Port of Santa Marta is extending their footprint

Handling all the RO-RO chain of operation providing comprehensive services in this field, the technology for control and supervision of cargo and specialization of personnel in this operation are the great benefits, among other, represented by entering into the agreement. ‘A fundamental step in response to the new challenges imposed by international trade’, defines Fast Terminal Santa Marta a project born from the alliance of the Port of Santa Marta and the multinational company headquartered in Panama, Fast Terminal International, a fact which makes of the terminal of Santa Marta the first Colombian port specialized in RO-RO operations. What is the RO-RO operation? RO-RO means Roll On-Roll Off, which denominates any type of vessel, or ship, transporting rolling cargo, both automobiles and trucks. Ro-Ro vessels usually have built-in ramps on the ship or are fixed on the ground allowing unloading (roll-off) and loading (roll-on) cargo at the port. Fast Terminal Santa Marta represents offering integral logistics services to the country for the RO-RO operation as of the time of arrival of the ship transporting vehicles, and then unloads, inspects, supervises, transports them to the free zone, and its aesthetic enlisting and storage, which will basically enable minimizing risk as it reduces changes of responsibility in the chain of supply, involving only one supplier for transportation, port handling and cargo development up to its delivery to the end-customer. Likewise, this Alliance has great advantages positioning the terminal of Santa Marta at international level as specialist for this type of operation, making current processes more efficient, and an operations regulation requiring appropriate unloading indicators, homologation of drivers, operations systems unification of actors of the chain, information confidentiality, technology and all the accompanying benefits as employment generation and revenues for the city. For Mauricio Suárez Ramírez, general manager of the Port of Santa Marta, this alliance will make the terminal of Santa Marta more competitive. “What we are basically doing here is integrating services, unifying responsibilities and criteria. Before, when a vehicle was unloaded, for example, once it had left the terminal it was not our responsibility, when transported an actor would respond and when it arrived to the free zone and its storage area, another company would be in charge, thus there were several transfers of responsibility during the process. Today, with the creation of Fast Terminal Santa Marta, we have unified responsibilities and the client will receive more benefits as it will have all the necessary information on the condition of its cargo and procedures, referring to only one actor. This represents efficiency, safety, but above all more competitiveness at international level”, stated the manager. At the same time, José María Solá Freixa, president of Fast Terminal International, strategic partner of the RO-RO operation, states that Santa Marta has unmatched benefits for vehicle operation. “Having a port with a depth of up to 60 feet at the dock, relative humidity conditions of 60%, low salinity, among others, greatly influenced us to set our eyes in this city to develop the RO-RO operation specialization. This will undoubtedly benefit the terminal, the city, and Colombian foreign trade as Santa Marta becomes the pioneer of the country in handling rolling cargo”, stated Solá Freixa. This strategic partner has great international experience in this type of operation, being present in 4 countries (Mexico, United States, Panama and Colombia), strengthening its international presence in association with the Port of Santa Marta. Worth noting is that the terminal of Santa Marta imports each year more than 49 thousand units of vehicles through this operation, being Santa Marta the Colombian Caribbean port that more mobilizes this type of cargo.