The Mexican Chamber of the Maritime Transport Industry (Cameintram) ratified José Manuel Urreta Ortega as its president for the 2026 term , during the organization’s annual assembly held at the Confederation of Industrial Chambers (Concamin) , in an event where Admiral Gerardo de Jesús Toledo Guzmán, Undersecretary of Maritime and Port Affairs of the Secretariat of the Navy , swore in the National Board of Directors.

Upon assuming his second year at the helm of the agency, Urreta Ortega expressed his gratitude for the trust placed in him by the country’s shipowners and their counterparts in the Mexican government and legislature, while outlining the key areas of focus for this new phase. “We have promoted efforts to incentivize shipbuilding and coastal shipping in Mexico , and we aim to maintain active collaboration in the development of policies to foster and develop the national merchant marine, in order to defend and promote greater participation by shipowners, service providers, and related maritime transport activities in Mexico,” he stated.

In his message, he stressed that port modernization will be a key factor for the sector’s growth, noting that “the progress of infrastructure projects will allow us to absorb the projected increases in maritime operations in the coming years.”

As part of its 2025 review, the organization reported progress in strengthening its institutional relationship with the Mexican Navy, the Port Captaincies and Maritime Affairs Unit, the National Customs Agency of Mexico (ANAM) , as well as with the authorities of the Interoceanic Corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec (CIIT) and the Navy Commission in the Chamber of Deputies . It also promoted new short sea shipping routes in coordination with the Port of Miami, in addition to holding working sessions with Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex ) to address issues related to payments to suppliers.

In international matters, Cameintram maintained collaboration with the International Maritime Organization on issues related to the decarbonization of the sector.

By 2026, the organization plans to continue its institutional collaboration with the federal government, particularly with the Secretariat of the Navy, as well as strengthen its relationship with Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex). Among its strategic projects, the Florida Project stands out, focused on developing short sea shipping routes between ports in the Gulf of Mexico and the state of Florida

The business leader pointed out that the sector’s main challenges are linked to the relocation of production chains, which demands greater efficiency in ports and fleets, as well as improvements in safety and connectivity in coastal shipping operations to reduce costs and transit times. In this context, he emphasized the opportunities presented by the Interoceanic Corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec and the sector’s participation in the renegotiations of the North American trade agreement.

Regarding cabotage, the aim is to increase the activity of affiliated companies in segments such as oil, offshore , mineral bulk, agricultural bulk and general cargo, in addition to strengthening coordination with authorities on regulatory issues, navigation permits and certifications.

Cameintram also promotes the development of shipyards in the country to strengthen shipbuilding and the national merchant fleet, which, according to the organization, would contribute to job creation and increased revenue, although this requires conditions such as legal certainty, financing schemes and customs facilitation.

In parallel, the sector faces the challenge of complying with international regulations for the reduction of polluting emissions, in line with the International Maritime Organization, as well as advancing in the adoption of digital tools and artificial intelligence for route optimization, vessel monitoring and supply chain management.

At the close of his remarks, Urreta Ortega emphasized the importance of maritime transport for the country’s foreign trade: “In this second year of work, we will sail together towards a more competitive, sustainable, and proudly Mexican maritime transport industry.”

Comment and follow us on LinkedIn:  @GrupoT21

El cargo Urreta returns to lead Cameintram apareció primero en T21.

Maritime transport in Mexico begins 2026 under a combination of structural pressure and strategic opportunity that compels the sector to accelerate decision-making. The relocation of supply chains, the energy transition, and the redefinition of trade routes are reshaping the global landscape, and in this context, the country faces a pivotal year to transform these changes into a real logistical advantage, warned José Manuel Urreta Ortega, president of the Mexican Chamber of the Maritime Transport Industry (Cameintram) .

“During 2026, shipping companies face various challenges determined by the transformation imposed by a supply chain relocation economy and the global decarbonization process of the maritime sector,” the business leader explained, emphasizing that these factors not only increase operational complexity but also redefine Mexico’s competitive position in international trade.

One of the most immediate milestones is the completion of the Interoceanic Corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec (CIIT), scheduled for June. For the shipping sector, this project marks a turning point in the country’s interoceanic connectivity. “We hope to position this multimodal logistics platform as a strategic alternative to the Panama Canal for trade between the Atlantic and Pacific,” stated Urreta Ortega, envisioning a scenario in which Mexico ceases to be merely a transit territory and becomes a direct link in maritime and land traffic.

