Puerto Lirquén to expand capacity

The new equipment represents a total investment of US$3m and is part of a long-term programme initiated by the port authority in 2000. Improvements envisioned for the near future include construction of a storage yard area and warehouses and the addition of two new berths.

Located on Conception Bay, about 390 miles south of Valparaiso, Lirquén is connected by road and rail to important agricultural and timber-producing regions of the country. Facilities include two wharves with a total of six berths and both covered and open-air storage. Berth depths range from 24 ft to 50 ft (15.2 m).

Traffic in 2006 consisted of 4.4m tonnes of cargo, 189,661 teu of containers and 333 ship calls. Primary cargo commodities are logs, lumber, woodpulp, fertiliser and containerised general cargo. Over the past decade, the port has experienced growth of 67% in cargo tonnage, 36% in vessel traffic and 210% in container volumes.