Maritime operations and port maneuvers are suspended at the remote terminal due to the damage caused to the Progreso Deep Sea Port by Hurricane Milton.
Consolidation of container shipments with various products, grains, and fuel carried in trailers, platforms, and tank cars is suspended. More than 10,000 tons of cargo cannot be moved due to the closing of the remote terminal, sources declared.
“About 400 trucks, including trailers, platforms, and tank trucks, are inactive due to the port’s closing,” they indicated.
Maritime and port sources, representatives of shipping agencies, customs, and shipping agents point out that because the hurricane caused northeasterly winds, the remote terminal and the viaduct were severely hit by the storm surge and the category 5 hurricane winds.
The main damage is to the viaduct, whose west side suffered the winds’ onslaught when Milton approached.
The remote terminal was hit from the afternoon and throughout the night of Monday, more than 24 hours, since the northwest winds still persisted throughout Tuesday.
The next morning, the viaduct had stones carried away by the tidal waves, which prevented vehicular traffic, which is what people see when entering the port facilities. Early on Tuesday, the cleaning began to clear the way for the passage of the cargo trucks.
The informants indicate that it is likely that the docks have some damage from the winds and surges, as well as the navigation channel facilities such as the buoys from the landfall to the berth, and because the effects of Milton persisted. It has not been possible to inspect the channel, that is another reason why the deep-sea port is paralyzed.
The Administration of the National Port System of Progreso (Asipona) reported that on Tuesday (October 8), at 4 p.m., a working meeting was held with the entity’s Safety Committee to analyze the effects after Hurricane Milton.
They report that in said meeting it was determined that for security reasons, access to the port remains closed due to the existing weather conditions and that this Wednesday the rehabilitation work will be carried out so that port operations and activities can resume as soon as possible.
Access to the port facilities is closed, cargo trucks cannot enter or leave, and only port and company workers were allowed to enter to carry out the cleaning work on the viaduct, and inspect and repair the damage caused by the hurricane.
Jorge Cruz Canto, Operations Manager of Multisur, a company in charge of grain management, pointed out that according to information provided by Asipona, it is likely that port and maritime activity would resume on Thursday, October 10, with the docking of the ships that are on the high seas waiting for dock, including two bulk carriers.
TYT Newsroom
