ITI is a multipurpose terminal in Latin America. The figures at a glance:
Handling capacity
Yard space
Berth length
Source: Hanseatic Global Terminals Latin America
In the world’s driest desert, more than 1,700 kilometers north of Santiago, stands Iquique Terminal Internacional (ITI). This is also where the naval Battle of Iquique took place in 1879 – a historic event that, despite ending in Chile’s defeat by Peru, deeply tied the city and its people to the ocean. Inspired by the spirit of Chile’s national hero, Captain Arturo Prat, Chileans commemorate this milestone every year on May 21, celebrating the sea and its significance throughout the month.
The Iquique Terminal is positioned in the north of Chile's expansive Pacific shore.
Given its location, ITI is much more than a logistics center. For the residents of the Tarapacá Region, it represents tradition, history and a gateway to the world – a hub of opportunity and a driver of progress for the area. Strategically located, the terminal facilitates the entry and exit of goods serving all of northern Chile and its neighboring countries, such as Bolivia and Peru. ITI has the capacity to handle 370,000 TEU per year, a 624-meter berth and 13.5 hectares of yard space. Its main clients are engaged in Bolivian cross-border trade, activities in the Iquique Free Trade Zone (ZOFRI) – located just 5 kilometers away – and the mining industry, among others.
Container operations at the Port of Iquique: from quayside handling and yard movements to the distinctive coastline that shapes this key hub in the north of Chile.
Since 2023, ITI has been part of Hanseatic Global Terminals, a subsidiary of Hapag-Lloyd that strengthens the parent company’s role within the global port network. It is a multipurpose terminal that handles containerized cargo, general merchandise, project cargo and other goods. In 2024, it moved more than 2.5 million tons. That same year was the 25th anniversary of the terminal’s concession – a period in which it has increased its throughput by 88.5% and consolidated its position as a leading logistics alternative for the Andean macroregion.
ITI is also a major regional employer, creating hundreds of direct and indirect jobs. Behind every container moved, there are operators, technicians, drivers, administrative staff and professionals – all living in the region and contributing to its development.
In 2024, ITI moved more than 2.5 million tons
Source: Hanseatic Global Terminals Latin America
Increased efficiency: In the 25 years since its concession, ITI has increased its throughput by
Source: Hanseatic Global Terminals Latin America
Eric Olmedo Ship Supervisor Iquique Terminal Internacional
You deal with many people, so maintaining good relationships and, above all, ensuring everyone’s safety are essential.
With over a dozen years of experience as a ship supervisor, Eric Olmedo knows every corner of the terminal and every maneuver that ensures safe docking. “I’ve been here for 23 years, since the second year of the concession,” the head of a 60-person team proudly notes. “I’ve seen how everything has evolved. I started as a cargo handler, working with agencies and contractors.” That experience prepared Eric to take on the challenge of coordinating operations at Iquique – a role that demands leadership, communication and discipline. “Having authority is key,” he emphasizes. “You deal with many people, so maintaining good relationships and, above all, ensuring everyone’s safety are essential.”
Each day begins early. Eric arrives at 7:00 a.m. to review documents before leading the daily safety briefing at 8:15. “This happens every day,” he explains. “We have ongoing training across all shifts.” With what seems like a lifetime spent in the port, he’s witnessed profound transformation.
"Today, we have cafeterias, man-lifts and safety cages - everything has changed," he notes. Thanks to modernization and a strong safety culture, workplace accidents have been reduced to a minimum. Technology has also made a difference: “Before, we worked with clipboards and pencils,” he continues. “Now we use digital systems that capture data and streamline processes.”
For Eric, the terminal is more than a workplace – it’s part of his life. “I’ve seen how we’ve grown and learned to do things better,” he says. “We have something not every port has: excellent people. Many started as interns and stayed. They’re good, committed people. It motivates me to see how proud everyone is to be part of ITI.”
That same commitment to quality is reflected in the story of Luis Peime, one of the terminal’s most experienced crane operators. He arrived in Iquique nearly a decade ago with over 30 years of port experience already under his belt. “I started from the bottom – loading sacks, doing all kinds of jobs,” he recalls. “Then I got into cranes, learning from the most experienced operators.”
Luis starts each day with enthusiasm. “I always come in with the best attitude,” he says. “I give my all, 100%. In this job, you never stop learning.” Luis remembers that there were no formal courses when he started. “You had to ask questions and observe,” he explains.
“Now the internal training programs are much more comprehensive, helping many good people develop.”
The changes in his area have been remarkable. “We’ve received new cranes,” he explains. “They have greater capacity and reach, making operations faster.” Luis also highlights technological advances – such as 4G LTE networks – that enhance connectivity and efficiency, making ITI the first terminal in northern Chile to adopt this system.
