Posted on August 20, 2025
After 25 years of planning, the long-awaited expansion of the Deep Sea Port of Progreso has moved into its active phase with the arrival of one of the world’s most advanced dredging vessels.
Yucatán Governor Joaquín Díaz Mena toured the Fernando de Magallanes, a state-of-the-art dredging ship that crossed the Atlantic Ocean from Europe for an entire month specifically to deepen Progreso’s port.
The vessel is 138.5 meters (454 feet) long and has 30,000 horsepower, making it one of fewer than 20 such advanced dredgers worldwide. It will remove sediment and materials from the seabed to increase the port’s depth and operational capacity.
Massive Infrastructure Investment
The project involves a historic investment of 7.9 billion pesos (approximately $400 million USD), funded through collaboration between federal, state, and private sectors. The expansion will add 80 hectares (198 acres) to the existing facility, bringing the total operational area to 116 hectares (287 acres).
Current port specifications include a navigation channel that is 150 meters (492 feet) wide and 8 kilometers (5 miles) long. The dredging will widen the channel to 180 meters (590 feet) and extend it to 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), while increasing depth to 14 meters (46 feet).
The Fernando de Magallanes dredging vessel arrived at Progreso’s port.
“We can proudly affirm that, after more than two decades, Yucatán is making steady progress toward the modernization of its deep-sea port”. Díaz Mena said. “This project represents a turning point for the state’s economic and commercial development”.
Connection to Plan Renacimiento Maya
The port expansion forms a cornerstone of the Plan Renacimiento Maya (Maya Renaissance Plan), Governor Díaz Mena’s comprehensive development strategy for Yucatán. The plan focuses on economic development, education, and employment opportunities while promoting regional connectivity.
President Claudia Sheinbaum announced plans to connect the completed Maya Train to Puerto Progreso as a cargo rail line, creating a strategic logistics corridor. The rail connection project, managed by Mexico’s Defense Ministry, is estimated to cost 35 billion pesos.
Current port operations handle approximately 54,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) annually, with 22 vessel arrivals per month. APM Terminals, a Maersk subsidiary, operates the facility and sees significant growth opportunities.
Enhanced Shipping Capacity
The modernization will enable Progreso to accommodate much larger vessels. Ships currently enter with loads of 36,000 to 40,000 tons, but improvements will allow vessels carrying up to 100,000 tons.
During his vessel tour, Díaz Mena observed the ship’s specialized cutters that remove rock from the seabed, maintenance workshops, and pump systems. The control center houses three main engines with a combined power of 23,000 kilowatts.
The dredging process will expand the operational area designated for new companies by more than 200%, creating conditions to attract investments and establish new businesses.
Strategic Economic Impact
According to Navy Admiral Raymundo Morales Ángeles, the modernization will generate economic benefits for coastal communities and provide development opportunities, especially for young people.
The project positions Yucatán as a key logistics hub connecting Mexico with the United States and global markets. Major exports from Progreso include textiles, electronics, agricultural products, seafood, and honey.
Beyond port infrastructure, the Plan Renacimiento Maya encompasses multiple initiatives, including wellness poles, a new metropolitan ring road, and clean energy projects worth 2.4 billion pesos.
In the coming months, the Fernando de Magallanes will also conduct dredging operations at other Yucatecan ports, including Sisal, El Cuyo, and Celestún.
Díaz Mena was accompanied by Strategic Projects Coordinator Dafne López Martínez and Economy and Labor Secretary Ermilo Barrera Novelo during the vessel tour.
The expansion represents a significant step toward consolidating Progreso as one of Mexico’s most competitive deep-water ports, supporting the broader economic transformation of southeastern Mexico.
