The Panama Canal Authority has announced that four port operators were prequalified during the request for qualifications (RFQ) process for companies interested in competing to design, develop, finance, construct, operate and maintain the Corozal Container Terminal.

The four pre-qualified companies are: APM Terminals B.V. (Netherlands); Terminal Link (France); PSA International Pte., Ltd (Singapore) and Terminal Investment Limited, S.A. (Netherlands).

“The result of this process demonstrates the potential of Corozal Port and especially the confidence of the leading port operators in the world,” said Panama Canal Administrator Jorge L. Quijano. “The new Corozal port is among the most advanced synergistic business initiatives, providing new products and services to customers in the maritime industry. The new port is certain to enhance the canal’s offering and revenue base.”

PSA International Pte., Ltd., founded in 1964, is based in Singapore. It is considered the largest port operator worldwide handling more than 64 million TEU in 2015. It has 44 terminals in 14 countries including Panama.

Terminal Link, is part of the CMA CGM Group, which is one of the five largest shipping companies in the world. It was founded in 2001 and to date has port operations in 14 countries, in four continents. In 2014, Terminal Link handled 12 million TEUs.

Terminal Investments Limited has become one of the 10 largest port operators worldwide over the past decade, operating 29 terminals in 21 countries. In 2014, it moved 33 million TEU. Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) develops port activities in TIL terminals.

APM Terminals is based in The Hague, Netherlands, and is part of the Danish group AP Moller Group. It handled 36 million TEU worldwide last year. APM Terminals operates 72 terminals in 69 countries and is currently developing eight new terminals. APM Terminals is one of the top five largest port operators in the world.

By the RFQ closing date of March 11, the Panama Canal Authority had received documentation from seven companies interested in the prequalification for Corozal Container Terminal. In addition to pre-qualified companies, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (Japan), Manzanillo International Terminal – Panama, S.A. (Panama), and Ports America Terminal Holdings II, Inc. (USA) also participated in the process.