San Vicente International Terminal

completed

The project consists of the operation, improvement and expansion of the Port of San Vicente (San Vicente), located about 520 km to the south of Santiago and 18 km from Concepción, capital of Region VIII. San Vicente Terminal Internacional (SVTI) has operated the port from January 2000 under a 15 year concession granted by Empresa Portuaria Talcahuano-San Vicente (EMPORT), the port authority of San Vicente and the neighboring port of Talcahuano. SVTI has the option to extend the concession for an additional 15 year term pending satisfaction of government criteria. SVTI is a joint venture of Sudamericana Agencias Aéreas y Maritimas S.A., a subsidiary of a well-established Chilean shipping company, and SSA Holdings International Chile Limitada, a majority owned subsidiary of FRS Service Companies, Inc. of the United States.San Vicente is a medium sized port of Chile, specializing in handling forest products in bulk, break bulk, and containers. It is primarily a foreign trade port, with exports being over 80% of cargo. In 2000, the port handled 2.75 million tons of cargo of which over 65% comprised forest products for export – wood pulp, wood chips, sawn timber, paper, logs and fiberboard. A rapidly increasing number of containers are also handled through the port, with over 146,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent unit) moved in 2000. The port comprises three berths totaling 603 meters in length, with a maximum draft of 12.2 meters.The project includes improving the structural stability of the existing berths, relocation of storage sheds, refurbishment of existing structures, installation of computer and communication systems, acquisition of additional cargo handling equipment and financing of five of the six annual concession payments to EMPORT. The proposed investment would result in an increase in cargo handling capacity of the port and allow it to meet the growing demand for its services in the foreseeable future.