Cuba commits to ports modernisation undertaking

The expansion of the Panama Canal has prompted Cuba to fund the expansion and modernisation of its three main ports in collaboration with China and Venezuela.

Dredging will deepen draught in Havana, Cienfuegos and Santiago, which handle 80% of the islands international maritime traffic. Much of the work will be bankrolled by China and also by a joint venture company known as Alba.

No major dredging work has been undertaken at these ports for at least 30 years, and the available draught has suffered as a result. This, and other reasons, has hit volumes which have shrunk from 12m tonnes in 1982 to around 3m tonnes today. Havana, for its part, handles no more than 700,000 tonnes annually, despite having a capacity of 1.2m tonnes. It will have its quayside infrastructure upgraded and four of its seven cranes modernised. Plans are also afoot to build Mariel Port to the west of the capital using $300m of Brazilian finance, which would pay for 50% of the price.

Source: Port Strategy