What Luis values most is the human environment. “ITI is like a family,” he says with a smile. “We all know each other – there’s respect and camaraderie.” He adds that he plans to stay at the port until 2030, saying: “I love this work. I love what I do, and I love the port. It’s my life.”
Luis Peime Mobile Crane Operator Iquique Terminal Internacional
Jocelyn Navarro CFS Operator Iquique Terminal Internacional
Among the stories that embody ITI’s culture of excellence and equality is that of Jocelyn Navarro, who got her start at the port in 2003 as an intern from the Instituto del Mar. “After six months, they hired me,” she recalls. “I started at the gate, then moved to documentation, customer service and cargo handling.”
Jocelyn’s curiosity and discipline led her to study business administration, which marked a turning point in her career. “There were no female field supervisors at the time, but having a degree was an advantage,” she explains. “They valued my education, and I was promoted to operations supervisor.” For 10 years, she led teams, coordinating maneuvers and managing cargo loads.
Almost a year ago, Jocelyn took on a new challenge as head of the container freight station (CFS) and warehouse area, leading a team of supervisors and coordinating consolidation and deconsolidation logistics, mainly for Bolivian clients. She also serves as a safety instructor, training new operators in cargo handling.
“The port has changed a lot. We now have women working as mobilizers and tractor operators – something unthinkable when I started,”
she proudly notes. Her leadership style is based on proximity. “As a supervisor, I always approached the team, asked what they were doing, and listened,” she explains. “That’s how you build trust.”
With over 20 years of experience, Jocelyn continues to grow and lead. “The goal is to keep improving safety and increasing cargo volumes,” she says. “We’re growing, meeting targets, and proving that women can also shape the future of the port.”
In recent years, ITI has reaffirmed its commitment to the development of the Tarapacá Region through a sustained plan of investment in infrastructure and technology.
In 2025, the company allocated around USD 19 million to strengthen its operational capacity, incorporating state-of-the-art equipment, such as eight Kalmar container handlers and two new mobile cranes – the Liebherr LHM 600 and the Konecranes ESP.10, the largest in Chile.
“We’ve also made progress in handling project cargo, such as BESS transfers for photovoltaic projects,”
explains Rodrigo Pommiez, ITI’s CEO, using the abbreviation for battery energy storage systems. “We launched the Chancay Express service and continued improving the value proposition for Bolivian cargos, reducing truck dwell times by 80% thanks to an advanced new documentation dispatch system.”
Alongside traditional exports, northern Chile, Bolivia and northwestern Argentina have seen a surge in cargo related to renewable energy, lithium and green hydrogen. “These and other cargos are expected to transform the region’s production matrix – and ITI is getting ready for that,” Rodrigo adds enthusiastically, noting that the entire team is working to position ITI as a strategic partner for international trade across the Andean macroregion.
Elevating Global Port Efficiency
The commitment and innovation seen at ITI reflect a wider vision shared across Hapag-Lloyd and Hanseatic Global Terminals. The volumes on the trades to and from South America are expected to continue growing. And to handle this growth, terminal infrastructure will be vital.
Two years ago, Hapag-Lloyd acquired SAAM Terminals, bringing 10 port terminals across Chile, the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia and Ecuador into the group, along with off-port warehouses and local-market logistics operations. In August 2025, these operations were brought together under Hanseatic Global Terminals Latin America, based in Santiago, Chile, which serves as the regional hub for North and South America.
For the people on the ground, this growing network means more opportunities to collaborate and deliver quality service. Looking ahead to 2030, Hanseatic Global Terminals aims to expand its operational network to include equity stakes in 30 terminals, strengthening its position as a trusted partner for international trade and supporting the teams who make it all possible.
Hanseatic Global Terminals at a glance
Hanseatic Global Terminals’ portfolio comprises port terminals and related logistics services (operated by its regional office, Hanseatic Global Terminals Latin America) in Latin America and Florida, USA. In the booming Indian market, they are present through the container terminals, depots and rail business of J M Baxi. They also have a presence in key terminals in Germany and the Mediterranean that anchor major trade routes.
Discover more about the Terminals in the web version of the Logbook.
Hanseatic Global Terminals at a glance
Hanseatic Global Terminals’ portfolio comprises port terminals and related logistics services (operated by its regional office, Hanseatic Global Terminals Latin America) in Latin America and Florida, USA. In the booming Indian market, they are present through the container terminals, depots and rail business of J M Baxi. They also have a presence in key terminals in Germany and the Mediterranean that anchor major trade routes.
Click on our interactive map to discover more about the Terminals.
Photos by: Andrea Pérez Zárate, Hanseatic Global Terminals
Text by: Jorge Vejar, Ximena Díaz
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