Port of the Americas Briefs
The Authority of the Port of the Americas (APA) is pleased to announce major steps towards the development of an international caliber deep draft port in the Southern Region of Puerto Rico.
2010
January | February | March | April | May | June
2009
January | February | March | April | May | June
July | August | September | October | November
December
- January 22: Puerto Rico Governor Luis G. Fortuño, Ponce Mayor María “Mayita” Meléndez and other senior government officials formally welcomed the Super Post Panamax cranes to Ponce. Governor Fortuño reiterated his commitment to turn the Port of the Americas into a world-class international transshipment harbor with value-added zones in the southern region of Puerto Rico.
- January 21: The ZPMC Zhenhua #7, carrying the Port of the Americas’ two Super Post Panamax cranes, arrived in Ponce shortly before 5:00 pm. The arrival of two Super Post Panamax cranes represents a giant step forward for the Port of the Americas’ development. The U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs & Border Protection, and various other public and private sector entities ensured a safe and secure docking.
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- December 31: The Port concluded a productive 2009 calendar year. Significant progress points throughout the year included:
- significantly advancing negotiations with leading global institutions interested in investing in the Port
- reactivating and finalizing the procurement of the ZPMC Super Post Panamax ship-to-shore cranes
- petitioning the U.S. government for up to $70 million of funding through the Department of Transportation’s TIGER discretionary grant program
- completing the dredging process at the Piers 4-6 to ensure 50-foot depths; and
- finalizing construction of the 250,000 TEU container yard facilities.
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- November 29: The ZPMC vessel Zhenhua #7, carrying PAA’s two Post Panamax ship-to-shore cranes, departed from Chang Xing Island outside of Shanghai. ZPMC’s vessel is expected to arrive at the Port of the Americas in approximately two months and is being routed as follows: Shanghai-Yangtse River-Cape of Good Hope-Cape of Calcanhar-Ponce.
- November 20: PAA Board of Directors convened at the Municipality of Ponce for its monthly board meeting.
- November 19 - Rhonda M. Castillo Gammill, PAA Executive Director, was the speaker at the Mechanical Contractors Association monthly meeting.
- November 16: PAA welcomed the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce, including its Chairman, to the Port to discuss mutual collaboration and comprehensive business development opportunities related to the value-added zones. DISUR also actively participated in the discussion.
- November 8: Governor Luis G. Fortuño welcomed a delegation from the Republic of Korea to La Fortaleza for a business discussion and courtesy visit.
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- October 24: PAA Board of Directors convened at the Department of Economic Development and Commerce for an extraordinary board meeting.
- October 22: Caribbean Business published an extensive article on the state of the Port of the Americas negotiation process with the Korean parties, including a discussion of various institutions involved in the due diligence process.
- October 14: PAA Board of Directors convened at the Department of Economic Development and Commerce for an extraordinary board meeting.
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- September 25: PAA representatives conducted a series of meetings in Washington, DC with various government agencies involved in maritime and surface transportation matters. The meetings raised awareness of the project at the federal level as the Port plans to go operational.
- September 24: PAA representatives presented at the 4th Annual North America Infrastructure and Energy Finance Conference in New York on the “New Ports: What’s on the Horizon?” panel alongside the Port of Oakland.
- September 21: PAA Board of Directors convened at the Department of Economic Development and Commerce for its monthly board meeting.
- September 14: PAA submitted a competitive grant proposal for up to $70 million of federal funds through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s TIGER program (TIGER stands for Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery).
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- August 30-September 3: PAA representatives conducted official business trip to the Republic of Korea to meet with senior executives of the Korea Development Bank, Korea Express, Korea Express Busan Container Terminal, and Woojin Global Logistics. Government-to-government meetings were also held between PAA and the Busan Port Authority, which oversees the world’s 5th largest port, and Mr. Hur Nam-sik, Mayor of the City of Busan.
- August 17: PAA Board of Directors convened in Ponce for its monthly board meeting.
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- July 29: A conditions-based 45-day extension to the Exclusive Negotiation Agreement between PAA and UCW America was executed between the parties.
- July 28: In an extraordinary session, the PAA Board of Directors named Rhonda M. Castillo Gammill, Esq. as the new Executive Director of the Authority.
- July 20-21: PAA hosted a second South Korean delegation, which included representatives from Woojin Global Logistics and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST).
- July 15: PAA Board of Directors convened at the Department of Economic Development and Commerce for its monthly board meeting.
- Week of July 6: PAA hosted a 15-person UCW America delegation, including numerous functionaries from South Korea. UCW’s participants included representatives from the Korean Development Bank, Korea Ratings Company, the Korea Maritime Institute, Korea Express Busan Container Terminal and GP Insurance. During the week-long visit, the delegation met with numerous Puerto Rico government entities such as the Government Development Bank, PRIDCO, Puerto Rico Planning Board, and the Autonomous Municipality of Ponce, among others.
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- June 2, 2009: The Board of Directors of APA convened in Ponce for its monthly board meeting. Concession negotiations between APA and UCW America, Corp. continued to progress. Numerous sessions were conducted in order to move the process forward.
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- May 29, 2009: President of the Board of Directors, José R. Pérez-Riera, presented a project status update regarding the Port of the Americas before the Comisión Total Especial del Senado at El Teatro La Perla de Ponce.
- May 26, 2009: Mayer Brown representatives and other advisors participate in a detailed site-visit of the APA container facility and value-added zone development.
- May 19, 2009: Leader Firm International formally engaged to provide on-site third party quality assurance and progress monitoring services for the 2 Post-Panamax ship-to-shore cranes currently being manufactured by ZPMC, in Shanghai, China.
- May 15, 2009: Mayer Brown LLP, a recognized U.S. leader in the successful implementation of complex and highly visible infrastructure projects, is formally engaged by APA as concession counsel. Mayer Brown’s experience in the maritime sector is extensive and highly relevant, representing clients such as the Panama Canal Authority and other major U.S. port authorities.
- May 7-8, 2009: Simposio Internacional en Logística y Desarrollo Portuario convened in Ponce. The two-day Simposio was extremely well-attended and highlighted the critical role that maritime ports play in sustainable economic development. After a presentation at the Simposio, the President of the Board of Directors, José R. Pérez-Riera, participated in a site visit of the Port of the Americas with the Mayor of Ponce, Hon. María E. Meléndez Altieri.
- May 1, 2009: President of the Board of Directors, José R. Pérez-Riera, conducted meeting in San Juan with UCW America, Corp. representatives to discuss negotiations and the strategic importance of the Port of the Americas for the Municipality of Ponce, the Southern Region, and all of Puerto Rico.
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- April 29, 2009: APA and UCW America, Corp. entered into a 90-day Exclusive Negotiation Agreement with respect to a long-term concession of the port.
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