Ala., SA firms' MOU for RO/RO ops

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – The Port of Mobile, Ala., is slated to become a major hub of automobile export activity with a new facility that would allow vehicles to be driven directly onto cargo ships bound for markets around the world beginning in late 2019. On April 17, representatives from the Alabama State Port Authority and AutoMobile International Terminal - a joint venture between Terminal Zárate S.A. of Argentina and SAAM Puertos S.A. of Chile - signed an MOU to develop and operate a vehicle processing roll-on/roll-off (RO/RO) facility at the Alabama port. Automobiles have long been Alabama’s top export: Last year, topping $7.75B. Construction on the RO/RO is scheduled to start at the end of 2018, and completion by the end of 2019. Terminal Zárate is among the largest RO/RO terminals in the Americas with a nine million vehicle throughput. SAAM Puertos is a subsidiary of Sociedad Matriz SAAM S.A., a Chilean multinational company that provides foreign trade services by means of port terminal operations. With a network of 11 ports, Puertos is one of the major port operators in South America and partners with the world’s leading shipping companies. (Source: Made In Alabama 04/18/18)