New Port of Manzanillo: Asipona denies dredging in Cuyutlán

The National Port System Administration (Asipona) Manzanillo addressed reports that pointed to the alleged start of dredging work in the Cuyutlán Lagoon as part of the New Port of Manzanillo project, assuring that any work linked to this infrastructure will only begin when all corresponding environmental authorizations are in place, including the approval of the Regional Environmental Impact Statement (MIA-R).

The statement comes after Proceso magazine published information over the weekend indicating the supposed start of dredging activities in the lagoon without yet having federal environmental permits, a situation that raised questions about the development of the mega-port project promoted in Manzanillo.

In response, the port authority denied that dredging work is currently being carried out in the lagoon and maintained that reports claiming direct interventions related to the New Port of Manzanillo are unfounded.

The port administration clarified that the movements of machinery and equipment observed in the area correspond exclusively to authorized cleaning and maintenance work on the access channel, activities for which, it assured, permits issued by the competent authorities do exist.

With this, the maritime terminal sought to differentiate the operational conservation work currently underway in the port area from the structural works associated with the expansion project in the Cuyutlán Lagoon, one of the most relevant strategic developments for the Mexican port system in the coming years.

The Ministry of the Navy, under which Asipona Manzanillo operates, also reiterated its commitment to compliance with environmental regulations and maintained that activities linked to the New Port will only advance under the regulatory framework established by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.

The New Port of Manzanillo project contemplates the development of new logistical and maritime infrastructure in the Cuyutlán Lagoon to expand the operational capacity of the country's main container port, which in 2025 moved three million 893 thousand 357 TEU (20-foot containers), although the progress of the project has been accompanied by public and environmental attention due to the ecological sensitivity of the area where the expansion is intended to be developed.

Finally, the port authority called on the port community and the public to stay informed through the official channels of the Ministry of the Navy and Asipona Manzanillo, and to avoid the dissemination of unverified information regarding the project.