European, Asian firms interested in bidding to build major Peru shipyard

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Co

11/01/2024 22:38

LIMA, Jan 11 (Reuters) - The head of Peru's state-run
shipping company on Thursday said nine foreign firms have shown
interest in bidding to build a major shipyard next to the
country's bustling Callao port, part of a push to attract more
Pacific trade across Latin America.
    The mostly European and Asian shipbuilding companies that
have demonstrated interest in the auction to construct the
project must submit bids on Feb. 14, with the winning offer set
to be announced on Feb. 20.  
    Vice Admiral Ernesto Colunge, president of the SIMA state
shipping company which is part of the Navy, said the interested
firms include South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries
 329180.KS , Italy's Fincantieri  FCT.MI , Spain's Navantia,
France's Naval Group, Germany's Thyssenkrupp  TKAG.DE ,
Britain's BAE Systems  BAES.L  and Damen Shipyards of the
Netherlands.  
    "The call for bids has been launched to pick a strategic
partner to develop the shipyard alongside SIMA," Colunge told
Reuters, shortly after speaking at a shipping industry event in
Lima. He described the potential bidders as all "first class"
shipyard builders.
    He said the new shipyard should improve the capacity of
SIMA's existing infrastructure and also foment technology
transfers to boost productivity.
    Colungue did not offer an estimated cost for the new
infrastructure project next to the Callao port, Peru's largest.
    Peru's upgraded port infrastructure aims to attract more
shipments, especially from Asian markets, as well as serve as an
low-cost export hub for South American businesses, including
from Brazil.
    China's Cosco Shipping  1199.HK  is building the massive
Chancay port, located about 70 kilometers (44 miles) north of
Callao and set to come online later this year, while SIMA aims
to renovate its fleet by building 23 new ships as well as a new
dock that would host cargo ship repairs from Chancay's future
operations.

 (Reporting by Marco Aquino; Editing by David Alire Garcia and
Rosalba O'Brien)
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