Guayaquil readies port rules for early Dec.

Definitive bidding rules for a concession to operate Guayaquil port will be ready the first week of December, local daily El Universo reports, after a final revision by the national merchant marine and ports council. Jorge Fierro, who heads up Guayaquil's port authority APG, was quoted as saying that a Uruguayan adviser had arrived in the city to meet with the group that will create the definitive concession document, the newspaper said. The group has established the investment level and timetable the concessionaire will have to abide by during its 20-year tenure. APG expects to award the concession in August 2004, with the winning bidder taking over operations in January 2005. To date, interest has been received from a German and a Spanish consortium, and representatives from the Hutchinson Port group have also visited the port. Guayaquil is Ecuador's largest cargo port. The winning bidder will have to invest an expected US$117mn to install a new berth and upgrade equipment. APG hopes to avoid the resistance from local authorities that have challenged the concession process at Ecuador's Bolivar and Esmeraldas ports.