APM Terminals Itajaí Raises Productivity Bar

APM Terminals Itajaí, Brazil set a new productivity record by completing 125 Berth Moves per Hour (BMPH) on April 26^th while working the 8,600 TEU capacity Maersk Lamanai, the terminal operator said.

The vessel, part of the weekly Europe/East Coast of South America Samba Service, docked at 2:00 PM, with the terminal performing 1,106 container moves by the time of completion at 10:45 PM. The 125 BMPH was accomplished with two Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes supplemented by two of APM Terminals Itajaí’s three Mobile Harbor Cranes (MHCs).

The terminal’s previous record of 123.67 BMPH had been established with the much smaller 2,700 TEU capacity CMA CGM Ilva in October 2014.

“Larger vessels are now in regular service at South American ports, and this productivity level, achieved without compromise to our safety standards and performance, demonstrates that we are ready and able to meet this challenge and provide world-class service to our customers,” said APM Terminals Brazil Country Manager, Ricardo Arten Gorzelak.

The Port of Itajaí, in Brazil’s Santa Catarina State, is currently limited to vessels of 306 meters in length, and has undertaken a USD 104 million turning basin enlargement project divided into two phases, which will allow access to vessels of up to 366 meters when completed.

The Itajaí Port Complex is the second-largest container hub in Brazil, after the Port of Santos, handling an estimated combined total of 1.1 million TEUs in 2014. APM Terminals Itajaí, which assumed operational control in 2007, handled 400,000 TEUs last year. APM Terminals Itajaí has applied for a concession extension from the Brazilian government which would expand the yard and operational capacity by 30% with a USD 100 million upgrade.

APM Terminals also operates APM Terminals Pecém in the Ceará State, and holds a 50% interest in Brasil Terminal Portuário (BTP) in Santos, now the busiest container terminal in South America’s largest container port. BTP handled 850,000 TEUs in 2014.