This commitment is complemented by a package of port investments that represents the largest share of public resources allocated for 2026. The modernization of the ports of Altamira, Progreso, Lázaro Cárdenas, and Salina Cruz, along with the expansion of the Port of Veracruz and the development of the New Port of Manzanillo , aims to substantially increase the operational capacity of the port system. “We expect to substantially increase the number of maritime operations, as well as reduce times and costs,” stated the president of Cameintram, making it clear that the impact of these projects will be measured in terms of efficiency and competitiveness, not just physical infrastructure.

However, the sector warns that the challenge is not limited to building or expanding ports. For these investments to translate into tangible results, it will be essential to resolve long-standing issues in security, connectivity, and regulation. “It is necessary to implement actions that allow us to increase security and connectivity in cabotage operations,” noted Urreta Ortega , who emphasized streamlining customs procedures and modernizing the fleet as key conditions for short-sea shipping to gain ground against other modes.

Digitalization emerges as another decisive factor in this equation. According to the shipping leader, terminal automation and the adoption of technologies such as the Internet of Things will improve fleet management and real-time cargo monitoring, at a time when logistical efficiency has become a competitive advantage over other countries also seeking to attract flows derived from nearshoring (relocation of production lines to consumption centers).

All of this is happening in an international environment marked by trade uncertainty. Stricter rules of origin and tariff quotas are coexisting with a reorganization of global supply chains and the opening of new maritime routes. “While there is high trade uncertainty at the global level, the global reorganization of supply chains and the reconfiguration of maritime routes such as those in the Arctic continue to represent significant areas of opportunity,” said Urreta Ortega, who emphasized that the outcome of negotiations with the United States, Canada, and the European Union will be crucial for Mexico’s international standing.

The environmental agenda completes the map of risks and opportunities. The president of Cameintram highlighted that Mexico has the potential to become a regional hub for zero-emission marine fuel supplies, taking advantage of the transition to biofuels, electrofuels, and green hydrogen. “Mexico has the opportunity to position itself as a zero-emission marine fuel supply center in Latin America,” he stated, while reiterating the need to advance on the decarbonization path to comply with global agreements promoted by the International Maritime Organization and avoid operational restrictions and increasing regulatory costs.

With this outlook, 2026 is shaping up to be a defining year for Mexican maritime transport: one in which the speed with which projects, reforms, and environmental commitments are translated into concrete results will make the difference between taking advantage of the global moment or falling behind in an increasingly intense logistics competition.

Comment and follow us on X:  @GrupoT21

El cargo Infrastructure, energy and trade: the key year for the shipping sector apareció primero en T21.

José Manuel Urreta Ortega , national president of the  Mexican Chamber of the Maritime Transport Industry (Cameintram) , presented his 2025 Work Program to the Navy Commission of the Chamber of Deputies , which highlights issues related to the development of cabotage, encouraging shipbuilding in Mexico, and the decarbonization of the maritime-port sector.

The document presented by Urreta also highlights topics such as the participation of the maritime sector in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec Interoceanic Corridor project , as well as continuing to promote maritime transport through tax incentives.

At the meeting, held in San Lázaro, Cameintram and Humberto Coss and León Zúñiga , president of the Navy Commission, agreed to work as a team and strengthen constructive dialogue.

This is intended to promote legislative proposals to incentivize the Mexican merchant marine , as well as other relevant interests, to achieve consensus and agreements with the goal of bringing Mexico’s maritime sector to a successful conclusion.

During the meeting, Coss and León Zúñiga expressed their interest and commitment to maintaining open channels of communication with Cameintram and working together to address the challenges facing the country’s maritime sector.

He said that the agency’s work as an intermediary for the productive sector, shipowners, operators, and other stakeholders has been essential in providing visibility and monitoring of the needs, challenges, and opportunities of this industry. He also stated that maritime development requires a state policy.

He also recognized the new members of the National Board of Directors of Cameintram, especially José Manuel Urreta for his recent appointment as president of the organization.

For his part, Urreta Ortega welcomed this first meeting with legislators and emphasized that they have working committees for all activities, through which they will develop each of the projects they have proposed.

In turn, Representative Gabriela Benavides Cobos welcomed Cameintram’s vision to continue promoting cabotage in the country, and offered ongoing communication to address issues such as the decarbonization of the maritime-port sector.

It is worth remembering that last January, the Mexican government  published a decree in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF)  specifying that individuals and corporations have the possibility of immediately deducting, until September 30, 2030, investments made in new fixed assets, specifically machinery, equipment, and ships .

The decree also promotes investment in technological developments that lead to inventions, patents, and certifications, to integrate more Mexican companies, especially micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), into local and regional supply chains.

