In Honduras, tugging services are being tendered for the execution of docking and undocking of ships, for the maritime terminals of Cortés, Omoa, Tela and San Lorenzo.
Honduras Government purchase LPI-ENP-01-2020:
"Consists of providing docking and undocking services in Puerto Cortés and Omoa with a minimum of 2,400 operations between two tugboats in the twelve months, redocking service in the Port of Tela that includes time for the vessel to be kept and the crossing.
Among the Canal Authority's investment plans for 2019 is construction of a second dump for the management of the reservoirs, and the purchase of a floating dock and crane.
The budget approved by the Assembly for next year includes specific items requested by the Canal Authority (ACP), which project several investments to improve the performance of the interoceanic highway.
As part of the agreement with the dockers' union, the government has to build a new berth and purchase 4 cranes, 40 forklifts and two tugs.
As part of the commitment to strengthen and modernize the ports of the Board of Port Administration and Economic Development of the Atlantic Coast (Japdeva), the Government must build a berth 26.2 meters wide and 350 meters long, and also provide the necessary machinery to get it going.
With a cost of over $15 million two new tugs belonging to companies of the Meyer's Group have joined the service in Panamanian Atlantic ports.
A statement from Meyer's Group reads:
Meyer's Group expands operations in the port sector of Panama
The companies that make up the entity, are committed to the expansion of the Atlantic ports, a factor that has motivated them to invest more than $15 million in the purchase of new equipment in order to strengthen their presence in the country and meet needs in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The company Astilleros Armon has won a $158 million contract for the construction of 14 tugs for the Panama Canal Authority.
A release by the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) states that the 14 new tugs are being acquired to “increase the current fleet to meet the projected growth of transits through the waterway.”
The statement goes on to say “The contract was awarded to the company offering the best value proposal where the price had a weighting of 35% and the technical proposal, 65% . The tender was open to as wide an audience as possible and had the participation of 20 companies from countries in South America, Europe and Asia.
The National Port Authority will begin the bidding process for the purchase of machinery for Puerto Cortes.
Immediate institutional needs include the acquisition of a crane and three tugboats. The estimated investment is about $ 35 million, $ 20 million for towing and $ 15 million for the crane.
"... So far the port has received requests from Dutch businessmen who have expressed interest for the institution to negotiate the purchase of tugs made in that country," reported the article in LaPrensa.hn.
Starting July 27, KTK Panama S.A. will offer towing services in the Panama Canal
The company has operated in the Caribbean for 25 years, and will start operating with two towing ships, one at Manzanillo International Terminal and another in Colon Container Terminal.
From the company’s press release: “KTK is convinced of the potential of Panama and is willing to participate in this market.