TMM/CP Ships join forces

Transportacion Maritima Mexicana (TMM) and Stevedoring Services of America (SSA) have joined forces to create a new joint venture company to develop and operate ports throughout Mexico.

The TexMex Railway company has independently secured finance to implement wide-ranging expansion of its cross-border terminal at Laredo, without recourse to either of its two shareholders – Kansas City Southern Railroad (KCS) and Transportaci�n Mar�tima Mexicana (TMM).

Lykes Lines is expanding its North America-Africa multi-purpose service after absorbing the CCAL business portfolio. The acquisition of CCAL by American Ships, the CP Ships management company under which Lykes Lines operates, was completed at the end of last month.

The election of Vincente Fox Quesada as the new president of Mexico and the defeat of the Institutional Revolutionary Party may speed up modernisation of Mexico’s transportation infrastructure, which has already undergone substantial changes – major railroads are in the hands of international partnerships, most involving US interests, and the country’s road newtork is also attracting interest.