AAAPUMAC) issued a statement distancing itself from any connection to the partial work stoppage of customs workers.

“(…) Customs Agents have no involvement or influence in this movement, which directly affects our operations as well as those of the importing and exporting community, as well as other members of the logistics chain who rely on the port of Manzanillo as a strategic hub for our country’s foreign trade.”

According to some social media posts, ANAM has reportedly sent personnel from other customs offices to join the Manzanillo customs office in the coming days to resume inspections of merchandise.

Comment and follow us on X:   @GrupoT21

El cargo The demonstration is over, but the port of Manzanillo remains closed. apareció primero en T21.

The port of Manzanillo remains in the eye of the storm, now due to a new change of leadership. The Ministry of the Navy (Semar) announced Admiral Guillermo Mejía George as the new director general of the Manzanillo National Port System Administration (Asipona Manzanillo) , replacing Admiral Mario Alberto Gasque Peña.

In a statement, Semar stated that the change was made by agreement of the Board of Directors, held this Friday, May 16, and noted that this change was carried out as part of the ongoing staff rotation process at the institutions under the Secretariat.

Admiral Guillermo Mejía George graduated from the Heroic Naval School with a degree in naval sciences and holds master’s degrees in naval administration and military administration for national security and defense.

According to sources close to Grupo T21 , the change in ownership of Asipona in Manzanillo had been under negotiation for 10 days.

The walkout comes amid labor tensions, marked by protests by workers at the Manzanillo customs office. From Monday until early Friday morning, employees have held demonstrations and closures to demand fairer working conditions, including respect for work schedules and an end to workplace harassment.

Likewise, the change in Asipona’s leadership is not the only one that has taken place at the port of Manzanillo so far this year. On April 15, Mexico’s National Customs Agency (ANAM) announced Captain  Rodolfo Torres Chávez as the new head of the Manzanillo customs office, following the departure of Mario Alberto Limas López , who had held the position for only three months.

Comment and follow us on X: @GrupoT21

El cargo Semar announces new head for the Asipona of Manzanillo apareció primero en T21.