Comment and follow us on X: @GrupoT21

El cargo Cameintram seeks to incentivize shipbuilding in Mexico apareció primero en T21.

For the past two years, a group of business and civil society organizations has promoted an agenda that seeks to raise awareness and encourage action among all stakeholders involved in the maritime decarbonization process in Mexico , both private and public.

They themselves have worked on the route that the maritime-port sector must follow in the coming years in its ambitious goal of achieving net zero polluting emissions by 2050, in line with global trends.

In July 2023, the Mexican Chamber of the Maritime Transport Industry (Cameintram) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in its Mexican chapter signed a collaboration agreement formalizing the joint work points on the decarbonization agenda, which was later joined (February 2024) by the Institute of the Americas .

Last week, these same organizations signed an addendum to their tripartite agreement , in which they committed to working on even more specific points, such as a diagnosis of maritime transport emissions in Mexico; the joint dissemination of the topic of decarbonization and maritime and port sustainability; and the development of a critical path or strategy with actions and recommendations for the maritime sector.

The progress of the agreement is already noticeable. At the same meeting, the emissions assessment was presented , an analysis that began in the middle of last year.

Salomón Díaz, maritime decarbonization coordinator at WWF Mexico, explained that the inclusion of the maritime sector in global climate change discussions is recent; in fact, the revised International Maritime Organization (IMO) strategy itself was only established in 2023, outlining the course to be taken in the coming years to achieve net zero.

However, the IMO has pushed to begin generating action in the sector. One of the main strategies presented—and supported by just over 60% of member countries—has been the possible implementation of a maritime tax for shipping lines on international voyages, a measure that establishes emission limits or requires payment of a tax for excess emissions. This proposal will be debated and likely ratified at the next meeting of the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee, from April 7 to 11.

“The fruits of this labor have begun to materialize,” said Eric Serratos, founding partner and executive director of SEA Energy Associates , a maritime specialist that has supported and advised these organizations in the development of the diagnostic document.

The authors of this document aim to establish a roadmap for the maritime and port sector to begin measuring its emissions, set and implement goals, and monitor and publish their results.

Although at least 10% of Cameintram members offer international services, the chamber’s leaders are aware that future international measures could also include domestic or offshore travel , where the majority of these companies in Mexico operate.

“They shouldn’t feel left out,” said José Manuel Urreta, president of Cameintram, who maintained that this business organization will continue working together on the maritime decarbonization agenda.

Champions

One of the initiatives that Cameintram, WWF Mexico, and the Institute of the Americas have implemented to highlight companies that have begun to make efforts toward decarbonization is the establishment of a recognition program called “Champions of Sustainable Maritime Transport and Ports in Mexico . “

During the meeting held by these organizations , recognition was given to the companies Baja Ferries and Navalmex for their contributions to decarbonization , but mainly because they already carry out actions such as measurement, planning, implementation/monitoring and publication of their results.

Contecon Manzanillo is another company in the sector that has received this recognition.

Upcoming events

These actors, who have been driving the maritime decarbonization agenda, announced that a virtual conference entitled “IMO Negotiations on Economic Measures for the Decarbonization of the Maritime Industry” will be held on March 27 .

This conference will feature two panelists from the Navy , specifically the Port Authority and Maritime Affairs Unit (Unicapam) , and other organizations such as UMAS and AIDA.

Likewise, the 2nd Binational Forum on Maritime Transport and Sustainable Ports of the Three Californias was reported , to be held on June 26 and 27, 2025, in the port of Ensenada, Baja California, where leading organizations focused on climate change and that have made efforts to address the agenda in the maritime and port sector will meet.

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

El cargo Building the compass for maritime decarbonization in Mexico apareció primero en T21.

The Mexican Chamber of the Maritime Transport Industry (Cameintram) renewed its National Board of Directors on Thursday for the 2025-2026 term, during which José Manuel Urreta Ortega was sworn in as its new president.

The incoming leader confirmed that he will continue the work accomplished by outgoing president Raúl Téllez Villagra, and reaffirmed his commitment to working for the Mexican merchant marine and the country’s development.

“In calm or turbulent waters, we will work for the sector,” he told the chamber members.

Urreta Ortega indicated that the areas they will focus their efforts on will be cabotage, maritime highways, shipbuilding, support for federal government projects such as the Isthmus of Tehuantepec Interoceanic Corridor (CIIT), the Maya Train, and the Dos Bocas Refinery; as well as contractual improvements with Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) , a focus on maritime decarbonization, nearshoring, cybersecurity, e-commerce, and artificial intelligence.

