CAMEINTRAM, Miami to Join Forces on Short Sea Shipping Routes

The Mexican Chamber of the Maritime Transport Industry (CAMEINTRAM) will host authorities from the Port of Miami on Sept. 22, aiming to strengthen cooperation and promote new short sea shipping routes between the Gulf of Mexico and the southeastern United States. The initiative seeks to enhance logistics flows while reducing costs for regional trade.

The project envisions maritime connections between Mexican ports including Matamoros, Altamira, Tampico, Tuxpan, Veracruz, Coatzacoalcos, Dos Bocas, Salina Cruz, Progreso, and Seybaplaya, with US ports such as Tampa, Port Manatee, Jacksonville, Port Everglades, and Miami.

CAMEINTRAM says that one of the main challenges will be to optimize costs and ensure fleet efficiency by maintaining full vessel occupancy in both directions. The upcoming meeting will cover customs facilitation, regulatory harmonization for port–maritime operations, and the establishment of competitive tariffs. Authorities will also explore investment opportunities and align on environmental commitments.

In its institutional presentation, CAMEINTRAM defines short sea shipping (TMCD) as a sustainable strategy to increase efficiency in cargo movement across short-distance maritime routes between Mexican ports and neighboring countries. The so-called “Florida Project” is listed as a priority for the General Coordination of Ports and Merchant Marine (CGPMM) under Mexico’s Ministry of the Navy (SEMAR).

The chamber also highlights the integration of the Interoceanic Corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec (CIIT) as a bioceanic logistics platform. Its network of industrial hubs and fiscal incentives is expected to attract investment and additional cargo to short sea shipping operations.

To foster both cabotage and TMCD, CAMEINTRAM proposes a comprehensive policy and regulatory framework with preferential treatment. Measures under discussion include:

• Preferential port fees and rights for towing, docking, mooring, pilotage, handling and agency services.

• Dedicated berths and streamlined access permits to avoid regulatory duplication.

• Fiscal incentives for Mexican-flagged vessels, such as accelerated depreciation, reduced asset taxes, preferential fuel pricing, subsidies, temporary import permits and “green” incentives.

• Allocation of infrastructure and simplified procedures to expedite cabotage cargo movement.

Through these measures, CAMEINTRAM aims to consolidate short sea shipping as a competitive, sustainable and cost-efficient alternative that strengthens trade integration between Mexico and the United States.