OPERADORA Portuaria Centroamericana (OPC), the Honduran subsidiary of International Container Terminal Services, Inc (ICTSI) operating in Puerto Cortes, is working with the Honduran government and Puerto Cortes authorities to accelerate cargo movement in and around the terminal and improve port services
OPERADORA Portuaria Centroamericana (OPC), the Honduran subsidiary of International Container Terminal Services, Inc (ICTSI) operating in Puerto Cortes, is working with the Honduran government and Puerto Cortes authorities to accelerate cargo movement in and around the terminal and improve port services. With the goal of better serving OPC's customers in the four-nation Central America-4 that comprises Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua, the enhancements include simplified and faster port transactions, and the construction of critical road infrastructure that will improve cargo movement in the region.
As part of the efforts to expedite intra-regional trade, the Honduran Customs Agency (Direccion Adjunta de Rentas Aduaneras - DARA) has streamlined its systems for early clearance and dispatch of cargo, matching OPC's operations. Operating hours of customs authorities have been extended until 7 pm to give agents and brokers more time to process shipments.
For its part, the Honduran Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (SENASA) has implemented online processes for the application of certificates and phytosanitary permits, improving the process and generation of payment tickets, a statement from ICTSI said.
Outside of the port, the Honduran Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Services has invested in the expansion, reconstruction and maintenance of the main road and secondary road network leading to the port, with the purpose of expediting the transfer of loads between hinterland areas and border areas in the CA-4.
In addition to these measures, Enpresa Nacional Portuaria (ENP), the Honduran port authority has also enabled a truck entry facilitation zone next to the port's immediate confines to ease truck traffic on public roads on the days when a large amount of cargo is sent or received.
'The good relationship and teamwork between OPC and authorities, a prime example of good public-private partnership, will help Puerto Cortes to be more efficient and competitive, move more volume, and benefit all stakeholders in the logistics chain,' said OPC chief executive officer Mariano Turnes.
He added: 'It is very important that shared efficiencies between us, the port operator and the government, are achieved through the improvement of processes, avoiding extra costs for stakeholders and making them more competitive in the local and international market.'
ICTSI recently completed the US$145 million Pier 6 greenfield development for OPC, which represents the first phase of expansion work in Puerto Cortes. It has also acquired two super post-Panamax cranes.
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