Present at the swearing-in ceremony, Vice Admiral Javier Torres Claudio, head of the Port Captaincy and Maritime Affairs Unit (Unicapam) , said that this month the Navy will begin a small coastal shipping project in the port of Salina Cruz, in the state of Oaxaca, to promote the CIIT, and also encouraged the Mexican merchant marine to participate in these projects now that various incentives have been established.

Urreta emphasized that one of the central pillars of his administration will be to consolidate Cameintram as the most representative and active business entity in Mexico’s maritime-port sector, as well as to defend the common interests of its members. To this end, he invited them to actively participate in the actions of his renewed National Board of Directors.

Cameintram recently celebrated its 35th anniversary and affiliates shipowners, operators, and service providers of the Mexican merchant marine.

The new presidency of Cameintram emphasized unity and teamwork among members and the current government, as well as within the Confederation of Industrial Chambers (Concamin) and the Business Coordinating Council (CCE) , representing the interests of the maritime sector as interlocutors to improve the industry’s conditions.

In his speech, Concamin Secretary Héctor Ramírez Leal stated that the country’s industrialists will support the work of Cameintram and outlined their efforts to promote the participation of the Mexican merchant marine in national supply chains, as well as encourage investment in this sector.

Comment and follow us on X:@GrupoT21

El cargo Cameintram renews National Board of Directors 2025-2026 apareció primero en T21.

By Osiel Cruz and Enrique Duarte

The Mexican port authority is continuing to push ahead with its project to boost cabotage activity for maritime transport of goods in the country.

In an interview with T21, the General Coordinator of Ports and Merchant Marine (CGPMM) , Captain Manuel Fernando Gutiérrez Gallardo, outlined some of the strategies that will be applied in this new federal administration focused on materializing this project inherited from the government of Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

T21: Mr. Coordinator, during the previous administration, a project was presented to promote short-distance maritime routes and encourage cabotage. In the end, not much progress was made. In that sense, is this a program that will continue in this administration?

Manuel Fernando Gutiérrez Gallardo: Admiral Secretary [of the Navy] Raymundo Pedro Morales Ángeles, since he took office, has instructed us to work to develop cabotage , which is a priority project that the Navy has had since the previous administration.

I’m going to tell you about the progress, because this is going to take off. We first established internal working groups between the Interoceanic Corridor [of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec] , the Coordination [General of Ports and Merchant Marine], the priority area, which is Unicapam (Port Authority and Maritime Affairs Unit) as well, because we discovered that they have been making efforts separately . We have already met and the Coordination is leading these meetings.

We also had a meeting with Cameintram (Mexican Chamber of the Maritime Transport Industry) , which are the Mexican shipowners, because we want cabotage to be done by Mexican shipowners, with Mexican ships, Mexican crew . But we are also making a collaboration agreement with SAT (Tax Administration Service) to have the information on the Cartas de Porte ( Bills of Lading), which are used by the transporters, to see how the cargo movement is in the country. That will give us information on where to where we can implement cabotage routes in the country to complement land transport.

What advances do we have that are of great interest to Mexican shipowners? We are going to give them preference by modifying the rules of operation of the port , with that they are going to save thousands of dollars from waiting to enter the port. Mexican ships that do cabotage will have preference to enter the port, to the dock, because a ship costs between 15 thousand and 20 thousand dollars a day to be stopped; so in that reduction in the costs of using infrastructure, we are giving discounts of up to 50% for the use of infrastructure, we are already discussing it with the Asiponas (Administrations of the National Port System). I am telling you in advance. It will be a surprise for everyone. Integrated and preferential rates for Mexican shipowners that do cabotage.

We have already identified the path to follow with other authorities, we want to reduce the ISR (Income Tax) for Mexican shipowners (…) it will help a lot to encourage Mexican shipowners to bring ships and Mexican flag carriers, but also, just as the land transport companies did, which credit the IEPS (Special Tax on Production and Services), diesel, we want it to be credited to Mexican shipowners, to the ships.

So with operating rules, cost reduction for infrastructure use and the issue of integrated rates, who wouldn’t want to become Mexican ?

We are going to sit down with the owners of the loads or with the buyers of the load, the sellers, and the buyers of the load, but also with those from Canacar (National Chamber of Cargo Transportation) , those of land transportation, to make routes as if it were multimodal transportation (…), even with rail transportation we are going to hold meetings so that they make commercial agreements , so that all this happens.

A market study was commissioned , financed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and we have already received the results. We are sharing them with Mexican shipowners, but they need the other part, the cargo issue.

T21: Coordinator, you mentioned that changes will be established for the operating rules. Do these changes also consider the interaction between customs and ports?

