For its inaugural operations, TSSA discharged 84 boxes and loaded 214 boxes. The first vessel operating the 3,800 TEU-capacity CAP San Nicolas arrived from Miami, Florida.The Suape terminal has an annual capacity of 600,000 TEUs. It has a 29-hectare surface area with two berthing positions. Quay length is 660 meters with a depth alongside of 15.5 meters. The terminal has access to the Suape-owned railway.

TSSA equipped the terminal with two Krupp quay cranes, two Paceco rubber-tired gantries, three Fantuzzi Reggiane reach stackers, a Yale forklift and two Fantuzzi Reggiane side lifters.

Appointed as chief executive officer of TSSA is Fernando Tadeu de Castro Mota. Jorge A. Cano, ICTSI Ltd. senior vice president, is in charge of projects and business development in the Americas, including TSSA.

ICTSI won last June 2001 the 30-year concession to manage and operate the Suape container terminal. Upon takeover, TSSA and ICTSI Ltd. quickly invested USD10 million in civil works and equipment to get the terminal ready for operations.

Suape is an industrial and port complex in the northeastern tip of Brazil in the province of Pernambuco. Situated at the convergence of the main commercial routes of long-distance shipping, it links the East Coast of South America with the other continents, as well as coastal traffic linking the Southern region with the North and Northeast of Brazil. More than 45 companies are currently operating within the complex which aim to became a Hub Port for the East Coast of South América.

The Brazilian government forecasts long-term growth in terms of container traffic in the country for the next five years at annual rates of between six and nine percent for imports and exports, respectively. This will boost container movement from 2.35 million TEUs in 2000 to around 3.5 million TEUs in 2005.

Tecon Suape Sociedade Anônima - Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil

Tel: (5581) 3326-7575 - Fax: (5581) 3326-4450 - Email: comercial@teconsuape.com