The global relevance of companies seeking the award of a third port for container ships in the Pacific is a clear sign of the importance of Panama as maritime and logistics hub.
The companies pre-qualified to participate in the tender for the concession of a new port in Corozal are subsidiaries of the largest shipping companies such as Maersk-Denmark, MSC-Italy and CMA-CGM-France or are direct port operators, in this case the most important in the world, PSA from Singapore.
There are so many obstacles faced by the project being run by Dutch APM Terminals that it begs the question as to whether the Costa Rican government really wants it to happen.
Since it was awarded construction of the New Mega Port for specialized container ships in Moin, the Dutch company APM Terminals has faced dozens of lawsuits and other legal measures in the courts, which has maintained continuous doubts about the realization of the project.
Lack of clear leadership, internal chaos in the main political parties and parliamentary fragmentation are threatening Costa Rica's business climate.
Contradictory statements over the legal certainty of the project for a mega container port in Moin ($1 billion), made by the very probable next president of Costa Rica, Luis Guillermo Solis, and the founder of his party (Citizen Action) and deputy chief of the legislative group, Otton Solis have generated understandable alarm in the business community.
The construction and operation for 20 years of a container port in Isla Margarita, in Panama, is governed by a detailed concession agreement.
"... The ambitious port project will have three docks and will be located in an exclusive area of Colon, where it will compete with the terminals currently in operation in the Atlantic: Cristobal, Colon Container Terminal and Manzanillo International Terminal. "
Company’s due diligence and fair-play in bid reaffirmed.
San Jose, Costa Rica – The Costa Rican courts ruled today in favor of APM Terminals in two lawsuits, brought against the company and the government, which were intended to block the awarded concession for the new Moin Container Terminal (TCM). “Today’s favorable decision from the Second Circuit Court in San Jose affirms the transparency and legality of the concession process.
APM Terminals has signed a concession contract for 32 years to build and operate a container terminal with an investment of $900 million.
The start of construction is scheduled for September. This first stage, at a cost of $300 million, should be completed in 2015.
"The company said, through a statement, that they have signed a concession for 32 years with the Port Authority of Lazaro Cardenas (APILAC) for the design, financing, construction, operation and maintenance of a new and specialized terminal", reported Americaeconomia.com.
The National Tender Board (CNC in Spanish) has notified the company APM Terminals which has a maximum of 18 months to begin the construction of the new Moin Container Terminal (MCT), in the Caribbean, Costa Rica.
After the deadline, APT Terminals has 36 months to complete the works on this terminal which will allow servicing and boarding of container vessels.
Americas Gateway Development Corporation, the company that won the tender for the design, will start work on detailing the technical, environmental, commercial and financial studies.
Aubrey Young, CEO of Americas Gateway Development Corporation (Amega), noted that they estimate about twelve months for this stage.
An article in BNamericas reports that, "the transfer terminal will have capacity to mobilize 2 million TEUs a year with a 1km pier, an access channel leading to the port of Moin with a depth of 19m and berths for three container ships of about 14,000 TEUs.
The original announcement was published at the end of December 2011, with a deadline for submission of bids on Feb. 16th; a new deadline runs until April 16th, 2012.
The Consejo Nacional de Concesiones de Costa Rica (CNC), convened the International Public Tender N ° 2011LI-000001-00200, for the "Contracting for overseeing of the design, execution of works and equipment of the public works concession with public services for the design, financing, construction, operation and maintenance of the container terminal of Moin (TCM). "
Legal security of certain investments may be in doubt if arguments put forward by the Legislature regarding decision-making powers of award of state property thrive.
Citing as a justification the text of Article 140, paragraph 19 of the Constitution of Costa Rica, the President of the Legislative Branch, Juan Carlos Mendoza, has expressed his conviction that it is the Legislative Assembly which is responsible for approving the concession award for a container terminal at the port of Moin.
Noting that the port services provided in Costa Rica are currently inefficient, an appeal has been filed in favour of granting the concession for the new container terminal in Moin.
Following complaints presented by the National Chamber of Banana Workers and the Union of Workers from Japdeva, the National Chamber of steamship owners and Agents (NAVE in spanish) has filed with the Administrative Court a request help in favor of the defendants.
After an arduous process, the government of Costa Rica has signed a concessionary award to Dutch run APM Terminals for the construction of the port and its management for a period of 30 years.
APM Terminal's investment will be $950 million, and they will have a period of 3 years to build a container port in Moin on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, north of the existing port facilities.
With the deadline for signing the contract, the 26 August, nearly reached, the government and opposition factions are sticking to their positions.
Laura Chinchilla's government is holding firm its intention to grant a concession to the company APM Terminals but has yet to resolve two complaints filed by the National Chamber of Banana Workers and Japdeva Workers Union (Sintrajap).
The project consists of a specialized port for the transshipment of containers with an operating area of 45 hectares, and a cost of $950 million.
A press release of the Presidency of the Republic of Costa Rica reads:
Vice President Liberman stressed the importance of getting "the green light to start the tender process, which will generate more employment in the country, mainly in the port area"
Costa Rica would receive $2265 million over the 30-year period of concession on taxes on income, creating 500 direct jobs and 8000 indirect jobs.
A press release from the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation reads:
New Container Terminal in Moin Would Generate 8500 Jobs
This morning the Minister of MOPT, Francisco Jimenez, explained to the committee of the Legislative Assembly Awards the advantages and benefits of the concession to build a new container terminal in Moin. One of the main tangible benefits would be 500 direct jobs and 8000 indirect jobs.