International Arbitration Dispute: Autoridad Portuaria de Manta v. Terminales Internacionaes de Ecuador S.A, IIHC, Hutchinson Port Holding Limited, Case No. 091-13


Dr. Paul Kent was retained by counsel as an independent port industry expert to prepare a report presenting global best practices in port concessions and also to testify before the arbitration tribunal. Terminales Internacionales de Ecuador, SA (TIDE), a special purpose vehicle in which Hutchinson Port Holdings Limited was a partner, was awarded a concession to operate Ecuador’s Port of Manta. A dispute arose when TIDE vacated the terminal prior to the concession contract’s expiration due to its claim that the Government of Ecuador was not abiding by its contractual obligations.