DP World chairman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem says his group recognises the importance of its container terminal in Caucedo to serve the Caribbean region, as a hub port, during a company tour of its marine terminals in South America.

The delegation visited the group's sea freight terminals in Peru, Argentina, Suriname and the Dominican Republic, as well as the new development in Brazil, a statement posted on the 4 Traders news portal said.

In March last year, Leonel Fernandez, the President of the Dominican Republic and Mr Bin Sulayem officially inaugurated the second phase of the group's terminal in Caucedo, which has increased the facility's overall handling capacity by 25 per cent to 1,250,000 TEU annually.

The expansion comprises an additional 300 metres of deepwater berth, two new yield mobile cranes in addition to five existing gantry quay cranes. A sixth quay crane and three further rubber tired gantry (RTG) cranes are scheduled to arrive in April.

Mr Bin Sulayem, was cited as saying: "The recent expansion in handling capacity of the port is an indication of our confidence in the strength of the Dominican Republic's economy, and fits with our strategy of focusing on fast emerging markets."

He noted that the terminal has been awarded the ISO 28000 security management standard, and it participates in the US Container Security Initiative (CSI), with US Customs officials stationed at the port.

The group has its eye on expanding the feeder capacity at the Caucedo container terminal through the development of an additional feeder berth at the breakwater.


Source Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News