On December 6, Maersk Edmonton, operated by Maersk, was the Danish company's first vessel to berth at the DP World Posorja terminal. 

Maersk brought forward the start of its operations at that terminal after announcing the transfer of its operations from Contecon in the Guayaquil Puerto Maritimo to Posorja at the beginning of 2024. 

According to an official statement from Maersk, the decision to move its operations focuses on its vision to become the true container logistics integrator that connects and simplifies its customers' supply chain through global end-to-end solutions. It was included in a communication issued to its clients on November 22. 

In that communication, the shipping company informed its customers that the services that currently arrive at Contecon Guayaquil, which covers the corridors of Ecuador to and from Europe, Ecuador to and from Asia, and Intra Americas, would begin to arrive at the DP World Posorja terminal in early 2024. 

The change generated reactions from various sectors, such as banana and shrimp farmers, who began to calculate the additional costs of moving their cargo to Posorja instead of the Guayaquil Seaport in the south of the city. 

From the banana sector, the second non-oil exporting product of the country, an additional cost of $130 per container was estimated, representing $0.12 more for each box of bananas exported. The Director of Acorbanec, Richard Salazar, revealed that the banana exporting sector is currently negotiating with the shipping company to absorb part of the increase in the cost that this change of port will generate. "We will wait for the closing of the negotiations; maybe the shipping company will decide to compensate for part of this increase as this decision will affect the logistics of the business. If it is not absorbed or shared, it will directly impact banana exports", said the head of Acorbanec. 

According to industry figures, Maersk is the second shipping company that moves the most banana cargo from Ecuador to the world, with 61.3 million boxes from January to October (28.38%), only behind MSC, which in that period took 69.3 million boxes of bananas out of the country (23%) of the total exports of the fruit. 

Meanwhile, Maersk informed that a detailed transition plan is being refined and adjusted and will be announced soon. However, it suggested that its customers contact their local sales representatives with questions.