The San Vicente Maritime Terminal was inaugurated in June 2013, having a positive impact on oil and fuel activities in the sector as it significantly increased safety in the loading and unloading operations of crude oil and derivatives, contributing to the general organization of the bay.
With an investment of more than US$140 million, at the level of the most modern in Latin America and of world standard, the terminal is widely recognized by visitors. It has a control room with state-of-the-art technology where all dock activities are managed remotely and online. There is also an area of aerial interconnections, composed of more than 500 meters of pipes of different diameters, suitable for each type of product, that transport crude oil and fuels to and from the Bío Bío Refinery in the district of Hualpén.
In addition, there is the pier itself, a facility that, with an extension of almost one kilometer, has state-of-the-art mooring mechanisms for ships and loading arms, among other advances. It also has a modern fire detection and control system, powered by seawater, and environmental monitoring systems with a meteorological and tide gauge station.
Certified in safe operation, a qualification endorsed by the maritime authority, ten years after its operation, it maintains important modernization projects on its horizon, such as the next dredging to be carried out in the seabed of the bay, which is projected to be completed in 2024 and which will allow a 50% reduction of the dredging that is currently being carried out, guaranteeing an even safer operation.