APM Terminals has acquired a 51 per cent equity interest in Alinport SA from the Spanish Albacora Group for an undisclosed purchase price.

Alinport is a greenfield container terminal project in Ecuador. Groundwork has been ongoing and construction will start in early 2008 with expected start of operations in late 2009.

The first phase of the terminal will consist of a 450-metre long berth, yard space with rubber tyre gantry (RTG) operations, ship-to-shore (STS) cranes, a depth of 12.5 metres and an annual capacity of 700,000 TEU, an APM Terminals statement said.

APM Terminals has assumed management responsibility for the terminal and APM Terminals executive Carl Ejler Jensen has been appointed managing director.