MFGG: It has nothing to do with cabotage because it is national cargo. However, the ports and the internal infrastructure of the ports are designed to receive foreign trade cargo and all the roads that go from the docks converge on a route that is the fiscal route, there is no cabotage route, there are no cabotage routes. What we are looking for is to create cabotage routes , so that they do not mix with the fiscal route, the cabotage route for national cargo (and) the fiscal route for foreign trade cargo.

[The port of] Lázaro Cárdenas is already designed like this. Lázaro Cárdenas has a coastal shipping dock , a coastal shipping route, and they are putting that dock out to tender right now so that they can finish dredging. We all have to do the same, that is why customs says there are no problems with the issue of coastal shipping, because customs is also participating in the working groups and all those details are coming out.

Q21: Are there other elements that are considered in this plan to encourage cabotage?

MFGG: We are close to acquiring the training ship. It is a multipurpose ship that will work on cabotage, short distance maritime transport through a floating contract with some of the interested parties, but the ship will also serve to comply with the study plan of the students of the three nautical schools, as required by the STCW, which is the training agreement for merchant seamen, officers.

The first payment is already being made this month and the delivery time for this new multipurpose ship is six months, so we will launch the training ship in 2025. The good news or the premise is that the resources have already been authorized , the acquisitions committee has already approved it unanimously.

T21: What was the cost?

MFGG: Approximately 13 million dollars. It is a 153-meter-long ship with capacity for 900 20-foot containers. It will have the capacity to accommodate 300 students. It will be self-sustaining, the freight itself will pay for its maintenance. We will not require an additional budget, but the freight itself will be used to pay for the training of the boys, but also for the ship’s docks, maintenance, operating costs and its upkeep.

We invite you to stay tuned for the January 2025 issue of T21 magazine, where other topics discussed in the interview with the head of the CGPMM will be published.

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

El cargo CGPMM to Implement Changes to Boost Maritime Cabotage apareció primero en T21.

Sergio Ampudia Mello, member of the Mexican Chamber of the Maritime Transport Industry (Cameintram) , considered that Mexico has the conditions that could serve for the production of semiconductors, one of the products that the United States would be interested in manufacturing in the country.

During his participation in the first forum “The wave of nearshoring : Challenges and opportunities for port development”, organized by the Navy , he said that this would be achieved as long as various conditions and the supply of water and electricity are guaranteed , two of the factors that companies would put on the table in their decision to relocate to Mexico.

Ampudia stressed that nearshoring is more of a political issue than an economic one , which has to do with supply chains.

He recalled that in 2020, the then president of the United States, Donald Trump , realized that there was great dependence on trade with Asia, because semiconductors and many pharmaceutical products were manufactured in China, so he decided to relocate companies of American origin to America , under various modalities.

He explained that other products that the United States Government is interested in relocating are medical supplies, electric vehicle assembly, software and technology for civil and military use, as well as data centers .

The specialist pointed out that nearshoring will have to be done with clean energy, such as wind and solar. He also specified that in order to relocate production lines in the country, it is necessary to address various factors and conditions.

In this regard, he said that the reform of the Judiciary has generated a lot of uncertainty, which has permeated the business world and various reactions from investors.

He pointed out that the development of nearshoring in Mexico, if it occurs, would be by region , as it has always been, and gave as an example the assembly of vehicles in which the Bajío region is dominant.

Success of nearshoring in Mexico

Luis Ize Ludlow, president of Honeywell Mexico , Gilda Leticia López Varela , director of Foreign Trade and Customs of the Mexican Association of the Automotive Industry (AMIA) , and Víctor Cruz Méndez , delegate of the Mexican Association of Freight Forwarders (Amacarga) , also  participated in the forum .

At the panel “Success stories on nearshoring in Mexico,” Luis Ize Ludlow said that the phenomenon of relocating companies in Mexico is not something new, and that in fact this process is accelerating. In his participation, he highlighted the aerospace technology that this company develops in Baja California.

Gilda Leticia López Varela, from AMIA, stressed that the automotive industry is gradually recovering to pre-pandemic levels , and emphasized that there are 13 light vehicle manufacturing companies in the country, and that their goal is also to increase the production of electric cars, an opportunity that can be achieved with nearshoring .

Meanwhile, Víctor Cruz Méndez, from Amacarga, said that there are still challenges to be faced, especially in the logistics part, which will be achieved with the training and professionalization of the agents who participate in the sector. He highlighted, as a success story, the participation and collaboration they had with the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) in the cargo part.

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

El cargo Mexico has conditions for possible semiconductor manufacturing apareció primero en T21.