Contecon Manzanillo S.A. (CMSA), the operator of the Specialized Container Terminal 2 in the Port of Manzanillo in Mexico under the International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), has hit a record volume of cargo carried by a single vessel.

In a statement, the ICTSI said the call of the CMA CGM vessel APL Vanda was able to handle 14,400 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of cargo, within 7,800 moves, “broke Mexico’s port industry record for a single vessel operation.”

CMSA CEO José Antonio Contreras described the operation as a “historic milestone for the shipping operator and the entire Mexican port community.”

“It reaffirms our capability to handle mega ships and large volumes per vessel call, and consolidates the confidence of our customers, with whom we jointly support the development and growth of Mexico,” he said.

APL Vanda, which has a capacity to carry 17,292 TEUs, is presently the biggest vessel to dock at the port. It was also the second 400-meter length vessel to arrive at the Manzanillo port, following the arrival of CMA CGM Alexander von Humboldt last August.

According to CMSA, the arrival of mega ships like APL Vanda is a testament to the growth of the Manzanillo port and its vital role in global trade, making Mexico a gateway for cargo from Asia.

It added that it is “committed to providing world-class services that contribute to the region’s economic prosperity and strengthen its position as a key player in international trade.”